A Kentucky Baptist church faces national backlash after video footage showed staff members staging a mock firing squad execution in front of children during vacation Bible school, with young attendees heard chanting for violence against a costumed figure representing evil.

Pastor Defends Decades-Old Tradition

Pastor Dewayne Walker of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington addressed the controversy in a Facebook post Monday, calling criticism of the event misinformation. Walker said the church has conducted similar dramatizations for more than three decades as part of its summer program. The viral video shows men dressed in military-style uniforms marching down the church aisle before simulating gunfire at a person wearing black clothing on the altar steps. Children can be heard shouting commands to eliminate the target before an explosion sound concludes the performance.

Walker described the ritual as a battle between good and evil, explaining that characters representing righteousness face off against those symbolizing wrongdoing. He characterized recent performances as featuring commandos for Christ defeating the devil. The pastor acknowledged some might view the presentation as extreme but questioned whether modern threats from evil require equally forceful responses in religious education.

Gun Safety Advocates Voice Concerns

Kathi Crowe, a volunteer with Moms Demand Action’s Kentucky chapter and retired Lexington teacher, condemned the display as an abuse of trust. She argued that vacation Bible school should provide safe spaces for children rather than exposing them to simulated tactical raids and executions. Crowe emphasized that teaching moral lessons requires adults to model safety and grace, calling on community leaders to educate families about preventing actual violence. The organization focuses on gun violence prevention and viewed the church production as particularly troubling given recent concerns about armed incidents affecting American children.

Social Media Reaction

The Reddit post sharing the footage generated widespread criticism online. Users described the skit as disturbing and indefensible regardless of context. Comments highlighted concerns about normalizing violence for young audiences and questioned the appropriateness of military imagery in children’s religious instruction. Mt. Olivet Baptist Church had not responded to media requests for comment by Tuesday. The incident raises questions about how religious institutions balance creative teaching methods with sensitivity to contemporary concerns about violence exposure among youth populations.