Rural church inspired to rebuild, improve nativity after fire

Jesus is born during dress rehearsal Wednesday night at the Corticelli Baptist Church in Russellville for the church's drive-thru nativity. The display includes more than 100 cast members and will be open to the public from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 21-23.
Jesus is born during dress rehearsal Wednesday night at the Corticelli Baptist Church in Russellville for the church's drive-thru nativity. The display includes more than 100 cast members and will be open to the public from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 21-23.

RUSSELLVILLE, Mo. - A little boy adamantly asked to see Baby Jesus as he sat in his family car at the drive-thru living nativity last year.

The Corticelli Baptist Church member portraying Mary, the mother of Jesus, walked from her staged seat with a manger setting to hold the bundle in swaddling clothes up to the car window.

That night, the baby doll used as the Christ-child during the church's first-time event was returned to its owner, a young girl from the church who was equally as adamant she share her beloved doll for the role.

Touching moments like these wove throughout the preparation, delivery and recovery from disaster during what was supposed to be three nights of portraying the Bible story of Jesus' birth.

"We heard tons of uplifting stories and realized how much people appreciated putting Christ back in Christmas," church member Kathy Volkart said.

Those everyday blessings were the driving force motivating the rural church on Route C to not only return but improve its event despite a fire that prevented the third night's showing last year, Volkart said.

"It was a fluke; there were high winds and a bulb burst, catching the hay bale in the manger on fire," Volkart recalled. "We were blessed we didn't lose anything."

As a precaution this year, however, LED lighting has been installed. And Volkart developed a 21-day prayer guide for the event, covering the workers and the various details in prayer, she said.

In the event's two nights last year, more than 200 cars carrying 683 people came through.

"There was overwhelming response," Volkart said. "The church voted unanimously; we felt led by God to do it again.

"We're just a little, small country church, and we're doing a great, big work. They love the Lord; that shows by them wanting to sacrifice their time to do this."

For those who visited last year, the scenes will look different, she said.

For example, more people have been added to the Town of Bethlehem set to bring the "big city" feel, and a bricklayer member has loaned his scaffolding for an enhanced angel scene.

A Russellville parent recently asked Volkart whether the church would host the event again because her son "wants to drive through and see the Jesus story again."

"That's what it's all about," Volkart said.