A church near the Kansas-Missouri state line is causing a stir by “blessing” some of its members with guns for Father’s Day and the Fourth of July.
The River Church of Kansas City is located in Lenexa, Kansas, just outside of Kansas City, and describes itself as a “spirit-filled church for the hungry, the thirsty, and the broken” on its website.
In June, the church shared photos on Facebook celebrating a member who won an AR-15 rifle in a raffle for Father’s Day, a firearm that can cost up to $1,200.
Although River Church had fewer than 100 members at the time of the giveaway, the Facebook post received almost 2,500 comments and close to 2,000 shares.
The concept was initiated by the church’s young pastor, Christopher Zehner.
Zehner explained, “I was thinking about Father’s Day because we have a lot of men in the church who enjoy shooting guns. I thought, ‘Let’s give away a gun to the church and involve some of the men in a big, fun event.’”
The River Church of Kansas City
For the Fourth of July, the church leaders distributed three more firearms: a shotgun and two handguns.
“A gun is considered a blessing because of the Second Amendment in America, which grants us the right to bear arms as free Americans,” Zehner stated.
The strong reaction on Facebook was predominantly negative, with comments questioning the church’s focus on firearms.
Zehner acknowledged the criticism but emphasized that a gun itself is not inherently bad, but rather the intentions of the person behind it. He expressed a desire to uphold the values on which the country was founded.
Following the increase in attendance after the initial event, Zehner mentioned the possibility of another gun giveaway in the future, possibly around Christmas.
The River Church of Kansas City
The church faced threats following the gun giveaway, prompting security measures and plans for a gun safety course for its members in the future.
Neither the homeowner’s association nor the local authorities responded to inquiries about the church’s actions.
Zehner clarified that the church is not tied to a denomination but is associated with Revival Ministries International.
This article was originally published by Taylor Hemness at Scripps News Kansas City.
