"AND THEY SHALL FORGE THEIR SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES." Isaiah 2:4
St. Paul’s Social Justice Ministry is devoted to getting the guns out of homes because they pose such serious risks to children
and other members of our community.
and other members of our community.
GUNS TO GARDENS: April 18, 2026
WHAT: Gun Buyback Event
WHEN: 10-Noon, Saturday, April 18, 2026
WHERE: At Thy Word Ministries
8915 International Blvd, Oakland
Guns to Gardens, the innovative faith-based project to reduce the number of guns in Oakland, will take place at At Thy Word Ministries, 8915 International Blvd, Oakland from 10 til noon Saturday April 18. Guns to Gardens is centered in Isiah 2:4 "and they shall forge their swords into plowshares" so the guns that are turned in are forged into garden tools. Each person turning in a gun will receive a gift card (up to $300) and a garden tool forged from a gun that was turned in at last year's Guns to Gardens event.
This year Guns to Gardens is not asking for contributions because we had funds left over from last year. Instead we are asking: Please help us get the word out! Having a gun in the home increases the risk of death from homicide, suicide, and unintentional shootings, affecting all members of the household, including children. Studies show a significantly higher rate of violent deaths, particularly suicides and homicides, for people living in homes with firearms compared to those in gun-free homes. Additionally, guns in the home are prime targets for thieves, who can then use them for crimes.
Please help us, together with the Oakland Police Department, to encourage all to get any guns out of their homes and the homes of their neighbors and friends, and bring them to the Mt. Zion parking lot on Nov. 15 knowing that they will be forged into garden tools, and that they will get a gift card and a garden tool that was forged from a gun.
Please post the attached flyer everywhere! If you need copies, let Paula know, and she will get them to you. Please help save lives by getting guns out of people's homes and off our streets.
WHEN: 10-Noon, Saturday, April 18, 2026
WHERE: At Thy Word Ministries
8915 International Blvd, Oakland
Guns to Gardens, the innovative faith-based project to reduce the number of guns in Oakland, will take place at At Thy Word Ministries, 8915 International Blvd, Oakland from 10 til noon Saturday April 18. Guns to Gardens is centered in Isiah 2:4 "and they shall forge their swords into plowshares" so the guns that are turned in are forged into garden tools. Each person turning in a gun will receive a gift card (up to $300) and a garden tool forged from a gun that was turned in at last year's Guns to Gardens event.
This year Guns to Gardens is not asking for contributions because we had funds left over from last year. Instead we are asking: Please help us get the word out! Having a gun in the home increases the risk of death from homicide, suicide, and unintentional shootings, affecting all members of the household, including children. Studies show a significantly higher rate of violent deaths, particularly suicides and homicides, for people living in homes with firearms compared to those in gun-free homes. Additionally, guns in the home are prime targets for thieves, who can then use them for crimes.
Please help us, together with the Oakland Police Department, to encourage all to get any guns out of their homes and the homes of their neighbors and friends, and bring them to the Mt. Zion parking lot on Nov. 15 knowing that they will be forged into garden tools, and that they will get a gift card and a garden tool that was forged from a gun.
Please post the attached flyer everywhere! If you need copies, let Paula know, and she will get them to you. Please help save lives by getting guns out of people's homes and off our streets.
Photos of our events in 2024 & 25:
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These are the guns in the OPD truck.
Volunteers hard at work!
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An officer inspecting a long gun.
Thank you to everyone!
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Meet our Blacksmith, John Rogers
 John, as an altar boy at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in North Dakota.
To John, forging these guns into garden tools is spiritual, literally transforming a weapon that hurts people into a tool for raising food and flowers.
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John Rogers today, with the tools that he forged.
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HOW YOU CAN HELP
- DONATE HERE to help underwrite the costs of the event. Scroll down to choose "Give to Guns to Gardens."
- Volunteer to help at the next event event. Contact Paula Hawthorn [email protected]
- Spread the word: Encourage donations, volunteers, and gun drop off at our next event, June 2024.
- Volunteer to help at the next event event. Contact Paula Hawthorn [email protected]
- Spread the word: Encourage donations, volunteers, and gun drop off at our next event, June 2024.