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Church: Jesus could be replaced this year
MONROE, Ohio, (UPI) -- An Ohio church said several artists have offered to work on a replacement for a 65-foot high statue of Jesus destroyed by a lightning strike this week.
The statute, "King of Kings," was more familiarly known as Touchdown Jesus because of the position of its arms, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Visible from Interstate 75, it had become a landmark outside Solid Rock Church in Monroe.
Darlene Bishop, co-pastor of the church with her husband, said the statue was insured for $500,000. She said the church has received thousands of dollars in donations since its destruction.
Bishop said she hopes a replacement will be erected by the end of the year.
Brad Coriell of Nashville, a Christian artist who designed the original statue, could do the new one, she said. The church has also been approached by other artists.
Coriell treated the lightning bolt as a teachable moment in a post on his Web site: "Whether it's a 65-foot tall image of Him struck by lightning today or His death on a cross for the sins of the world some 2,000 years ago, we're still talking about Him! Amen."
MONROE, Ohio, (UPI) -- An Ohio church said several artists have offered to work on a replacement for a 65-foot high statue of Jesus destroyed by a lightning strike this week.
The statute, "King of Kings," was more familiarly known as Touchdown Jesus because of the position of its arms, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Visible from Interstate 75, it had become a landmark outside Solid Rock Church in Monroe.
Darlene Bishop, co-pastor of the church with her husband, said the statue was insured for $500,000. She said the church has received thousands of dollars in donations since its destruction.
Bishop said she hopes a replacement will be erected by the end of the year.
Brad Coriell of Nashville, a Christian artist who designed the original statue, could do the new one, she said. The church has also been approached by other artists.
Coriell treated the lightning bolt as a teachable moment in a post on his Web site: "Whether it's a 65-foot tall image of Him struck by lightning today or His death on a cross for the sins of the world some 2,000 years ago, we're still talking about Him! Amen."