December 19, 2000 Silver
Spring, Maryland, United States .... [Wendi Rogers]
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Thousands
paraded into the virtual replica of the town of Bethlehem, as it was 2,000 years
ago, during the six-night December production of A Walk Through Bethlehem,
hosted by the World Headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, located
just outside of Washington, D.C.
On each night of Walk Through
Bethlehem, nearly 200 participants from the headquarters office shed their
business attire for robes, angel wings and halos, costumes, and the opportunity
to slip into a role that allowed them to entertain, help the community, and tell
of the birth of Jesus Christ. Guests met the three wise men, King Herod, a tax
collector, prophets, priests, scribes, brides, and angels as they perused the
streets of the bustling marketplace. On the outskirts of the busy town, they saw
the virgin Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in the nativity scene.
Walk
Through Bethlehem, now in its fifth year, added a new feature this holiday
season with one night entirely catering to the Spanish community in the
Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. On the evening of December 14,
approximately 1,500 Spanish-speaking guests witnessed the sights and sounds of
everyday life during the time of Christ's birth, in their native tongue.
The program this year saw some 10 to 11 thousand visitors during the six
nights of the event with 60 percent of those being first-comers.
"Walk
Through Bethlehem is an awesome chance to witness to our community," says Dick
Stenbakken, director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries for the Seventh-day
Adventist Church worldwide and co-creator of the popular Christmas program. "We
are able to tell about the greatest story ever told, the birth of Christ," he
adds.
"Sharing is the theme of Christmas, and what better gift to share
than the story of the birth of Christ," says Owen Troy, one of the event
coordinators. "People of all ages enjoy the fun and receive a
blessing."” --Source: Adventist News Network
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