The Crossing Church in Tampa is telling the nativity story in a unique way this Christmas.

  • Tampa church tells nativity story in short film
  • 20-min movie through the perspective of a rabbi
  • Film made on $8,000 budget

The church's creative team has transformed the story into a short film.

The 20-minute movie is called "Christmas: A Story of Promise."

The team started working on the production in May. It tells the familiar story of the birth of Jesus Christ in a non-familiar way, through the perspective of a rabbi named Simeon.

"People are going to see things, elements that are going to be very recognizable to them," said writer, producer and director Matthew Glover. "They're going to see the manger, they're going to see the shepherds.”

Glover added: “They’re going to see stars, but then they're also going to see this Jewish Rabbi so I think it's going to be that fresh perspective that I think draws people in."

He said he was eager to have it all play out on the church's silver screen.

Glover is part of the creative team at the Crossing Church.

"At least when I was growing up, every weekend we saw a movie, that's what people wait for," Glover said. "You see it with every big event, you see movie trailers, and I said that would be a really good way to tell the story."

With lead Pastor Greg Dumas' consent and an $8,000 budget, they moved forward.

Volunteers from the church acted in the film. They traveled to Plant City, Polk County and the Holy Land Experience in Orlando to shoot the scenes.

"I was just in awe, taking it all in and taking" said church member Jannira Sanchez, who played Mary in the film.

The Crossing Church will play the movie during their services this weekend. They said they will eventually share it online.

For more information, visit the church's website.