“Celebrate the Light of the World” much more than a display
Call it what you will, a season of birth, a season of celebration, a season of giving, this time of year certainly seems to spark a little something inside of us.
“I’ve always liked Christmas,” said Chad Koosman, 32, Willmar, Minnesota. Born and raised a Christian, Koosman not only celebrates, but shares the birth of Jesus Christ in an extraordinary way.
Like the twinkle of the Star of Bethlehem, this is the time of year Koosman shines. His sparkle is shared by his wife, which literally spreads out the couple’s front door, down their driveway and into their community. If you ask him, Chad will tell you his fondness for Christmas is easily explained, what with Jesus’ birth, the gifts, the tree and all of the decorations, ornaments and lights, “what’s not to like” he would smile.
“He’s kind of crazy when it comes to Christmas lights,” said Angela Koosman, Chad’s wife. Christmas lights are Chad’s specialty. “I don’t think Chad ever thought it would be this big, it just gives us so much joy,” Angela said.
The Koosman’s “Celebrate the Light of the World” display is nothing short of a Christmas miracle for the community. Over the last several years tens of thousands of people have visited their home, driven up their lighted driveway and watched in awe as 400,000 lights dance to the beat of Christmas music.
“Jesus is the light of the world, and this is our way of celebrating the birth of our Savior,” explained Koosman. The “light” he speaks of is meant to be both literal and figurative.
The radiance of the display can literally be seen from blocks away, just ask Chad’s very cooperative neighbors. But the glow is much greater than what the eye can see.
While thousands of people arrive from cities near and far to view the display, they’re encouraged to make a donation to The Salvation Army and so far, thousands of dollars have been collected to help those who might need a helping hand. Over the past several years visitors to “Celebrate the Light” have donated more than $200,000.
So taken by the enormity of the display and its purpose, one very memorable donor gave even after she was gone.
“There was a lady who was having her last days,” explained Chad. “Before she passed she told her husband I want this donation to go to Chad and Angela Koosman and they can do with it whatever they want.”
When she died, her husband granted his wife’s wishes and handed the Koosmans an envelope. To Chad and Angela’s astonishment it included a check for a thousand dollars. The Koosmans decided to honor her, so they added angels to their display. Now every time an angel lights up and flaps its wings during Amazing Grace or Hark the Herald Angels Sing, the angels light up as a tribute to the woman who so cherished the lights.
“We’ve had engagements out here, movies, all sorts of things,” explained Angela.
“Our goal is to inspire others so that we may help lead someone to Jesus Christ,” Chad said. “Jesus is the light of the world and the only way to know him is following the light toward him.”
The display started small with just a hundred or so who viewed it that first year. But after being featured in newspaper articles, television news stories and spreading simply by word of mouth, Celebrate the Light of the World has become more than a display, it’s a celebration of both birth and giving, neatly wrapped into a community message of Christ’s light to the world.
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