The historic sanctuary of Dallas First Baptist Church was largely destroyed last night, after a four-alarm fire engulfed the building.
As first reported on KDFW Fox 4, firefighting crews were first called to the church in downtown Dallas just after 6 p.m. They were able to mostly contain the fire until the roof partially caved-in around 7:35 p.m., and flames reignited.
Investigators believe the fire may have started in the church’s basement, the television station reported. The cause and origin of the catastrophic fire will be investigated after the building is considered structurally safe.
Senior Pastor Robert Jeffress posted on Facebook on Friday evening, “We are grateful that no one was injured today and are thankful for the first responders who helped contain the fire to our Historic Sanctuary. . . . One way or another, we intend to meet for church this Sunday.”
In an interview with FOX 4, Jeffress recalled his connection to the church, “I was baptized there when I was 6, I was ordained in ministry when I was 21. It holds a lot of memories.”
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The church had concluded vacation bible school with over 2,000 kids, Jeffress told KDFW. Jeffress said, “I’m grateful that the church is not bricks or mortar or wood; it’s people.”
The First Baptist Church of Dallas was organized on July 30, 1868, according to the Texas State Historical Association.
The cornerstone of First Baptist Dallas was laid in 1890 by a small group of believers determined to begin a Baptist church in downtown Dallas, according to the church’s webpage.
First Baptist has remained in downtown Dallas throughout its history and received a historical marker in 1968. In 1991 the physical plant of the church covered five city blocks, according to the state’s historical website.
Sheila Stogsdill is a freelance print journalist and digital reporter, primarily covering crime issues for KSN/KODE.
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16 Respuestas
And once again, the default response is that God protected the people, with no thought whatsoever of the possibility that God is upset with them and trying to get them to realize it
Len:
That is not possible in their belief system. They have all the answers. They seem to think they know the mind of God?
I wonder if Robert Jeffress is questioning his belief system at all today, since he strongly believes that God saved trump from that bullet- what does it mean that God didn’t save his church. Do you think there’s an ounce of self reflection or consistency that might look at what the church literally burning to the ground might indicate, especially in light of his own controversies and scandals? Or do you think it’ll just add to the “we’re so persecuted, but we will perservere” narrative.
Manlief:
There were no people harmed in the First church in Dallas. That was the same hand of God that was on Trump.
The two events you referenced are mutally exclusive. Neither situation can be imposed on the other.
The God who is The Sovereign decides the fate of each individual, and has done so from the Beginning.
there were no people harmed because it happened on a friday evening. I truly hope God starts burning down churches that God doesn’t approve of, and that it continues to be in ways that no people are harmed.
I’m not wishing trump harm, but I don’t think it’s God who’s protecting him. I believe in God’s soveignty, but not like that. I don’t attribute every thing that I like to God’s will, and ignore that that means horrible things are also God’s will, because then that means God willed that fire fighter dead- not worthy enough to save that guy from bullets huh?
I don’t think God burned the church down andy more than I think God saved trump. I think things happen, and when we overspritualize them we’re just being silly trying to attribute meaning to things that sometimes just happen.
but I really do like the idea of God burning down churches that are corrupt. God’d only have to do a few until people would start cleaning up their messes.
Do what? I am trying to figure out how the earlier commenters know whether or not Dr. Jeffress has given thought to: 1. “the possibility that God is upset with them and trying to get them to realize it or 2. “self reflection or consistency that might look at what the church literally burning to the ground might indicate”. Really? Some of your followers amaze me! God is Sovereign. In his “doing” He may or may not ever let us know His intentions. I saw no arrogance in the Jeffress statement but much in the comments here.
I’d probably also grow some humility real quick if God burned down the church I was running.
(also, there are lots of ways to understand God’s sovereignty, I personally choose the idea that God is widly sovereign, but leaves discrete decisions in our court. that way I don’t have to blame God for all these pastors committing sex crimes against children, for the sake of consistency)
Wow. I had to really pause when I saw this. Growing up in the DFW metroplex, I know what that church has meant and represented to the area.
I don’t agree with Jeffress and his increased involvement in politics and subsequent scandals, yet my heart aches for what was lost.
And I can’t help but feel as if this was symbolic.
I just keep thinking of Jeremiah, and wonder what next week has in store. Possibly a final warning for the MAGA idolators to get their house in order before they plunge us all into disaster?
I didn’t necessarily think the Trump thing last week was anything other than a crazy person, but two – is this the second over the bow of Trump / one of the first and loudest “Christian” MAGA voices…I dunno now….
I think Jeffress breathtakingly lacks personal insight. It would seem far more likely to me that God was sending a warning to First Baptist rather than protecting them.
Whether this fire or the assassination attempt mean anything or nothing is in the eye of the beholder. Stuff happens. Who knows if God had anything to do with either event or the outcomes? Pleading a God causality creates more problems than it solves.
I googled “Robert Jeffress blames” and found a whole lot of things that this guy blames on the sin of this nation, including 9/11- and yet is not consistent in assuming that the destruction of his church would be because of the sin contained within.
that’s the problem with attributing tragedy to God’s judgement- it falls apart when the tragedy happens to YOU.
Well said Jen. I was getting ready to make the same point.
When the tragedy happens to the pagan, it’s God’s judgment.
When tragedy befalls the believer, it’s an attack of Satan or a test of faith.
God forbid we should reflect and ask if we are in sin like the psalmist saying “Search me, oh God.”
The flip flopping of people really is so telling. On one hand, God doesn’t punish people on their side and doesn’t protect people on the other side. On the other hand, when the other side experiences tragedy, it could possibly be God’s judgment in those circumstances. Lol
if you’re referring to me, I’m sorry I wasn’t more clear. I personally think it’s all nonsense- that God didn’t save trump, and God didn’t burn this church down. I am pointing out the hypocrisy of Jeffress attributing God judging everyone using tragedies until it’s his church that burned down, and God saving people he favors (trump), until, again God didn’t save his church.
although I would be absolutely FINE if God started burning down corrupt churches. I’d love to see that, actually.