Rhema Bible Church Lights Up Broken Arrow For 43rd Year

Rhema Bible Church will shine brightly Wednesday night as the church turns its Christmas lights on for the 43rd holiday season.

The church works year-round on its display and starts hanging the lights in August.

"A number of our employees are actually students, so when they come for school, we hire them and put them to work as soon as they get here," said Rhema Bible Church Pastor Craig Hagin.

The holiday tradition began in 1982 to give people hope during a recession.

"There were some other places that stopped doing their Christmas lights display that year, so my dad says you know what? Let's put some lights up," Hagin said. "We put up 80,000 lights and every year it got bigger and bigger and bigger."

Now, there are more than two million LED lights. Every year on the night before Thanksgiving, Oklahoma weather expert Travis Meyer helps the church turn the lights on.

Hagin said, "There is nothing like being here at 6 p.m. when the lights come on and seeing these kids' faces, I mean, that is why you do it."

The church's mission shines through in its Christmas display.

"We want to show that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World, and we want to have a great place for families to come and enjoy the Christmas season," he added.

Admission to Rhema Lights is free and open nightly at 5:30 p.m. until January 1.

There are also carriage rides for purchase and seven concession stands throughout the property selling hot chocolate, mini donuts, funnel cake, kettle corn, light-up toys, and Rhema Lights merchandise.

For more information, visit For details, visit RhemaLights.org.