Fayetteville church’s bright, 12-foot angel reappears for Christmas. Members explain why.
A bright angel has once again landed at Beauty Spot Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville for the Christmas season.
The 12-foot-tall angel greets passersby on old Raeford Road, which runs by the church, the Bill Crisp Senior Center next door and Lake Rim Park. It is illumined with numerous lights and flanked by the words, “Oh Holy Night,” which references the Christmas carol “Silent Night.”
Church members led by Iresteen Grant and the Floral Ministry first installed the angel in 2020, intending for it to be a beacon of hope during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Problems in the world today inspired the church to bring the angel back.
“I view it as symbol of hope,” said the Rev. Taijuan O. Fuller, pastor at Beauty Spot. “Because there’s so much going on in the world. What’s going on in Israel, what’s going on in different nations — and in the United States, with all the division, and all the challenges that we have as a people.
“This is a time of joy because we’re coming into the Christmas season. But it’s not necessarily joyful for everybody. So when people ride by, it gives you hope that a brighter day is coming, that things can get better.”
‘Reason for the season’
The angel is a composite artwork made of coroplast sheets, fleece, styrofoam, Christmas ornaments, white lights, glitter and angel wings that were designed by an art teacher at Cliffdale Elementary School. She stands in front of the church’s tall stained glass windows, also lit up at night for the season. Together they make for an impressive display.
The senior center opened in October of 2022, giving the angelic display a new audience.
Church members and guests switched on the display for the first time this season at a short ceremony Dec. 2 in the parking lot.
Grant spoke at the top of the program and thanked the many people involved in the project.
To her fellow members of the Floral Ministry, she said: “You are, simply, the best.”
The church’s Male Choir also sang at the event. “Jesus is the reason for the season …” they sang. “Spread the news, spread the joy, spread love everywhere.”
Afterward, guests broke for hot chocolate, hot cider and cookies and took a chance to view the church sanctuary, which is decorated for Christmas.
He was looking for directions
Grant said this year she witnessed what the angel means to people, even while it was still being installed. A man stopped at the church to ask for directions.
“Nobody knew where it was,” Grant says with a laugh.
But, the driver did get a good look at the angel.
“He just stopped and said, ‘That is so inspirational. I can’t wait ’til it’s finished.’”
Myron B. Pitts can be reached at mpitts@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3559.
More: Pitts: Fayetteville Salvation Army, Observer launch annual Bill Shaw Christmas Fund
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Beauty Spot Missionary Baptist Church installs angel in Fayetteville
