| Author | Message | ||
| Dalvarenga Registered user Username: Dalvarenga Post Number: 63 Registered: 3-2012 |
Hi guys, what do you think about Halloween? Couldn't that be an opportunity for us to reach out to those kids knocking on our doors? I want to know your opinion about it. Different ideas and things that we could do to show Jesus Christ. Thanks | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 1988 Registered: 12-2007  |
Thankfully we live in an area where I would say 90% of the costumes kids wear are cute and not gory  The grammar school as well as the High school have things going on for the kids of those who do not want them going door to door. We decorate only the front deck to let the kids know they are welcome. I use CUTE Halloween decorations... nothing scary. As far as "reaching out to the kids" They come and go so quickly there really isn't time to talk to them about anything.. I do comment to them and tell them how great they look I am sure the kiddies or their parents neither one would appreciate receiving religious pamphlets, etc. either instead of or along with their candy. I know I would not want anyone giving my grandchildren stuff like that no matter how well intended. Religion is something that should be taught at home and church and not by well intended neighbors. I feel Halloween is just a fun evening for the kids to show off their costumes and get treats, Nothing more or less. As far as "showing Jesus Christ" to trick or treaters..... Just open the door, and greet them with a smile, tell them how great they look and give them candy. Just my opinion. There is one residential street here where all the homes seem to have a competition as to who can have the best decorations for both Halloween and Christmas Their decorations for both are amazing One of them belongs to a professional photographer. They take pictures of the kids in their costume, give them a piece of paper with their website on it and they can go there and download and print out their pictures. Great for the kids and also great advertising for their photography business | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 191 Registered: 4-2012 |
Good topic. When I was a kid attending SDA school and Pathfinders we had to go out on Halloween and collect canned food and weren't allowed to.play dress-up. We would knock on the doors and identify ourselves an SDA Pathfinders collecting food for the communities needy. My friends and me would always take a sack along because most people would be kind enough to give us candy and a can.of pork n beans or whatever canned item they could spare. It was funny. The pathfinders would give the food to the local Dorcas group. The Dorcas would distribute it and I always found it amusing that they wouldn't eat the.pork n beans themselves but they would give it to others to eat. That's like not forging a check but get someone else to forge it and then spend the money they got. Anyway, the best witness I can think of on Halloween is to ask the grown-up with the kids if they attend a church. If the answer is no invite them. Tell them the location and time. If the answer is yes acknowledge that is wonderful and leave it at that. | ||
| Hannah Registered user Username: Hannah Post Number: 17 Registered: 9-2012 |
I hand out a Gospel tract with candy that my friend, a pastor's wife wrote many years ago. It's on orange paper and I roll them up like little scrolls. I post one next to my front door so that parents can see it and choose to take one. I used to just put them in kids bags with the candy until I got a very frightening "anonymous" letter from a neighbor. Now I leave it up to the parents & the older kids. I've been doing this for many, many years. | ||
| Eternal_joy Registered user Username: Eternal_joy Post Number: 5 Registered: 9-2012 |
When I was little, we were not allowed to celebrate Halloween. What we did with trick-or-treators was hand out all of the "Our Little Friend" and "Primary Treasure" magazines that we had collected throughout the year. So, because that was Adventist proselytizing, I just don't feel right about handing out tracks to kids on Halloween... | ||
| Butterfly_poette Registered user Username: Butterfly_poette Post Number: 259 Registered: 5-2011  |
I used to get canned goods on Halloween with the Pathfinders. I did it a few times. Other times we did it another date. I was in Massachusetts or Connecticut, where it was cold. We always wore jackets over our uniform sweatshirts. Some people once thought we were kids begging for food and called the police. Someone obviously didn't read the flyer that we left on their door the week before. One cruiser and a paddy wagon came. Thankfully I had a flyer in my pocket that I found still tucked in someone's door. I showed it to the officer and the police left. The funny thing was that even when I was in high school some people would hand me candy and ask what I was supposed to be. They thought my dress uniform was my costume. I looked much younger than I was. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14009 Registered: 12-2003  |
Our church sponsors a big Halloween Happenin' in the community. They have game booths and activities operated by the members who take shifts during the evening. There is also a show, usually performed by the kids or teens, and it always gives the gospel as the core message. They also have a food court with hot dogs and pizza and tacos. Generally there are hundreds of people who come and bring their children, and it is the church event that brings the most new people to the church on subsequent Sundays. The church's philosophy is to light the darkness and to give the community a safe place to bring their children. Colleen | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 665 Registered: 2-2011  |
DITTO! for my church in Orange County, Ca! It is a lot of work, but the reward is greater! If we are not a "Light" in our communities at every opportunity that presents itself, then what good are we? | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9836 Registered: 3-2004  |
The Calvary Chapel I attend is doing this on Halloween. I will be helping that night. The Baptist church near me does this also. Diana | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 666 Registered: 2-2011 |
Diana~ I also attend a Calvary Chapel!(check my profile page!) I really love it~ The Pastor is a consecrated teacher of the "WORD" and a compassionate Shepard! "We" call our Halloween night~ "Halleluiah Night!" Years ago when I attended "Harvest" Christian Fellowship in Riverside, Ca, we also had a "Halleluiah Night" on Halloween~ ~mj~ | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1963 Registered: 7-2004  |
I think Matt Slick at CARM wrote an interesting piece on this subject: http://carm.org/halloween I don't always agree with Matt, but on this one I think he got it right. | ||
| Grace_alone Registered user Username: Grace_alone Post Number: 2118 Registered: 6-2006  |
I agree as well, Rick. We always remember the reformation around Halloween, so the fun is two-fold! Our pastor also carves JESUS into a jack-o-lantern for all to see. Leigh Anne | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14020 Registered: 12-2003 |
Wow! That would get the public's attention, Leigh Anne! Colleen | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 116 Registered: 10-2010 |
Hey, Colleen The church that I now attend does the same thing. Between South Daytona Christian Church and the Baptist Church next door to us, we do what is called "Light the Night". We have the booths and games for the neighborhood children. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14057 Registered: 12-2003 |
What fun! It is amazing to me, though, how much attention and money is spent on Halloween now. When I was growing up, it was "there", and kids trick-or-treated, but no one decorated their yards with anything except jack-o-lanterns. It was like the entrance into the holiday season...but it was, itself, very minor in comparison with Thanksgiving and Christmas. But now...wow. People decorate, sometimes elaborately, and they spend a lot of money on Halloween. it's really evolved. Colleen | ||
| Skeeter Registered user Username: Skeeter Post Number: 1992 Registered: 12-2007 |
There is one neighborhood street here where the neighbors all seemingly have a competition on both Halloween and Christmas to see who can outdo each other. The creativity is amazing Decorations filling the yards, the houses, the trees and shrubbery, movies being shown on a couple of garage doors, music/ sound effects etc. I mean HUGE and animated decorations. |
