The goal is to preserve the three remaining exterior walls of the historic sanctuary, Lovvorn added. He requested prayers for God to protect that structure and to help crews accomplish key cleanup tasks this week.
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To people asking how to give, Lovvorn recommended the church’s ongoing Mission 1:8 WIN NOW strategy. For those wanting to contribute specifically to construction efforts, a dropdown menu on the First Baptist Dallas website is earmarked for Church Campus Redevelopment.
Historic Highlights of First Baptist Dallas
First Baptist Dallas began in 1868 with 11 charter members. Four years later, church members bought a one-room building for $6,000, which they raised by selling items at local fairs. Next came the Victorian-style, red brick historic sanctuary, which cost $90,000 in the 1890s.
G.W. Truett, who became pastor of First Baptist Dallas in 1897, served there for 40 years. During his tenure, the church grew ten-fold, to almost 8,000 members. Truett also served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, from 1927 to 1929.
Following Truett’s death in 1944, Pastor W.A. Criswell served for 47 years. By 1991, First Baptist Dallas had 28,000 members and was listed as America’s largest congregation. Evangelist Billy Graham, who never lived in Dallas, was a member of First Baptist for 54 years, until 2008.
Jeffress, who has led the church since 2007, spearheaded a massive building project a decade ago, expanding First Baptist’s downtown campus. A 178,000-square-foot worship center is located next to the historic chapel that burned. Although Jeffress has promised to rebuild, he has said the new structure might not be identical to the original.
