Minister finds fire that damages Ind. church

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- A minister arriving for Sunday services at an Evansville church found a fire that caused extensive damage to the building.

Fire officials say the fire at The Turning Pointe United Methodist Church was apparently electrical. It heavily damaged the altar area and left much of the church's main building with smoke damage.

The Rev. Steve Walker tells the Evansville Courier & Press that the sanctuary door felt warm when he arrived about 8 a.m. and that black smoke poured out when he opened the door.

About 400 people attend the 11-year-old church and many of them took part in a prayer service a couple hours after the fire.