Tweet
HEAVEN SENT?
Preacher seeks sign, gets zapped by lightning
Evangelist sees church burn, sound system blown out
A guest evangelist preaching in Forest, Ohio, was asking God for a sign when lightning struck the church's steeple.
''It was awesome, just awesome," said church member Ronnie Cheney, 40, who was in the church when the lightning struck, according to the local paper, the Findlay Courier. ''You could hear the storm building outside ... He (the evangelist) just kept asking God what else he needed to say,'' Cheney said. ''He was asking for a sign and he got one.''
About 7:45 p.m., lightning hit the First Baptist Church's steeple, went through the electrical wiring and blew out the church's sound system. Cheney said the lightning traveled through the microphone and enveloped the preacher, but he was not injured.
Afterward, services resumed for about 20 minutes, but then the congregation realized that the church was on fire and the building was evacuated.
According to Forest Fire Chief Doug Hawkin, his crew, along with fire departments from two other towns, doused the blaze.
''It was kind of interesting hearing the preacher talk about what had happened,'' Hawkin admitted.
There were no injuries.
Damage to the church was estimated at about $20,000.
Comment