Training Evangelistic Kids #3: A Purposeful Halloween

Our Halloween Treats

My main focus as a mother is to set my children on a path toward Heaven. In turn, I want them to lead hearts around them to Christ. This year my husband and I determined to emphasize the importance of personal evangelism in our home. Our highest goal as parents is to train our children in the ways of the Lord and equip them to teach others the Gospel. In this series of Training Evangelistic Kids we’ll share some ideas we’ve used to begin raising children who are comfortable sharing their faith. We certainly aren’t experts in this area. We’re learning as we go, and we’d love to hear your ideas as well!

T.E.K. Tip #3: A Purposeful Halloween

Monkey2 dressed up as a Christian Soldier

One of the things we try to emphasize to our kids is the abundance of opportunities for evangelism. There are so many ways to turn ordinary moments into efforts to reach people with the Gospel. It's all about making Jesus the center of everything we do and inviting others to see the difference He has made in our lives.

Opportunities for evangelism can often be created by putting a slight spin on how you usually do things. We're not huge fans of Halloween. But when we lived in Michigan there was a wonderful Bible class teacher where we worshiped who put together a dress-up party around October 31st. She told us that she used to boycott Halloween, but then she realized she could use it for good by turning it into an opportunity for a VBS-like event. 

Our friend invites kids to come to the church building all dressed up in their fun costumes, and then she teaches Bible lessons (like The Valley of Dry Bones), drills them on Bible facts, plays Bible-based games, and lets them get sick on candy in a fun, safe environment. Her thought was, "Most kids are going to participate in Halloween anyway, so why not use it for a purpose?"

That's largely how personal evangelism works - by taking whatever you can and making it purposeful. Obviously, you can only take this concept so far. There are certain things that you simply can't participate in as a Christian; sometimes there just isn't a good way to spin it. I don't think Halloween is one of those things. Though I don't like the witches and gore that surround the day, I do not think it's wrong to dress up and go Trick or Treating. Thanks to Pam's example, I see lots of ways this holiday can be used for good.


What other day do you have people coming up to your door and asking you to give them something? They're practically begging you to give them a tract and tell them about Jesus! Okay, okay, they're really looking for candy, but there are so many creative things you can pass out that might plant a seed - Bible stickers, candy with Bible verses printed on the wrappers, little Bible activity booklets... Any little thing that lets people know you are a Christian is valuable (just make sure it's something kids would actually consider a treat). At the very least, your little neighbors will know that you believe in God, and you never know where that could lead.

Monkey4 and Monkey5 maning the treat table

This year we decided somewhat last minute to pass out hot chocolate and our kiddie business cards. We hadn't really planned to do anything because Halloween was on a Wednesday and we knew that by the time we got home from Bible class most of the Trick or Treaters would be finished up. But, since this is our first year in our new neighborhood, we decided to at least try to use it as a chance to meet our neighbors and let them know that we are Christians.

Though we didn't have many people come down our street by that time of night, our kids had a blast dressing up, eating pizza, drinking hot chocolate, and doing our family devotional under the stars. We made sweet memories with our kids and, most importantly, we worked together to try to reach others for Christ.

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season" (2 Timothy 4:2). Teach your kids to use every opportunity to reach others for Christ, even when it's Halloween season.

P.S. Another idea I've heard for using Halloween for good is to do reverse Trick or Treating at a nursing home. Dress your kids up and go to a nursing home to pass out candy. The residents will love you for it!

Got a tip for teaching kids to be evangelistically minded? Leave a comment!