Lightning Strike Blamed for 157-Year-Old Church Fire
Mt. Zion members say "the people are still here" as they plan to rebuild.
A historic church in Johnson County, Missouri, burned to the ground Oct. 14 in a fire that church officials believe was started by lightning.
Photo via Facebook @Mt. Zion Christian Church, Dunksburg
At 4:19 a.m., according to news reports, a passerby noticed Mt. Zion Christian Church engulfed in flames and called 911. Because of the building’s remote location, firefighters had to bring water to the scene, but they could not save the church. Now its parishioners are mourning the loss.
Mt. Zion was built in 1869 by a group of Christians who began gathering in 1840. The congregation’s long history and family feel made the loss deeply personal for its roughly 60 regular members.
“It’s like losing your home, almost,” Troy Schroeder, an elder and lifelong member of Mt. Zion, told local news. “It hurts. … The building’s gone but the church is still here. We will rebuild and we will come back stronger.”
No one was injured. Initial indications point to natural causes, primarily lightning.
Schroeder listed what was lost, including religious paintings, the original pews and even a wooden table dating to the Civil War. While none of those items can be replaced, the church’s elders have announced they will use the church’s insurance to rebuild. In the meantime, the surrounding community has rallied to show its support.
Mark Strickland, another elder who has attended Mt. Zion for more than 70 years, said he and Schroeder received numerous offers from the community for places the congregation could meet while it rebuilds.
“It’s awesome, the support,” Strickland said, according to KCTV 5.
According to Mt. Zion’s Facebook page, the church’s board accepted an offer from Heartland Church, a nondenominational congregation six minutes away, to use Heartland’s youth chapel during the rebuilding.
“Anytime a fire destroys a building with this much history, the loss extends beyond the structure itself,” said Capt. Joe Jennings, public information officer for the Johnson County Fire Protection District. “For generations, this church has been a place where people gathered, built relationships and marked important moments in their lives. We recognize what a difficult morning this is for the congregation and the surrounding community.”
Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.
In a statement, church officials acknowledged the community’s grief but reminded the congregation that the church is more than a building.
“We’ve been gathering as God’s people in this community since 1840 — the people came first, and the people are still here. As Peter wrote, ‘You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house’ (1 Peter 2:5). Living stones don’t burn.”
Separately, North Knoxville Baptist Church in Tennessee was set on fire, also on Oct. 14, the second time the church has been targeted by arson. Authorities arrested Jeremy Hensley, 43, and charged him with felony arson and burglary in the most recent fire. The church’s gymnasium survived, and North Knoxville Baptist will hold services there. The church previously opened the space to two other congregations.
Pastor Jim McNeal has called for prayer for Hensley. He also reminded supporters that they serve “an almighty, powerful, loving, compassionate, and gracious God.”
TO OUR READERS: The mission of MinistryWatch is to help Christian donors become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. Do you know of a story that will help us fulfill our mission, or do you want to give us feedback about this or any other story? If so, please email us at [email protected].
