CONWAY, SC (WBTW) — A close-knit church congregation in Conway is leaning on its faith and thanking first responders for saving their building after its steeple was destroyed by a lightning strike.
“As soon as everyone heard about it, they were there. And everyone in the church joined in,” said Stephen Hyman, pastor of White Savannah Original Free Will Baptist.
Just before 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Horry County Fire Department responded to the building at 4010 Highway 65 after a neighbor reported that the church tower had caught fire as a result of a lightning strike.
“When the neighbor called me and sent me a photo of the church tower, half of it was already on fire,” Hyman said. By the time he reached the church, the fire had already been extinguished.
But that was not all. The firefighters had to break open part of the church ceiling to provide ventilation.
Hyman said the ceiling repairs are almost complete thanks to the help of some contractors in his community. He said he is waiting for a response from an insurance company before moving forward with roof work and the restoration of the steeple.
Hyman said he is the pastor of a “good group of people” who are willing to help.
“We have received many external offers. But we have five general contractors in the church. Electricians. And we have not had to contact anyone,” he said. “We have been able to do everything ourselves so far.”
The entire congregation can hardly wait to celebrate worship again under a fully restored roof.
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Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Originally from Long Island, New York, Skylar joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, and read more about her work here.
