MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- A local religious leader said he was jogging in Murfreesboro when he was caught in the middle of last Friday's tornado.

Video: Pastor Clings To Tree As Tornado Strikes

David Young, co-pastor at the North Boulevard Church of Christ, was at the city's greenway when the EF-4 tornado hit.

"I began to hear all the trees, all at once. It sounded like a million baseball bats being snapped at once. I never closed my eyes, so I looked up and I saw all the debris. The tornado was on the ground with me," said Young.

He said he held onto a tree for dear life.

"The next thing I know, I'm holding onto this tree with my hands clamped. My legs are flapping in the air, and I'm just watching the storm happen," said Young.

But as the storm moved over him, Young said he saw an eye inside the tornado and clear, sunny skies.

"It dropped me, so I hit the ground and re-huddled myself. For a few seconds, it was just gorgeous. It was lit up on the inside, and at the very top there was debris just dancing like angels. It was amazing, peaceful and calm," said Young.

But as the eye moved away, Young had to endure the back side of the tornado as it passed through the area.

"The back wall of the tornado hit, and when it did, all this stuff fell on top of me. A tree fell on my leg. A branch or a board hit me. Something split open my head. Within three or four seconds, I saw it move off just like a curtain," said Young.

Numerous trees were uprooted at the greenway where Young was running.

The pastor suffered some leg injuries and had to get some stitches to his head but is happy to be alive, considering his experience.