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CNN Live Saturday
Stolen Baby Jesus Returned Safely To Nativity
Aired January 03, 2004 - 14:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks to affiliate WTOL for that report. And while the church is happy to have its nativity scene back, just who took it remains a mystery today.
The pastor, Rev. Roger Miller, joins us now. He is in Toledo this afternoon. All right, Reverend Miller you all don't seem to care who took it?
MILLER: No, we don't. We're just glad that baby Jesus has come back.
WHITFIELD: And what do you suppose the lesson was learned here? I see there was a note attached. And perhaps one underlying message, there are many perceptions of the color of baby Jesus?
MILLER: Well, I think that the person who did this, just wanted to remind the church, remind us, that Jesus wasn't born white. He wasn't born American. He wasn't born in a Norman Rockwell community, and that's always a good thing to be reminded of.
WHITFIELD: And because of that, then, you put it back in its place. You chose not to change the color. Right?
MILLER: So far, right. You're right. For now, we're leaving it just the way it is.
WHITFIELD: And so you're hoping this teaches a valuable lesson, however, to people who do see it. And what would that be?
MILLER: I just think that the baby Jesus is just a compelling message that maybe we as a church need to be thinking about the needs, the concerns of children all over the world. And I just am surprised that this happened three weeks ago, that you know, here I am on CNN live, that this story has just continued to grow. Maybe it's a reminder that the baby Jesus still is a fascination for all of us. He still is worthy of our national attention.
WHITFIELD: Are you finding that it's still the talk of the town there in the Toledo area?
MILLER: Very much so. I mean, we walk into restaurants; there are three of us as pastors. We've found ourselves in restaurants, and hospitals, and people are asking if we've got him back and what happened? Or what kind of condition is he in?
WHITFIELD: And so next year, how will the nativity scene look? MILLER: Well, you know, I don't know. Next year, I think if it was up to me, I would love it leave this -- this Jesus the same color. But, again, John Stout is the owner; it will be probably his decision to make for next year.
WHITFIELD: All right, it will be interesting to see just what happens next year.
MILLER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right, Reverend Roger Miller thanks very much.
MILLER: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired January 3, 2004 - 14:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks to affiliate WTOL for that report. And while the church is happy to have its nativity scene back, just who took it remains a mystery today.
The pastor, Rev. Roger Miller, joins us now. He is in Toledo this afternoon. All right, Reverend Miller you all don't seem to care who took it?
MILLER: No, we don't. We're just glad that baby Jesus has come back.
WHITFIELD: And what do you suppose the lesson was learned here? I see there was a note attached. And perhaps one underlying message, there are many perceptions of the color of baby Jesus?
MILLER: Well, I think that the person who did this, just wanted to remind the church, remind us, that Jesus wasn't born white. He wasn't born American. He wasn't born in a Norman Rockwell community, and that's always a good thing to be reminded of.
WHITFIELD: And because of that, then, you put it back in its place. You chose not to change the color. Right?
MILLER: So far, right. You're right. For now, we're leaving it just the way it is.
WHITFIELD: And so you're hoping this teaches a valuable lesson, however, to people who do see it. And what would that be?
MILLER: I just think that the baby Jesus is just a compelling message that maybe we as a church need to be thinking about the needs, the concerns of children all over the world. And I just am surprised that this happened three weeks ago, that you know, here I am on CNN live, that this story has just continued to grow. Maybe it's a reminder that the baby Jesus still is a fascination for all of us. He still is worthy of our national attention.
WHITFIELD: Are you finding that it's still the talk of the town there in the Toledo area?
MILLER: Very much so. I mean, we walk into restaurants; there are three of us as pastors. We've found ourselves in restaurants, and hospitals, and people are asking if we've got him back and what happened? Or what kind of condition is he in?
WHITFIELD: And so next year, how will the nativity scene look? MILLER: Well, you know, I don't know. Next year, I think if it was up to me, I would love it leave this -- this Jesus the same color. But, again, John Stout is the owner; it will be probably his decision to make for next year.
WHITFIELD: All right, it will be interesting to see just what happens next year.
MILLER: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right, Reverend Roger Miller thanks very much.
MILLER: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
