Congregants at Westview Baptist Church in Opp are not just talking about the nativity this year, they are living it – and you’re invited.

“We’ve had a drive-thru Bethlehem for a few years,” Westview minister of music Roger McLain said. “Our church obtained some property – about 17 acres – a few years ago. The other day I was looking across the lake and it came to me – that would be a great place for a manger.”

And now, a few months and a lot of hard work later, the church is almost ready to debut their new and improved live nativity, “A Drive to Bethlehem.”

“This is church is so great about helping,” McLain said. “We’ve cleared a lot of thick woods by hand and built the inn and the manager.”

McLain said the congregation is hoping their hard work will pay off with big crowds when the drive-through nativity opens Friday.

“We have about 150 people in the program,” McLain said. “It takes about 30 minutes to ride through whole thing. We’ll have coffee and hot chocolate and a host for each trailer that will tell the story.”

And the story, McLain said, is the most important part of Christmas.

“It’s the greatest story ever told,” he said. “It’s an honor for us to even be able to tell it.”

Westview’s live nativity will be open to the public Fri., Dec. 20 through Sun., Dec. 22 from 6 until 9 p.m. It is located next door to the church location at 1404 N. Main St. in Opp. There is no cost to attend.