This week in Christian history: ‘Touchdown Jesus’ destroyed, Howell Harris' born-again experience
'Touchdown Jesus' statue destroyed – June 14, 2010
This week marks the anniversary of when the King of Kings statue, a 62-foot statue of Jesus Christ that was located at Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio, was destroyed when it was struck by lightning.
Known as “Touchdown Jesus” for depicting Christ with His arms raised, the sculpture was a popular sight off Interstate 75, placed adjacent to a lake on the megachurch property.
The resulting fire destroyed the mostly plastic foam statue, reported The Guardian, and also inflicted approximately $400,000 in damages to the nearby church amphitheater.
Nevertheless, the church persisted, and in 2012 they finished construction on a new over 60-foot-tall full body statue of Jesus, known as the Lux Mundi, or “Light of the World.”
Ron Carter, administrator at Solid Rock, told The Christian Post in an interview in 2012 that the new statue had certain attributes that would prevent another lightning-based fire.
"The materials used for the statue are all fire rated and we have installed a lightning suppression system as an integral part of the statue," said Carter. "If the statue is struck by lightning, I'm told there will be damage at the point of the strike, but the statue should not burn."
