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Volume 21, Issue 12
Inside:
December 2017
Fixer Upper’s Chip & Joanna Gaines Sponsor Valrico Woman
To Climb To New Heights With Her Non Profit By Dreams Amanda Boston
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A Inc. Observer Inc. Osprey Observer from Osprey Publication from Free Publication A Free
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Coinciding her service with the release with the of his new book Tim Tebow Capital Gaines, Foundation, Chip Gaines Vazquez from HGTV’s witnessed Fixer Upper metaphorilaunched his cal mounChipStarter contains move test. The contest through invited others faith in with big dreams Jesus Alexis and Tim: Every March, Alexis Vazquez Fixer Upper’s Chip and Joanna Gaines present to pitch their serves as a volunteer photographer at Tim Tebow’s Christ. Alexis Vazquez a $14,000 check to support her ideas through a “I got a Celebrity Gala and Golf Classic in Jacksonville. endeavor to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. two-minute kick in the Star State for video with the hopes of gut from the Holy Spirit,” said Vazquez. the big reveal. receiving financial backing. “I felt that I was to take everything I Alexis Chip and his wife Joanna learned about mountains spiritually and Vazquez, a star on a reality television apply it physically. So I decided that I Bloomingdale show in Waco, Texas where would climb a mountain while fundraisHigh School they take the worst house on ing $25,000 for the Tim Tebow graduate, was the block and transform it into Foundation.” one of the six something beautiful. The two Vazquez aspires to ascend Mount finalists. have been transparent about Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding Since a sophomore in high school, their faith in God and continuously mountain in the world. Vazquez has owned her own photograacknowledge God for their success. “People run marathons for chariphy business. The 24-year-old is a Likewise, the couple has not forgot- visual storyteller who creates narratives ties, so I thought why not climb a ten those who came alongside them mountain. I hope to inspire others to through use of photography. Vazquez’s financially and invested in their dream. conquer their own mountains," love for God and her craft have led her From this posture of gratitude, Chip and to trot around the globe as a missionary remarked Vazquez. Joanna conceived the ChipStarter conVazquez continued, “I have this serving others and chronicling their stotest as a way to give back by making goal of raising $25,000 for the foundaries of faith. someone else’s dream a reality. tion, and my mentality was to go big or For the past four years, Vazquez After reviewing more than 2,700 stay home. I wanted to do something has volunteered as a photographer for video submissions, the couple selected the Tim Tebow’s Celebrity Gala and Story Continued on Page 15 six finalists and flew them to the Lone Golf Classic in Jacksonville. Through
Everyone Still Welcome As Walk Thru Bethlehem Offers Interactive Family Holiday Event For 31 Years By Amanda Boston
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See Our Special Section
Columns: GraceNotes
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Heroic Women
Page 11
Hooked On Books
Page 12
Faith & Footprints
Page 15
Kings Avenue ter at the event. The app Baptist Church of is available for both Brandon invites you Android and Apple and your family to devices. travel back in time to If you wish to wait Bethlehem and expeon the premises, rience the true meanChristmas carols will ing of Christmas. Its resonate throughout the annual Walk Thru sanctuary from local Bethlehem event school bands and musitakes place nightly cal acts. Hoyt also menfrom Thursday, tioned that new kinds of December 7 to As visitors Walk Thru Bethlehem, the vendors interact with them to provide a realistic entertainment are being atmosphere of a Jewish town. Walk Thru Bethlehem is a gift to community that is Sunday, December introduced to this year’s completely volunteer-based and reliant on donations. 10. lineup. months to create an environment that will For 31 years, Walk Thru Bethlehem, With a production of this magnitude show our community the greatest gift that an interactive town of 20,000 square feet, and the weightiness of its message, Hoyt God has given to each of us in the birth of has asked for monetary donations from is brought to life with a volunteer cast of His son,” said Committee Chairperson actors and animals. The town’s realistic area businesses to keep the event going. Tracy Hoyt. backdrop transports its visitors to the little Those who wish to donate can do so at Walk Thru Bethlehem is a local traditown of Bethlehem where actors dramathe event or online through ‘easy tithe’ at tion drawing in more than 6,000 people tize the story leading up to the birth of www.kingsavenue.org. over the four-day span. On arrival, visitors Jesus Christ. Walk Thru Bethlehem is a free family The 30-minute journey immerses you are given a number designating a guide event and is scheduled for December 7 and an appointed tour time. into the throes of Jewish life—captivating from 6:30-9:30 p.m.; December 8 from Due to its popularity, Hoyt noted, “We the five senses and stirring the heart. 6:30-10 p.m.; December 9 from 4-10 p.m.; have long lines so visitors should arrive From the shouts of angry Roman guards and December 10 from 4-9 p.m. early, but we have an app that allows to the tender moment with baby Jesus, The church is located at 2602 S. them to get a number and come back visitors will feel what it was like on the Kings Ave. in Brandon. To volunteer, conlater with their entire group.” night of His birth. The journey concludes tact Tracy Hoyt at The brand-new ‘Walk Thru with proclamation of the good news as it WTB2017KABC@gmail.com or the Bethlehem’ app keeps you informed of depicts Christ’s death and resurrection. church at 685-3095. For more information, your place in line, but you must first regis“We have been working for several visit Facebook at Walk Thru Bethlehem.