Seven flatbed trucks will deliver the nine pieces of Solid Rock Church’s new Jesus statue in early September.

And the second coming of a Jesus statue along Interstate 75 in Warren County will be complete by the end of next month, said Veit Parker II, marketing director with Clayton-based Display Dynamics which specializes in design, fabrication and installation work.

“It’s really been an amazing experience,” said Parker. “The fact that we can do something like this is amazing.”

The statue, titled “Lux Mundi” which is Latin for “Light of the World,” is in the Clayton facility where it is being dry-fitted, painted to resemble stone and coated with polyurea.

The new statue will replace Solid Rock Church’s “King of Kings” statue, which was struck by lightning and burned on June 14, 2010. The iconic symbol — a giant bust of Jesus with his arms and hands skyward — burned until only its metal frame was visible. The next day, the Revs. Darlene and the late Lawrence Bishop of Solid Rock Church said they would rebuild the statue that many called either “Touchdown Jesus” or “Big Butter Jesus.”

The new statue will feature a full-size Jesus standing atop a platform with a water cascade at its base.

“The process has taken a long time, but it’s also given us the ability to look at the design and give some improvements in the type of materials in the statue,” said Solid Rock administrator Ron Carter. “Even though it’s taken longer and gratification has been delayed, I think we’re going to end up with a better product.”

Carter said the plan was to have the new statue assembled last summer, but various delays — the main delay being a contractor quitting — put the project behind schedule.

Dayton-based Global Manufacturing Solutions shaped and carved the statue in the polystyrene, which is the same type of material used in buildings. The polystyrene also has a fire retardant in it so if lightning would strike twice, the statue would likely only melt a little, according to company officials.

The “Lux Mundi” statue was created by Cincinnati artist and sculptor Tom Tsuchiya, who created the statues of former Cincinnati Reds greats in front of Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati and Reds legend Joe Nuxhall at the Water Works Park in Fairfield.

Carter said a dedication ceremony has been set for 8:30 p.m. Sept. 30, following the regular 7 p.m. Sunday service which will be held outdoors. After the service Carter said they’ll set off fireworks in celebration — aimed away from the statue.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or michael.pitman@coxinc.com.