The Rev. Robert Jeffress, leader of the historic First Baptist Church of Dallas, said former President Donald Trump reached out to him after the church’s historic sanctuary burned.
On Friday, just after 6 p.m., Dallas Fire-Rescue received Fire officials were called to the church for a report of a fire in the historic sanctuary of the church, which has been in use since the 1890s. The blaze eventually grew to a four-alarm fire and took more than three hours to contain. Thankfully, no one was injured or killed in the blaze.
“If the SBC had Notre Dame, it would be FBC Dallas. This is heartbreaking.”
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined and the investigation, including by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, is ongoing.
However, Rev. Jeffress, an ardent Trump supporter, told local media he did not believe support for the former president was the cause of the fire.
More importantly, he said, President Trump has offered help in the wake of the devastating fires.
“I don’t think my support for President Trump has anything to do with this fire,” Jeffries said. Said KTVT-TV. “I received a lovely letter from the president, who had spoken at our church before, and he offered to do whatever he could.”
First Baptist Church of Dallas was founded in 1868. Billy Graham was a former member. Presidents such as Woodrow Wilson, Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush have visited this historic church. Today, First Baptist Church of Dallas has a membership of approximately 16,000 Christians.
The significance of the fire for Baptists cannot be overstated: Southern Baptist Convention President Clint Pressley described the church’s historic sanctuary as the SBC’s equivalent of Notre Dame Cathedral.
“If the SBC had Notre Dame, it would be FBC Dallas. This is heartbreaking. I pray for the Lord’s mercy,” Pressly said. Said.
But unlike Notre Dame Cathedral, which burned to the ground five years ago, FBC Dallas’ historic sanctuary is Might have to demolish it Engineers determined the fire had compromised the structural integrity of the building.
Despite the bad news, Jeffries maintains a hopeful Christian attitude.
“Although it is tragic to lose this ancient cathedral, we are thankful that this church is not made of bricks and wood, but of more than 16,000 people who are more committed than ever to sharing the gospel of Christ with the world,” he said. Said In a statement.
The pastor also thanked God that thousands of students were in the historic chapel shortly before the fire broke out.
“This is a miraculous protection from God to not only spare the lives of our children, but also those who have died,” he told WTVT.
First Baptist Church of Dallas’ historic sanctuary may need to be demolished, but the reasons are unclearYoutube
Do you like Blaze News? Bypass censorship and subscribe to our newsletter to get stories like this delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up here!
