First Baptist Dallas, whose historic sanctuary was destroyed in a fire last year, has received a $7 million donation from Hobby Lobby toward restoring the structure, according to senior pastor Robert Jeffress.
On Sunday, Jeffress told the church’s congregation that rebuilding the 134-year-old sanctuary is expected to cost about $127 million, with insurance to cover about $100 million of the cost, leaving the church with a gap of $27 million to pay, The Dallas Morning News reports.
The church had already raised $5 million, Jeffress said, when Hobby Lobby CEO David Green offered $7 million toward the renovation, if the church could come up with another $7 million.
Jeffress said he then approached a family that attends the church, who agreed after a day of prayer to contribute the full $7 million.
With Green’s matching gift, Jeffress said, the church is now “within spitting distance” of its fundraising goal.
“We are deeply grateful for the extraordinary generosity of David Green and his family for this gift that will go a long way in helping us rebuild our historic sanctuary in the heart of Downtown Dallas,” Jeffress said in a statement to the news outlet.
