Sunday Services Go On Despite Flooding

Sunday, August 26th 2007, 7:24 pm

By: News On 6

Lightning struck it, and water damaged it, but members at St. James Methodist, located near 111th Street and Yale, say their not letting a water logged sanctuary drown their spirits. The News On 6â€™s Chris Wright reports congregation members are calling the accident a blessing in disguise. They say things could have been worse, and cleaning up the mess has brought them closer.

Those who opened the doors to St. James United Methodist Church Saturday morning were greeted by an unwelcome sight, water rushing out. Turns out the church's sprinkler system was running for six to eight hours before it was discovered, leaving four to six inches of water in the church. The sprinklers were apparently triggered by a lightning strike, which also shorted the alarm system. So unfortunately, firefighters in the station across from Saint James had no idea the sprinklers were on.

"Because the fire department wasn't alerted, they didn't come over from next door, they weren't aware that anything had happened," said Jerry Snider of St. James United Methodist.

After the damage was discovered, the cleanup began. The phones weren't working, but news of the lightning strike spread by word of mouth. Soon, dozens of parishioners were drying the carpet, and removing the baseboard.

"We just had a couple people on the phone calling whoever they could remember to call. But we got the word out and a lot of people showed up," BJ Love of St. James United Methodist said.

The water is gone, but the damage is already done. Part of the ceiling is caved in, and fans and dehumidifiers are still drying everything out, but Sunday services went on. The volunteers were able to convert the dining hall into a makeshift sanctuary, and services were held at their normal times Sunday morning.

While the damage is extensive, some expensive items, like the grand piano and PA system, were spared.

"It could have been a whole lot worse, it could have burnt down. This stuff we can fix," said Love.

They have not been given an official estimate, but church officials believe the flooding may have caused as much as $100,000 in damage.

Watch the video: Lightning Strike Leads To Flooding In Church