This coming Sunday is Dr. Robert Jeffress' first Sunday as pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas. We are here to get everything set up to begin their live internet broadcast this Sunday.
I am writing this sitting in the worship center at FBC Dallas. I have a break while the encoders are being installed so I prevailed on my host, FBCD Media Director Henry Farrish to give me a quick tour of the worship center.
Being a history buff, I can't help but be somewhat overwhelmed by being in this room. FBC's sanctuary was built in the 1880s and it has not changed substantially since then. Sure they have added lights, TV cameras and things like that, but the room is basically the same. Dr. George W. Truett preached in this room for 50 years, and Dr. W.A. Criswell preached in here for the next 50 years. There's an awful lot of Baptist history in this room. A whole lot of folks have come into the Kingdom in the room.
Dr. Jeffress will become the sixth pastor to serve this church in the past 125 years. They only had two pastors - Truett and Criswell - in the century from 1881 to 1981.
The television control room where we've spent a lot of time today was Dr. Truett's study for many decades. The ancient door to the room still has the same hardware on it, complete with skeleton key. There was a place where I was able to look above the drop ceiling and see the old ceiling - a full 10 feet higher - with massive crown moulding. If these walls could talk!
It's also really cool that FBC Dallas has chosen to stay downtown and not to follow the trend of relocating out to the suburbs. Their facility takes up several city blocks here in the heart of Dallas. That was a strategic decision made decades ago by Dr. Criswell, and it has worked very well for them.
I just had the opportunity to meet and talk with Dr. Jeffress a few moments ago as he was walking around the worship center, praying and taking it in. I can see why the staff here is so excited about him coming. He seems to be very genuine and remarkably unassuming.
First Baptist Dallas is a great church with an incredible past and a bright future as they continue to make an impact in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex.
You can watch First Baptist Dallas starting this Sunday morning live via 316 Networks. They are streaming all three services live on Sunday beginning at 8:00 Central (9:00 Eastern). Click here to view now!
Alan-I just came across this delightful blog! I work at 90.9 FM, KCBI radio in Dallas, TX. We are closely affiliated with FBC Dallas and broadcast their services each Sunday morning. We are extremely excited about Dr. Jeffress' new position as senior pastor! What a great man! And yes, the history and the people behind the church are really marvelous. How wonderful to read of your experience there yesterday! If you ever want to listen to one of Dr. Jeffress' messages, you can go on-line to www.kcbi.org and click on 'listen live' on Sunday mornings...we also broadcast his teaching show "Pathway to Victory" each weekday. I'm so glad that you had the opportunity to visit FBC!
Posted by: Lisa | Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 08:48 AM