First Baptist Dallas is working to move Sunday service back to campus after sanctuary fire

Church staff are diligently working to move services back onto First Baptist Dallas ’ campus following Friday’s fire at its historic sanctuary in downtown Dallas, said executive pastor Ben Lovvorn.

In a Tuesday update posted on Facebook, Lovvorn said the entire First Baptist Dallas campus was covered in smoke, in addition to the collapse of the historic sanctuary . This required staff to hold a 11 a.m. service Sunday at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

Dallas Fire-Rescue crews responded around 6 p.m. Friday to the sanctuary, located at North Ervay and San Jacinto Streets, as flames engulfed the structure. The fire grew to four alarms, and it took crews about four hours to contain it, according to DFR. Firefighters remained at the site after containing the fire to extinguish hot spots.

As of Tuesday, church staff were working in First Baptist Dallas’ worship center building to prepare it for an upcoming Sunday service.

“There are a lot of things that need to be done between now and Sunday, so that we are able to worship here, but we are making great, great progress,” Lovvorn said.

The church’s campus is currently closed and all activities scheduled this week were suspended. Lovvorn said an update regarding Sunday service will be made as more information becomes available.

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“One way or another, we’re going to come together somewhere for worship this coming Sunday,” said Lovvorn.

The executive pastor added that the church staff was also working at the site of the sanctuary Tuesday in hopes to preserve the exterior walls of the 134-year-old building. If structural engineers determine it is unstable, the building would need to be demolished, the fire department said Saturday.

Pastor Robert Jeffress told Star-Telegram media partner WFFA-TV that he had just left the church when he received word of the fire.

“We had just concluded Vacation Bible School with over 2,000 kids,” Jeffress told WFAA. “They were all gone. God has protected us through all of this.”

The cause of the fire is not yet known. The ATF is assisting with the investigation at the request of DFR.

For those who want to make donations, funds can be sent to the church’s Mission 1:8 Win Now website.