First Baptist Dallas
Historic Sanctuary
Fire Response Updates
On Friday evening, July 19, a four-alarm fire destroyed the 134-year-old Historic Sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Dallas. By God’s grace, there were no injuries. The campus remains temporarily closed, and all on-campus activities this week have been suspended. Stay tuned and read below for updates from our Executive Pastor, Dr. Ben Lovvorn regarding upcoming worship services and campus restoration.
Thank you for your prayers for our church! To help support First Dallas, we would encourage you to give to our ongoing ministry through Mission 1:8 WIN NOW. Click here to give.
Friday, August 30, 2024 Update:
Church family,
We have a video update for you today with some helpful information, as we get ready for this weekend:This Sunday, we will have a new way available for you to enter campus. When you park in Spurgeon Harris or Providence garage, you can now cross Ervay and enter the Worship Center.The path we’ve created will bring you inside at level 1, outside of Lovvorn Hall. From there you can easily make it inside for worship or for your Sunday School class. Today’s video update will show you how.We’re doing everything possible to make it easy to navigate campus!
Sunday will be a special time together as a church, as we take the Lord’s Supper together. In doing this, we remember the broken body and shed blood of our Savior (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). His sacrifice has saved us and set us free. Let’s celebrate that amazing truth together.
Tuesday, August 27, 2024 Update:
Here are today’s updates from our Executive Pastor, Dr. Ben Lovvorn:
The investigation into the cause of the fire will continue in the Historic Sanctuary site for the next few weeks. The Dallas Fire Department is leading this effort, in conjunction with others.
Crews were able to retrieve some historical items from the Sanctuary basement. We will be using a sophisticated, months-long process to potentially restore these items.
In collaboration with our construction partners, we will soon open a foot path with a ramp that will allow you to enter the campus through the Lovvorn Hall entrance on Level 1 of the Worship Center. This will be open on Sundays, and it makes parking in the Spurgeon Harris or Ervay garages much more convenient. We’re doing everything possible to make it easier and easier to navigate our campus each week!
Please pray for God’s continued favor over this work, for God to use us to reach more people for Jesus Christ, and for continued protection from spiritual warfare. And please know that our staff is praying for you, church!
Friday, August 23, 2024 Update:
We’ve got an update for you today from inside the construction zone. Significant work remains to be done, but we’re making great strides each day. The fire investigation in the Sanctuary site is ongoing, and we will update you on that as we know more. We so appreciate the continued partnership we have with Dallas Fire Rescue as well as the city of Dallas, who have made it possible for us to do this important work preserving our church campus, clearing the site, and making the area safe and navigable for our church members. This situation will get easier and easier each week as we make more and more progress! Please continue praying for safety, speed, and success in the work being done by all the teams working throughout the campus.
Thursday, August 22, 2024 Update:
Dr. Ben Lovvorn has an update for you today from inside the Criswell Center:
The Worship Center and Horner Family Center are fully operational. We praise the Lord for this, and we’re grateful to have space to do ministry and worship together each week!
Teams are still working to restore power to the Criswell Center and continuing to assess the level of damage done and remediation needed. This will be a long process.
Let’s not forget the true goal and true work of the church. Our ultimate goal isn’t merely to have beautiful, functioning buildings. The most vital construction project of the church is the renovation and transformation of each person’s heart. By the work of the Holy Spirit, we are to be further conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. Pray that this vital, all-important, heart-level would continue in each of us each day.
Tuesday, August 20, 2024 Update:
Church family, we have a special update to share with you today. Dr. Ben Lovvorn takes us inside the walls of the Sanctuary, giving a construction update from the very spot where our historic pulpit stood for over a century. We’re making great progress in cleaning the site so that we can begin to plan for the future work to be done there! We trust God with the future and are already anticipating the incredible things He can and will do at First Baptist Dallas.
Friday, August 16, 2024 Update:
Church family, we hit a big milestone this week in the ongoing work to restore our campus! Sunday School is back. Here’s the update and a message from our Executive Pastor, Dr. Ben Lovvorn:
For the last four weeks, we’ve been working non-stop to restore the space our Sunday School ministry needs to operate. This Sunday, every class will have a place to meet!
