Its a fun time for the little ones...Im OK with that. When teens & adults use it as an excuse to party...well not so much!
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“Your Thoughts on Halloween”
- Thread starter 4ever4Jesus
- Start date
I can guarantee that if anyone poorer than I am comes and asks me for a soul cake, I'll be more than happy to share. In fact, that would be pretty awesome!
But that's not what is celebrated where I live and I've lived in many parts of the United States.
We're surrounded by the lost everyday. We don't have to wait for Halloween and it's silly to declare that Christians not opening their doors to masked people dressed as ghouls who may or may not be capable of carrying out damage to your person or property are missing a great opportunity to share Christ. There are safer, more common sense ways to do it. There are alternative parties, trunk or treat, and others DO knock on your door. You've got the cable guy, the meter reader, Jehovah's witnesses, LDS missionaries, if you're that into it, LEAVE your house. GO. It's almost a guarantee that a few hours in the parking lot of Wal-Mart will help you reach just as many and probably even more people, especially since you're mostly talking to adults who can then influence their whole families.
You can even hand out candy while you do it.
Exactly how do you guys share the gospel with your trick or treaters?
I have lived in areas where there were literally hundreds of kids coming to our house for candy. There might be 8 standing on the porch with 10 more right behind them waiting. This would go on for 2 or 3 hours.
So what do you do to share Jesus with these kids? Specifics please.
I haven't handed out candy for years because we have lived out in the country for a long time. Now I have a hatred for Halloween and want no part of it anyway.
I have lived in areas where there were literally hundreds of kids coming to our house for candy. There might be 8 standing on the porch with 10 more right behind them waiting. This would go on for 2 or 3 hours.
So what do you do to share Jesus with these kids? Specifics please.
I haven't handed out candy for years because we have lived out in the country for a long time. Now I have a hatred for Halloween and want no part of it anyway.
There are some great tracts out there - and not just the stupid "Halloween is evil, come to Jesus" ones (those are so tacky and even *I* would throw them away). Here's a great tract: http://viewthestory.com/twitter/offer
So I would put together little bags of some candy and a tract. If you are able, put your church's name on the back of the tract. Maybe have something for the parents as well. I heard one church having coffee in the high trick-or-treating areas for the parents - coffee and donuts. I thought that was an amazing idea.
I also think that just being loving and neighborly speaks volumes. Close your door to the trick-or-treaters and ignore them and then the neighbors find out you're a Christian, you just showed them that they are unworthy of your time. That is such a bad message, IMO. Love your neighbors. Give them some friendship and some time. It could pay off in souls saved.
New Zealand is more into Halloween than Australia. It ranges from cute kids with an adult in attendance to outright thuggery and intimidation.
I have locked my gates!!
As a Catholic our church had a big day with the Feast of Christ the King. The congregation publically professed the Faith in a parade, I think it was about 400 strong. Then a picnic/bbq with lots of activities to wear out the kids.:sleeping_2:
I have locked my gates!!
As a Catholic our church had a big day with the Feast of Christ the King. The congregation publically professed the Faith in a parade, I think it was about 400 strong. Then a picnic/bbq with lots of activities to wear out the kids.:sleeping_2:
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Each child gets a gospel tract along with their candy. There's some really good ones out there, especially made for kids.
Our church did the alternative type deal, I donated my children to the cause and they estimated about 1500 came to the event.
They didn't tell me they were sending the kids BACK when they got done helping! :smilewinkgrin:
My son dressed up as a washing machine and went door to door in addition to our church's festival where we had a Christian band, hot dogs, cheese and nachos, a moon walk, and trunks with lots of treats. A lot of kids came through, we made a lot of contacts, and everyone had a good time reaching out to the community.
He didn't play the agitator's role, did he?
We went ahead and went trick or treating in our friend's neighborhood. Actually the men took the kids while the women all stayed back and served coffee along with the candy. The parents REALLY enjoyed it.
I came up with an idea for next year that I really want to do: Go to a local nursing home or assisted living and bring the residents candy to give out - and then bring the kids by to go trick-or-treating. I'm sure they miss seeing the children each year and this might be a nice way to do something with them. I may plan cider and cookies afterwards for everyone involved and maybe a small craft for the kids to make for the residents.
What do you think??
I came up with an idea for next year that I really want to do: Go to a local nursing home or assisted living and bring the residents candy to give out - and then bring the kids by to go trick-or-treating. I'm sure they miss seeing the children each year and this might be a nice way to do something with them. I may plan cider and cookies afterwards for everyone involved and maybe a small craft for the kids to make for the residents.
What do you think??
Ann, I think a great deal of you and so it is with respect that I ask this question: Why does it have to be done as part of Halloween? Why not do the same type of thing and just remain unassociated with what many consider a questionable holiday for believers? Maybe that's something really awesome that would stand out and be unique at your church? Apple Harvest Weekend! Gotta say I LOVE apple stuff. We used to go pick them at an orchard where they also had a press to juice them. SO yummy!
It just seems more logical to disassociate with something a lot of people have mixed feelings about and create something brand new to bring joy to a lot of kids and others. I'm just trying to understand this. Is the idea to use the holiday as a way to find common ground with unbelievers in order to make them more open to discussing or listening to any witnessing?
It just seems more logical to disassociate with something a lot of people have mixed feelings about and create something brand new to bring joy to a lot of kids and others. I'm just trying to understand this. Is the idea to use the holiday as a way to find common ground with unbelievers in order to make them more open to discussing or listening to any witnessing?
Gina, you obviously don't like nor want to participate in any shape form or fashion. And, that is your right. And, you shouldn't if you feel so convicted. But, many of us do not feel that way. That is our right. I, in no way, feel like you do. I'm sorry you are offended but I refuse to allow you and others to ruin a great opportunity. It reminds me of when I was in seminary and the petition floating around wanting have the moving Santa and the Christmas tree removed from the cafeteria. If they don't want a tree in their house that's fine, but don't steal the joy from everyone else. My church doesn't participate in the ghoulish side but takes advantage of the opportunity to share Jesus and our fellowship with the community. It's the one time where many from the community actually came onto the church grounds. They came to us!!! I met and talked with a lot of people, petted their dogs, and ewed and awed over their children. Many of our church members did the same. Personally, I'm thankful we had a harvest festival on Halloween night.
See, we saw a lot of older people who just seemed to have such joy oohing and aaahing over the children as they came to the door and I'm sure that the elderly in the nursing home miss that. So we would bring the trick-or-treating to their door! We're not doing anything "evil" and as a matter of fact, we'd figure out some way to bring them the Gospel and bless them as well. What Satan means for evil, we will work with God to bring good.
LOL - Yep.
And there are actually Christians who won't celebrate Christmas either but there are more who won't celebrate Halloween than Christmas.
I just tend not to give it any attention. But I did take advantage to had out little bags of candies to all the servers in our village to say thank you to them. They all know who I am and where I come from religiously, so I don't have to preach per se.
Even the liguor store said when I went in: it must be halloween....Jim is here........lol
Cheers,
Jim
Even the liguor store said when I went in: it must be halloween....Jim is here........lol
Cheers,
Jim
Steadfast Fred
Active Member
I wouldn't be caught dead in a liquor store.