Fort Graham Baptist Church holds first service after fire

Easter Sunday marks the congregation's return to worship after their church was destroyed earlier this week.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:18am

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Fort Graham Baptist Church in Whitney, Texas will host its first Sunday service this Easter after the church building was destroyed in a fire earlier this week. Despite losing their physical space and all of their equipment, the congregation is determined to continue their traditions and show the hope of Jesus Christ to the community.

Why it matters

The fire at Fort Graham Baptist Church has left the congregation without a permanent place of worship, but their commitment to gathering on Easter Sunday demonstrates the resilience of the community and the power of faith in the face of adversity.

The details

The church's music director, Bob Kidnew, said the congregation is focused on celebrating the hope of the Easter message rather than mourning the loss of their building. With support from other local churches, the congregation has been able to pull together the necessary equipment and resources to host Sunday service, including an Easter egg hunt for the children.

  • The fire that destroyed Fort Graham Baptist Church occurred on Wednesday, just days before Easter Sunday.
  • Fort Graham Baptist Church will hold its first service since the fire on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2026.

The players

Bob Kidnew

The music director for Fort Graham Baptist Church, who is helping to organize the congregation's first service after the fire.

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What they’re saying

“We aren't broken, we still have hope and joy.”

— Bob Kidnew, Music Director

“The building means nothing compared to what Christ has done and risen for us. Our hope is in him, not in the building, and we want people to know that...we'll hopefully have a lot of people coming in that normally wouldn't come to our church service.”

— Bob Kidnew, Music Director

“It's amazing after the fire, everyone said we're going to have hope and confidence in God and said we're going to still have Easter service, Easter dinner, and the Easter egg hunt for the kids.”

— Bob Kidnew, Music Director

What’s next

The congregation is working to secure a temporary worship space while they determine their next steps for rebuilding the church.

The takeaway

Despite the devastating loss of their church building, the Fort Graham Baptist congregation is demonstrating the power of faith and community to overcome adversity. Their determination to gather for Easter service is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.