Our children’s ministry classrooms were already excellent. But when your kids get here this Sunday, their rooms will be even better! As a part of the campus restoration process, we have all new chairs, cribs, toys, books, supplies, and more in floors 1–3 of the Horner Family Center. It’s all in place and ready to go.
This Sunday is “I Love My Church Sunday.” We’ll hear a powerful message from our Pastor, will be led in worship by Dr. Cliff Duren, and will receive a free t-shirt (yes… we even have onesies!). It’s going to be such a great morning of praising our Lord and studying His Word together.
Thursday, August 15, 2024 Update:
Church family, here’s the update for today!
We’re still in the first phase of the construction process with the Historic Sanctuary, the crisis response and emergency management phase. Teams of experts are working, in consultation with the Dallas Fire Department, to remove debris safely. Soon we’ll be able to turn our attention to the longer-term phase, the reconstruction.
We’re celebrating “I Love My Church” this Sunday! We love the church because Christ loves the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25). This will be a joyful time of gathering together, worshipping the Lord, hearing from God’s Word through our Pastor, and much more.
We’ll have an update for you tomorrow from our Horner Family Center. You’ll be excited to see the incredible work that has been done there, in preparation for welcoming our kids back to Sunday School!
Thank you for your constant support and prayers. We are a blessed church, and we know God is doing a great work here among us!
Tuesday, August 13, 2024 Update:
Church family, here’s what you will hear about in our update from Dr. Ben Lovvorn today:
Selective demolition and debris cleanup continues moving forward at the Sanctuary site. This work will enable the Dallas Fire Department to resume its investigation into the possible cause of the fire.
We have SO MUCH happening this Sunday, August 18! Our Pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress, will be continuing his powerful new series, Jesus Revealed in the End Times. Our new Minister of Music and Worship, Dr. Cliff Duren, will be leading us. We’ll have free t-shirts for “I Love My Church” Sunday. Worship service times are now 9 & 11. Sunday School is back for all ages at 8, 9:15, and 11. Please join us!
We’re encouraging everyone to bring a special thank offering on Sunday, as a way of praising the Lord for His goodness to us through this season.
Here’s how you can pray this week: 1) pray for success in the selective demolition, 2) pray for this Sunday to be a joyful time of celebration and worship together, and 3) pray for the long-term ministry of the church—ask God to transform lives and bring Himself greater glory than we could ever have imagined!
Friday, August 9, 2024 Update:
Church family, we’re excited to share how God has continued to answer our prayers each step of the way! Dr. Ben Lovvorn’s update today is about the great progress we’ve made across our campus and how the Lord can use this to draw more people to Himself:
The Historic Sanctuary’s exterior walls will look different when you see them on Sunday. That’s part of the plan to save them. Teams have carefully done selective demolition to a few sections of the walls that were unstable and at risk of collapse. This work has enabled us to stabilize other portions of the walls. We continue to work in concert with experts to preserve as much of the Sanctuary’s outer walls as possible.
The Horner Family Center has been professionally cleaned, inspected, and cleared for safe use by our kids, students, and adults! We have teams working around the clock to install furniture and contents. We’re still on track to have the HFC ready to go on August 18, so we can welcome back full Sunday School programming for all ages. We’ll continue to keep you informed about the progress next week.
Our staff is energized and hard at work, ministering to our church family and preparing diligently to resume all of our programming. We can’t wait! Thank you for praying for them.
When Nehemiah and the people of Israel completed the wall around Jerusalem, the nations around them recognized “that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God” (Nehemiah 6:16). We’re eager for this to happen here at First Baptist Dallas. One day this reconstruction will all be completed, and on that day, we want our city and our world to see that it was only accomplish by God’s help and provision. Pray toward that end!
See you Sunday!
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 Update:
Church family, on Monday we asked you to pray for three things: for our campus, for our staff, and against spiritual warfare. In today’s video update, Dr. Ben Lovvorn shares how God is already beginning to answer those requests!
For our campus: We have continued to make rapid progress each day throughout the campus. We’re working to restore the Horner Family Center back to full operation and remain on track for being back to full Sunday School programming by Sunday, August 18. We also have plans in place and ready to go for this Sunday’s church family photo and for “I Love My Church” Sunday the following week.
