Camel Kicks Woman at Houston Megachurch's Christmas Show

Federal inspection finds 'critical' safety concern after incident at Champion Forest Baptist Church event.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A federal inspection has faulted a company near Conroe, Texas for failing to take proper safety precautions during a Christmas show at Houston's Champion Forest Baptist Church, where a camel kicked a woman in the audience, apparently knocking her unconscious. The United States Department of Agriculture identified a 'critical' concern after reviewing videos of the December 13th incident.

Why it matters

The incident has renewed criticism from animal rights group PETA about the use of live animals in the church's annual 'Christmas Spectacular' production, which is a signature event for many megachurches. The USDA inspection report highlighted the need for sufficient distance and barriers between animals and the public during public exhibitions.

The details

According to the USDA inspection report, a 14-year-old male dromedary camel kicked an attendee's head as the camel's handler guided him down a church aisle for the annual Christmas show. The audience member was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment. The USDA inspector noted that a lack of barriers between animals and the public can harm the animals' health and well-being, and that animals must be handled during public exhibitions to minimize risk of harm.

  • The incident occurred on December 13, 2025 during Champion Forest Baptist Church's annual 'Christmas Spectacular' production.
  • The USDA inspection was conducted after the incident and the report was issued on January 8, 2026.

The players

Trunks and Humps Inc.

The company that provided the animals for Champion Forest Baptist Church's Christmas show, which was cited by the USDA for failing to take proper safety precautions.

Gervais Edmonds-Wiggins

The USDA inspector who conducted the review of the incident and issued the report identifying the 'critical' safety concern.

Champion Forest Baptist Church

The Houston megachurch that hosts the annual 'Christmas Spectacular' production featuring live animals, which was the site of the camel kick incident.

Jarrett Stephens

The senior pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church.

Klayton Rutherford

The director of Captive Wildlife Advocacy at the PETA Foundation, which has criticized the church's use of live animals in its Christmas show.

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What they’re saying

“During public exhibition, any animal must be handled so there is minimal risk of harm to the animal and to the public, with sufficient distance and/or barriers between the animal and the general viewing public.”

— Gervais Edmonds-Wiggins, USDA Inspector

“We will continue to reach out to Champion Forest and urge them to do the right thing. And if they refuse, they can expect to hear more from us and more from concerned people across the world who want to see this church make the right decision for animals and its congregation by not using animals in its events anymore.”

— Klayton Rutherford, Director of Captive Wildlife Advocacy, PETA Foundation

What’s next

The USDA has given Trunks and Humps Inc. until January 8th to correct the safety concern identified in the inspection report. Champion Forest Baptist Church has not yet indicated whether it will continue to use live animals in its annual Christmas production.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the risks involved in using live animals for entertainment purposes, even at family-friendly church events. It raises questions about whether megachurches should reconsider the use of live animals in their productions and find alternative ways to create a festive atmosphere that prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of both the animals and the audience.