Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter taught Sunday school in his hometown of Plains, Ga., drawing hundreds of people at the Maranatha Baptist Church where he attended most of his life.

His grandson said that this would be the 689th time Carter taught classes at the church and this event marked the first time since he revealed details of his cancer diagnosis. Carter spent 45 minutes teaching hundreds of people about faith and love, according to NBC 4 New York.

The church had been overflowing with churchgoers who wanted to get a glimpse of the former president presiding Sunday school. Some congregants had to be turned away due to overcrowding.

When Carter learned about this, he volunteered to do double duty and teach another class at the local Plains high school for the first time.

"He wanted to accommodate as many people as possible. He voluntarily chose to do that, and ended up being able to teach just about everyone who showed up," said Rev. Jeremy Shoulta, the church's pastor, according to People.

Carter revealed last week that he has cancer and that doctors have found four small melanoma lesions in his brain. He said he felt at ease and will fight the cancer, starting with a course of intensive therapy and radiation to fight it, HNGN previously reported.