One of the church's ministers says several people were in the pastor's office at the front of the building praying. The prayer lasted longer than usual, which meant no one was in the sanctuary where they likely would have been hurt.
People inside the building heard it give way and were able to escape.
Rev. Keith Henderson was not at the church when it collapsed, but his family was.
"It kind of had me scared for a moment, but once my wife called me [that] let me know that everybody was okay. But she was crying, and I can understand that. Being here 17 years ,this more than home to us," Henderson told ABC7 Chicago.
Henderson says the congregation isn't worrying about what could have been, they're just giving thanks for what is.
