10 Ways to Show Christ’s Love to Trick-or-Treaters This Year

1. Pray for Trick-or-Treaters

Before we open our door or go outside to greet these children and their parents, we must pray for their safety. If your neighborhood is anything like mine, they will see many scary things that will be hard to reconcile in their minds. Next to a bloody, gorey creature, they may see a whimsical inflated spider—terrified by one, but the other is cute. It may be hard to think they must be exposed to horror just to get candy. 

So, we can start by praying for safety and sound minds.

Further Reading: 10 Prayers for Safety on Halloween

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2. Decorate for Trick-or-Treaters

Put up some cute decorations so kids feel comfortable coming to your house.

They don’t have to be expensive. They should just be inviting and indicate that your house is where candy is given out. 

Communication at Halloween is important because it makes it clear who is participating. We never take our granddaughter to a house without decorations because we want to respect those who don’t wish to participate.

Further Reading: 30 Creative Costume Ideas for Halloween

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3. Make Time to be Kind to Trick-or-Treaters

Call it “stealth evangelism” or just “loving your neighbor.” Whatever it is, you are on a mission!

Arrange that you’ll be ready when the kids begin to arrive. Can you split up your family so that one grown-up goes out with your kids and one stays home? Unless you have to greet them behind your screen door, come outside and sit on the porch so you can engage with the kids a bit more. You will be able to see them coming, and you can wave them over if they don’t see your house.

Further Reading: 3 Ways to Be Missional on Halloween

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4. Start a Conversation with Trick-or-Treaters

This may sound crazy because normally, you have two seconds as they grab their M&Ms and run off to the next house (by the way—let them pick their own candy as that always takes longer). This may be more difficult with teenagers but try it anyway. Ask each one a question about their costumes—what character are they? Is that their favorite? Did they have a Halloween parade at school today? With teens, you can ask something relevant about their costume, especially if it’s an unusual character or if they have a sports uniform on. Ask them if they play for their school team and if it’s their favorite sport. Have they collected a lot of candy so far? Ask the Holy Spirit what to ask each one as kids are coming, and He will give you the right words.

In our area, parents follow the kids by walking along the curbs. You can still talk with them, commenting on how polite, sweet, cute, or adorable their child is. And wish them a “GOD BLESS YOU GUYS–BE SAFE” and offer other information if you can. If the next block has very creepy decorations and the parents are with a very young one, you might holler out what is on the next block so they can choose to avoid it if they wish.

Further Reading: Trick-or-Treating with Purpose

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5. Make Yourself More Visible to the Trick-or-Treaters

I prefer to sit out on the driveway in a chair with extra chairs to make it welcoming. I would follow the same suggestions as #3 and #4 above.

Bring out a cooler with cans of lemonade or water for the parents and a special treat like fancy brownies or cookies (wrapped). If people drop by to talk, you can ask the kids if they’ve seen any really scary displays. Talk about it with them. Tell them God is bigger than anything scary, and He loves to take care of kiddos. Again, make sure you bless them as they go on their way.

Further Reading: How to Keep Your Kids Safe During Halloween

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6. Be Generous to Trick-or-Treaters

I still remember the house that gave the biggest candy bars in our neighborhood. It was the only Christian family on the block. The dad would dress up as a big teddy bear and give out full-size Snickers bars. I recommend giving out full-sized candy (unless you cannot afford it).

If you have the resources, tell them that for every bar you give out, you want them to take one out of the bowl and put it in a box you have created for people in need. Tell them thank you for helping you to help children who can’t trick-or-treat.

Further Reading: 6 Ways Your Family Can Be a Light This Halloween

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7. Try Trunk-or-Treating

Choose a central spot in the neighborhood (maybe a school parking lot) and set up a trunk-or-treat with games set up in the trunks of cars. Kids win candy prizes and aren’t required to wear costumes. Have a huge sign that says ALL kids are welcome. Give them a little goody bag with a little card that tells them that Jesus loves them—advertise the kids' activities at your church. Give out small toys, not just candy.

If kids are with their parents, offer a craft station where they can make a simple craft that you put in a bag with a small card of encouragement.

Further Reading: 5 Ways to Turn Halloween’s Dark Traditions into Something Good

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8. Provide Inspiration to Trick-or-Treaters

If you can get more than a few seconds of conversation with parents, introduce yourself and ask them if they are enjoying the night. Try to get something to them, whether an inspirational sticker on the bottom of a brownie or in their kid’s candy bag. Try to weave something about Jesus into what you give or say.

Also, play upbeat Christian music near where you are sitting.

Further Reading: Bible Verses for Halloween

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9. Include Everyone in Trick-or-Treating

If you organize a large posse of people who trick-or-treat together, call the local grammar school and tell them if they have any new families; they are welcome to join the group. Leave your phone number for them and let them know you’ll be meeting at the school to start. When we moved to a new school and neighborhood, my daughter didn’t really know other kids on the block who had their own “clique” so I took her around by herself. I regret that I didn’t ask her teacher who would be a good mom to approach about going together. There is a lot of conversation that can be had by following kids who are trick-or-treating, so use the opportunity to share about your family and ask about theirs, and ask the Holy Spirit to open up chances to speak about Halloween and faith issues.

Further Reading: 9 Ways to Serve Your Neighbors This Halloween

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10. Reverse Trick-or-Treat

Create bags of tricks that you can deliver to neighbors. Tell them you wanted to bless them with something since they are always giving. This is your opportunity to fill a bag with whatever you want–you don’t have to give just one goodie. Why not include a printed invitation to your next church event? Are you feeding the homeless at Thanksgiving? Invite neighbors to join you. Are you doing a children’s Christmas pageant. Invite them to come and maybe their kids can play an animal in the story.

The biggest question is what to include in anything you hand out. Don’t, for goodness sake, only give out a tract. Give nice food items and add something that tells about God or Jesus. There are many items available on orientaltrading.com that would work–bookmarks, toys, etc.

There are so many clever ways that Christians can reach unbelievers on Halloween. The ideas above are about connecting with people in your neighborhood to start a relationship, show Christ’s love (and let them know why you are reaching out and going the extra mile). In her Crosswalk.com article “6 Ways to Be Missional on Halloween,” Michelle Lazurek suggests inviting people to a Halloween party at church. You can also have a Halloween party for kids at your house, where you have more time to talk about Halloween and Jesus.

Further Reading: Should Christians Share Gospel Tracts on Halloween?

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