A Tennessee pastor is in stable condition, after being shot while trying to stop an alleged car theft at his church Sunday morning, according to Fox News 13.

Clemmie Livingston Jr., pastor of New Zionfield Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, was shot while attempting to stop two men from stealing a Sunday school teacher’s car, a church member told local news station WREG.

Officers responded to reports of shooting at the church shortly after 9:00 a.m., according to WREG. There, they located the 70-year-old pastor and transported him to a local hospital in critical condition.

The suspects had fired shots at Livingston while fleeing the scene in the stolen car, police told WREG. A second person outside of the church fired shots back at the suspects after the pastor was shot, police added.

The stolen vehicle, a 2019 silver Chevrolet Corvette, has not been recovered, police said.

Livingston was shot in the mouth during the altercation, 17-year-old Kavion Woodin, the pastor’s grandson, told Action News 5.

“He came out to protect the church because he feared no evil, because, like God said, the church will comfort him, the people will comfort him, my brother will comfort him, I know God will comfort him,” Woodin said.

Woodin had planned to deliver that Sunday’s sermon on how God gives people another, Woodin added.  

“My grandad is 70. He could’ve been unresponsive, but God gave him another chance because God knows how great he is,” Woodin said. “God knows my grandad is a great man.”

Woodin said the tragedy brings additional devastation because of the “consistency of the violence in Memphis.”

In the last year, there have been approximately 16 reported car break-ins or thefts within a quarter of a mile of New Zionfield Church, according to Action News 5.

“Honestly, I’m sick and tired of losing people to gun violence and cars,” Wooden told WREG. “I’ve lost seven friends due to gun violence. I’ve lost two friends to cars, and I’m nothing but 17. It’s time to stop the violence.”

Woodin added that his grandfather did not deserve to be shot.

“He was a man of giving, willingness, kindness, compassion,” Woodin said. “He was a man that never did wrong towards nobody.”

On Sunday evening, Livingstone’s church posted a call for prayers for the pastor on Facebook. The post called the pastor a “fighter” and encouraged people to pray that he “keep on keeping on.”

Dozens of people have responded with support and words of encouragement.

The church later shared a photo of Psalm 23:4 on its Facebook page: “Though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil.”

Police said anyone has additional information regarding the incident can call Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

Freelance journalist Liz Lykins writes for WORLD Magazine, Christianity Today, Ministry Watch, and other publications.