Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green is once again putting his faith into action, pledging $7 million to help rebuild the historic sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas after a devastating fire destroyed much of the 134-year-old structure last year.

The announcement was made Sunday morning during worship at the downtown Dallas megachurch, where Senior Pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress shared the remarkable story of how Green’s generosity quickly multiplied. “A couple of months ago, you remember David Green, the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby, came to visit us, and he loves our church. He loves what our church stands for,” Jeffress told the congregation.

According to Jeffress, Green initially offered a matching grant of up to $7 million if the church could raise the same amount. But the next morning, a “dedicated family” within the congregation stepped forward with a $7 million pledge of their own, ensuring the church would receive Green’s full donation. “They called back the next morning and said, ‘Pastor, we will give the entire $7 million,'” Jeffress recalled to cheers and applause. “So David put the check in the mail. We’re close to what we’re going to need to do this completely debt-free.”

The generous gift comes as First Baptist Dallas continues its campaign to raise $95 million for a full rebuild and expanded ministry operations. The church, founded in 1868, has long been one of the most influential congregations in the Southern Baptist Convention, recognized for its global broadcast ministry, Pathway to Victory, and its deep roots in the Dallas community.

Jeffress explained that Green’s support was especially meaningful because the Hobby Lobby Foundation typically gives to international organizations rather than local churches. “David recognized First Baptist Church is not just any local congregation,” Jeffress said. “It has a worldwide ministry.”

In a message shared by Jeffress, Green emphasized that his motivation was simple: sharing the Gospel. “Pastor, your church is about winning people to Jesus. And that’s what we love at Hobby Lobby,” Green said. “We want to win as many people to Jesus as quickly as we can. And that’s what you’re doing. And we want to play a part in the rebuilding of that historic sanctuary.”

The July 2024 fire left much of First Baptist’s historic sanctuary in ruins, including a collapsed roof and heavy damage to an adjacent chapel. Still, the congregation continued to gather in other spaces on its sprawling six-block campus. The church, which serves more than 16,000 members, was even named “Best Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area” this past October, a testament to its enduring presence in the city.

Jeffress informed members that groundbreaking for the new sanctuary is anticipated in early 2026, with reconstruction costs estimated at approximately $27 million. Planned upgrades include new features like a large escalator and staircase connecting multiple levels of the Crystal Center.

At the close of Sunday’s service, Jeffress expressed heartfelt thanks to Green and his family. “I first of all want to publicly thank a great Christian, David Green, and the Green family for what they’ve done for our church,” he said, joking that he “will never complain when Amy goes to Hobby Lobby ever again.”

“We appreciate and love David and Hobby Lobby,” Jeffress added. “Most of all, we give God the glory for great things He has done and continues to do through our church.”