Annual Rhema Christmas Lights Popular Holiday Favorite

Wednesday, November 24th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

In the dark, the park at the Rhema Bible Training Center becomes a sparkling winter wonderland. "When you put in more color, have a park setting, and give people a place to walk, it makes it a more desirable location to return," said Rhema Christmas lights coordinator Steve Muth.

People do come back year after year. "It just gets everybody in the mood,â€ said Rhema visitor Donna Furr Robison. â€œIt's just beautiful. It's the prettiest thing around in this part of the country." That kind of response makes all the work of putting up the lights worthwhile for Rhema student Rich Walker. He's one of 25 students who've put in hundreds of hours getting the lights ready. "People are excited,â€ said Walker. â€œThe kids are having a good time and it's definitely the best part of the year when they're here, and the campus is full."

Visitors don't have to pay to see the display, but donations are accepted. This year, the money goes to the Crisis Pregnancy Outreach and the Broken Arrow Neighbors, which is busy right now delivering holiday baskets to needy families. "This morning, we gave a man a basket and he said, 'You folks are the greatest. God bless you.' It's just a wonderful feeling to help people."

This year's light designs feature intense colors with a good number of Victorian-style ornaments from year's past. The mix of traditions, old and new, keeps visitors coming back for more. The Rhema campus is located at 1025 West Kenosha in Broken Arrow.