On Dec. 5, Biola students, faculty and alumni alike all gathered on Metzger lawn for the 42nd annual Biola Christmas tree lighting ceremony. At the front, rows of chairs faced the stage, lining the lawn with families and friends standing together and worshipping God, praising and thanking Him for the gift of the newborn baby Jesus. In the rear, children ran gleefully, giggling and shouting, all the while waving their battery-operated candles that flickered in the dim evening, as their parents watched with soft smiles.
The annual Biola Christmas tree lighting draws the Biola family together, near and far.
“It’s cool to see the community come together,” said sophomore English major Samuel Miller. In addition to those with connections to Biola, locals of the La Mirada community likewise attended the event.
The evening was centered around the scripture Isaiah 9:6, which proclaims: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (ESV).
The event began with guests having the opportunity to stroll through Biola’s Christmas Village. The walkway was lit with warm lighting and guests gathered around the small booths, eagerly searching for their next purchase. The Christmas Village consisted of a variety of small businesses run by Biola alumni, all of whom were excited to be back on campus.
“It’s great. There’s a lot of energy, and everyone’s very happy and friendly [and] very festive,” said Christopher Gonzales-Aden, a 1996 graduate and one of the vendors of the evening. “I’ve run into a lot of friends I haven’t seen in 30 years.”
Vendors expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to be back on campus and appreciation that Biola took the initiative to support small alumni businesses. Among these vendors was Justin White, a 2018 graduate of the Crowell School of Business. White owns and operates his business, The Roosevelt Ice-Cream, and has been in business for around 4 years now. White explained that since graduating, he has stayed in contact with many of his former professors at Biola. These same professors encouraged him to apply to be a vendor at the Christmas Village this year. White stated that his love of Biola has remained with him through the years, so this opportunity was a blessing.
“It’s a blast! It’s super fun,” he said. “It’s cool serving ice-cream to people you know are good people.”
After walking through the village, guests were then directed to the object of the event: the tree itself. The large tree sat atop a stage, its lights waiting to be lit. The Biola Worship Collaborative, a band consisting of Biola students, sang in front of the tree. At one point in the evening, the student band performed an original song entitled “He Shall Be Called,” for the first time in front of a live audience. The band also invited the audience to light their candles as they sang “Silent Night,” an ongoing tradition at the tree lighting.
As the worship came to a close, President Dr. Barry Corey, made his way to the stage to give a speech for his 19th year in a row. He emphasized the theme of the evening, “And We Shall Behold Him” and went on to explain the significance of names in shaping identity. He called the community to focus on the names of Jesus, and how in Him, Christians find their grounding in God’s eternal truth. Specifically, Corey highlighted Jesus as “the Light of the World.” He then explained that Christians embody Christ and become the light of the world, in the same way that He is the light of their lives. He invited the attendees to contemplate some other names of Jesus as well, and see how those names were shaping their lives.
“This year … as we meditate on the names of Jesus, I’ve actually been thinking about the name of Jesus as ‘Light of the World,’” he said. “And sometimes when, for me, life’s a little bit darker and things are a little bit murkier, I reflect that he penetrates my darkness with light.”
Corey went on to state that Biola lives out this mission of being a light to the world. He underscored how alumni, faculty, and students alike all contribute to the mission of the university.
Corey addressed the alumni, saying, “You embody Biola’s mission as you live lives transformed to the gospel.”
To the faculty, he said: “You are the bedrock of our mission, teaching and guiding and serving our students.”
Finally, he spoke to students, saying that they are “the heartbeat of Biola University.” He described many characteristics of Biola students and told them: “Your distinct gifts are so much of what makes Biola University a special place and has for 117 years now. You are a gift to us.”
At this point in the evening, Corey invited alumna Peggy Campbell to the stage. Corey explained that Campbell embodies the best of Biola, representing five generations of Biolans: her grandparents, parents, herself, and two generations after her — all of whom attended or are currently attending Biola. Campbell’s grandparents attended Biola in 1910, when it was still located in Downtown L.A. on the corner of Hope and Sixth; now, in 2025, two of her descendants attend the university. In the midst of these generations, Campbell had other, distant family members that likewise attended Biola — Corey estimated about 42 relatives. Additionally, Corey noted that Campbell is one of the current co-chairs of Biola’s $200 million comprehensive campaign.
As a spotlight swept up and down the tree, the crowd began to countdown from 10, anticipation evident in their voices. When the count came to one, Campbell struck the large red button to light the tree, a smile adorning her face. The crowd cheered as the tree lit up in a burst of warm light and fake snow flurried down from above. The evening concluded with the return of the band and the continuation of worship, and the guests were given the opportunity to fellowship and once again wander the path of the Christmas Village.
