Rocky Mount United Methodist Church in Jemison, Alabama, originally opened the club after many of its older members bought firearms, but did not know how to use them.
The range has since branched out from teaching gun safety to become Rocky Mount Hunt and Gun Club, which now also provides recreation for local firearm enthusiasts.
The right to bear arms is enshrined in the US Constitution, however the issue of gun control is deeply controversial in the country. Some argue that there needs to be tighter controls, or outright bans, on gun ownership outside of agricultural settings. They point to a number of shootings.
A gunman was sentenced to life in prison for killing 12 people at a cinema shooting in 2012, and injuring 70 others. The shooter, James Holmes was spared the death penalty, after the jury were unable to unanimously agree to it.
In June, a white gunman killed nine black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Dylann Roof confessed to the murders and will be sentenced later in the year.
However others argue that the right to have a weapon is a human right, and that they should be allowed to carry them to protect themselves and for recreational purposes.
Phillip Guin, the pastor of Rocky Mount United Methodist Church, told the WIAT and UPI news agencies: "This is an opportunity for us to reach out in the name of Jesus Christ in a setting that is completely unique. Even odd by some people's standards. But who's to say that church can't happen right here.
"Really, the whole purpose of this range is to provide recreational and gun safety in a warm, loving, Christian environment.
"We wanted to come up with some different ideas to help our church grow, and we thought this would be a unique ministry to offer to the community.
"Right now, we are just really happy with how everything turned out," Guin said.
"We found a use for the small 'Grand Canyon' behind our church, and turned it into something that is pretty cool."
