Simply shortly after 6 p.m. on Friday evening, Dallas firefighters responded to a three-alarm fireplace that was occurring at First Baptist Dallas‘ (FBD) historic chapel. FBD is a Southern Baptist Conference (SBC) megachurch in downtown Dallas, Texas, led by senior pastor Robert Jeffress.
In keeping with information reviews, the Dallas Fireplace Division arrived on the scene to heavy smoke and fireplace at roughly 6:09 p.m. At 6:20 p.m. a second alarm was requested, adopted by a 3rd alarm round 7:30 p.m.
FBD was based in 1868 and is the one downtown Dallas church nonetheless positioned on its authentic web site. Immediately the church is attended by over 13,000 individuals.
Regardless of by no means dwelling in Dallas, world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham was a member of FBD for over 50 years till he moved his membership to First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina, when he was 90 years previous.
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No accidents have been reported presently.
An emotional Jeffress instructed Fox 4 Information that he had simply left FBD earlier than the hearth began in its historic sanctuary. “This sanctuary has been around since 1890 [and] was the home for our church for a long time until we moved to our new worship center about 12 years ago.”
“This historic sanctuary was the site of many personal events, including my own,” he added. “I was baptized there when I was 6. I was ordained for the ministry when I was 21. It holds a lot of memories. But we thank God that nobody has been hurt.”
The pastor shared that FBD had simply concluded their trip Bible college which was attended by over 2,000 youngsters. Jeffress praised God for his safety and that every one the children had been all gone earlier than the hearth began.
“I’m grateful that the church is not bricks and mortar or wood, it’s people,” Jeffress mentioned. “The people of God will endure. First Baptist Dallas will endure, and we thank so many of our friends around the country who are praying for us right now.”
FBD additionally launched a statement by social media that requested individuals to “please pray for our church. We have experienced a fire in the Historic Sanctuary.”
“To our knowledge, no one is hurt or injured, and we thank God for His protection. He is sovereign even in the most difficult times,” the church added.
They then quoted Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”
The assertion ended with FBD saying, “We will keep you updated as we prepare to come together to worship.”
Church Leaders and Influencers Reply
Many church leaders and Christian influencers inspired their followers to hope for FBD and shared movies of the sanctuary being engulfed in flames.
O.S. Hawkins, FBD’s former senior pastor and present chancellor at Southwestern Seminary Baptist Theological Seminary, posted a video of FBD’s historic sanctuary on fireplace. “So many memories in that over 125 yr old building. Please join us in prayer,” Hawkins said.
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Editor-in-chief of Outreach journal and dean of Talbot College of Theology at Biola College Ed Stetzer shared, “First Baptist Dallas’ historic sanctuary is on fire. I hope you will join me in praying for them!”
“Well bless their hearts.”
