Church congregation grows by thousands (of bees)

CALDWELL, Kansas (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A church's congregation has grown by the thousands, but the new members are causing quite a buzz.

"I announced to the congregation if anyone took off during my sermon I wouldn't be offended," said Pastor Bob Barrett.

"It was comical in a way to see everybody take off running but at the same time it was kind of frightening," said church member Luann Jamison.

People went flying out of the pews when clouds of bees flew out from the rafters.

We're not talking about just a couple of them. A beekeeper who came to check out the church thinks between 60 and 70-thousand bees built a colony inside the church's walls.

It's so bad honey is literally dripping down the walls in the sanctuary, leaving puddles on the ground.

The beekeeper is in the process of clearing the place out.

Once he's finished the church will have to do some major cleaning and seal the area to make sure the bees don't come back.