First Baptist Dallas receives a $7 million donation from Hobby Lobby CEO David Green to help rebuild the church’s historic sanctuary, which was destroyed in a 2024 fire.
The contribution significantly closes the gap in the church’s fundraising effort and positions the congregation to begin construction on a new worship space as early as 2026.
The downtown church, founded in 1890, has been working to replace its 134-year-old sanctuary after investigators determined the fire started in the building’s electrical system. Church leaders had already secured most of the funding for the project but still faced a multimillion-dollar shortfall before Green’s gift.
The upcoming rebuild is expected to preserve elements of the original sanctuary’s design while modernizing the space for future growth. With the donation in place, First Baptist Dallas plans to move forward on design and permitting in the coming months as one of the city’s oldest congregations prepares to restore a central piece of its campus.
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