(Project includes) a new 3,000-seat sanctuary…, along with a religious education building and parking garage, a sweeping glass-fronted concourse and a sky bridge.
Packed tightly into the ornate, old sanctuary and spilling into overflow areas to watch on TV, members of First Baptist Church of Dallas heard the number Sunday that will guide them into the 21st century: $115,062,000.
That’s the amount the congregation committed to contribute over three years to rebuild and reshape the historic downtown church, a record for a Protestant church in America, senior pastor Robert Jeffress said, and a huge show of faith by the 3,200 members who attend on an average Sunday.
The cause touched even the children. Nine-year-old Nathan Denman told the crowd that he had felt God calling him to sell some of his toys – even his favorite Lego set – to help with the project. The night before the garage sale, he broke down in tears because he knew he’d miss his Legos that much, he said.
“But I said after the sale that even with our very low prices, God really blessed our garage sale,” Nathan said.
His donation, Jeffress added, was $505.
The church’s building committee will go through the project again over the next two weeks, present plans to the board of deacons and, finally, go before the congregation for approval at an all-church business meeting June 6.
Groundbreaking would be July 11, Jeffress said, with construction completed in time for Easter services in 2013.
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