The Christmas season is upon us and it seems that everywhere you look, there are Christmas decorations. One of the staples of Christmas decorations here in the South are nativity sets. Whether they are plastic or cardboard or a real living nativity, these biblical scenes grace the fronts of churches across the country during the month of December.
However these churches across the country also share a common problem: the theft of Baby Jesus. Personally, I can’t imagine why someone would want to steal a plastic Baby Jesus, but it’s apparently a huge a problem this time of year. So much so, in fact, that several GPS companies have stepped forward during the last few years and offered free GPS trackers so that parishes and chapels can ensure their Baby Jesus stays with his flock.
One such company is Brickhouse Security, who in the summer seasons rents GPS units for things like the Indianapolis 500 or for tracking shuttles at the Olympics. But in the winter they offer their units free of charge to churches across the country.
Here’s how it works: First, clergy attack the GPS tracker to the Baby Jesus via duct tape or by placing the tracker inside the figure (if it is hollow). When the manger is disturbed, Baby Jesus sends out a text alert to clergy to let them know. Then, if the figure is taken out of a pre-determined geofencing area, another alert will allow clergy to track the Baby Jesus on a map on a smartphone or computer. From there, clergy can contact the police to ensure the safe return of the son of God.
As Christmas draws near, the danger to the manger of the Christ figure is probably a bit higher, so if your church is interested in requesting a GPS tracker for the Baby Jesus, there might still be some units available. Alternatively, you can purchase a GPS tracker for around $100 and track anything likely to wander off. Either way, keeping your nativity safe this season isn’t as impossible as you think–it just takes a little bit of planning and a little bit of faith.
