Halloween: Is it a witnessing opportunity you are hiding from?
So...what do you do on Halloween? Do you turn out all the lights, hide in the basement or family room, and hope that no one comes to your door? Do you wrestle with the decision of whether or not to participate or allow your children to participate in the holiday? Perhaps you do this because:
- You do not want to promote Halloween with your children and you do not want your children seeing others come to your door asking for candy and treats.
- You do not want your children feeling like they missed out on some fun and excitement.
Consider with me the possibility of turning this into a witnessing opportunity. For years, we have taught our children that we use Halloween as a witnessing opportunity. Although we do not allow our children to dress up or go from door, we usually do something special with our children that night by cooking hot dogs & marshmallows in the fireplace and eating them picnic style in the living room, watching a fun dvd, or playing a family game while we wait for children to come to the door. Our children take turns answering the door and giving treats to the children who come to our door. We always include a Kids 4 Truth Bookmark, DynaBox, or a tract that gets the gospel into the homes of each and every child who comes to our door. Our children enjoy seeing the children dressed up and giving the children their special treats or prizes, and know that they have had the opportunity to share the gospel in an unique way. Although our children are now between the ages of 13 and 21, they still enjoy this special family witnessing opportunity!
Fun Ways to Give out the Gospel:
- DynaBox Tracts: These unique tracts fold into a box. We suggest that you assemble the tract into a box but before closing the box include a prize or candy treat. This creates a fun way to give out a tract, gets the gospel into the children’s hands and home, and gives a prize/treat at the same time.
- Kids 4 Truth Bookmark Tracts: Children and teens love these colorful, glossy bookmarks! The tracts are easy to distribute and we find they get
used...which means sooner or later they will turn the bookmark over and read the gospel or visit the website.
Tips:
- If you are giving out tracts with your treats or prizes, don’t use old, stale candy. Be sure that you use treats or prizes that the children will enjoy. Remember, you are representing Christ when you give out tracts with treats/prizes.
- Be careful that prizes don’t look too much like candy. One year I was giving away small prize erasers, and I had to grab fast to keep a young child from eating the frog eraser I just handed to him.
- Candy can be taped to a tract or bookmark if needed to make it easier to distribute.
- If you are going to be away and you know children will be coming to your door, consider leaving a basket of prizes by the front door. Believe it or not I have done this several times and children are good to only take one prize.
Don’t want to give away candy?
- Consider a small prize instead.
- US Toy (www.ustoy.com) or Kipp Toys (www.kipptoys.com) are great places to get cheap little toy trinkets.
- Try bouncie balls, stretchy lizards/frogs, or sticky guys. They are cheap and kids absolutely love them.
- Consider a cool pencil or eraser. Don’t choose just plain school quality...pick the cool eraser shapes or the metallic-look pencils.
To help you witness during this time of year, we have all Kids 4 Truth tracts and bookmarks on sale for 10% off through October 31.
