A car crashed into the reception hall of the New Hope Baptist Church on Keowee School Road in Seneca Saturday at 3:30 am.
Pastor Brian Bucker showed News Channel 7 the damage. He said he was so amazed by the destruction outside the fellowship hall, it took about 10 minutes to look inside, and see the Ford Tarus sitting in the middle of the room.
Showing the twisted metal of chairs and tables, punctures in the wall from flying debris and even a basketball goal snapped in half, he said it's a blessing no one was inside, and the driver survived.
"God obviously had his hand upon him to keep him safe. We are thankful that he wasn't hurt any worse than he was," said Buckner.
Investigators told Buckner the man was able to walk away from the crash, up to the road to get help. He was bleeding and bruised with several broken ribs, but no life-threatening injuries. Investigators believed he has a medical condition which caused him to pass out behind the wheel.
But once Buckner learned the driver was ok, he had another problem: what to do about the wedding reception that was to be held in the fellowship hall in just hours.
The groom, Levi Shook, said he still thought the reception could be salvaged, until he saw the car was still inside.
"I said, we can make this work- just board up the walls, pull everything out. Then the youth pastor looks in the door as says, 'I found the car.' And that's when it hit me."
Shook and his father Gary said that's when Buckner's wife and the other women in the church stepped in, making calls, grabbing decorations and moving the reception to another nearby church.
"The preacher's wife said, do not worry. We're going to make this happen. I just can't thank them enough," said Gary Shook.
"I worked out perfectly," said Levi. "I don't think it could work out any better. I think God was in it."
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