Becky Robinette Wright is a Meridian correspondent.
They squawk, moo, bellow, bleat and baa. They are tall, short, shaggy, quiet or hyper. What are they? A menagerie of animals found at the Metro Richmond Zoo. And in their midst you’ll find Brother Jim Andelin, who along with his wife Sherry Andelin, own and operate the zoo in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Although the zoo is a family business venture, Brother Andelin’s ingenuity found a spectacular way to use it to teach the gospel.
For eight years now, the Andelins have hosted a major Christmas pageant called, “The Miracle of Christmas.”
This pageant is no small potatoes. From its humble beginning presentations it has grown to include hundreds of volunteers pitching in their efforts from acting in the pageant, assisting with lighting, helping with the live animals used in the nativity scene, directing traffic for the thousands who attend and even serving hot chocolate and donuts to attendees.
This year a local Virginia newspaper, The Progress-Index, reported the attendance was 13,000 visitors. (Progress-Index Dec. 24, 2010 issue, pg A1)
The event is much more than just the actual scene of Christ in a manger.
The inter-faith event allows churches of different denominations to take part, with their choirs being offered the opportunity to perform on stage. It is a chance to bond with others who share a similar belief of Jesus Christ as the Savior. It is also an opportunity to teach.
LDS Missionaries have the opportunity to be on hand to greet the public and answer questions about the church and the gospel.
Before each presentation of the manger scene, choirs take turns performing Christmas hymns and uplifting songs of the season.
The pageant then begins with Isaiah writing down the prophecy of the Savior. Then an angel appears to Mary, foretelling of the birth of her son, Jesus Christ. Next we see Mary on the back of a donkey and led by Joseph to the humble manager scene.
Angels are then seen appearing to kings and shepherds in their fields announcing the child’s birth. All then travel to see this miracle for themselves.
After the pageant attendees are given the opportunity to meet the actors and actresses in the pageant and to take photos if they so wish.
Jim Andelin grew up in Pasco, Washington on a farm where he had the opportunity at an early age to learn about animals and also how to work hard.
Living in Virginia as an adult, married and now a parent, Andelin desired a way to teach his children responsibility. He drew on his experiences of growing up on a farm and in 1986 acquired a few animals. But, these animals were anything but ordinary. He obtained such animals as monkeys, deer, ostrich’s and others. In the beginning the project and the Andelin home was dubbed “Andelin’s Acres.”
Today the project has become a family business offering employment for many residents not only in Chesterfield County, but across Virginia.
Now titled the Metro Richmond Zoo, the location has moved from off Iron Bridge Road to Beaver Bridge Road. The venture has expanded from 10 acres to 75 acres. A few hundred animals now total 1,500 with over 148 different species, some of which who are endangered being represented.
The Miracle of Christmas pageant has become an annual event and is well known throughout Virginia. The zoo is open year round and is closed on Sundays. Hours of operation are from Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the zoo or the pageant (804) 739-5666 or www.metrorichmondzoo.com.
