Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Dallas shared that former President Donald Trump sent him a note offering his support after the sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas erupted in flames last week.
“This historic sanctuary that burned to the ground was the site that presidents visited when they came to Dallas. Woodrow Wilson, Gerald Ford, President George H. W. Bush were all worshipers in that sanctuary,” Jeffress told CBS affiliate KTVT.
He said that Trump, who previously spoke at the church on Dec. 19, 2021, sent him a note and “offered his help to do anything he could.”
According to The Christian Post, Jeffrees denies that the fire had to do with his vocal support for Trump.
“I don’t believe my support for President Trump has anything to do with this fire,” he maintained.
On Saturday, fire investigators met with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI to investigate what caused the fire at the 134-year-old historic church building in downtown Dallas.
When asked if arson was suspected as a cause of the fire, Dallas Fire-Rescue Interim Chief Justin Ball said Friday evening that the cause remains unknown as the investigation continues.
Ball noted that the fire “may have started in the basement and moved up to the second floor,” where firefighters first battled the blaze. At least 100 firefighters responded to the four-alarm fire.
“Thank God [there were] no casualties,” Ball continued.
The church’s library was located in the basement.
“We’re not going to let those flames have the final say,” Jeffress told KTVT. “The truth is, the church is not made up of wood and brick and mortars; it is made up of the people who are in that worship center.”
First Baptist Dallas recently wrapped up its Vacation Bible School, attended by 2,000 children, and used part of the historic sanctuary for some of its events. Jeffrees says that due to the fire taking place after VBS ended and no one was injured was “miraculous protection by God.”
The church’s old sanctuary was built in 1890, while the new $130 million worship center was built in 2013.
“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,” Jeffress wrote on X Friday night. “‘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.’ — Romans 8:28.”
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR CHURCH.
— Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) July 20, 2024
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.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for…
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.