First Baptist Dallas, whose historic sanctuary was destroyed in a fire last year, has received an extraordinary $7 million donation from Hobby Lobby CEO David Green, senior pastor Robert Jeffress announced. The massive gift moves the church "within spitting distance" of its fundraising goal to rebuild the 134-year-old structure.
Jeffress told the congregation that the total cost to rebuild the sanctuary is estimated at $127 million. With insurance covering about $100 million, the church was left with a $27 million gap to pay.
The miracle came when Hobby Lobby CEO David Green, a noted conservative Christian philanthropist, offered a $7 million matching gift if the church could raise an equal amount.
Jeffress was able to secure the full $7 million match from a single "dedicated family" within the church after a day of prayer. The combined $14 million in new funds means the church has quickly raised nearly $19 million toward its goal.
Green confirmed his motivation for the gift was the church’s powerful work. Jeffress quoted Green, who said, "We want to invest in organizations that are winning people to faith in Jesus Christ, and that is exactly what First Baptist Church Dallas is doing."
The historic sanctuary in downtown Dallas was destroyed by a four-alarm fire in July 2024. Church leaders now hope to break ground on the new structure next month, with an estimated completion date of Easter 2028.