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Staff photo Nick Graham
No one was injured in the blaze and fire officials said they expect to have a damage estimate later this morning.
File photo
In this Nov. 17, 2004 file photo, Traffic on I-75 just north of the Monroe interchange speeds past a 6-story high statue of Jesus at the Solid Rock Church. The 62-foot-tall Messiah about 15 miles north of Cincinnati was completed in August of that year.
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Site of the former King of Kings statue at Solid Rock Church, 904 Union Road, Monroe, OH.
Contributed photo Tiffani West-May
This photo was taken by Tiffani West-May, of Fairborn, who was on her way home from Cincinnati on Monday June 14, 2010. The photo was shot at 11:20 p.m. The large Jesus statue, iconic to I-75, was destroyed following an apparent lightning strike during a thunderstorm late Monday night.
Rebuilt Jesus statue will be fireproof, pastor says
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Passersby who called 911 reported hand was struck by lightning.
By Denise Wilson and Lauren Pack,
Staff Writers
Updated 7:19 AM Wednesday, June 16, 2010
MONROE — To some it was a landmark. To others, a punchline.
The iconic 62-foot-tall “King of Kings” statue in front of Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 was both a vibrant religious symbol and a roadside distraction that elicited strong opinions.
The statue — also dubbed “Touchdown Jesus” and “Big Butter Jesus” — was destroyed Monday night, June 14, during a lightning-induced fire that caused $700,000 to it and the church’s adjacent amphitheater. Church leaders vowed Tuesday to rebuild.
“It’s such a monument. It’s like people know Monroe by the statue of Jesus,” said the Rev. Darlene Bishop, co-pastor. “It’s important that we rebuild.”
Bishop said leaders would update the 2,000 to 3,000 expected to attend the 10 a.m. Sunday services on rebuilding plans, adding the new statue would be at least as big as the original, which cost about $250,000, and fireproof.
Bishop said church leaders are not asking for donations, however, they aren’t rejecting them, either.
The statue’s destruction drew as much attention as its construction in 2004, with church officials getting calls from across the U.S. and as far away as China and Russia. People from across the region, many with cameras in hand, came Tuesday to view the charred metal skeleton that remained.
Traffic along I-75 was sluggish during the rush hour commutes as motorists slowed down or pulled off the highway. By 4 p.m., the Ohio State Highway Patrol quit issuing warnings and had troopers start ticketing gawkers.
“We understand the public interest, but we have to put safety first,” said Sgt. Tracy Callahan, assistant post commander. “We have to keep people moving because it’s just too dangerous.”
Keith Lewis of Middletown arrived at the church just after 7 a.m. to take pictures for his wife, Stephanie. “She said she wanted a picture of what was left,” he said.
Duane Metcalf was among those who stopped by to say good riddance. The 50-year-old Trenton resident hopes plans to have it rebuilt are abandoned. “If it was supposed to be here, it would still be here,” he said.
News about the statue’s demise was the top search topic on Google, with a hotness rating of “On Fire;” YouTube videos of the fire were highly viewed; and thousands of Facebook and Twitter fans worldwide posted comments on the news — some regretful but many humorous or even scornful.
“Seriously, you build a giant statue of Jesus, then God strikes it w/ lightning and destroys it. Aren’t you clearly doing something wrong?” wrote ToplessRobot on his Twitter page.
Others viewed the statue fire as a bad omen. “I think it’s a sign of the end of the world,” said Paul Wright, 21, of Oxford. “If lightning is going to strike God, then there’s no hope.”
Iconic statue draws attention from around world
By the time Rev. Darlene Bishop and her husband arrived at Solid Rock Church Monday night, June 14, the 62-foot-tall Jesus statue out front had burned to the ground.
Yet Bishop, co-pastor of the church, said her first thoughts weren’t about the devastation or rebuilding the iconic structure that has become synonymous with Monroe.
“I thought about the people that lost their homes in Nashville, the people that lost their lives in Arkansas, and the people that have lost their jobs in the Gulf (of Mexico),” Bishop said, referring to recent natural and manmade disasters. “We don’t have no problems. That’s just something that’s made out of fiberglass.”
The “King of Kings” statue, more affectionately known as “Touchdown Jesus,” was destroyed Monday night late when it caught fire around 11:15 p.m. after its right hand was struck by lightning. The fire caused $700,000 damage to the statue and adjacent Lawrence Bishop Music Theatre.
The first caller, traveling south on I-75, said “a bolt of lighting” hit the statue.
The dispatcher responded, “Jesus is on fire.”
One male caller said, “I swear to God, this is not a prank … I am serious. I just saw it get struck by lighting.” The dispatcher reassured, stating, “I believe you.”
The man said, “I know it’s not funny, but literally his one hand is on fire.”
Bishop said church leaders would rebuild the statue, possibly bigger, and definitely fireproof. The amphitheater, statue and surrounding area had lightning resisters and grounding rods to dispense lightning into the ground, but for some reason they did not work, said Monroe Fire Chief Mark Neu.
Bishop said she knew people would have strong opinions in the wake of the fire.
“I knew that there would be a lot of critics that would say, 'Oh, Jesus didn’t like it and that’s why he done this,” Bishop said. “But (the statue) has weathered a lot of storms in the last seven years.”
While Bishop anticipated criticism, the outpouring of support was another matter.
A pastor from South Africa and media from as far away as Canada, China and Russia all contacted Solid Rock Church on Tuesday to find out its plans for rebuilding the statue.
“Several pastors have e-mailed me, called me, texted me all morning. We’ve had them from Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and from Georgia. I speak all over the world so a lot of churches are familiar with our church,” Bishop said.
The statue was 62 feet tall and weighed 8 tons.
Construction began in June 2004.
Designed by Brad Coriell Nashville artist and Dayton native.
Built by sculptor James Lynch of Florida.
Funded by Lawrence and Darlene Bishop, Solid Rock Church pastors.
The project cost $250,000.
The steel frame was built in Lebanon. The body, of Styrofoam and fiberglass, was fabricated at Lynch’s studio in Florida.
The 13-foot long parts were transported by trucks to Monroe. Lynch’s studio is 13 feet tall.
Immortalized by comedian Heywood Banks in his novelty song, “Big Butter Jesus.”
— Dave Larsen, Staff writer
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