Dallas Megachurch Makes Way for New Campus

By Audrey Barrick, Christian Post Reporter Friday, October 29, 2010

A Dallas megachurch is imploding four buildings Saturday morning to make way for a $115 million campus.

The demolition is drawing TV news crews to First Baptist Church of Dallas to capture "the big bang," as the pastor called it.

"The big bang is coming this Saturday," Pastor Robert Jeffress said during worship service this past Sunday.

"No longer is there going to be any debate about whether we ought to do this or not," he said to laughter. "The new question is how quickly are we going to build this thing for the glory of God."

The 10,000-member church first announced its plans to expand in 2009. Originally, it was aiming for a $130 million state-of-the-art campus but FBC leaders tried to make it more economical and, with a few modifications, lowered the cost to $115 million.

Reportedly the largest church expansion program in modern history, the 1.5 million-square-foot campus will include a new 3,000-seat worship center, a six-floor education building, recreation areas, a sky bridge made of glass, a fountain with a water tower topped by a cross and a parking garage.

The vision for the massive project was introduced by Jeffress as "a spiritual oasis in the middle of downtown." FBC leaders said they hope to "dramatically increase" the church's ability to minister to the city with the new campus.

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert is a member of the congregation and has thrown his support behind the expansion. He said that it will further the revitalization of downtown Dallas.

Local news station WFAA will be covering the implosion and feature a "Belief Is Building" 30-minute TV special afterward, telling the story of First Baptist church.

The new campus is set to open Easter Sunday, 2013.