SOUTH MADISON COUNTY — Getting a group of men together for fellowship and worship is nothing new. Doing so during target practice is a little different.
God and Guns is a social group formed by the leadership of The River Church in Lapel.
Aaron Riffey, 41, of Pendleton is the club organizer. He and the group meet a couple of times a month, either at a shooting range or a member’s home, for fellowship and to also enjoy their common hobby, talking about firearms as group members clean and shoot them.
“If you’re looking to transform your life, renew your hope in God and pursue him, and you like guns, this group is for you,” Riffey said.
The club has been meeting for more than two years as part of the church’s philosophy to bring people together outside of church walls and help them incorporate God into their everyday lives, including hobbies.
“It’s all about transforming lives, renewing hope and pursuing God,” Riffey said.
Church leaders said they found there are many different ways to accomplish those goals, including getting people involved in church-related activities of a sort where God might not normally be talked about.
They want people to think about God not only on Sundays but throughout their everyday lives — even on the shooting range.
Riffey hopes the meetings allow fellow gun enthusiasts to relax and feel at home and help each member get closer to God.
When the group formed, organizers decided there weren’t too many better ways to get together a group of guys who might not be too talkative than to give them a chance to grow in their faith through a common interest in marksmanship.
They shoot pistols, rifles, shotguns and automatic weapons, as well as hunting bows.
Organizers know if they simply offered a men’s prayer meeting, some might not come, but giving guys a chance to take part and talk about things they like — such as target shooting and hunting — is a different story.
“Now you have broken barriers, because you know you’re going to be around people with a like interest,” Riffey said.
The common interest helps conversations flow and allows the group to get to know each other, develop trust and learn more about life.
“We can help each other through our manly problems, so to speak,” Riffey said with a laugh.
While club organizers would like God and Guns members to attend The River on a regular basis, it’s OK if some don’t. They’ll never turn away anyone interested in atten-ding. They know the club meeting might be their only chance to show attenders who God is, Riffey said.
Attending the God and Guns gatherings could ultimately lead a person to becoming a church member or help him to get to know God, and organizers are all about opening that door.
Stephen Jett of Anderson is a God and Guns member. He and his wife, Bonnie Jett, have been attending The River for just more than a year.
He felt joining in with the God and Guns group now and again was a great opportunity to get to know his fellow church brethren.
He likes the chance to also shoot bows and arrows and go on a hunting trip once a year with the group.
Being a member has given him a chance to develop trust in fellow church members.
“You let your guard down around the guys as you get to know each other,” he said. “Most guys can relax and be a little more real with each other if they’re having fun.”
His wife recently received her gun permit and might pop into an occasional God and Guns meeting.
While the club is set up for males, it often offers outreach events throughout the community where women and children are invited to take part in the fellowship, Riffey said.
The God and Guns group size varies throughout the seasons from a handful of enthusiasts to a dozen, but there is always a constant group of guys who like to get together.
It’s always a good time, Riffey said, because God is always there with them no matter what they’re doing.