Alabama church hopes to lure new members with shooting range in abandoned gulch

An Alabama church is using guns as a recruiting tool to get more congregation members through the door.

Rocky Mount United Methodist Church had an unused ravine near the church that they turned into a gun range.

"This is an opportunity for us to reach out in the name of Jesus Christ in a setting that is completely unique" Pastor Phillip Guin told WIAT. "Even odd by some people’s standards. But who’s to say that church can’t happen right here."

Guin said the church had elderly church members who wanted to learn to use guns they had purchased. Originally the range was used to teach firearm safety, WIAT reports. But that turned into the Rocky Mount Hunt and Gun Club.

It's worked as a recruiting tool. Guin told WIAT that prospective members are contacting him and other church members.

Watch the report from WIAT here: