Lightning may have caused church roof fire

Friday's storms may have brought more than rain to the Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham.

A small fire broke out in the roof of the church around 5 p.m. and several fire units responded. Officials do not yet know the cause of the fire but one witness claims she saw a lightning strike just before the fire started.

The extent of the damage is still unknown and members are now scrambling to find an alternate location for Sunday services.

Word spread quickly to church members and many came down to Slayden Avenue to watch firefighters at work. The building is only three years old and members say that makes the fire even more devastating.

"All I can say is wow. It's devastating. We worked so hard to get that new sanctuary now it's detroyed," Rita Brown said.

"Very hurt but we realize it was an act by God..wasn't planned, everything happens for a reason, but we remain faithful," Lloyd Evans said.

No one was in the building during the fire and that's one thing the congregation is thankful for.

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