Auburn (Wash.) Adventist Academy focused on the community during the holiday season as a way to give back and make a difference.
The academy has partnered with the Auburn Academy Church for the last six years to bring the Nativity story to life at Journey to Bethlehem, a four-night outdoor interactive drama. Each year, students audition for parts in the story, join their families in the Bethlehem market or participate behind the scenes.
"Journey to Bethlehem is a free, community outreach event that focuses on engaging with our community and facilitating an experience to meet Jesus," says Wilma Bing, Auburn Academy Church associate pastor and Journey to Bethlehem producer. "We had nearly 6,000 guests attend this year."
Additionally, each year Auburn's Associated Student Body (ASB) turns an all-school Christmas party into an opportunity to give community children in need a memorable and special Christmas. Students collect gifts to give, decorate cookies with the children, and gain a Christmas blessing of their own watching the little, smiling faces enjoy some holiday cheer.
The giving-back theme on campus at Christmas included well-attended holiday concerts. The jazz band benefit concert, for example, raised money for a local family who had no money for Christmas gifts. The school community wholeheartedly responded to this need by showing up in support of the event.
Photo archives from these events are available at www.facebook.com/auburnacademy.
Journey to Bethlehem, a multi-partner community ministry on the campus of Auburn Adventist Academy, brings the Nativity story to life through an outdoor interactive drama. (Heidi Martella)
Auburn Academy's Associated Student Body officers including Jordan Stephan, president, and Hannah Roberts, vice president, organized the annual Christmas party for children in need. (Caleb Riston)
