Written by Ashel Parsons
Have you ever wandered what it would be like to wander the streets of Bethlehem in Jesus’ time? Or do you ever think about what it would be like in a ancient city with live animals such as donkeys, camels and horses walking around? The First Assembly of God church provides that experience.
The church has basically built a little Bethlehem right beside their building. And people are coming to see it. About 10,000 each year.
This is a way for the church to reach out to the community and make the story of Jesus more realistic. The whole church family participates in the project, whether it be building, sewing, making food or dressing up and walking around the set while the cars drive through.
For whoever drives through, it is obvious that this is a huge project for the church. But many people may not realize how many man hours have been put into making the nativity scene happen. Hundreds of hours and people help this project run every year.
There is a lot more that goes on behind the scenes that not too many people get to see. All the costumes were handmade. The whole town had to be built and set up. Lights had to be wired and placed around the set. Many gallons of hot chocolate had to be made for those who drove through. Food had to be made for the members who participated in walking around the set. And so many more details.
Pastor Vernon Ables is one of the men in charge of this project. He loves doing this every year because of the people. He has heard dozens of testimonies from this experience. He said one young man drove all the way from Springfield, Mo. to see the nativity scene before being deployed to Iraq.
“We are just trying to keep the birth of Christ in the mind of everyone” Ables said.
Mark Ferren is the “architect of Bethlehem,” as Ables put it. Ferren drew up all of the building plans and designed the set. He organized people to come help set up and paint. He is the man to go to when it comes to the set itself.
“I do whatever needs to be done,” Ferren said.
Ferren’s favorite part of the project is seeing the kids and their reaction to it all. He said they learn so much from the experience. He also said it really brings the church together. Whether it be the meal they eat together before they all go out or the time walking around in Bethlehem mingling.
This is the church’s fifth year to put this on for the community. It is free admission, but they accept donations. The donations go to the church for Bethlehem for repairs and maintenance. The drive through Bethlehem is open Dec. 10-13 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. They have even created a Web site that has all the information on it,www.livenativity.com.
