Long Beach native pens holiday book for families

Long Beach Breeze

Long Beach native Richard Sandberg released his first book, ‘Twas Christmas Night, last month.

Set to the cadence of the similarly-named classic, the book describes the key events of the Christmas story – the prophets foretelling the coming of the Messiah, the angel appearing to Mary and Joseph, their journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus.

In a summary provided by the publisher, the book project is described as a combination of Sandberg’s “theological training, artistic talents and experience as a father” in a book that was “designed to engage both children and their parents in a creative and timely way with a timeless message.”

The publisher says the text goes much further than just the Christmas story and “is crafted to relate God’s redemptive plan, encompassing everything from creation and the fall of humankind to Jesus’ life and ministry, death on the cross and resurrection. Timeless and touching, the book not only details the actual events of the Bible, but also poignantly describes why they matter.”

‘Twas Christmas Night includes hand-painted illustrations and has been described as being written with the warmth and familiarity of a Christmas classic.

Sandberg, who lived in Long Beach for twenty-two years, was an active member of First Baptist Church Long Beach as a youth. In his teen years, he began writing poetry and music as an expressing of faith. Feeling a calling to full-time ministry, he has been a pastor for fifteen years with a master’s degree in Christian apologetics. Now a father of three, he is a pastor in Virginia. His parents, Bob and Lynn Sandberg, have been residents of Long Beach since 1987 and members of FBC Long Beach for twenty-six years.