Cincinnati Enquirer
'Touchdown Jesus' statue at Solid Rock Church on I-75 destroyed by lightning, fire
62-foot-high 'King of Kings' statue familiar to those driving through Monroe
MONROE - Monroe fire officials set damage at $700,000 after lighting struck and burned down a 62-foot-high Jesus Christ statue and an adjacent amphitheater at Solid Rock Church late Monday.
Church leaders are vowing to rebuild the iconic "King of Kings" statue - also dubbed "Touchdown Jesus" - which alone was valued at $300,000.
Monroe Fire Capt. Richard Mascarella said the other $400,000 in damage was to the amphitheater when flames from the sculpture spread to the back wall and roof.
“The heat coming off the statue singed the entire back wall of the amphitheater and burned through it,†Mascarella said. “Portions of the roof are destroyed, so they will have to replace a large part of it.â€
A pond surrounding the statue that used to be full of fish is now filled with remnants of the structure, made of fiber glass and foam. All the fish are either dead or dying, Mascarella said.
Church leaders also plan to repair the amphitheater and the pond.
The fire is not suspicious. It was ignited about 11:15 p.m. Monday during a severe thunderstorm that spawned lighting across the Greater Cincinnati region, Mascarella said.
An assistant Monroe fire chief, John Centers, actually saw the first lightning strike, Mascarella said.
“He likes to watch storms and his house is up on the hill near the church,†Mascarella said. “He said he saw it hit.â€
Church leaders have told fire officials the statue and amphitheater are all insured.
“They have already contacted their insurance company,†Mascarella said. “Their adjuster is supposed to be out here this afternoon.â€
The only thing visible this morning is the charred frame of the structure.
“It burned to the ground. The whole statue is gone,†said Kim Peace, a police dispatcher.
The large “King of Kings†statue was a Butler County landmark since it was erected in 2004 outside Solid Rock Church, 904 N. Union Rd., along northbound Interstate 75 in Monroe just north of the Ohio 63 exit.
Fire crews were called to the church at 11:15 p.m. after several people phoned 911 to report the blaze as a severe thunderstorm swept through Greater Cincinnati, producing a spectacular lightning show, Peace said.
“The lightning was just amazing,†she said, wryly adding: “It was a lot of fun in here last night.â€
When fire crews arrived, they found the statue fully involved and an adjacent amphitheater burning. The fire extended into the attic of the amphitheater, destroyed equipment, before fire crews contained it, Peace said.
No one was injured.
As fire gorged the iconic statue, several motorists along I-75 pulled over to photograph the sight.
That prompted troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol to respond and patrol the area to prevent a traffic jam and potential accidents, according to the patrol’s Lebanon post.
Neu said he is holding a 10 a.m. press conference at the church to discuss a damage estimate from the fire and other issues.
The sculpture stretches 40 feet wide at the base. It was made of plastic form and fiberglass over a steel frame. The frame is the only thing visible this morning.
According to the evangelical church's website, there are about 4,000 members. The church was founded by former horse trader Lawrence and Darlene Bishop of Middletown.
:help
I wouldn't necessarily say that it was God punishing them or removing something he didn't want them to have, but I wouldn't say it isn't either. That is between them and God. I will say that I think it is stupid for them to vow to rebuild the statue,... $300,000 could be MUCH better spent furthering the gospel in MULTIPLE ways rather than building a gigantic statue of Christ. 
