Many people were turned away from the inn, as there was no vacancy.
In the biblical account of Jesus’ birth, travelers came from near and far to Bethlehem to complete a census which had been ordered by the Romans. In modern times, travelers also came from near and far to visit Hometown Independent Mission’s Bethlehem, a collection of permanent structures which serves as the church’s interpretation of the ancient town. Visitors could explore the torch-lit village in the evenings during seventh annual Walk Thru Bethlehem, which was held on December 11 through 13.
“The census had the town crowded,” said Darren Persinger, Pastor of Hometown Independent Mission. “There was a lot of noise going on when a little baby was tucked away in a manger. There was not a lot of room for Jesus that year.”
Long before it became an actual village, Hometown Bethlehem started out as a living nativity scene with cardboard buildings. Over time, Hometown Independent Mission began building permanent structures, creating a marketplace, workshops, an inn, stables for animals, and other buildings which could have been found in an ancient town. Walk Thru Bethlehem is put on by volunteers from the church and local community. It takes six weeks to prepare for the event, and around eighty people to keep the town operating smoothly.
Within the marketplace of Hometown Bethlehem, volunteers depict various trades which would have been common in ancient days. Stone cutting, basket weaving, pottery, and wood carving are just a few of the different skills which the public can see demonstrated. Sometimes the items on display merely depict crafts which would have been common in an ancient village, but other times the volunteers are actively engaging in their chosen trade.
When Walk Thru Bethlehem was first organized, volunteers were asked to think of historic occupations that they could depict. Gene Martin of Buffalo knew that pottery was a common trade in ancient days, and so he crafted a functional pottery wheel and decorated his booth with various bowls, cups, and jugs. People kept asking him if he made his own pottery, and each time he had to explain that the pieces on display were merely props. Because of these encounters, he decided to start taking pottery lessons so he could learn the craft for real. Now his booth features a large display of his own work.
During the three nights of the Walk Thru Bethlehem event, Hometown Independent Mission collected donations for needy families served by the church, as well as food pantries based out of Poca and Buffalo.
“If you follow His star, you will always find what you seek,” said Pastor Persinger.
