www.christianvoicemonthly.com www.christianvoicemonthly.com B r a n d o n • Va l r i c o • L i t h i a • S e f f n e r • R i v e r v i e w • P l a n t C i t y • A p o l l o B e a c h Volume 22, Issue 12
Christmas Town
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Chip & Joanna Host Services Page 17
Festive Holiday Events Page 22
A Free Publication from Osprey Observer Inc.
December 2018
Walk Thru Bethlehem Continues Free Holiday Tradition At Kings Avenue Baptist Take a step over thousands of years into the past and experience the 32nd annual Walk Thru Bethlehem, hosted at Kings Avenue Baptist Church in Brandon, an authentic reenactment that brings the biblical city and story of Jesus Christ’s birth to life from the pages of Holy Scripture. Guests will be taken through a 2030 minute guided tour of Bethlehem, where people were taxed as subjects of Caesar Augustus. Attendees can meet all kinds of citizens who existed back then, learn of their various trades and lives, and go through a myriad of booths to learn all about the ancient city, ending the journey with the holy spectacle of Jesus' birth in a humble manger. Mary and Joseph brought Jesus Christ into the world in the modest setting of Bethlehem. Walk Thru Bethlehem began as a very small production with the idea of bringing Bethlehem from the Bible as a tangible encounter for the Christian community to enjoy. It serves to unify the community and to offer free entertainment to guests. Thirty-two years later, Walk Thru Bethlehem has become one of the largest events in the Tampa Bay area. The greatest strength of Walk Thru only the people, but the individuals as Bethlehem is how it can save people well. through its physical story and provide “We want everyone to receive togetherness for the community. This is something out of this,” said Abbey an event that is meant to benefit not
By Taylor Wells
Turner, the Director of Marketing for Walk Thru Bethlehem. “This is the truth of Christmas, and the actors and volunteers are passionate about sharing that.” It is all thanks to the hundreds of volunteers who help make the event happen. Through the effort of youth groups, Boy Scouts, retirees and church members, Walk Thru Bethlehem is born. The event starts production in September with threehour workdays, and by December construction is complete and focus goes into filling the booths. This year, there is a change in one of the booths. Someone acting as Jesus will be reading Scripture from the Bible. Walk Thru Bethlehem is a free event available to all. Its schedule is as follows: Thursday, December 6, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Friday, December 7, 6:30-10 p.m.; Saturday, December 8, 4-10 p.m.; and Sunday, December 9, 4-9 p.m. Kings Ave. Baptist Church is located at 2602 South Kings Avenue, Brandon. For more information, email wtbkingsavenue@gmail.com, visit www.kingsavenue.org/WTB and Like it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/walkthrubethlehemkingsavenue.
Bell Shoals Baptist Church Presents Light Has Come
Where to See the Lights Page 19
Columns: GraceNotes:
Page 5
Your Monthly Catch: Page 8 Faith & Footprints:
Page 13
Hooked On Books:
Page 21
Bell Shoals Baptist Church is known for its exceptional music and worship ministry. Its annual Christmas musical production has become a tradition for many living in the Brandon community. Join Bell Shoals Baptist Church as it presents Light Has Come on Friday, December 7 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, December 8 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The original production features a five-person cast that proclaims the good news of Jesus’ birth in a minimalistic and contemporary way. Shortly after last year’s production, Jason Millsaps, the pastor of music and worship, and BJ Davis, the music director, began collaborating on the project. The duo bounced ideas off one another and enlisted Martha Frazier, a professional scriptwriter, to write the script. The original production features new songs written by Millsaps and his worship staff. With the birth of Jesus retold every Christmas, Millsaps desired to reach everyone and explained, “We wanted to write the story of creation to Jesus’ resurrection in a way that people would be captured either hearing it for the first time
or the millionth time.” From curtain up to curtain down, more than 250 people from the church have worked together to put on a production of this magnitude. In addition to Millsaps, Davis and the five-per-
son cast, the show employs a 150voice choir, 25-piece orchestra, compelling video work created by tech support, wardrobe specialists, scene builders, childcare helpers and more.
By Amanda Boston
The cast and crew have been rehearsing since August. Tickets are $8 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at www.bellshoals.com or www.itickets.com. The show will last approximately 75 minutes. Millsaps said, “I hope and pray people will walk away from this show changed and that people will find hope in what seems to be such a hopeless world.” He continued, “We are telling the greatest story ever told, a story that will change your life forever.“ Bell Shoals Baptist Church is located at 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. in Brandon. For more information about the show, please contact the church at 689-4229 or visit www.bellshoals.com/christmas.