KRIS Guglielmucci was a man of God who loved his music and mentoring members of his young congregation.

But those same teenagers he once inspired are now mourning the loss of the respected Victory Church youth pastor and father of four.

Mr Guglielmucci, 39, was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning at Cornerstone College, Mt Barker, just after 2.30pm on Friday.

He had been running a two-day Summerfest Youth Camp for about 100 high school students when he was fatally struck down on Morella Oval.

It is understood the tragedy happened as camp members were returning indoors because of the stormy conditions that swept across Adelaide and the Mt Lofty Ranges.

Police said it was unclear whether he died at the scene or in hospital. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

media_camera The Cornerstone College oval near the spot where Kris Guglielmucci was fatally struck by lightning. Picture: Dean Martin

A 19-year-old woman — also a member of the church — sustained leg injuries and was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. She is now recovering at home.

Mr Guglielmucci was the youth pastor at Victory Church in Pooraka and was head of its youth ministry.

He joined the church in March 2012. Victory Church senior pastor Tony Rainbow said the circumstances of the death were a tragedy.

“(Mr Guglielmucci) was a fun-loving, much loved member of our church community but it went much broader than that,” he said. “Kris had an impact not just in our local church but many churches and through his involvement with (the) Planetshakers (youth group) has a global reach and his loss will be (felt) right across the world. The tragedy is he leaves behind a lovely wife and four young children.”

Mr Rainbow said the hearts of the church congregation went out to Mr Guglielmucci’s wife Lisa and the couple’s four children. He added: “Our priority now is to care for the children who attended Summerfest, the amazing youth leaders of Victory Youth and our church family. We have been in contact with all those involved — and we are offering counselling to those who require it.”

Mr Rainbow said he was not surprised by the tributes left for Mr Guglielmucci, who was a keen guitarist.

“Kris loved his music and he was a very skilled musician. We were better for him being in our church and our music was certainly a lot better,” he said.

Mr Guglielmucci was also a member of Planetshakers — a worldwide Christian youth movement that had its beginnings in Adelaide. His parents, Danny and Sharonne Guglielmucci, were founders of Edge Church International — an Assemblies of God church in Adelaide.

The Victory Church congregation held a private memorial service for Mr Gug-lielmucci last night. He will also be remembered during the traditional Sunday morning service today and again later in the week. Tributes poured in on the church’s Facebook page. Leny Estopa wrote: “Kris is a great loss to our church. He has touched the lives of many youth, our next-generation leaders, as well as those who are attending church.”

Chris Thyer said: “A mighty man of God, we are thankful for his wonderful impact on our children’s lives. Our love and prayers to his family and the Victory family.”

The church is expected to release details of fundraising plans to help Mr Guglielmucci’s family in the coming days.