Months after its sanctuary was destroyed in a fire, First Baptist Dallas has announced its plan rebuild. “Our goal is to honor the past while looking forward to what God will do here. We are committed to preserving the historic exterior walls of the sanctuary, and we’ve been working diligently to shore them up during this challenging time,” the church’s Executive Pastor Jeff Lovvorn announced from the pulpit. The new plan will include a larger steeple that will be more like the church’s original design from 1908, as well as reinstating stained glass. “The steeple has been a symbolic cornerstone for our church, reminding us that Jesus Christ is our true cornerstone,” said Lovvorn. Senior pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress also praised the new steeple design. “We’re going to have it beautifully illuminated at night, and I think it will be an iconic space for downtown Dallas.”

Lovvorn laid out an ambitious plan with a redesigned pulpit, an expanded space for fellowship, a grand staircase, and other amenities. The church has started Mission 18, a fundraising effort with a goal to raise $95 million. Lovvorn called it “the largest mission on a campaign that we have ever undertaken as a church.” He believes, however, the new design is “God’s calling.” “God brings beauty from ashes,” he stated, recalling the heart ache of the previous fire.

Church members have stated their support for the project. “To see the sanctuary rebuilt has meant a lot to me because it always symbolized the church to me and had always been a symbol of what First Baptist Dallas had been throughout the past over 150 years,” said church member Daniel Ameri. The church’s iconic fountain has already been repaired. The church suffered from fire damage on July 19, with the cause of the fire still currently unknown. Investigators have ruled out arson. Services were able to resume in August, nearly month after the fire. “It feels like being home again,” said Jeffress at the time. “The church is not brick and mortar. It’s people. Our church has never lost its spirit. We believe God causes all things to work together for those who love him.”