Christian Pastor Robert Jeffress received a note from former President Donald Trump after the Republican presidential nominee was made aware of the fire that engulfed the sanctuary of the historic First Baptist Church. Trump has made it clear during his political career that he considers believers in Jesus to be his close allies and has gone to bat for them a number of times against the oppression of the radical left that has attempted to persecute — and in some instances prosecute — them for applying their faith in public life.
“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 went on to inform CBS affiliate KTVT about the 134-year-old church building, which is located in downtown Dallas that was reported as being on fire a little after 6 p.m. Central time Friday evening.
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Trump, who previously spoke at the church on Dec. 19, 2021, sent Jeffress a note and “offered his help to do anything he could,” Jeffress added.
When asked if he thought the church was attacked because someone was angered by his vocal support for the former president, Jeffress responded that he did not believe there was any connection.
“I don’t believe my support for President Trump has anything to do with this fire,” he replied.
On Saturday, fire investigators were joined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI to investigate the cause of the fire. When asked if arson was suspected as a cause of the fire, Dallas Fire-Rescue Interim Chief Justin Ball said Friday evening that investigators would have to determine that as the cause was yet unknown.
Ball said it appeared the fire “may have started in the basement and moved up to the second floor” where firefighters first battled the blaze. As many as 100 firefighters responded to the four-alarm fire. “Thank God [there were] no casualties,” Ball added.
Sadly, the Dallas Fire Department informed staff at the church that what is left of the historic part of the church will now have to be torn down due to a lack of “structural integrity.” They will now have to demolish it soon so that the street can be reopened.
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The building was originally built in 1890 and the old brick building which was the sanctuary of the church at the time. This was the premises where the congregation worshiped until the brand new worship center was built in 2013. The cost of the new build was a whopping $130 million.
“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 stated in a post 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.”
During an interview with Fox 4, Jeffress explained that the sanctuary had been the site of a number of personal events, including his very own baptism at the age of 6, and his ordination to the ministry when he turned 21.
“It holds a lot of memories,” Jeffress remarked. “We thank God nobody was hurt. … I’m grateful that the church is not brick and mortar, its people. The people of God will endure. First Baptist Dallas will endure. We thank so many of our friends around the country who are praying for us right now.”
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who noted that world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham was once a member of the church, extended his prayers to its pastors and members in a post on X, adding, “I am confident God’s Light will shine down on First Baptist.”
Despite not actually being a resident of Dallas, the late Rev. Graham was a member of the church between 1953 until 2008, when he opted to remove himself from the membership roles in order to become a member of a church that was located closer to his home in the state of North Carolina, according to a report from The Dallas Morning News.