A church in Lenexa, Kansas, has sparked controversy after reportedly distributing guns to members on Father's Day and the Fourth of July.

River Church in Kansas City shared a photo in a Facebook post of one of its pastors giving an AR-15 to one of its members for Father's Day. Video Report From KSHB 41. The post immediately sparked a flood of reactions and comments online, the outlet reported. reportThe post could not be found on the church's Facebook page and appears to have been made private or deleted. page.

“We've been thinking about Father's Day because we have a lot of guys in our church who love to shoot guns,” church pastor Christopher Zenner told KSHB 41. “We thought, 'Let's give the church some guns and get the guys involved and make it a big fun event.'

“We have the Second Amendment, we are free Americans, and guns are a blessing,” Zehner told reporters. “We have the right to bear arms.”

KSHB 41 included screenshots of reply comments to the post provided by the church in its video report.

“Nothing epitomizes 'faith over fear' more than the worship of firearms,” ​​one comment read.

“'A Church that Upholds the Constitution of the United States of America.' Exactly what Jesus intended,” another screenshot said.

“People are leaving the church like never before and I wonder why,” said what appeared to be a third comment.

Lenexa church “gifts” firearms to parishioners Taylor Hemnes I sat with the pastor. https://t.co/b22LEWNJGS

— KSHB 41 News (@KSHB41) July 29, 2024

The initial giveaway was followed by a larger event on Independence Day, where the church handed out two handguns and one shotgun to members, Zehner recalled. The giveaway appears to have worked wonders for the church. (Related article: US pastor welcomes gun-owning parishioners)

“After this happened, our rallies doubled in attendance,” Zehner explained in an interview, “so I think people were like, 'Wow, here's a really principled person standing up for our rights and our freedoms.'”

Zehner told the outlet that the church plans to distribute other gifts, possibly including larger items such as cars and homes, and that the church also plans to host gun safety classes to promote responsible gun ownership, he added.

“Guns themselves are not bad,” Zehner told KSHB 41. “It's the hearts of the people who own guns that are bad. I wanted people to know that there are people in my generation who still uphold the principles that this country was founded on.”