The smell of the stable, the voices of the angels, the baby lying in the manger — this imagery in the biblical account of Jesus’ birth has sparked readers’ imaginations for hundreds of years.
Eleven years ago, members of Bethel Baptist Church, Robertsdale, had their own spark of imagination, and Walk Through Bethlehem, an outdoor Christmas program where visitors could experience the sights and sounds of that historic night, was born. It was an idea that has united the Baldwin Baptist Association church and the community in celebration of the Savior’s birth ever since.
“Walk Through Bethlehem is as much a part of us as our building and our pews,” said Pastor Harvey Earls. “Beginning in October it becomes our ministry vision to share the gospel with those who come.”
This year’s program, which ran Dec. 11–14, marked the 10th anniversary for Walk Through Bethlehem. Though counting people isn’t the priority for the free event, Earls said more than 2,400 people took the walk this year. In fact attendance grows each year even though the church’s only advertising is a float in the local Christmas parade. For many families Walk Through Bethlehem is a Christmas tradition.
Dennis Stastka, a Bethel Baptist deacon and volunteer at the event, said, “A lady who came through last year said she had never missed a year. She said it always gets her ready for Christmas.”
Realistic program
The realism of the program is a big part of the excitement, Earls said. Each group is taken through Bethlehem by a shepherd who leads them in a search for the baby Jesus. As the group moves through Bethlehem they are counted for the census. Along the way they encounter a woman drawing water from a well, merchants selling their wares, angels singing praises to God and wise men searching for the child.
As the group nears the end of their journey they find the baby in the manger and hear a gospel presentation. Each year several commitments are made and knowing that people are being saved and are rededicating their lives to Christ encourages the volunteers.
Stastka said, “Outreach is one of our main goals and we have been blessed to have touched a lot of lives in the past 10 years. If we can touch just one life, someone who doesn’t know Christ or someone who has fallen away from attending church and needs encouragement, that is our foremost emphasis.”
Focusing on the impact of Walk Through Bethlehem encourages church volunteers as well. Earls describes Bethel as a small but growing country church, averaging 125 in worship each Sunday. Almost everyone from children to adults is involved in the production in some way, many in multiple ways.
Once the set is put up in October, actors start practicing their roles. Kitchen volunteers bake thousands of cookies for visitors to enjoy after their walk. Greeters and parking staff stay busy during the four nights of the production making sure everyone stays safe and knows where to go. Altogether it takes 85 people or so to staff the production each night.
Al Clingan, a Bethel deacon who helps put up the set and portrays the innkeeper during the event, said, “For a church our size to take on something like this is a pretty good challenge but everybody jumps in and loves it.”
Growing excitement
Stastka, a lifelong member of Bethel, said excitement about the production grows each year especially as volunteers anticipate the people who are going to experience it.
“It’s a lot of work and a lot of preparation but every year it brings our church closer together,” he said.
Unity in their mission to reach the community is key to the success of Walk Through Bethlehem, Earls said, though he admits he doesn’t know whether it’s the production that builds unity or an established sense of unity that supports the production. He just knows that the church is united in their desire to reach the community with the true meaning of Christmas, a mission vision echoed by other volunteers.
Clingan said, “It’s always so rewarding to sit down and read the comments people leave. Many want to talk about their salvation and we always say if we can reach one person the whole thing was worth it.”
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