Last weekend, a devastating four-alarm fire ravaged the historic sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas, which was built in 1890. However, a 130-year-old pulpit was spared from the flames the Texas megachurch’s pastors have preached on for over a century. Located in the heart of downtown Dallas, the Baptist church has been an integral part of the city’s history and the Southern Baptist community.
Following the miraculous recovery of the historic church relic, members and staff of First Dallas Baptist attributed it to a blessing from God. “A true miracle — especially if you saw the flames engulfing the place this pulpit was displayed,” Pastor Robert Jeffress wrote on X.
Former First Baptist Dallas Pastor O S Hawkins wrote on X, “So indescribably grateful for this miracle,” former pastor O.S. Hawkins wrote on X. “In the midst of the total destruction of the church in the fire, this 130-year-old pulpit of Truett and Criswell and the others of us somehow someway miraculously survived. Thank you, Lord.”
“We’re still hopeful that we’ll be able to worship here on our campus this coming Sunday,” executive pastor Ben Lovvorn said in a video shared on social media. “We don’t know if that’s going to be possible yet. And in fact, we won’t know that until later in the week. What we do know is we’re going to be together this Sunday. So that will either be here in our worship center on the campus of First Baptist Dallas, or we’ll return to the Dallas Convention Center.”
Lovvorn added, “We received approval from the city to begin the work of preserving these historic walls. I can make no guarantees about how that work will go or even if it’ll be successful, but we do have approval to try. We’re gonna do everything that we can to save these exterior walls of our historic sanctuary.”
The Christian Tribune previously reported on the aftermath of the devastating fire in the heart of downtown Dallas. Pastor Robert Jeffress maintained that the church would persevere and rebuild the sanctuary. “We’re going to recreate it as a standing symbol of the truth. The unchangableness, the endurance of the word of God. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God shall stand forever,” he said.
“We can not allow Satan to have the last word,” stated Jeffress. “If we allow that thing to remain in ruins, it will look to the whole world like we have been defeated by the evil one, so we are going to rebuild, we’re going to recreate.” Plans are actively being developed to pick up the pieces and reconstruct the monumental sanctuary.
Jeffress preached to his congregation following the fire, giving worshippers an inspiring message that the church would carry on in the strength of Christ. “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.”
Watch footage of the fire below:
Featured image credit: O S Hawkins / X