I used to live in southern Ohio, and about 10 times a year, I’d make the trek from my home in Dayton to a Reds game in Cincinnati.  Every time I did, I would drive by a giant and horribly gaudy statue on the east side of I-75 just north of Cincinnati of Jesus coming up out of the water with his hands in the air.  It sits in front of Solid Rock Church and is known by its members as the “King of Kings”.  However, to everyone else, it’s known as “Touchdown Jesus”.

I always thought it was a bit much and kinda ridiculous…and evidently, so does the Lord Himself.  On Monday night, Touchdown Jesus was struck by lightning and destroyed by fire!

According to Monroe, OH police, lightning appears to have struck the right hand of the giant Touchdown Jesus statue, sparking a fire that rapidly consumed the Styrofoam and fiberglass structure.  Here are some of the excerpts of the actual 911 calls over the Touchdown Jesus fire.

Caller: Reports a “bolt of lightning” has hit the statue.
Dispatcher: “Jesus is on fire?”
Caller: “I swear to God, this not a prank … I am serious. I just saw it get struck by lightning.”
Dispatcher: “I believe you.”
Caller: “I know it’s not funny, but literally his one hand is on fire.”

Another Caller: “Lightning hit the Touchdown Jesus monument, and it’s flaming.”

Church officials say they will rebuild a bigger and better Touchdown Jesus monument.  In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the fact that it no longer stands for all of southern Ohio to see – and laugh at.