Over the weekend, a four-alarm fire that ravaged much of First Baptist Church Dallas's historic sanctuary spared a cherished 130-year-old pulpit, which had been a cornerstone for some of the congregation's most beloved pastors.
The historic sanctuary, built in 1890 in downtown Dallas, stood adjacent to the church's current sanctuary. It was actively used until the church's renovation in 2013, during which it was preserved as a secondary worship center and a cherished historic landmark.
Members and staff of the church say the pulpit's preservation is a testimony of God's blessing. The pulpit was used by such pastors as George Truett (1867-1944) and W.A. Criswell (1909-2002).
"A true miracle -- especially if you saw the flames engulfing the place this pulpit was displayed," the church's current pastor, Robert Jeffress, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
A true miracle—especially if you saw the flames engulfing the place this pulpit was displayed. https://t.co/oODSBYhvFp
— Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) July 22, 2024
"So indescribably grateful for this miracle," former pastor O.S. Hawkins wrote on X. "In the midst of the total destruction of the church in the fire, this 130-year-old pulpit of Truett and Criswell and the others of us somehow someway miraculously survived. Thank you, Lord."
So indescribably grateful for this miracle. In the midst of the total destruction of the church in the fire this 130 year old pulpit of Truett and Criswell and the others of us somehow someway miraculously survived. Thank you Lord. pic.twitter.com/nlQ6hQIklz
— O S Hawkins (@OSHawkins) July 22, 2024
The congregation worshiped in the city's Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center over the weekend. Plans for this Sunday are not definite, although it's possible the church could be back in its own sanctuary.
"We're still hopeful that we'll be able to worship here on our campus this coming Sunday," executive pastor Ben Lovvorn said in a video Wednesday. "We don't know if that's going to be possible yet. And in fact, we won't know that until later in the week. What we do know is we're going to be together this Sunday. So that will either be here in our worship center on the campus of First Baptist Dallas, or we'll return to the Dallas Convention Center."
Although the historic sanctuary's interior was largely destroyed, its exterior walls still stand. Jeffress said the church will rebuild.
The 7/24/24 video update from Dr. Ben Lovvorn is focused on our ongoing collaboration with Dallas Fire-Rescue and the City of Dallas. We are grateful to our Mayor, Fire Chief, and many others who have helped us secure and preserve the Historic Sanctuary site. pic.twitter.com/kXeuzFP23p
— Dr. Robert Jeffress (@robertjeffress) July 24, 2024
"We received approval from the city to begin the work of preserving these historic walls," Lovvorn said. "I can make no guarantees about how that work will go or even if it'll be successful, but we do have approval to try. We're gonna do everything that we can to save these exterior walls of our historic sanctuary."
WATCH: Pulpit survives 4-alarm fire at First Baptist Dallas | CBS Texas
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Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.