Friday, Dec. 17, 2010

Live Nativities in Myrtle Beach area inspire wonder among viewers

The night was already ripe with cold when a brisk wind came and deepened the chill.

People shuddered. They pulled up their coat collars. They mumbled among themselves about how cold it was, but none turned away.

They stood and stared at the scene unfolding in the manger.

There, in the front of The Original Benjamin's Calabash Seafood, a man and woman stared down at a bundle in a blanket.

Tourists saw this scene, walked over, snapped pictures and left looking content.

"I'm enjoying this," Lynda Hunter said while shivering in the cold. "Looking at this reminds you what Christmas is all about, and it is really about the birth of Christ."

Along the Grand Strand, pages of the Bible are coming to life through live Nativities.

Some are orchestrated as simple scenes of a moment in a life that changed history, while other representations are more elaborate.

Scott Callahan, a member of Jamestown Baptist Church, portrays Joseph in the living Nativity presented daily until Wednesday at The Original Benjamin's.

The presentation is being sponsored by the eatery, whose principal owner is Wanda Howard, and Diversified Ministries, anchored by Wayne Brown and his wife, Joy Brown. Howard's son and the Browns' son-in-law, Christman Howard, thought of the idea.

It has attracted its share of tourists who visit the restaurant and then make their way over to The Living Nativity, which is directly in front of the restaurant.

"Two ladies said, 'I have chill bumps all over me,'" Wayne Brown said. "And that spoke volumes to me because I thought it meant the Spirit [of God] was speaking to them."

It was Wayne Brown, a former pastor of First Baptist Church of Myrtle Beach, who offered people cups of hot apple cider as they eyed the sight in front of them.

Callahan helped Kim Moore, who plays Mary, tuck their newborn son (which was actually a doll) securely in a blanket.

Visitors, fresh off a tour bus from Atlanta, walked up to the manger and snapped a few pictures of the view.

"I enjoy live Nativity scenes," Lynda Hunter, of Atlanta. "It makes you think about what Christmas is really about, and it is about Jesus."

Robert Runnels, a member of Socastee Baptist Church, had just wrapped up a series of Christmas songs before exiting the stage and making room for a choir from Jamestown Baptist Church.

All the singers prepared - they had song books in hand and were bundled up in layers of clothing.

On the Grand Strand, people can be certain live Nativities are designed with them in mind.

"Our goal is to lead people to the Lord and tell them what Christmas is all about," pastor Daniel Banks said.

Banks, a preacher for 34 years, is a minister at The Christian Church of Myrtle Beach.

He is not afraid to say the commercialization of Christmas got out of control years ago.

"Some people are missing the mark," Banks said. "They are thinking about, 'What am I going to buy this person or the next?' Well, they need to be worrying about meeting Jesus."

The Christian Church's outdoor drama, "Journey to Bethlehem," is one of the largest outdoor dramas in the Southeast. The production is now in its 19th year.

Held Tuesday through Dec. 24, the play chronicles events leading up to Jesus' birth and ends with a scene from heaven.

About 110 people are participating in the play, which is about two hours.

"I've seen people moved to tears. I've seen people give their lives to Jesus. And I've seen people who have not opened their eyes at all," Jeff Holden said.

Holden has been involved in the drama since its inception.

Larry McCoy, director of marketing for Dixie Stampede, said people always seem to be in awe while viewing the live Nativity scene that is a part of the Christmas show. About 14 people and more than 30 animals, including camels and sheep, are a part of the drama.

The Dixie Stampede production, "Christmas at Dixie Stampede," also includes a toy scene in which giant toys come to life.

"I think people will leave the show with a feeling of peace and joy," McCoy said.

The Christmas show, which is 90 minutes, will run until Dec. 31.

The Georgetown District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, composed of 32 churches, will put a creative spin on its production of a live Nativity - people will check it out while riding in their vehicles. About 40 people are involved in the actual production.

The Christmas Story Drive-Thru Live Nativity at The Meeting Place will feature about seven or eight scenes with a taped narration describing each one as folks drive by. It will take place tonight only from 6 to 8 p.m.

Sylvia C. Blake, district administrative assistant, said the cold weather inspired the concept, which will take about 30 minutes to view.

"Normally, every year, we try to do an evangelical drama [within the church buildings]," Blake said. "This time around, we wanted to open it up to the community and make it open for everyone to experience a Christmas celebration and the true meaning of Christmas."

Contact JOHANNA D. WILSON at 626-0324.