Many people refuse to celebrate Halloween because of their religion. While that can certainly be respected, here’s a thought for you if you’re one of them. How about using the holiday as a way of ministering instead of avoiding it all in all?

While trick or treating is seen as a controversial subject in the Christian faith it can be used as a mission field as well. Utilize this opportunity to introduce people to Jesus instead of closing the door completely. You never know who you might reach with his message.

Here’s an example of how one Christian woman, we?ll call her Ann, combines her faith with trick or treating every year.

Starting the day after Halloween every year, Ann begins preparing for the next year’s trick or treat guests. You see Ann believes that Halloween is a way of opening her door to the children who may, down the line, want to know more about Jesus. She starts preparing goodie bags well in advance and plans well.

Each child who comes to her door receives plenty of candy, but that’s not all. She also includes things in the bag of goodies such as:

* Faith based coloring books
* Stickers
* Games
* Pencils & Erasers
* Notepads
* Anything with a message from the Bible

Each child also gets something age appropriate explaining Jesus. Things like CDs with Bible stories, Veggie Tales videos, and other things are bought throughout the year at dollar stores, Bible book stores, etc. so as to spread the cost out throughout the year.

Why does Ann do this? Her prayer is that when any of those children is ready to learn more about Christ they will remember her as the one who knows Him and can help them do just that.

Ann also decorates her home for the holiday with pumpkins. You won’t find traditional witches and ghouls carved in the sides of her jack-o-lanterns. Instead, crosses, angels and the words of Jesus are the carvings of choice.

For those who might be thinking Ann probably doesn’t get a lot of visitors to her home each year think again. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Each year between 80 and 100 kids ring her doorbell. The past few years have seen a decrease in the number of visitors she gets due to her neighborhood parents doing Trunk or Treat activities.

Trunk or Treat is where parents gather at the school and give candy to the children from the trunks of their car versus going door to door on Halloween night. For folks like Ann, it can be a little sad, but she realizes the positive of having been able to do what she does for over 10 years in her community.

For anyone who might want to consider this kind of ministry, consider that the cost is minimal compared to eternity. This is a time to reach children with the gospel of Jesus who might not hear otherwise. Why not use the controversial pagan day of Halloween to do so. Is there a better day?