A pastor in Kentucky is redefining the tradition of wearing your Sunday best to services by encouraging his congregation to strap on holsters and bring their weapons to church.
Pastor Ken Pagano of New Bethel Church in Louisville, Ky., says that he organized an "Open Carry Celebration" to promote responsible gun ownership.
"As a Christian pastor I believe that without a deep-seeded belief in God and firearms that this country would not be here," Pagano told ABCNews.com. "I'm not ashamed of that fact. I'm proud of it."
The celebration scheduled for Sunday, June 27, will feature YouTube videos promoting gun safety and will ask congregants to join in singing patriotic songs, according to Pagano.
A $1 raffle to win a free handgun will also be part of the festivities.
Well let's pack up the kids and take a break, get away Leave the hustle and bustle of living from day to day And I know that the crime in the city is-a getting worse So we're going on down to the gun sale at the church
Well my lady's all set to have us a real good time Baby Johnny's got fins but he don't seem to mind So the family's all ready to pray at the holy perch That's set up in the middle of the gun sale at the church
Well we'll ask the lord to forgive us all of our sins And we'll look at the latest in gold plated firing pins Well my two main men are Jesus and old John Birch So we're going on down to the gun sale at the church