The $71-a-ticket megachurch Christmas show tearing Dallas apart… and the furious fans saying ‘Jesus would be flipping tables’

UK Daily Mail ^ | 12/11/2025 | MARYANN MARTINEZ

[DFG]

A Christmas show at a church in Plano, Texas, has become a flash point in America - a Rorschach test in today's hyper-political culture.

The 'Gift of Christmas' at Prestonwood Baptist Church, as the nearly two-hour extravaganza is called, has become one of the most well-known holiday shows across the US, mostly thanks to social media. People seem to either love or loathe the 'Vegas-style' production at the mega church- complete with a flying Santa Claus and live camels and sheep- with tickets selling from $20 to $71 per person.

'Tell me how a family of 4 has to spend $200 to go but that's considered "community outreach,"' one critic wrote online.

'Jesus would be flipping tables y'all.'

Other churches across America who have comparable Christmas spectacles (Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake, Elevation Church at multiple locations in the south, Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas) do not charge for their programs.

However, the Plano church says there's nothing wrong with putting your best foot forward for Jesus.

'Nothing is too extravagant for Christ. We bring our very best offering. If we do anything less than our best, then it’s not acceptable,' lead worship pastor Kaleb Moore Moore told Texas Monthly.

The show's organizer defended it as a cherished holiday tradition that reaches people who've never heard about Jesus Christ.

'The Christmas show here is extraordinary, and it is over the top and it's designed that way as an outreach for people to come into the church,' Andy Pearson, the church's creative director told Fox 4.

'It is not a normal Sunday morning experience. Our Sunday mornings are free, they're amazing, I encourage you to come and be a part of them, but this is something in addition to that.'

[HombreSecreto]

8 sheep, 3 camels, 3 peacocks, 2 donkeys, 2 zebras, 2 alpacas, and 1 horse entertaining the goats.

[Chickensoup]

Actually a family of 4 could go for 80 dollars

[SkyDancer]

And a partridge in a pear tree?

[Opinionated Blowhard]

This sounds like a nice show but does it really need to be hosted by a church? Churches are turning into event venues. There is no problem charging for tickets for a show but I think the thing that rub people the wrong way is that its paying for a show in a church.

[liberalh8ter]

I'm pretty sure it's quite hubristic to presume to know what Jesus would do about this - if anything. Not my pasture, not my bull dung. Carry on.

[Psalm 73]

A little humility goes a long way.

Just sayin'

[Governor Dinwiddie]

‘Jesus would be flipping tables’

Perhaps, but I always thought of Jesus as more of a Striker Street Sweeper kind of guy.

[lonestar67]

I have seen it and grew up with Prestonwood Baptist as a great church here in Dallas. It’s not my primary church but I do appreciate all that they do.

In some ways, I think it is good that Daily Mail makes a pretense of controversy. It simply makes more people want to see it.

Everyone should definitely see it at least once. The Rockettes Christmas show might be slightly comparable. They charge as well.

Maybe the governor of Texas should make attendance mandatory— then I think people would have a legitimate complaint. If people do not like it or do not want to go— well unlike the public schools— you don’t have to pay for it or go.

[Flaming Conservative]

Absolutely outrageous! Do they charge admission for their Sunday services, too?

[af_vet_1981]

I'm pretty sure it's quite hubristic to presume to know what Jesus would do about this - if anything

This is what Jesus said and did about money changing and the sale of items for which the people of God coming to had a legitimate need to fulfill their religious obligations: John 2:

[13] And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
[14] And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
[15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
[16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
[17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

[af_vet_1981]

I'm pretty sure it's quite hubristic to presume to know what Jesus would do about this - if anything

This is what Jesus said and did about money changing and the sale of items for which the people of God coming to God’s house had a legitimate need to fulfill their religious obligations:

John 2:

[13] And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,
[14] And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
[15] And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
[16] And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
[17] And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

[NorthMountain]

Last time I saw a “living nativity” display at a Catholic Church it was:
1) Outdoors
2) Not associated with any form of liturgy
3) Outdoors (did I mention that?)
4) Not fenced off or in any other way obscured or concealed from public view
5) I emphasize that it was outdoors
6) Presented at absolutely no charge to any viewer.
7) There was a donation bucket.

[PeterPrinciple]

Actually a family of 4 could go for 80 dollars’

---

You think the drinks and popcorn are free? maybe.

[NorthMountain]

Do they charge admission for their Sunday services, too?

People who have read the article know the answer to that question.

[liberalh8ter]

I’m well aware of what Jesus said and did…my comment was more about presuming to have the knowledge of Jesus’ actions in the here and now.

[roving]

I see nothing wrong with having to pay.

[Fiji Hill]

The Crystal Cathedral, a megachurch in Garden Grove, Calif. used to present the Glory of Christmas, a similar program featuring flying angels, exotic animals, and the Three Kings riding real camels.

[cyclotic]

Too many people believe that anything having to do with a church should be free. They have no understanding that events have great costs.

Venue, costumes, lighting, audio, insurance, craft services etc.

Cast may need to be put up in hotels.

This is an entertainment event not a church service.

Not my thing but I don’t have a problem with it.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Plano. Just a small hick town far away to the North from Dallas. Wife’s parents were trying to make a go of it on a farm in Plano in the 1950s at that time. Last time I was there it was gobbled up by Dallas.

[WhiteHatBobby0701]

Many “evangelical” churches think everything has to be a show.

Exhibit A: The church service featured kids dancing and nothing else. They aren’t being taught anything.

https://www.facebook.com/St.GeorgeBaptistOrangeburg/videos/1147016367418403/