TROY — The fire and brimstone preached by some will have a different meaning in July at Grace Baptist Church’s annual revival meeting when someone can take home a flamethrower as a prize if they decide not to pick an offered AR-15 rifle.
The controversial church, which has gained notoriety for raffling off modified AR-15s in the past and espousing hateful views toward various groups, is providing the opportunity to own the weapons at its revival meeting running from July 3-4.
“We’re also, as we’ve done in the past, going to give away not just an AR-15 on each night, Monday night and Tuesday night, but we’re also giving the option if somebody wants to have a flamethrower. The winner, the very fortunate attendee, will either choose to get an AR-15, a New York modified AR-15, or a flamethrower,” Pastor John Koletas said in a video posted on the church’s Twitter account April 23.
Koletas could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.
As Koletas talked about the upcoming revival meeting, the hymn “Give Me That Old Time Religion” played in the background. When he mentioned the flamethrower, the video background behind him showed a flamethrower being shot.
Flamethrowers are legal in New York. Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre, D-Lindenhurst, has introduced legislation in the state Assembly that would make it a felony to possess a flamethrower.
Koletas and his church gained international attention in 2014 when they gave away an AR-15. The person who won the raffle was expected to pass a background check before being given the weapon. The giveaway was repeated in 2017. In 2020, a similar giveaway drew demonstrators from Black Lives Matter supporters to the church…
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