Sure Foundation Baptist Church is an independent American Christian fundamentalist Baptist church with branches in Indianapolis and the state of Washington.[1] It is led by pastor Aaron Thompson.[2][3][4] The church is best known for its extreme anti-LGBTQ stance, advocating the imposition of the death penalty for homosexuals.[5][6][7] It is classified as a hate group by the SPLC and the Anti-Defamation League.[8] Its pastors spoke out in praise of the mass shootings of people from the LGBTQ community at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[9]
History
editThe church was founded in 2018.[10]
Controversy
editPromoting the suicide of LGBTQ+ people
editAt the church's Indianapolis branch during a Men's Preaching Night on June 29, 2025, Stephen Falco made numerous comments regarding the LGBTQ+ community, including that they should "blow [themselves] in the head, in the back of the head."[5][6][7] While Falco's sermon was reportedly removed from YouTube for violating its Terms of Service,[11] at the time of publication, it remains available on Facebook.[12]
On July 3, local leader Justin Zhong[13] defended Falco's sermon on the Church's Facebook page, stating he "will not apologize for preaching the Word of God" and "stating facts," stating "the LGBTHIV crowd is full of domestic terrorists."[14]
Promoting the death penalty for LGBTQ+ people
editWhen WISH-TV reached out to the Indianapolis branch of the church regarding Falco's remarks, the church responded that Falco was "...only calling for the death penalty and suicide for the actual sodomites (homosexuals). The Bible teaches that those people are worthy of death. They are supposed to be executed by the government. We are not to take the law into our own hands."[15]
Protests against the Indianapolis branch of the church
editZhong reportedly told the Indianapolis Star that he was "not surprised" at the first protest on July 13.[16]
Charlize Jamieson, a transgender woman from Muncie, drove to the Indianapolis branch to attend service at the church.[17][18] Before she could park her car, WISH-TV reports, the church took photos of her and her license plate.[17] She told WISH that "she was not there for the protests, but 'would have joined (the protests)' should she be turned away from worship."[19] Speaking to a local videographer, Jaimeson added the church said that "the police were on the way, and [she] was trespassing, and [she] was being trespassed off, apparently for having [her] car there."[18]
See also
edit• Westboro Baptist Church, another American Baptist group with similar fundamentalist theology
References
edit- ↑ Burris, Alexandria. "Indianapolis church doubles down on Pride sermon advocating for harm to LGBTQ people". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ↑ "This Bear of a Hate Preacher Has a 'Sodomite' Fixation". www.advocate.com. 2022. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ↑ "Vancouver church linked to man arrested for anti-LGBTQ hate crime". Oregon Public Broadcasting. 2022. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- ↑ "Vancouver pastor condemned for anti-LGBTQ sermon". The Columbian. 2025-07-03. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- 1 2 Perry, Sophie (2025-07-07). "Church tells LGBTQ+ people to kill themselves or face death penalty under Trump". PinkNews. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- 1 2 Russell, Kyla (2025-07-02). "Indianapolis church calls for LGBTQ+ community to face death penalty". WISH-TV. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
- 1 2 "Shawn Vestal: Religious leaders push back against hateful viral video". The Spokesman-Review. 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ↑ "ADL H.E.A.T. Map™ (Hate, Extremism, Antisemitism, Terrorism)".
- ↑ "Vancouver pastor condemned for anti-LGBTQ sermon". The Columbian. 2025-07-10. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ↑ Grant, Natalie (2023-05-22). "Spokane sermon goes viral for violent anti-trans message". KXLY kxly.com. Retrieved 2025-07-08.
- ↑ Jackson, Jade. "Protesters with pride signs confront Indy church after anti-LGBTQ sermon calls for violence". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ↑ "Livestreamed Service on June 29th, 2025". Facebook. June 29, 2025. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ↑ "SURE FOUNDATION BAPTIST CHURCH". SURE FOUNDATION BAPTIST CHURCH. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ↑ Zhong, Justin (July 3, 2025). "Sure Foundation Baptist Church's Response Post to Stephen Falco's Sermon". Facebook. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ↑ WISH-TV (2025-07-02). Church calls for LGBTQ+ community to be put to death. Retrieved 2025-07-15 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Tannous, Christine. "LGBTQ+ supporters protest Indianapolis baptist church following anti-LGBTQ sermon". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- 1 2 WISH-TV (2025-07-13). Protest outside church that called for LGBTQ+ deaths - News 8 at 11. Retrieved 2025-07-15 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 Documocracy (2025-07-13). Baptist Bigotry #sayitoutloud#lgbtq#pride#transrights#Christianbigotry. Retrieved 2025-07-15 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Carlson, Parker (2025-07-13). "Protestors rally outside Indianapolis church in response to LGBTQ+ death penalty message". Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic | WISH-TV |. Retrieved 2025-07-16.