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by Ezabelle Janssen, Staff Writer
LONG BEACH (GG) — The night air was calm, the stars shining above, and for a moment, Long Beach wasn’t Long Beach anymore– It was Bethlehem!
Saturday, December 13th, proved to be a holy night at the Long Beach First Baptist Church as families stepped out of the everyday hustle and bustle and right into the bible. Christmas lists and storefront lights gave way to census scrolls, marketplace chatter, and the miracle of a baby born to change the world.
Event coordinators Lynn Sandberg and Beth John led the effort alongside nearly 80 passionate volunteers, who dedicated their time and skills to telling the Christmas story, transforming the church campus.
One could spot some familiar community faces. Former Long Beach Mayor George Bass could be found directing traffic, while Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Ladner stood guard at the full Inn, shooing away guests.
This immersive walk-through experience brought scripture to life with remarkable detail, inviting visitors to slow down and become a part of the greatest story of all time.
From the moment guests signed the census of Caesar Augustus, the story unfolded scene by scene. Taxes were paid. Market stalls buzzed with chatter. Shopkeepers hawked their goods while women gathered at the well, whispering about the beaming star that had appeared overnight. Followed by the witnessing of an angel, raised high above and shining atop a structure, declaring the good news to come.
At last, Jesus is born for all to see as Mary and Joseph speak of their future.
Just when families believed the journey was complete, one final moment awaited them. “When they step out, they think they’re done,” Sandberg said. “But the wise men are out there, and they ask, ‘We’ve traveled so far to find the King of the Jews. Have you seen Him?’” Each family left with a small gift and a Christmas book written and narrated by Sandberg’s son. “We wanted to send them off with something meaningful,” she said compassionately. “Something they could take home and remember.”
As if the night was not already memorable enough, Long Beach First Baptist Church went above and beyond.
Every step was carefully curated to make Bethlehem feel real, human, and holy. “This is our heart,” Sandberg explained, “To share the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus’ birth is the real meaning of Christmas.”
That heart was evident everywhere, from the hand-stitched costumes to the carefully built sets, reflecting months of preparation and prayer. “We’ve been working on this since last fall,” Sandberg said. “We had a whole team of seamstresses making costumes. It takes a lot of people with all kinds of skills to make something like this happen.”
Within the first 40 minutes, more than 150 visitors had already walked through Bethlehem. “Build it, and they will come,” Sandberg giggled.
Generations walked scripture together, hand in hand. Pastor LaRue Stephens said the event reflects the church’s love for the community.
“It’s really our family sharing what we value with our extended family in the community… We want to add value to Long Beach, not compete with other traditions.”
Pastor Stephens explained that the message behind the event is simple, yet life-changing. “We’re totally convinced and committed to sharing Christ with our community,” he said. “Jesus is the glue that keeps a marriage together. He keeps parents and children together. The more you come to understand Jesus Christ, the more you realize He is the fix for all of our brokenness.”
“This is the most important thing to us,” Sandberg iterated, “That’s why we were willing to put forth such a great event,” and a great event it was! It proved to be a successful and beautiful evening full of love and admiration, reminding and teaching all about what Christmas is truly about.
Pastor Stephens and Sandberg spoke in unison, “We love Long Beach.” Pastor Stephens added, “Love the people of Long Beach,” and Sandberg summed it up best, “And that’s why we do it.”
(Photo by Ezabelle Janssen/The Gazebo Gazette)
