A group that says its mission is "to halt and push back the forces of darkness" is holding a tactical event in southwest Missouri this weekend to train Christians in "hand-to-hand combat" and "fighting from your vehicle."

Called the Missouri Embattled Warriors Event, the gathering is reminiscent of the militia exercises and preparedness training that spread across the country in the 1990s. It is scheduled to run from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday on wooded property along Highway Mm in Newton County between Neosho and Joplin.

"We're a group of Christian men and women that go out and will stand against unrighteousness," said Kevin VanStory, a real estate broker from Neosho and a leader of the Salt and Light Brigade MAKO edition, which includes Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.