An HFFG-Style Halloween--Sugar-Free and Full of Good News!

Many of you are probably thinking, "What do the HFFG's kids do Halloween?!  What do they pass out for treats?!"  The answer to that may not be as extreme as you think; then again, it may be.  I'll start answering those questions by telling the story of a time we passed out water bottles.  


Just wait.  We only gave the water bottles to teenagers.  We had had teenagers coming around our neighborhood for many years and began to wonder why people of this age who would, for 6,000 years, be expected to act like adults by that age be doing begging for candy? 


So we decided to put a label on water bottles saying:

Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14


Every Halloween, we reminisce of the time when our oldest son was handing out waters to teenagers and we overheard a teenager walking away, yelling to his friend at the end of our driveway, "Dude, the kid gave me water!" Priceless.


But aside from the messing with teenagers, I think Halloween is a great opportunity for Christians.  I mean, what other time do you have people, oftentimes complete strangers, coming up to your door to accept essentially whatever you give them?!  We don't even have to "go into all the world" (Mark 16:15)--they come to us on Halloween!  


So at the HFFG household, we use this opportunity to spread the message of Christ.  We're not afraid of letting the whole neighborhood know we're Jesus Freaks!  But we want to do it in a way that is loving and uplifting.  


At the same time, we obviously aren't big fans of passing out sugary treats.  We like to lay down at the end of the night having a clear conscience that we did not cause any of the little ones to stumble (Mark 9:42) by feeding an addiction that may one day take them away from God.  (Yes, I'm serious.  Check out Lysa TerKeurst's Made to Crave book if you don't agree--it just may change your perspective!)  


Instead of going around asking for treats, we like to keep our children home to pass things out.  Year after year, they get great joy from giving!


"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35


I know God guides everyone differently and I don't want to go against that.  So for all of you who feel the Lord guiding you the same way as mine, I've compiled a little list of some Halloween ideas for you.  Here are some of the things we've done over the years:


Mini-Size Play-Doh Packs
Okay, so we haven't done this one yet but I just saw an ad in the paper with coupons for the mini play-doh packs and thought it was a GREAT idea for a Halloween treat!  I'd take it one step further and add a label to each one that says something like, 


"Let Jesus mold you and make you into something great!"


Fruit Strips

Finding fruit strips that are sweetened with only fruit puree and juices is growing increasingly easy.  They are available at Target, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and most natural food stores.  Trader Joes, Target, and I think Whole Foods have their own brands; also Fruitabu is sold at some large chain stores and natural food stores.  I'm sure there is a great verse of sentence you could put on these to spread the Good News of Christ; I just can't think of one right now!


Mini Flash Lights
For many years, our family has purchased mini flashlights that say, "Jesus is the light and the way."  We have always gotten compliments from parents, including non-Christians, about them. And unlike treats, kids can get weeks of play out of these!  
http://www.orientaltrading.com/mini-jesus-is-the-light-flashlight-key-chains-a2-36_60-12-1.fltr?Ntt=flashlights


(Don't forget to purchase batteries to go with them; Oriental Trading also sells them for an incredibly low price!)


Bracelets
A slightly cheaper route than the flashlights, these bracelets with good messages on them will last indefinitely; and it's fun for kids to be able to pick out their favorite color!
http://www.orientaltrading.com/religious-sayings-bracelet-mega-assortment-a2-24_1813-11-1.fltr?xsaleSku=36/60


Individual boxes of raisins
Bear with me here as I remember that many kids do not savor and ravage raisins the same way my kids (and I) do! I'm just not sure why--they are so sweet, chewy, and delicious!  And a label with a verse like this might work well: 


How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103


Mini Bibles
Using the verse above, you could even pass out little mini bibles! I know, I know, what a way to ruin Halloween for kids. But really?! God says his Word will NEVER return empty but will accomplish what God desires (Isaiah 55:11). 

When we put God's living and active Word into the hands of His children, we are accomplishing ten thousand times more than putting a piece of candy in their hands!! 

Don't underestimate what God will do in a child's heart if you put His Word in their hands!


Whichever way you go, I want to encourage you to use this annual event to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ! 


And one more story--One year, I carved the face of Jesus (or what we say his face is like) on a pumpkin.  It turned out fantastic if I do say so myself.  One teenager pointed to it and says, "Oh my God." I looked at him and said, "Yes, exactly." After thinking for a minute, he looks at me, nods his head, and says excitedly, "Oh yeah!"


So carve a Jesus pumpkin, write John 8:12 with glow-in-the-dark chalk on your driveway, and shine a light for the Savior this Halloween!


"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Jesus Christ