For our staff: Our entire staff met together yesterday for a time of encouragement from our Pastor, Dr. Jeffress. The staff is energized and eager to continue ministering to you and your family. We can’t wait for more ministries and events to start back soon! We’re ready to go.
Against spiritual warfare: We know that there is a spiritual enemy who seeks to attack and devour us. But if we obey God’s will and trust in Him, we know He will give us the victory! We are already seeing great fruit and incredible ways that God is working. Don’t let Satan isolate you by disconnecting you from the body of Christ. Let’s keep seeking after the Lord together!
Church, God hears your prayers. He is working. Continue to go before Him with every need you have. And remember that our staff is praying for YOU as well!
Monday, August 5, 2024 Update:
Today, Dr. Ben Lovvorn gives us an update about our special plans for the upcoming two weeks, August 11 & 18. Here’s what you need to know:
On Sunday, August 11, we will have one service at 11am in the Worship Center. We will not have childcare available yet. After the service, we will all take a photo in front of the Historic Sanctuary as one big church family!
On Sunday, August 18, we are planning to be back in Sunday School for all age divisions. This Sunday is our “I Love My Church Sunday,” where you can pick up a commemorative t-shirt. As the Lord leads you, we are encouraging everyone to bring a special thank offering to celebrate the Lord’s goodness to us. August 18 will also be the first Sunday that our Minister of Music and Worship Dr. Cliff Duren, will lead worship with our Choir & Orchestra.
Church, we are asking that you pray for three things this week. First, progress in the continued work on our campus as we prepare to come back with Sunday School programming in the next two weeks. Second, endurance for our staff and church as we continue to minister to those around us. Third, against spiritual warfare—our God is greater and we will overcome in Him!
Friday, August 2, 2024 Update:
Church family, Dr. Ben Lovvorn shares a word of encouragement with us today based on Isaiah 43:19. The Lord says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing.” That is the good news of the gospel, freely available to all who would put their faith in Jesus Christ. Sin destroys. You can have a new beginning today in Him.
If you’ve never been to church before, or haven’t been to church in a long time, Christ is offering you a new start. We invite you to join us here at First Baptist Dallas this Sunday. We would love to share with you about God’s forgiveness and the eternal, life-changing hope found only in Him!
See you at 11AM on Sunday in our Worship Center.
Thursday, August 1, 2024 Updates:
Today, Dr. Ben Lovvorn’s update comes from inside our Worship Center! Everything is ready for our church family to worship together this Sunday. Here’s the plan:
We will have one worship service at 11AM. Childcare isn’t available yet—families can worship together.
Dr. Jeffress will be here, R.T. Kendall is bringing the message, and our Choir & Orchestra will lead in worship. Although there are currently only two entrances available into the Worship Center, all of our normal emergency exits are available. These are clearly marked for your information and safety. If you are a Sunday School leader: please stay after the service for a 30-minute meeting with Dr. Ben Lovvorn and Ryland Whitehorn. We’ll talk through the plan for resuming full Sunday School programming.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 Updates:
Church family, we have an update from Dr. Ben Lovvorn about this Sunday, August 4. We will be back on campus in the Worship Center! Teams of people have been working tirelessly to make this possible. Here’s what you need to know for Sunday:
We will have one worship service at 11AM in the Worship Center. Childcare will not be available yet—families will worship together. The only two entrances into campus are at the street level on St. Paul or through the Level 2 Skybridge from the Horner Family Center. All of our parking garages are open and functional, but the route you take to park and then to enter the Worship Center may be affected. We will send out more detailed parking and walking instructions later this week.
Throughout all of this, the reason we are going to such great lengths to be able to worship together is because we are the body of Christ. Scripture calls us to make a habit out of coming together to worship our Lord, so we can encourage one another and stir each other up to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24–25). This is what the church of Jesus Christ will do until He returns!
Church family, today’s video update is from our Pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress! This Sunday, our hope is to worship together back on campus at First Baptist Dallas in the Worship Center. You’ll hear a special message from Dr. R.T. Kendall, longtime Pastor at Westminster Chapel in London. On Sunday, August 18, we will have “I Love My Church Sunday,” a day to express our gratitude to God for His love and provision for us. We encourage you to bring a special offering that day. We’ll also welcome our new Minister of Music & Worship, Dr. Cliff Duren! Remember, God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). God can use even the hardest things in our lives to draw us closer to Himself. When difficult things happen, what matters is how we respond. In the decades to come, the fire of 2024 will be seen as a milestone event. Let’s make it the beginning of a new and incredible era for First Baptist Dallas.
