If your idea of Halloween looks more like hay bales, pumpkins and an occasional scarecrow rather than ghosts, goblins and witches, then you have plenty of company.
Because of concerns about the appropriateness of the holiday and parents’ concerns about safety for their children on Halloween night, many churches have developed alternatives to the traditional trick-or-treat evening. Fall festivals and other family-oriented activities give children a place to wear fun costumes, play games and enjoy the candy and treats usually associated with Halloween.
This year will be no exception in churches across Alabama, although some are branching out from the usual fall festival to include intentional evangelistic outreaches in their events, such as the churches in Madison Baptist Association.
Because the annual meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention is slated for Huntsville, Madison Association is incorporating fall festivities into its events for Crossover Huntsville. John Long, Madison Association director of missions, said, “Crossover is an attempt to share the gospel with the community, so we use any event we can [to do that].”
Praying for salvations
“Fall festivals give the unchurched a great opportunity to come to a church location or venue,” Long said. “[It is] a great opportunity for outreach.”
Wall Highway Baptist Church, Madison, has been accepting that call to evangelism for 15 years with its Deadline program. This year the church is using material from the creators of Judgement House to present the gospel. “We’re praying for 100 salvations during the five days (of operation),” said youth minister Tom Parker. “I think Halloween is an awesome opportunity for us as youth pastors to meet non-Christians … and build relationships and share Christ.”
In Montgomery, Rickey Michael, teaching pastor at Vaughn Forest Baptist Church, said each person registering for the festival will be given a balloon. Those who come and are not members or regular attendees of any church will have a specific balloon.
Evangelistic teams give those people information about Sunday School classes, worship service schedules and, if possible, present the plan of salvation
The fall festival at Shiloh Baptist Church near Selma has grown every year, according to Pastor Bill Gardner. The church sets up games, food, rides and other festival activities in a field beside a busy highway.
Many people driving by stop to attend, giving church members a chance to make personal contacts and distribute leaflets and other materials.
The church has added some families as a result of the festival, and others have been referred to churches nearer their homes.
Trinity Baptist Church, Scottsboro, plans to rock ‘n’ roll at its fall festival, with this year’s theme, The Fabulous Fifties. Jenetta Hinson, children’s director, said the festival will include games, contests and a malt shop, as well as ladies in poodle skirts and men with slicked-back hair.
A church member dressed as Elvis Presley and others will present ’50s music throughout the evening.
Trunk or Treat is the highlight of the fall festival at Deerfoot Baptist Church, Trussville. Church members decorate the open trunks of their cars. Some use the usual Halloween theme of pumpkins and scarecrows, while others decorate with a Biblical theme, such as Noah’s ark or Jonah and the whale.
Prizes are given for the best trunks, and Pastor Roger Willmore said everyone enjoys the friendly competition. In addition to candy, children receive pencils and other items. Willmore said they have also enjoyed using the special Halloween tracts available from LifeWay Christian Resources to give to children and adults.
Eden Westside Baptist Church, Pell City, has produced its Revelation Walk for seven years, according to production coordinator and children’s director Thelma Jones. The interactive dramatization of the end times uses 52 acres of land and requires approximately 250 people to produce each year. Visitors walk through 14 scenes depicting the end times, beginning with the rapture and ending with a heaven scene. The walk takes about one hour and 15 minutes.
The production is presented on four weekends throughout October, ending on the weekend before Halloween. The plan of salvation is also presented. Jones said this year, only two weeks into the presentation, 86 professions of faith had been made, as well as an equal number of rededications.
Halloween alternatives bring church families together and offer many opportunities for witnessing and welcoming visitors.
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