When First Baptist Dallas Does a Groundbreaking, It Does Not Mess Around

By Robert Wilonsky Tue., Jul. 13 2010 at 8:31 AM

Categories: Religion

New Campus Groundbreaking from First Dallas on Vimeo.

Perhaps you saw in Sunday's paper the great-gosh-a-mighty spread First Baptist Dallas took out to commemorate last weekend's groundbreaking on its $130-million plans to remake that end of downtown in its own image. Turns out, the ceremony was as spectacular-spectacular as the advertisement promised, down to the explosions. Say this for Robert Jeffress: The man can put on a show.

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With the renovation/expansion of First Baptist Dallas, has come the closing of the Developmental Learning Center which is a day care center associated with FBC. In their fund raising, FBC neglected to set aside money for space for the children of the DLC, thus they decided to close the DLC with very little notice to the parents and employees of the DLC. First Baptist Dallas claims to be a Christian organization yet they have left a number of families burdened with the need to find a care facility for their children. But that isn�t even the kicker, FBC Dallas has left several people out in the cold to find jobs in a market that isn�t very cooperative. Not only are these people having trouble finding jobs, they are unable to collect any type of unemployment due to the fact that FBC Dallas is a non-profit organization and FBC Dallas has not offered these people any compensation. Some of these people have been at FBC/DLC for years and now they are going to be jobless with no compensation, no health insurance, etc� Truly unethical!!!
$130 million?! - I keep thinking that there are earthquake victims in Haiti or hurricane and oil spill victims on the Gulf Coast who really need that money. I acknowledge that periodically churches need to renovate or expand their campuses to meet the needs of their congregation. But the key word is to "meet" the need, not build something ridiculous. Get over your Prestonwood Bapto-dome jealousy. Last I checked pride, greed, gluttony and envy were among the cardinal sins.
<i>Jedi54 says: What is the problem? If First Baptist wants to build then let them. If the tithes and offerings can finance this project, or if the borrowed the money, and if they still have the cash to fund their other committments why are we critizing them. God Bless First Baptist.</i> The question has to be asked. "Just what kind of gawd would a gawd be that blessed the likes of the First Baptist Church of Dallas?" My guess is the answer is along the line of one that FBC of Dallas created.
Ya'll are full of it.
Many years ago I had a reality moment. I had to either change the sexual orientation of our son or change the way our society looked at homosexuals. I chose the path of least resistance and have been working on society ever since. I see something like this and have to smile, it's a win win for common sense and human decency. When someone defines evil as a friend or relative that you care about, that person loses most of their credibility, especially if they're wearing the cloak of gawd when doing it. As for Jeffress and his sissiness, that's a good thing for those of us who love and appreciate the homosexuals in our lives. That's because his congregation is learning to love sissiness. Loving him will make it easier for them to accept, embrace even, the homosexuals amongst us that are, well, kinda sorta sissy like Jeffress. And as we all know, once you love one homosexual you find yourself loving them all.
if jeffress were any gayer...his butthole would explode with glitter packs from hobby lobby. there should at least be a limit on how many tax free churches one city can have.......
Will the stark-raving homeless that make downtown on nights and weekends look like a set from Dawn of the Dead be welcome in God's new glass house?
CBD, I was unaware it was the church's mission to stimulate the economy. GMAFB. This is nothing more than a bizarre form of institutional masturbation. Tax these hyprocrites as the country clubs they have become.
Well I'm sure you folk will hate to come to Oak Cliff in the Hampton/I-20/Camp Wisdom/I-35 corridor. There are 5-7 Mega Churches in that are. 4 within 3 miles of each other.
this $130MM project reminds me of what Jesus says: "23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 17:23) and/or " 5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men." (Matthew 6:5) I love seeing this guy's tanned skin and cufflinks to complete his $2,000 suit.
What don�t you people understand? High-dollar buildings don�t guarantee a wristband into the show
Do they still have the "separate but equal" satellite churches they created to keep those people from attending the mother church? I guess in the competitive atmosphere of Baptist churches, you have to build 'em bigger and better to attract the Prestonwood type of Christians. It's too bad so much of this side of downtown Dallas is eaten up by non-tax paying real estate.
@CBD Then they will use the structure to preach intolerance and hate, right now against gay people, of course it isn't new, FB used to do the same against black people.
CBD: Your point is well taken, but First Baptist is making a complete mockery of it's tax exempt status. If they are going to organize like a big mega church business and use tithes to enrich and glorify their own, and not act so much like a charitable organization or church, then they should pay the same taxes as every other business. Oh, and this sentiment applies to all mega churches for that matter, not just First Baptist. Only Jebus can save us now.
$130 million in building provides for a lot of jobs, someone has to run the earth movers, handle the steal/concrete, put up the drywall and paint the place. Once complete, someone will have to clean it, put flower in there, preach, run the websites for the church. Just because they aren't giving the money directly to a charity that you choose, or spending it the way you like doesn't mean they aren't stimulating the economy, creating jobs and growth.
Go ye forth with self-importance.
Good thing that $130 million wasn't being spent on that yucky charity stuff! I just don't get it....
Double Yuck.
hahahaha I love how Jeffress has that horrible tan now...now he looks like a smoked turkey.
M Streeter, Jeffress is the biggest 'mo around, but John M has a point. There better be a big enough closet for the majority of the male choir members.
<i>Not sure if any gays were present.</i> I'm sure the new building has plenty of closet space.
I always enjoy a good SNL skit. But where was the church lady? An added bonus would be Dr. Criswell hovering in his white suit with the vest with diamond studs and his big diamond tie pin.
Hmmmmm. The only non-white in the crowd was the guy showing Jeffress how to operate the heavy machinery. Not sure if any gays were present.
Salt Lake City, move over!
All that money could be used to benefit the less-fortunate in this community in outreach to help feed, clothe and work with the less fortunate. Instead they've decided to build a gaudy jesusdome like you see in the burbs. Another reason I refuse to participate in organized religion...
Just what downtown Dallas needs -- a bigger friggin' church. Revoke their tax exempt status and stimulate the economy.
If there's anything Dallas needs more of, it's graceless, gaudy conservatives trying to impress the world with their money.
What is the problem? If First Baptist wants to build then let them. If the tithes and offerings can finance this project, or if the borrowed the money, and if they still have the cash to fund their other committments why are we critizing them. God Bless First Baptist.
Jeffress creeps me out.
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggghhh.
Intolerance has its perks, I suppose.