Tuesday, July 30, 2024 Update:
Church family, in today’s update Dr. Ben Lovvorn takes us on a guided tour through the worksite.
In the Historic Sanctuary, the scaffolding and cable system that will secure the external walls is nearly complete. In the Criswell Center, we are taking steps to control the climate inside the building and restore power. The Horner Family Center is currently being cleaned, restocked, and prepared to host Sunday School for all ages. In the Worship Center, we’re testing our systems and equipment, doing some final cleanings, and we’re nearly ready to welcome everyone back for worship this Sunday! We’re making incredible progress each day to get our campus back to full operation and to get our church family together here soon.
Monday, July 29, 2024 Update:
Church family, in today’s update from Dr. Ben Lovvorn, we have three prayer requests to share with you for the week ahead.
1. Pray for the continued restoration of our church campus. We are making significant progress in shoring up and reinforcing the walls of the Sanctuary. We are planning to return to campus for worship this Sunday and soon after to return to Sunday School and other programming. Pray that these efforts would be successful!
2. Pray for the ongoing ministry of our church. The ministry of the church may change forms, but it can never stop! Pray for our staff and our members to continue growing spiritually and encouraging each other throughout this time.
3. Pray against Satan’s attacks. We know that our real enemy is not flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:10–12). Satan would love to use this circumstance to distract us or slow down the work God has called us to do. Pray that just the opposite would happen—that God would use this for His greater glory and our good.
Friday, July 26, 2024 Update:
In today’s update from Dr. Ben Lovvorn, First Baptist Dallas will meet for worship at 11AM on Sunday at the Dallas Convention Center. The live-steam of Sunday’s service will be available via our iCampus and other normal channels. You will hear from us soon with updated parking instructions for the Convention Center to make it a simple and easy experience. Work continues throughout our campus to preserve the Sanctuary and restore the Worship Center to normal operation. We hope to be back in worship on campus next Sunday, August 4. Our church’s mission continues to advance through Mission 1:8 WIN NOW, as we seek to reach as many people as possible with the gospel. Please continue to give generously. You can do this easily and securely here.
Thursday, July 25, 2024 Update:
In the 7/25/24 update from Dr. Ben Lovvorn, we have made significant progress today in stabilizing and supporting the outer walls of the Historic Sanctuary. Crews are working 24 hours a day to continue restoring our campus back to normal operations, focusing primarily in the Worship Center and the Horner Family Center. We will make a decision at midday tomorrow about where to hold this Sunday’s worship service. You will hear from us as soon as we make that decision. This is going to be a marathon, not a sprint. The work will happen in stages. But we know that God will provide at each step! Our mission never stops. But we need your help. Continue to pray for the work happening throughout our campus. As God leads you, please continue to give generously to Mission 1:8 WIN NOW or the “Church Campus Redevelopment” fund.
Wednesday, July 24 2024 Update:
This July 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.
Tuesday, July 23 2024 Update:
In this July 23, 2024 video update, our Executive Pastor, Dr. Ben Lovvorn, shares the most up-to-date news regarding our work to preserve the Sanctuary, the tentative plan for this weekend’s worship services, and how you can pray and help.
Friday, July 19 & Sunday, July 21, 2024 Update:
On Friday evening, July 19, a four-alarm fire destroyed the 134-year-old Historic Sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Dallas. By God’s grace, there were no injuries. On Sunday morning, July 21, the campus was inaccessible, so the church family gathered with Senior Pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress and Executive Pastor Dr. Ben Lovvorn for a worship service at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas. While this is a difficult circumstance, we know the church isn’t about a building but the people, and we are grateful for our church body. We praise God for His protection and provision through this circumstance and trust that He will work it together for good.
We plan to rebuild the Historic Sanctuary and hope to return to our Worship Center in the coming weeks.
Watch Senior Pastor, Dr. Robert Jeffress’ remarks about the four-alarm fire in the Historic Sanctuary on Friday night here.
Watch the full service from Sunday, July 21, including worship and the inspiring sermon from Dr. Ben Lovvorn, here.