Pennsylvania church plans to bless couples who bring AR-15s
Rev. Sean Moon, of Rod of Iron Ministries and the World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church, is planning a blessing event this week in which AR-15s play a part. (Photo: Rod of Iron)
A small church in the Poconos plans to hold a blessing ceremony this week in which couples are urged to bring a “rod of iron” defined as an AR-15 or similar.
The World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church in Newfoundland planned its event months ago and, contrary to some media reports, the couples attending will be blessed and not the firearms they bring. Church leaders say the blessing, in which 600 are expected to participate Wednesday, is a historic first for the church.
“This will be a big thing for us,” said Tim Elder with the Sanctuary Church. “It’s a new stage for us because it incorporates the rod of iron, as it is in [The Book of] Revelations. Revelations talks about the returning Christ ruling with the rod of iron.”
An offshoot of late Korean religious figure Sun Myung Moon’s Unification Church, the Sanctuary Church is led by his son, Sean Moon, who teaches the AR-15 is a tangible symbol of the church that shows “both the intent and the ability” to defend ones’ family, community, and nation. Those couples who attend the blessing ceremony, are expected to either bring an AR-15 or similar– AKs are fine– or a $700 gift certificate from a gun store to show the intent to acquire such a semi-auto.
The church has a history of strong support for the right to keep and bear arms. Kahr Arms founder and owner Justin Moon is Rev. Moon’s brother and the pair helped organize a dinner to benefit a national gun rights group last week. Further, the church has sponsored “rod of iron” art contests in which participants completed works that had to include a firearm.
Although some in the community are concerned the event will be held close to a school, and gun control advocates plan to protest, church organizers point out that the guns at the ceremony will be unloaded and zip-tied.
Read More On:
Latest Reviews
-
The Baby Glock Centimeter: A Review of the New G29 Gen 5 10mm Carry Pistol
Whether straying into the backcountry or just a fan of the 10mm Auto, Glock has long had one of the smallest carry guns offered in that caliber and we have been kicking around its latest variant for a couple of months.
Read More -
AMT Backup .380 Review: Fun With a Retro Pocket Pistol
I’m rather fascinated with pocket guns, so when I came across this AMT Backup 380 in Guns.com's Certified Used stockpile, I had to give it a try. It's an interesting and affordable retro pistol.
Read More -
Winchester Model 100 in .243 Win Stands the Test of Time
Every now and then I happen upon a neat little rifle I’ve never heard of, like this Winchester Model 100. Let's see if this mid-century deer hunter chambered in .243 Winchester still has what it takes.
Read More -
Palm Full of Parabellum: A Review of the 9mm Bond Arms Stubby
Texas-based Bond Arms, the country's go-to maker of double-barreled derringer-style handguns in usable calibers, recently introduced an ultra-compact new 9mm-- the aptly named Stubby.
Read More
