Designer of giant, burned-down Jesus statue offers to help with replacement for Ohio church

Original artist offers help with new Jesus statue

MONROE, Ohio — An artist who designed an Ohio church’s giant statue of Jesus that was destroyed by lightning this week says he’s willing to help replace it.

Brad Coriell of Nashville, Tenn., says he has not been in contact with the Solid Rock Church but would be honored to be involved.

Co-pastor Darlene Bishop at the church along an interstate north of Cincinnati says Coriell could be among the artists who will submit designs and cost estimates for a new statue. Church officials say it’s likely to look different from the original six-story “King of Kings.”

A lightning strike Monday sparked a fire that burned down the plastic foam and fiberglass statue that was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because of the way the arms were raised.

Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, www.enquirer.com