Personal Connection to the Story

Dallas Jenkins shares his deep personal connection to 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,' having first read it nearly 20 years ago when his wife brought it home. The humor and unexpected depth of the story captivated him, as it portrays the Herdman children—the worst kids in the world—who take over a church's Christmas pageant and unintentionally engage with the Nativity story. Jenkins describes how the narrative transformed into a cherished family tradition, eliciting tears during their yearly readings. The emotional weight of the story, with its lessons about poverty and the heart of Christmas, fueled his long desire to adapt it into a film.