Grace Baptist Church to Raffle Off Flamethrower
TROY, N.Y. A Baptist church in Troy is planning to raffle off a flamethrower during a revival this summer.
Grace Baptist Church announced the giveaway on its Facebook page on Monday. The church said it will raffle off the flamethrower on July 3 and 4 during its annual revival. Guest speakers include Tony Hudson and Bob Gray DrSr.
The church said the flamethrower is a "powerful tool" that can be used for "self-defense, hunting, and other purposes."
The giveaway has drawn criticism from some local residents.
"I'm shocked that a church would be giving away a flamethrower," said one resident. "It's just irresponsible."
Another resident said the giveaway is "tone-deaf" given the recent mass shootings in the United States.
"It's just not the time or place for this," the resident said.
The church's pastor, John Koletas, defended the giveaway, saying it is simply a way for the church to "reach out to the community."
"We're not trying to start a fire," Koletas said. "We're just trying to have some fun."
The flamethrower giveaway is not the first time Grace Baptist Church has made headlines. In 2014, the church raffled off an AR-15 rifle. The giveaway drew international attention and led to protests outside the church.
The church has also been criticized for its pastor's inflammatory rhetoric. Koletas has made statements that attack Black people, Jews, and Muslims.
Despite the controversy, Grace Baptist Church remains a popular destination for many people in Troy. The church has a large congregation and its revivals are always well-attended.
It remains to be seen whether the flamethrower giveaway will be as popular as the AR-15 raffle. But one thing is for sure: it is sure to generate plenty of discussion.
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