Brunswick County church struck by lightning, catches fire

A Brunswick County church caught fire this morning, after its steeple was struck by lightning. The steeple ended up in the church's parking lot. Fire crews responded to St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church on Highway 17 near 87 and had the flames under control within a half hour. The church's steeple and its entrance way were damaged, but the back of the church and its altar was okay. “You know, when you first come up here you're like this is going to be real bad, we got lucky to get it knocked down,” said Bolivia Fire Chief Brad Babson. St. Mary pastor Harris Wallace said, "We're going to take the procedures to move forward, encourage the congregation, and we're just going to know that everything is going to work out for our good.” No one was inside the church at the time of the fire, and no one was hurt.