ANTIOCH, California. – A East Bay A Baptist pastor used martial arts to fend off a burglar who broke into his church.

Antioch Police describe the tense confrontation as a “battle of good and evil.”

“Pray for the man who tried to rob us,” Pastor Nick Neves said from the pulpit as he delivered his sermon Sunday, after an axe-wielding burglar broke into the church First Family in Antioch just after midnight on Thanksgiving Day, setting off the alarm.

“One of the ten commandments is ‘thou shalt not steal,’” he said. “So in that regard, yes, I was stopping this man from doing evil.”

The pastor quickly arrived and found a broken window and a man who did not belong there.

“He started running and then (both of us) ran towards the parking lot where I caught him,” Neves said. “We fought for a little while.”

The pastor relied on his martial arts training to fend off the suspected thief who attacked the man of God in a battle that lasted about 15 minutes.

“He put up a good fight,” said Neves, who still managed to call 9-1-1 during the scuffle. “We were on the ground and I took him to where my phone was.”

Minutes later, Neves said Antioch police arrived and arrested the suspect, allowing the pastor to walk away, much to the relief of the congregation.

“I’m grateful that God protected him,” said congregation member John Williams. “It could have been a lot worse.”

“He’s a very humble man, our pastor,” said congregant Tania Watkins. “I hope this man can finally get the help he needs to turn his life around.”

Although pastors said the man was unarmed during the fight, a long ax and a small dagger were taken by police as evidence.

Police say the ax was used to break in.

“If he has to face the music, maybe it will cause him to change his ways and turn his eyes to Christ, and maybe he will repent.”

Neves, who is a little bruised, said he forgives the intruder.

Antioch Mayor-elect Ron Bernal told KTVU in part: “It is unfortunate that our community finds itself in a place where people feel it is necessary to take matters of public safety into their own hands. I look forward to new leadership that will prioritize creating a safer Antioch.”

Neves said the suspect attempted to take cleaning supplies and food from a refrigerator and attempted to break into a snack vending machine but failed.

He estimates the damage caused to church at around $2,000, mainly to replace two windows.

KTVU contacted Antioch police about the charges against the suspect, but did not immediately receive a response.

Neves said he didn’t want his church to be known for that.

The small congregation spends a lot of time giving to the community, particularly through the food pantry they run every Saturday.