Local

folks call him the “holy goat.” For reasons known only to himself, the big

billy goat likes to hang out in front of Rose Bower Missionary Baptist Church

on Highway 24 west of McComb.

Rose Bower associate minister Larry Thomas said the

church hasn’t been meeting during the pandemic, so members haven’t had to deal

with the situation yet.

“It’s

not really bothering us,” Thomas said. “I guess when people come he leaves

anyway.”

He predicted the goat will find somewhere else to

hang out when the congregation resumes meeting.

The goat’s theoretical owner, Gary Butler, who lives

near the church said “That goat just came up there and I caught him and tied

him,” noting it has been around a couple of months.

But

the goat got loose and has become something of a community fixture.

People who drive that route or live in the area have

gotten used to him.

Anita Campbell just likes looking at him. “Isn’t he

hilarious? Looks like a regal king or something,” she said. “All of us in this

neighborhood are possessed by the ‘holy goat!’ ”

Campbell’s son Greyson added, “Goat might be a Baaaptist!”

–Associated Press