Nacogdoches Church Holds Easter Service at SFA Coliseum for Third Year

First Baptist Church draws over 2,000 worshippers from across East Texas to annual Easter celebration.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:24pm

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For the third consecutive year, First Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas held its Easter Sunday service at the Stephen F. Austin State University coliseum, drawing a crowd of over 2,000 people from across the East Texas region to the large venue for the special holiday celebration.

Why it matters

The decision by First Baptist Church to move its Easter service to the SFA coliseum reflects a growing trend among some churches to hold major holiday services in larger public venues that can accommodate their expanding congregations, rather than remaining in their traditional church buildings.

The details

First Baptist Church has been hosting its Easter service at the SFA coliseum for the past three years as its regular sanctuary has become too small to accommodate the growing number of worshippers who attend the church's holiday services. The coliseum provides ample space for the church to welcome over 2,000 attendees from Nacogdoches and the surrounding East Texas communities.

  • First Baptist Church has held its Easter service at the SFA coliseum for the past three years.
  • This year's Easter service took place on April 5, 2026.

The players

First Baptist Church

A Protestant Christian church located in Nacogdoches, Texas that has been hosting its annual Easter service at the nearby Stephen F. Austin State University coliseum for the past three years.

Stephen F. Austin State University

A public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas that provides its coliseum venue for First Baptist Church's large-scale Easter service.

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The takeaway

The growing trend of churches holding major holiday services in larger public venues rather than their traditional sanctuaries reflects the need for more space to accommodate expanding congregations, particularly during the most heavily attended services of the year.