GAIL WHITE 'Walk With Jesus' brings Gospel story to life

"Welcome to Bethlehem," greets Nancy Bacon as you and other "travelers" step into the side doors of the First Christian Church in Columbiana.
For more than 10 years, First Christian has held an interactive Christmas program called "Walk With Jesus."
"How many are traveling in your party this evening?" Nancy, dressed as a Hebrew woman, says as she continues her greeting. She assigns you to a group and chats with all of you. "How far have you traveled?"
The 21st century is lost as you are enveloped by the hustle and bustle of a busy market area in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago.
A census taker roams through the crowd having travelers sign the census registry.
"Ah, yes," you can hear yourself saying. "That is why it is so crowded. Everyone has come to Bethlehem for the census." Quickly, you scan the crowd looking for a woman with child and her weary husband.
Shuffling downstairs, you find that rooms that normally hold Sunday school classes are unrecognizable. A weaver sits at a bench in one area; a woman sharing herbs and dried fruits is stationed in another.
Bead necklaces and clay moldings are found in another room, as women dressed in clothing from biblical times help young and old travelers make decorative treasures. Dancers entertain at another end of the busy thoroughfare.
By this time, the world as you know it is completely forgotten in your mind -- and the journey has not yet begun.
Birth of an idea
"When you go in, you're there," Ken Muller, creator of "Walk With Jesus," agrees. "You are really taken back to that time period."
Ken was the youth pastor at First Christian more than 10 years ago, when the former senior pastor, Clarence Mansfield, asked him to expand the holiday program.
"For years, the church performed a live Nativity at the square in Columbiana," Ken recalls.
The Rev. Mr. Mansfield's dream was to expand the Nativity scene and add more scenes. He shared his dream with Ken.
"I tried to think of the key events in the life of Jesus," Ken says, describing his motivation behind the walk. "I wanted to point people to the reason why he came."
As every Christian strives to walk with Jesus every day, Ken decided to create a walk through the life of the Savior.
Steps along the way
Beginning, of course, with Jesus' humble birth in a manger -- still live and outside -- guides lead groups to each setting and narrators set the tone for each scene.
As visitors walk inside, Jesus is a young boy challenging the Pharisees in the temple.
In a classroom, John the Baptist immerses Jesus in the river Jordan to baptize him.
First Christian wasn't sure how to set up an immersion scene in a classroom.
"The baptism scene was a huge challenge," Ken explains.
"We took a farm tank and cut off the top," he says with a sense of pride. A fountain pump gives the sense of running water.
For the three nights the program runs, the actor playing Jesus is baptized more than 70 times.
Likewise, he beckons the little children to come to him, shares Communion with his followers and is betrayed just as many times.
In the sanctuary, Jesus is sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, played by former pastor Mr. Mansfield. Once you turn around in the pew, the Messiah is crucified in the choir loft.
In the church narthex, women visit Jesus' empty tomb and rejoice in his resurrection. Outside, crowds listen to his Great Commission and witness the Ascension.
"This is not just a story," Sheri LaMoncha, coordinator of the walk, believes. "You experience Jesus."
Indeed, "Walk With Jesus" sets the tone for the holiday season. There is no way to leave First Christian Church and not remember the reason for the season.
See you in Bethlehem!
X"Walk With Jesus" will be performed from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today, Thursday and Friday at First Christian Church on Main Street in Columbiana.
gwhite@vindy.com