MALVERN, Ark. – Lifepoint Church in Malvern is asking for prayers of peace and wisdom after a flash of lightning destroyed three decades of their history.
“There is a lot of history for a lot of people here,” said Boone Hyatt, Student Pastor at Lifepoint Church. “I grew up in this church. I was married here and started a family here.”
Many congregation members share similar stories of deep personal connections to the church.
One couple was particularly devastated as they had to abruptly cancel their wedding, which was to be held in the church they both grew up in. They were forced to find an alternative location, leaving their plans and emotions in disarray.
On May 23, 2024, storms rolled into Malvern early in the day.
Rick McClure, Lead Pastor and State Representative, was at the church when he heard a boom. After checking the lights and the building, he found everything seemingly okay and proceeded to his next meeting.
“He told me that he actually heard a loud clap of thunder and a pop,” Hyatt said. Shortly after McClure left, Hyatt arrived for work.
“As soon as I opened the front door, smoke just billowed out in my face, so I called 911. They arrived within 10 minutes or so,” Hyatt recalled.
Hyatt was surprised by the smoke since the metal door handle hadn’t even been warm.
Firefighters arrived quickly and managed to extinguish the fire that engulfed the auditorium. Surrounding areas were covered in smoke and ash as the storm continued to pour rain.
“We had four to five different fire departments here throughout the day, all working together to get it under control,” Hyatt said.
News of the fire spread quickly through social media and the community, with many coming by to see the damage.
“Not seeing these doors open, the doors they’ve always come through, is difficult,” Hyatt said.
Hyatt and McClure reassured the congregation that God has a plan and everything is under control.
“The report indicates a lightning strike at the back left corner of the building likely caused it,” Hyatt said. “We’re not 100% sure, but we’re fairly confident.”
The lightning strike hit above the cleaning closet, where the chemicals likely ignited the fire.
“The insurance hasn’t provided us with all the details yet, so we don’t know the cost of the damages. We’re still in the process of figuring that out,” Hyatt said.
For more information or to donate, visit LifePointMalvern.com.
