A group of students are trading in their pillowcases for grocery bags to turn a Halloween tradition of fun and treats into a movement of compassion. Over one hundred and fifty volunteers will be trick-or-treating for canned food to donate to The Lawrenceville Co-Op, a local food pantry. Halloween is one of the most celebrated "holidays" in America, and these young Christians are using that cultural momentum to transform the evening into a God honoring event to serve the needy.
College students went last week to homes, dropping off paper bags with a can and a note, explaining the Halloween food drive. Tonight, volunteers will return to the houses where they advertised and receive the donated cans.
Check-out ThisHallowsEve.com
I would like for churches to win the fight for Halloween. I believe that if churches organize and unite we can make Halloween a community event with great evangelical potential. Let’s consider what we already have:
Halloween is the ONLY day where children and family feel comforable going from house to house. This is evangelical in nature and it would be very easy for a child/parent to exchange a trick or treat for a flyer or postcard invitation to a church event.
There is a lot of foot traffic in and throughout the community. The faithful could stage plays, skits and other events which could attract the interest of passerbys.
These are just a few, come on church, chime in on this one!
With Love
Todd
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Comment by Todd - Oct 31, 2007 @ 12:10 PM
This Halloween project is a great idea! I don’t disagree with Todd about church’s rallying to make a difference, however I think the power in this sort of project is that you give many people a chance to be a part of something of eternal significance.
I think by giving yourself away and helping others be a part of that, you show Christ to people in a way that is simply irresistable (thank you Robert Palmer).
I don’t know that there is a fight for Halloween. Halloween simply provides every person in a community with an opportunity…and while big numbers and large crowds can be cool, I think the power in this sort of event isn’t a church coming up with a big evangelistic plan, but each Christ follower chosing to make a small, simple difference. Just my thought.
Comment by Brad - Nov 01, 2007 @ 05:24 PM
I helped out with this last night and it was PHENOMENAL! We went to all these people’s doors, and some people gave so much! It was fun for us, and for them, and super convenient for them! All they had to do was buy the cans and we showed-up and got them.
It felt like an outreach to the community, because our church was doing it. But we were helping the poor as well. Like advertising for Crossroads + helping people + lots of fun + a new twist on halloween + involving the community to do something cool + telling non-Christians that Christians care about people + having them meet someone from the church (showing them Christians aren’t weird).
Comment by Jose - Nov 01, 2007 @ 05:35 PM
The fight I mentioned is the fight to define what Halloween means. I meet with a group of community pastors weekly and each one of them have very different views on what Halloween is and how the church should respond to it. Some pastors were adamant about staying away from Halloween altogether and others were hosting Trunk or Treat parties in the parking lot and there were various positions in between. As a project, I hit the streets on Halloween and found many seniors who were alone and welcomed the interaction. I also found new residents who moved into the neighborhood and I found familiar neighbors who had some sort of life change. I believe we can do something here which translates into lifechange for the community at large.
Comment by Todd - Nov 05, 2007 @ 04:39 PM
Great idea Todd!
Comment by 218Matt - Nov 07, 2007 @ 09:53 PM