As you can imagine, the amount of volunteers and man hours that makes a production like this possible is very impressive. The Live Nativity is designed, built and performed by First Assembly of God church members in Searcy.
The dream began by a desire to bring to the community a sense of what Christmas is really about--remembering the birth of Christ. The design and planning stages occur in the church offices by First Assembly staff members: Vernon & Carolyn Ables and Mark & Brook Ferren.
Construction was pretty intense the first year. Following the first year, additions were made to the church to serve as storage rooms for the large set pieces. Each year the Nativity set grows, new pieces are designed and added to the base set. The materials used in construction are primarily wood-framed buildings covered in plywood, masonite, and luon sheeting. The stonework seen on the buildings are hand-carved and painted styrofoam. Tools for carving the foam are hot knives, electric sanders, hot air guns and other typical hand tools.
Hundreds of layered authentic costumes are built to fit the volunteer actors. Many get ruined after several weeks of wear in the weather and outdoor setting and must be re-built the following year.
The church members come together an hour before show time and have a supper meal prepared by more volunteers. Free hot chocolate is given to those who come through the Nativity... it takes many gallons of hot chocolate to serve over 10,000 visitors each season.
Animals are borrowed and rented from across the state and authentic pottery and trinkets are collected to make you truly feel like you are back in "Bible Times."
As you can imagine, the amount of volunteers and man hours that makes a production like this possible is very impressive. The Live Nativity is designed, built and performed by First Assembly of God church members in Searcy.
The dream began by a desire to bring to the community a sense of what Christmas is really about--remembering the birth of Christ. The design and planning stages occur in the church offices by First Assembly staff members: Vernon & Carolyn Ables and Mark & Brook Ferren.
Construction was pretty intense the first year. Following the first year, additions were made to the church to serve as storage rooms for the large set pieces. Each year the Nativity set grows, new pieces are designed and added to the base set. The materials used in construction are primarily wood-framed buildings covered in plywood, masonite, and luon sheeting. The stonework seen on the buildings are hand-carved and painted styrofoam. Tools for carving the foam are hot knives, electric sanders, hot air guns and other typical hand tools.
Hundreds of layered authentic costumes are built to fit the volunteer actors. Many get ruined after several weeks of wear in the weather and outdoor setting and must be re-built the following year.
The church members come together an hour before show time and have a supper meal prepared by more volunteers. Free hot chocolate is given to those who come through the Nativity... it takes many gallons of hot chocolate to serve over 10,000 visitors each season.
Animals are borrowed and rented from across the state and authentic pottery and trinkets are collected to make you truly feel like you are back in "Bible Times."