Though the building's façade still stands, everything behind it is in ashes after a four-alarm fire started in the basement and spread to the second floor. Pastor Robert Jeffress calls it a museum of great memories for the church's older members.
"That historic sanctuary was one of the most iconic sanctuaries in America," he says. "Presidents have worshipped there – from Woodrow Wilson, to Gerald Ford, to George Bush. But it was also a place of many spiritual memories."
The basement held actual memories – all the historical records of the church. They are now lost, but Dr. Jeffress remains grateful.
"There was no loss of life, even though we had had 2,000 Vacation Bible School children in the complex just two hours before the fire broke out," he relays. "This is a reminder to us that the Church is not really about bricks and mortar; it's about people."
The old sanctuary was right next to First Baptist's newer facility, which engineers closed until they could ensure it was safe. So, the congregation worshipped at the Dallas Convention Center on Sunday, where the pastor assured those in attendance that the gates of Hell had not prevailed on Friday.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is Sunday morning," Dr. Jeffress declared. "It is a day of resurrection, and I am pledging to you we're going to rebuild that sanctuary as a standing symbol of the truth, the unchangeableness, the endurance of the Word of God. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God shall stand forever."
The cause of the fire is under investigation but still unknown.
