BREAKING NEWS (UPDATED): I 75 Jesus in Dayton, Ohio Struck by Lightning, Burns

(Editor's Note – This story is being updated throughout the day. Videos showing the fire and other info have been added.) In Dayton, Ohio, the iconic I 75 Jesus, which was a 62 foot statue that appeared to rise out of a lake with arms outstretched as if signaling a touchdown, otherwise known as "Touchdown Jesus," was struck by lightning and destroyed. The fire also destroyed a portion of the Solid Rock Church. No injuries were reported.

The statue was also memorialized with the song "Big Butter Jesus," by Heywood Banks.

Church Members React.

Local news station 2 News visited the scene this morning, and interviewed local church members for their reactions.  One felt that this was not a coincidence and seemed to believe that the fire was an omen.

Live Video Coverage of the Fire.

Someone was able to film a few seconds of the fire live and put it on YouTube last night:

News From Throughout the Night on Touchdown Jesus Fire.

Jesus Burns to Ground

Touchdown Jesus Destroyed by Lightening


Touchdown Jesus Had Just Had a Makeover.

As God Discussion reported in March of this year, the "Touchdown Jesus" was getting a makeover. See the video of the King of Kings here.

Another Local Reaction.

Dakota O'Leary

Dakota O'Leary is a freethinker, and often sassy, scholar of theology and literature. She got her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theology from the State University of New York College at Buffalo, and her Master of Arts degree in Theology and Literature from Antioch University-Midwest. She is a contributing writer focusing on eschatology, biblical prophecy, and general religious news. Dakota is a co-host of the God Discussion radio show, offering insight to the news stories of the week. We like to call her "our in-house Biblical prophecy expert" as her articles on eschatology have received over 200,000 views on God Discussion.

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  • bezboznik

    THANK YOU, JESUS!

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  • http://www.goddiscussion.com Dakota O'Leary

    Now known as "The Hindenburg Jesus"…..

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  • http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

    I read that this was made of wood and styrofoam … to the tune of $500,000 to construct. Not sure how much the renovations from March cost, or if they had finished them.

  • http://www.goddiscussion.com Dakota O'Leary

    Hey Admin:

    500,000.00?? Come on now that's nothing….you can't put a price on Jesus.

    • http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

      LOL! I bet they raise enough money through donations or insurance to rebuilt it pretty quickly … though I wonder what kind of materials they'd use this time around.

      • http://www.goddiscussion.com Dakota O'Leary

        Hopefully not styrofoam and fiberglass as was originally done.

        • http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

          I am seeing other reports that say it cost $250,000 – I suspect today some damage estimates will be reported.

          • http://www.goddiscussion.com Dakota O'Leary

            700,000 worth of damage and they're going to rebuild. So much for omens :)

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  • http://www.notguru.com Urbain Beck

    Seeing that the statue of the Jesus deity was ablaze in a lake, so to speak, it kind of gives "the Lake of Fire" a new meaning.

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