An Ohio church has apologised after encouraging children to cut a pastor with a knife as part of an Easter lesson.
On Monday (local time), children attending a lesson on Easter and the crucifixion of Jesus at the Impact City Church in Columbus, Ohio, were told to assault Associate Pastor Jaddeus Dempsey using a variety of methods.
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Social media video of the event shows a child slicing down the man's back with a large knife, while others slap and spit at him.
It was meant to be an illustration of the pain Jesus went through for humanity, but some students at the event said it left them confused.
Ai'Janae Parker, a 12-year-old who attended, told NBC News it was "weird and awkward".
"Jesus did that for us so we wouldn't have to go through it. That's the part I didn't understand."
Lead Pastor Justin Ross has since posted on Facebook apologising for the "inappropriate" exercise, while Dempsey agreed it crossed a line for a young audience.
"I'm so sorry for misrepresenting the community, the church, the parents, the students," he said.
"My intention was just to show them how much Jesus loved them... I am deeply sorry for the pain that I have caused."
A formal review and investigation is also underway.
Newshub.
