Thousands expected to spend Easter weekend at the ballpark

JACKSON, Tenn. — Volunteers roll in supplies Friday and set up a stage in the middle of a minor league baseball field.

A crowd will be gathered not to cheer on their home team but to celebrate Easter as Englewood Baptist Church hosts a weekend of events.

“It’s been really cool just to have people come out and pitch in and do whatever needs to be done and say, ‘hey, I’m willing to do whatever to help serve,'” Englewood Baptist Church’s young adult pastor Cody Finch said. “I’m hoping this will be able to attract some people that may not darken the doors of church on another day.”

As the stage is set up, Englewood staff said they’re expecting thousands of people to make their way to the ballpark on the second year they’ve hosted the event.

“To be able to come out here and do this in a beautiful ballpark, to celebrate Jesus as a community under this awesome Jackson sky, which will be sunny on Sunday morning, means the world to us,” Englewood worship pastor Travis Cottrell said.

Saturday night, the church is hosting a concert with Cottrell and Clark Beckham, who was the runner-up on last season’s American Idol. That concert will be followed by a fireworks show. Sunday’s events will include an egg drop from a helicopter, music with special guests, and a message.

There may not be a steeple at this venue, but church leaders said their purpose is much greater than a home run.

“We hope that what we represent here will be the love, the grace of Jesus Christ, and how He changed our lives. We’re super pumped about it,” Cottrell said.

Saturday night’s concert starts at 7 o’clock, and Sunday’s service begins at 10 a.m.

Both events are free and open to the public.