A terrifying situation at a Minnesota church turned into a story of bravery and God’s protection on Sunday, as quick-acting church members and security staff stopped a gunman before he could enter the building and cause mass harm.

The incident unfolded just after 11 a.m. at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, where approximately 150 people were gathered for a Sunday service. Children were on stage performing songs they had learned during Vacation Bible School when chaos erupted outside the building.

According to authorities, the suspect—31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning—was reportedly suffering from a mental health crisis when he arrived at the church in a vehicle, driving erratically. Armed with a long gun and a handgun and wearing a tactical vest, he exited his vehicle and began firing shots.

Thankfully, the suspect was stopped in his tracks.

“We are grateful for the heroic actions of the church’s staff members who undoubtedly saved many lives and prevented a large-scale mass shooting,” said Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong. “Their actions prevented dozens of people from being murdered.”

Strong confirmed that at least two staff members opened fire on the suspect, ultimately stopping him. A security guard was injured after being shot in the leg but is expected to make a full recovery.

CrossPointe’s Senior Pastor Bobby Kelly, Jr., confirmed those details and added that one church member even took dramatic action by using their vehicle to stop the suspect.

“[The suspect] was run over by one of our members who saw this happening when he was coming into church,” Pastor Kelly told The Detroit News.

Video footage captured the moment churchgoers realized something was wrong, with children and adults seen fleeing the pews. While the gunman never made it into the building, he did fire shots into the exterior walls, terrifying the worshippers inside.

Wendy Bodin, a member of the church, shared her firsthand experience with WXYZ-TV: “The VBS kids were up on stage giving the little songs that they learned, and I had to use the restroom, and I was on my cell phone. I went out to the front of the building, where the grass was, and I saw a man on the ground. I heard a big boom, and I thought he got hit or crashed his car or was hurt, and another lady saw and pointed to me and said, ‘Oh my, call 911!'”

Authorities later confirmed that Browning had ties to the church—his mother was a regular attendee, and he had visited several times over the past year. The motive remains unclear, though police believe a mental health crisis played a role in the attack.

As the community grapples with the trauma of the day, many are giving thanks to God for the protection and quick response that prevented a tragedy from becoming much worse.

Please join in prayer for the church community, the injured security guard, and all those emotionally impacted by the events of this heartbreaking day.