A quick-thinking pastor in Tennessee charged a man who waved a gun at the congregation at Nashville Light Mission Pentecostal Church on Sunday. Dezire Baganda, 26, sat in the front row of the church when he decided to march up to the altar while the pastor and other church parishioners were praying. 

As the church surveillance video shows, the pastor can be seen stealthy moving through a crowd of members on the left side of the altar and then charging Baganda, bringing him to the ground before other church members assist him with disarming the assailant until police arrive.  

Baganda said he was Jesus and "all churches and schools need to be shot up," according to CBS17. 

Pastor Ezekiel Ndikumana relayed how the incident unfolded through an interpreter.

“He wanted to kill, that’s what first came to my mind. He was standing in front of almost everybody. No one was behind him yet, so he could have done anything,” he told CBS17.

The pastor recalled that Baganda had attended previous services, but had not become a member. By some accounts, Baganda was asked not to come back to the church last February because of his constant interference while the pastor was preaching. Yet, church members said his actions never ventured into violence. 

Witnesses said when he arrived for the 10 a.m. service, he appeared calm until 12:45 p.m.

Ndikumana is being hailed as a hero for saving the lives of his congregation, but he gives all credit to God.

"Their lives were in God's hands the whole time," the pastor said. 

According to the arrest affidavit, Baganda has been charged with 15 counts of felony aggravated assault and more counts are expected to be added, said Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.

“God wanted to show that he’s a powerful God. One main thing I said, we had faith,” pastor Ndikumana affirmed.