Rhema Bible Church Begins Process To Take Down Christmas Lights Display

It's time to take down the Christmas lights at Rhema Bible Church and pack them away for another year.

The church displays millions of Christmas lights every year, and it's no easy task to put them up or take them down. 

"Typically, over a half a million people that come through, but just to know that people recognize we were doing something for the community was great," said Rev. Rob Betts. 

Now that the successful 41st year is complete, it's up to a team of about a dozen people to take them down.

Betts says it'll take them about two months.

They pack them all up and store them in storage buildings across the campus. 

"All of these lights will go into one of those storage areas, probably more than one as many lights as we have now; they'll put them in storage, they've got them all marked, they know where everything is, so when they bring them out, pretty strategic about it," he said.

He says it takes a lot of planning and organization to pull off a display like this. 

"The string lights go in a certain area, the display lights because I think we have...it's a 50 plus piece nativity, and a Noah's Ark that's several pieces and stuff," he said.

While every strand of lights comes down, they do keep up some pieces to make things a little easier.

"If you come by and look closely on some of our buildings throughout the year, you'll see some clips on there, where it makes it easier to take them down and put them up every year," he said.

Betts says the Rhema Christmas lights have turned into a Christmas tradition for so many people, and while it's hard work, they're happy to do it.

"A lot of time and effort goes into it, but all the smiling faces, it's always worth it," he said.

He says the lights will stay in storage until around Labor Day when they'll start the process to put them back up.