The First Baptist Dallas congregation gathered in the convention center to mourn the recent loss of their historic sanctuary, even though several members expressed hope that God would use the tragedy for good. A four-alarm fire consumed the historic old sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas, destroying the structural integrity of the oldest part of the church. First Baptist Dallas was founded in 1868, and the sanctuary was constructed in 1890. It’s among the largest Southern Baptist churches in the U.S.
Pastor Robert Jeffress told the more than 3,000 churchgoers who attended the service in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, “It’s like those flames represented the flames of Hell, and they were destroying the truth that I had banked my life and eternity on.” During solemn but hopeful remarks to his congregation, Jeffress compared their sorrow to the “feeling of despair and discouragement” the disciples likely felt on the night Jesus was crucified, which he noted soon turned to joy. He said, “This last Friday night, it looked like the gates of Hell were prevailing, that Satan was going to win,” he said. “That was Friday night, but ladies and gentlemen, it is Sunday morning. It is a day of resurrection.”
He continued as the auditorium erupted in response and rose to their feet, “It’s not a day of death. And I am pledging to you we’re going to rebuild that sanctuary. We’re going to recreate it as a standing symbol of the truth, the unchangeableness, the endurance of the Word of God. We cannot allow Satan to have the last word,” he added. “If we allow that thing to remain in ruins, it will look to the whole world like we’ve been defeated by the evil one. So we’re going to rebuild, we’re going to recreate.” Jeffress also noted the outpouring of support, which he said he believes God will use to redeem the situation.
At the conclusion of the service, Jeffress encouraged everyone in the room to join hands as they sang the doxology. As the words “praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost” swelled from the congregation, most lifted their clasped hands in a show of solidarity and worship. Jeffress, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, has said that he does not believe the fire was an arson attack, but he noted during a Sunday morning interview on Fox News that some have been mocking him for the fact the historic sanctuary burned to the ground less than a week after he claimed God narrowly saved Trump from an assassination attempt.
The pastor reiterated to his congregation what he had told Fox News and asserted the sovereignty of God. He also said that “God saved us” from a much more catastrophic situation because the thousands of children attending Vacation Bible School had vacated the premises hours earlier. Dallas Fire-Rescue Captain Robert Borse told CP that the investigation remains ongoing. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI joined the investigation.