Growing up in Australia in the ’90s, Halloween was barely a thing. I remember going out trick-or-treating to my unsuspecting neighbours one year, returning with the fairly sad loot of an LCM bar and some hard-boiled lollies.
Now, with social media and shops selling Halloween decorations, costumes, and chocolates, Halloween engagement is growing each year. From the odd decorated house only a few years ago, to little Halloween hubs in suburbs across Adelaide, several Baptist churches are responding to Halloween without fear and meeting their community where they’re at.
One such Halloween hub is in Adelaide’s north-western suburb of Peterhead. Here, Steve Woods, his wife Vicki, and the SoulSpace Christian Community connect with their neighbours on Halloween through radical generosity. Steve says, “If Jesus was doing Halloween, he would be the most generous person around.”
After moving into the area a few years ago, they noticed how popular Halloween was in their neighbourhood and that people from all over Adelaide came to trick-or-treat. Inspired by friends, they decided to be where their community was, and to do it generously.
This was their third Halloween, and they gave out 400 full-sized chocolate bars, along with 100 coffees and hot chocolates. Steve says, “Giving away coffee, hot chocolates, and good-sized chocolate, rather than just meagre little offerings, and being generous has been wonderful for conversation and lots of chats about why we do what we do.”
For them, it’s not about buying into Halloween. Steve and his team believe this is where Jesus would be – among the community. “We’re not endorsing Halloween; it’s not that sort of thing. We’re just being where the community is, being with them as they celebrate, and blessing them.”
Another one of these hubs is on the other side of Adelaide in the inner-southern suburb of Colonel Light Gardens, where children and their families from all over Adelaide come to trick-or-treat. For the past eight years, Trinity Baptist Church has been dressing up and coming out into the neighbourhood to hand out goodies and to chat with their community as they celebrate Halloween.
Supported by Food Bank, this year they gave out carrots, mandarins, biscuits, and fairy floss to the 600 people that came through. “It’s just amazing how many people are coming out, and to me, it shows that people want to be out together,” says Pastor Scott Berry.
Scott believes this is one of the only celebrations where our community is out on the streets, and it’s a great opportunity to meet them where they are. “If I offered you a time when your community will be walking around, interacting with each other, and you might get to do dress-ups—why would you not want to be involved?” he says.
Over by the beach, Grange Baptist Church put on a free family fun evening with a sausage sizzle, barista coffee, hot doughnuts, a travelling farm, and games. Families Pastor Sally Henderson says this event was born out of wanting to be with the people as they celebrate. She says, “Let’s meet our community where they are at and just bless them. It’s all free. We ask for nothing in return. We just want to get to know them and encourage them.”
They estimated about 500 people came through this Halloween, and at one stage, they ran out of sausages and had to do a sausage and bread run. Through this event, they hope people come to know Jesus. Sally says, “We want to give them a free gift and ultimately reflect Jesus in doing so. We want them all to know Jesus; that’s the end goal, isn’t it?”
Other Baptist churches are offering events that are alternatives to Halloween. Blackwood Hills Baptist Church and The Church on Albert both hosted “The Light Party” this year.
Children’s Ministry Coordinator at Blackwood Hills Baptist Church, Annara Oxenham, said about their event, “It’s an alternative to Halloween, so they’re celebrating life and positive things, good things—obviously, Jesus at the centre of that.”
Over 300 people attended the free event, which included a bouncy castle, face painting, craft activities, a photo booth, games, food and drink, and fairy floss, supported by a grant from Mitcham Council. Annara says she hopes “people come to the event feeling lighter, happier, more connected, and loved.”
As Halloween grows in popularity across Adelaide, it creates an excellent opportunity for churches to meet their community where they are. These churches are doing just that—generously building community and growing connections within their neighbourhoods.
Words by
Lucy C Budzynska
Freelance Writer
Glen Osmond Baptist Church
