The first gathering of Chimneyrock Elementary’s After School Satan Club had a big turnout, though many were not at the Tennessee school for the advertised puzzles, games and snacks.

While The Satanic Temple told WMC “the kiddos had a great time,” dozens of protestors who descended on the elementary school near Memphis for the club’s first meeting on Wednesday were less enthused.

“There is no reason that Memphis should have ever allowed an After School Satan Club to come in,” protestor Samantha Hardmon told the news site. “It’s time to revise policy and it’s time for parents to get on their post to pray and protect their kids.”

Protest organizer Charlotte Bergmann said she was surprised by the number of folks who came out to voice their concerns. They included parents of students at Chimneyrock and others, along with local pastors from several churches.

“What I want the school district to do is to obey the law,” Bergmann said. “And allow God to take care of this because this fight is not between the school and the satanic club. This is between God and the satanic club, and God’s going to bring it down.”

Frederick Tappan with Eureka True Vine Baptist Church told WREG he “was outraged that they would attack the young minds, the children with what they believe.”

Tappan and other local pastors are now planning to meet on Tuesday to brainstorm on ways to offer students more positive options for after school activities, and they’re encouraging locals to get involved.

“If they have 10 opportunities for good and one opportunity for bad, we’re hoping that will overcome the bad,” Tappan said.

The protest outside Chimneyrock this week was predictable, based on the public backlash when the club announced its plans to launch last month.

The school’s After School Satan Club, The Satanic Temple’s fifth active club and first in Tennessee, is designed to counter the Good News Club that promotes Christian values. Organizers contend they do not discuss Satanic teachings, but instead offer activities for young kids inspired by Satanic beliefs, WREG reports.

A flyer inviting students to “have fun” at the club promises science projects, community service projects, nature activities, arts and crafts and other activities.

It contends “The Satanic Temple supports children to think for themselves.

“All after School Satan Clubs are based on activities centered around the Seven Fundamental Tenets and emphasize a scientific, rationalist, non-superstitious worldview,” according to the flyer.

“We can take Satan and view Satan as this create and this character however we want,” organizer June Everett said. “We don’t have to believe Satan as this evil deity. We van view Satan as we wish and that’s exactly what we do.”

The club, and others in California, Ohio, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, leverage U.S. Supreme Court precedent to demand equal access to school facilities in places that allow Good News Clubs to operate.

School officials at Chimneyrock and elsewhere have confirmed they’re legally required to allow the After School Satan Club on campus if they allow others, and The Satanic Temple has successfully sued districts that have attempted to block the clubs.

In November, the Saucon Valley School District in Pennsylvania was forced to pay The Satanic Temple $200,000 and allow the club to meet after officials there shut it down in response to public outrage, The Associated Press reports.

Regardless, parents and local religious leaders near Memphis are vowing to continue their opposition until district officials take action.

“They need to go ahead and have this Satanic Temple somewhere else,” one parent told WMC. “Not near my children. Not after school. Not before school. … Not on our grounds.

“I’m not going to allow it and I’m going to keep speaking out until something is done,” the parents said.