How a Christian Used Halloween to Share Jesus

The following post is an article from my book Why Not You?, check it out HERE for more stories about how to walk in confidence and share your faith.

The Gap

One time in the late fall, God was really tugging at my heart to reach out to my neighbors and share the Gospel with them. As my family and I prayed to discern what the Lord was calling us to do, we realized there were a ton of kids in our neighborhood, and that this was a perfect starting point for our mission.

In the past, I, like many other Christians, had reservations about Halloween, deeming it a "demon-inspired Day of the Dead" spinoff that should be steered way clear of. For good reasons, Halloween often carries a negative stigma among believers, which leads many of us to simply turn off our lights on Halloween night and lock our doors to distance ourselves from the holiday. However, I came to realize that Halloween is the one time when people, particularly families, come knocking on your doors, eager to see what you have to share. I began to wonder, what if we offered the best thing we had to share? What if we offered the Gospel? Instead of shutting them out, maybe we could embrace the chance to share the message of Christ's love.

That year, we decided to take a different approach to Halloween and use it to the glory of God, but the only question was how?

The Bridge

One day, I noticed a house in a friend's neighborhood that was brilliantly lit with neon lights, illuminating the darkness of Halloween. It got me thinking, "If this person can use lights to brighten up Halloween, why can't we do the same to lift up Jesus, who is the light of the world?" This sparked a remarkable idea in my mind.

I paid a visit to the local Home Depot and purchased the materials to build a large, fluorescent pink cross. It was a significant symbol, impossible to miss. I adorned it with blue lights and even added big nails for authenticity. As I put it together, my daughters eagerly helped me, and I took the opportunity to share the resurrection story with them, connecting our faith with the holiday. I also borrowed angel costumes that were used in our church's play, which my girls wore.

Placing the cross at the end of our driveway, we added a basket at its base filled with candy and a little note. As families visited our house and reached for their treats, they couldn't help but notice the small sign that read, "Jesus died for you. He loves you." It was a simple yet powerful message that touched the hearts of kids and their family.

On that Halloween night, my girls, dressed as angels, stood near the cross. When the lights shone upon them, they appeared radiant, glowing with the added lights. People didn't know what to make of it at first, and some were even scared. But as they approached and saw the message of love and sacrifice, they began to understand. What might have initially seemed like a symbol of darkness and cruelty, a cross on Halloween, was transformed into a profound message of hope and salvation.

Many people were taken aback, and some even asked, "Are you serious?" But the children loved it, and it opened doors for us to share the Gospel right there on Halloween. We were no longer closing ourselves off but actively minding the gap that often existed between us and our neighbors on that night. We were simply serving all those who came to our doorstep, in the hope of sharing a message of light on a night that celebrated darkness.

In the end, that Halloween night became a beautiful opportunity for us to connect with our neighbors, to break down the walls that sometimes separate Christians from the world, and to share the love of Jesus in a friendly and meaningful way. We learned that even on a holiday like Halloween, we can find ways to bridge the cultural gap and shine the light of Christ into our community.

Want more stories and encouragement of what it looks like to live a life completely sold out to the Lord no matter where he has put you? Check out my new book Why Not You? for more stories about how to walk in confidence and share your faith.

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