Our Theological Method
Throughout Scripture, there is a recurring vision of the Day of the Lord. This vision is meant to inspire hope, a day when people "shall beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks; when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war anymore."
While our modern arsenals lack swords and spears, they abound with guns.
Corey, a hunter and gun owner himself, begins a transformative process by converting donated guns–a process that began with his own handgun in 2019. This project isn’t about advocating for taking guns or gun rights away; rather, it’s an attempt to encourage us to imagine a world with less violence and to empathize with those impacted by gun violence. The aim is to shatter the grip guns hold on our hearts rather than merely altering the physical object.
The mission is to offer a welcoming space where people from diverse backgrounds can come together to mourn, envision, and dream. Regardless of whether you are a staunch pacifist or a self-proclaimed gun nut, the goal is to provide a time to imagine and nurture a better world.
Hosting a Demonstration
A Guns into Garden Tools demonstration offers flexibility in its format, with a range of possibilities to suit your preferences. At its core, we bring our forge and anvil setup, along with the necessary tools, to your location. Corey takes the lead, igniting the forge and initiating the transformation of a deactivated gun barrel into a functional garden tool. Your community can choose to retain, donate, or auction off the resulting creation.
Beyond this foundational process, we offer various customization options. If you'd like participants to engage hands-on and be part of the forging process, we can facilitate that experience. Should you wish to incorporate a worship service or any other accompanying event, we can seamlessly integrate it. Additionally, we can craft personalized heart necklaces for attendees to take home, adding a meaningful touch to the occasion.
While we encourage providing the gun barrel, we understand that circumstances may not always allow for it. If this is the case, please let us know in your email, and we will make suitable arrangements to ensure a successful event.