Kentucky Pastor Justifies Bible School's Controversial Drill

WHO:

Alternet - Dewayne Walker is the pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky.

Alternet - The church involved is Mt. Olivet Baptist Church.

WHAT:

Alternet - A video showed children participating in a mock firing squad during a vacation Bible school event.

Alternet - Children chanted “take him out, blow him up” while soldiers pretended to open fire with air-soft rifles on a character representing the devil.

Alternet - The mock soldiers dragged the devil character out of the room after pretending to kill him.

TMZ - The church performed a mock execution by firing squad in front of children.

WHERE:

Alternet - The event took place at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky.

WHY:

Alternet - Pastor Dewayne Walker stated that the event was part of a long-standing tradition of portraying good versus evil in their vacation Bible school for 32 years.

Alternet - Walker emphasized that the church aims to make church a fun and happy place while teaching children about spiritual warfare and the battle against sin.

HOW:

Alternet - The event included characters representing good and evil, with skits, songs, and games as part of the vacation Bible school activities.

Alternet - Walker described the theme of the vacation Bible school as "evil-against-good" and mentioned the use of a "gospel gun" as the answer to the devil.

(UPDATED June 29, 2026 23:23 UTC)

A video has surfaced showing children at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, participating in a mock firing squad during a vacation Bible school event, where they chanted phrases like “take him out, blow him up” while soldiers pretended to open fire on a character representing the devil. Pastor Dewayne Walker explained that this event is part of a long-standing tradition aimed at portraying the battle between good and evil, which has been a theme in their vacation Bible school for 32 years. He emphasized that the church seeks to create a fun and happy environment for children while teaching them about spiritual warfare and the fight against sin.