rights
Shocking video shows church's mock rifle execution in front of kids. Pastor blames it on Satan.
By Greg Owen at LGBTQ Nation
· July 11, 2026
· 3 min read
A pastor in Kentucky is defending a skit he staged at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, which featured teen boys armed with assault rifles "shooting" another parishioner to cheers from children and their parents. He's blaming the controversy on Satan. Related Pete Hegseth's pastor describe
Key takeaway Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, which featured teen boys armed with assault rifles "shooting" another parishioner to cheers from children and their parents.
Why this matters
The controversy surrounding the mock rifle execution at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Kentucky raises concerns about the impact of such displays on children and the broader community. The fact that the event was part of Vacation Bible School, a common summer program in many Christian denominations, particularly in the US South, suggests that this type of messaging may be more widespread than initially thought. The pastor's defense of the skit, framing it as a representation of spiritual warfare, highlights the complex and often fraught relationship between religion and violence. As the clip has gone viral, it has sparked outrage and alarm, with many questioning the appropriateness of exposing children to such a violent and disturbing scenario. The National LGBTQ Task Force and other organizations may be watching this situation closely, given the potential implications for LGBTQ+ individuals who may already feel marginalized or targeted by certain religious groups.
About this story
Original reporting by LGBTQ Nation . LGBTQ News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LGBTQ Nation . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: rights ·
Published: July 11, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 3 min
Get more LGBTQ News stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering rights and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A pastor in Kentucky is defending a skit he staged at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, which featured teen boys armed with assault rifles "shooting" another parishioner to cheers from children and their parents. He's blaming the controversy on Satan. Related Pete Hegseth's pastor describe
When was this published? This article was first published on July 11, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Greg Owen at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .