A 130—year old pulpit was miraculously spared when fire ravaged the part of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas recently, Crosswalk Headlines has reported.
The paper said the pulpit had been a cornerstone for some of the pastors of the church. Among the pastors that used the pulpit were George Truett (1867-1944) and W.A. Criswell (1909-2002).
The sanctuary was constructed in 1890 and it is located adjacent to the current sanctuary of the church. It was in use until it was renovated with $130 million in 2013.
Some members and pastors of the church have described the preservation of the pulpit as a testimony.
Pastor of the church, Robert Jeffress, in a post on X said, “A true miracle, especially if you saw the flames engulfing the place where this pulpit was displayed.”
Former pastor, O.S. Hawkins said “So indescribably grateful for this miracle. In the midst of the total destruction of the church in the fire, this 130-year old pulpit of Truett and Criswell and the others of us somehow somehow miraculously survived. Thank you, Lord.”
Following the incident, the church’s congregation worshipped in the city’s Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Centre the previous Sunday.
Church leaders are hoping that the congregation will return to the campus this Sunday, according to Ben Lovvorn, an executive pastor, in a video.
The fire destroyed the sanctuary interior though its exterior walls still stand.
The cause of the inferno remains unknown.
Lovvorn said the church has received approval from the city to begin the work of preserving the historic walls.
Already, fire investigators have met with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the FBI to probe the fire which engulfed the 134-year old building.
Trump offers support
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has sent support to the church after the devastating fire.
Pastor Jeffress said Trump, also the Republican Party presidential candidate in the November election, sent him a note and “offered his help to do anything he could.”
He, however, denied that the fire had to do with his vocal support for the former president, who spoke at the church on December 19, 2021.
Also, about three former U.S. presidents had worshipped at the church, Jeffress said.
“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 worshippers in that sanctuary,” the pastor told CBS.