WAYCROSS, Ga. — No one was injured after lightning struck the steeple of Deenwood Baptist Church during a thunderstorm Monday, July 7, sparking a fire that is expected to leave the church’s sanctuary a total loss.
Pastor Jarrod Everson was in his office when the fire started. He was the only person in the building and said he did not realize the church was on fire until a firefighter arrived.
“There was a thunderstorm going on, and the church steeple was struck by lightning,” Everson said. “I was the only one there. And when the fireman showed up, that’s when I realized we were on fire.”
Everson said no one was injured.
The full extent of the damage is still being assessed as the church works with its insurance company, but Everson said the sanctuary appears likely to be a total loss. The education space was not destroyed, he said, but it sustained smoke and water damage.
WTLV-TV in Jacksonville reported that fire crews worked for hours to put out the flames. Everson told the station he cannot go inside the sanctuary because of the risk that the roof could collapse.
Longtime member Larry Dixon told the station Deenwood Baptist has been “a cornerstone of the community.” Dixon said he and his wife were married in the original sanctuary in 1975.
“No matter what form, shape, or condition it’s in, I’ll be here,” Dixon said.
Even as church leaders begin working through next steps, Everson said the response from the community and other churches has been strong.
“The community has been great,” he said. “We probably had a dozen churches offer whatever use of their facilities or anything that we need. So the community’s response has been fantastic. A lot of our sister churches have been willing to bend over backwards to help.”
Everson asked Georgia Baptists to pray for the church as members face decisions in the days ahead.
“The main thing is just pray that the Lord will give us wisdom,” he said.
This article originally appeared in the Christian Index.
