BY KERMIT NETTEBURG AND DICK DUERKSEN
ow do you tell the classic Christmas story in a fresh new way that's attractive and entertaining?
That's the dilemma in which some Adventist television entities in North America found themselves as they sought to produce a Christmas television special to be shown throughout the continent.
For the past eight years the Adventist Church in North America has produced Christmas programs for ABC and NBC. Last year's Christmas special highlighted the heroes of the 9-11 tragedy.
This year the Adventist Communication Network, Adventist Media Production, and the Adventist Media Agency partnered with Florida Hospital, the largest Adventist organization in the world, to produce "God comes Near."
For nearly 20 years Florida Hospital has hosted its own popular holiday program for the Orlando community and this year was looking for a way to broadcast its annual program. Working hand-in-hand with the North American Church proved to be a perfect partnership.
The Message
Early in the production process the organizers decided that the 2002 Christmas special would not include a traditional ‘preaching portion' of the program. The goal was to present the spiritual message in a new way the public would find attractive and entertaining.
In seeking an innovative approach to telling the timeless story of God's love, the story of the Great Controversy was highlighted. The program uses music, drama, and art to portray some of human history's most important events. Three vignettes celebrated God's creative love in Eden (the Creation story), His eagerness to come to the Christmas manager (the Incarnation story), and His promise to return again as our Savior King (the Re-Creation story).
Program host Clifton Davis presented the three dramatic readings with language focusing directly on God's love for each person. An Adventist who has served both as a pastor and television star, Davis' words and engaging smile gave new meaning to Creation, Jesus' birth, and the future glories of heaven.
Headline musicians for the program included Dove-award winning vocalist Ray Boltz and recording artist Jennifer LaMountain. Known for songs like "Thank You" and "Watch the Lamb," Boltz brought instant name recognition and credibility, convincing a number of stations to play the program for Christmas. Boltz's wonderful new song about creation, "The Beat of the Drum," opened the program and set a high spiritual tone for the evening.
LaMountain, an Adventist soprano from Florida, brought the audience to its feet with her rendition of "O Holy Night" and brought tears to many eyes with her interpretation of "More than A King."
The Forever Praise acappella quartet, saxophonist Ron Drachenberg, oboist Leslie Hartzog, and pianist Gale Murphy rounded out the musical performers.
The Event
Friday, November 22, was a hectic day. But it was filled with wonderful moments as well. The musicians began arriving in the morning, and the full concert run-through took less time than expected. The venue doors at Calvary Assembly opened at 5:30 p.m. More than 4,500 people filled the auditorium before the program began at 7 p.m. The initial stage decor consisted merely of a simple wooden stable and a piano.
As Ray Boltz sang the opening song, the curtains lifted behind him to reveal a beautiful full-stage re-creation of the city of Bethlehem. Each portion of the program--Creation, Incarnation and Re-Creation--included music, narrative, and art. During each narrative, Ron Drachenberg and Gale Murphy provided a saxaphone and piano background for Clifton Davis' description of creation, Bethlehem's manger, or heaven.
Boltz introduced the program's Incarnation section with "Bethlehem Star," and then the Forever Praise quartet sang a joyful Spanish version of "O Come All Ye Faithful." While Clifton Davis told about Jesus' birth, beautifully costumed Mary, Joseph, shepherds, kings, and Bethlehem villagers crowded the stage to see Baby Jesus. Then Jennifer LaMountain sang "O Holy Night," and the audience felt transported to the courts of heaven.
No description of the New Earth would be complete without Ray Boltz singing "Thank You." At the first notes of the song the entire audience stood and applauded in anticipation. When Boltz invited them to join him on the chorus, thousands of "thank yous" filled the auditorium.
Then Clifton Davis painted a marvelous word picture of the wonderful place heaven will be. As Davis spoke, the curtains once again covered the re-created Bethlehem. Then, as part of the last medley of Christmas carols, the curtains rose to a Bethlehem that now included a 100-voice church choir filling the auditorium with praise. The program concluded with a prayerful blessing by Orlando mayor Glenda Hood.
When the lights came on, more than half the audience gathered in groups to talk about the event. Many came forward to meet the performers. "This has been the best Friday of my year," one physician said. "I am at peace with the God who loves me."
One of the security officers present added, "From beginning to end it was a jewel. This is a holiday special I could watch over and over again."
Ray Boltz said, "It has been such a pleasure to work with people who are so committed to sharing the Christian message."
Kirk Gaenza, a video expert who was brought in to help with the production, described our 2002 Christmas special crew as the friendliest he's ever worked with. "I love working with Christian shows," he said.
Never Before
Previous Adventist Church Christmas programs were co-created with national networks like ABC and NBC. That meant there was a built-in network of stations ready to carry the program. However, it also meant being limited to ABC or NBC stations.
This year the organizers decided to create their own network by having the Adventist Media Agency contact stations directly for placements. At press time, more than 100 television stations aired the program along with at least five cable networks.
The airing of the 2002 God Comes Near program helps give the Seventh-day Adventist Church credibility as an evangelical Christian denomination while also providing Florida Hospital with national recognition. More importantly, this program gives millions of people the chance to hear about the Great Controversy, and our loving God.
To find when "God Comes Near" will be airing in your community, visit the Adventist Communication Network (ACN) website at www.acn.info.
ACN will air "God Comes Near" on December 21 at 5:30 p.m. (EDT). Call for satellite coordinates at (800) ACN-1119.
A special DVD, God Comes Near, will be available by mid-January. You can purchase the DVD at your local Adventist Book Center or by calling (800) ACN-1119, or visiting the ACN website at www.acn.info.
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Kermit Netteburg is the assistant to the president for Communication in the North American Division. Dick Duerksen is director of mission development for Florida Hospital. Netteburg and Duerksen served as executive producers for the program.
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