Calvary Baptist Church in Dumas, TX is hosting a concealed handgun class on March 1 and the pastor is looking at the event as an “opportunity for the church.”
“There is such an interest right now in the class, self-defense and protecting one’s family,” Foster, the church’s senior pastor, said. “We are always looking for ways to offer ministry and service to our community, and we never wanted it to be just for church members. People all over the area are expressing an interest.”
It’s a ten hour class taught by a certified instructor.
“The main purpose of this class is to handle a firearm safely and know when to shoot or just be a good witness,” Foster said. “There are parameters. You need to now where to carry, where you can’t carry and know you’re responsible for that round.”
There hasn’t been any negative feedback to speak of, however this church is known for thinking “outside the box.”
“We’ve always attempted to think outside the box as far as what the needs of the community are, and I think this melds well with that philosophy. From the Biblical perspective, we are especially interested as men to be protectors of innocents. Jesus has a special place in his heart for children and innocents, and that’s an important role we have to play.”
So far, more than 50 percent of participants are women.
“It’ll make people feel more secure about where they are, and hopefully the more people get the license the safer we’ll all be,” he said.
The church has two additional CHL classes planned, and Foster said they will continue to offer them as long as interest remains.
“I think, more than ever before, I personally am drawn more to our Constitution, and we’re not overtly political, but at places where politics and the Bible intersect, we’re not afraid to go there,” Foster said.
