CLP Live Nativity
Spreads Christmas Cheer in Inner City
At 10th and Troost, about a block away from one of Kansas City’s notorious drug corners, men in our recovery program - many of whom used to frequent that drug corner - remind passersby that the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus Christ.
For the third year in a row, our Christian Life Program will hold a live nativity scene between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., Thursday through Saturday nights, during the second and third weeks of December.
Every year, as the men take their posts in a makeshift manger, dressed in the kingly robes of the magi or in humble shepherds’ cloaks, they turn a few heads. School buses slow to a crawl so the kids on board can take in the scene. Motorists honk their approval. Fire trucks let their sirens wail. Bystanders pause to watch. TV crews have even covered the event for the evening news.
"We wanted the guys to do something to contribute to the Christian community," says Rod Kenner, Men’s Center administrator. "This is a significant step in their development - taking a stand for something that is positive. The guys love the idea of standing up for Christ near where many of them used to buy and do drugs. They are being bold for Christ."
