Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, faces backlash after vacation Bible school video goes viral

A Lexington church is facing online criticism after a video of its vacation Bible school skit went viral on TikTok and Facebook. The video showed people portraying soldiers carrying air rifles and shooting at a person dressed as the devil on a staircase. Young children watched and chanted “take him out, blow him up.” TikTok removed the video, but reposts remain on several social media platforms.

Many viewers who commented on the video or reposted it described it as disturbing and violent.

In a Facebook video, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church Pastor Dewayne Walker said the skit is a 32-year-old tradition and that he did not mean to offend anyone. Walker said his intended message was spiritual warfare, encouraging children to reject the devil, and that the skit was meant to give children a visible picture of what he described as an invisible reality. “Maybe you’re right, maybe we’re wrong, but understand, we’re painting a real picture to kids, visibly what’s going on invisibly,” Walker said.

Russell Weisgerber, a five-year member of Mt. Olivet whose son was in the audience, said the online criticism does not reflect the church’s broader work. He said the church holds weekly services and addiction-based ministries. “I’m just really passionate about recovery, I’m passionate about trying to have people find their relationship with God, however it is, and this church has been a big influence for that,” Weisgerber said.

Weisgerber said it troubles him that a clip from a week-long event is now how many people see the church. “It could have been better, it could have been different, I’m not going to argue with it. It really hurts my heart because nobody wants to talk about the years of good from this church,” he said.

Lexington police said they received multiple calls, tips and concerns about the video but found no criminal activity involved. Police said complaints should be directed to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

WKYT reached out to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services but had not received a response.

Source: Read the original report