Today’s (February 21) Roanoke, Va. Times carries a story about wind damage to a landmark sign over the Ghent Grace Brethren Church in that city. To read the complete story, click here.

Many are looking for the light after a windstorm damaged the landmark.

The congregation of Ghent Grace Brethren Church hasn’t shone with the glowing red light of Jesus lately. Neither have its neighbors near Roanoke’s Memorial Bridge.

That’s because the huge neon sign atop the church proclaiming “JESUS SAVES” was damaged in the windstorm Feb. 10 that temporarily knocked out power to about 45,000 customers in the Roanoke region. The sign, with 4-foot letters that face northwest, is an icon as visible in its community as the H&C Coffee and Dr Pepper landmarks are in downtown Roanoke. It now merely reads, “SAVES.”

So essential is the neon badge to the identity of the Ghent Grace sanctuary that Zach Doppelt, the pastor, has a likeness of it printed on his business card. “Some people around here know us as ‘the Jesus Saves Church,’ ” said Doppelt, 30, who arrived at Ghent Grace fresh out of seminary in Indiana in December.

“We’ll get the sign back. Someone is coming to see about fixing it early next week,” he said.

To read the rest of the story, click here.