Celebrating the extensive cultural tradition of Halloween across our local areas
St Mary Magdalene Church Gorleston Hosts 'Battle the Dark Forces and Discover Light on a Dark Night' Event
On Halloween, St Mary Magdalene Church Gorleston in the United Kingdom will welcome around 200 families from their estate to a unique event named 'Battle the Dark Forces and Discover Light on a Dark Night'. This is the fifth time the event is being held, and it is a popular community gathering point for trick-or-treaters and those avoiding traditional Halloween celebrations.
The event is part of a larger mission at Evangelical Focus to engage with the cultural phenomenon of Halloween in neighborhoods across Europe. As Christians, the church is challenged to engage with the prevailing culture rather than retreat from it.
The event is not a normal 'light party'; it aims to engage with the dark, not to avoid it. The Battle Zone will have four challenges for participants to complete, with volunteers dressed as battle-worn soldiers guiding them through a dark, smoke-filled church decorated with spiders, bats, and other spooky decor. Participants will lose the battles in the Battle Zone, but there will be visible hints of Jesus showing that he has already won each battle.
After completing the Battle Zone, participants will enter the Light Zone, where they will be greeted by volunteers in party-wear and given a puzzle/story booklet-tract. The Light Zone will have a full party atmosphere with victory music, fairy lights, hot dogs, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and crafts. Participants will eventually reach the cross where they are told that Jesus has won all the battles for them.
The history of Halloween indicates that it has an historical Christian tradition in trying to warn of the dangers of the kingdom of darkness. People in many parts of the world believe in spiritual forces of darkness and evil, and even in the UK, there is a rising belief in the spiritual realms. Christians need not fear Halloween costumes, scaremongering, celebrations, discos, or sweets, as Christ is greater and has victory over these things.
Anna Price, the Community Strategic Manager at St Mary Magdalene Church Gorleston, emphasizes the importance of engaging with the community during Halloween. "We want to show that as Christians, we don't need to fear Halloween," she says. "Christ's death and resurrection have victory over sin, death, and the kingdom of darkness. We can have confidence in experiencing Halloween celebrations."
Many neighbors participating in Halloween celebrations are not generally interested in satanic arts, but are rather neighborly, community-minded families. The event is a great opportunity for the church to connect with these families and share the message of hope and victory that comes from Jesus.
In summary, the 'Battle the Dark Forces and Discover Light on a Dark Night' event is a unique approach to Halloween that combines the traditional elements of the holiday with a powerful message of hope and victory in Jesus. The event is a testament to the church's commitment to engaging with the community and sharing the love of Christ with those around them.
[1] History.com Editors. (2009). Halloween. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/halloween-history
[2] National Geographic. (2019). The Origins of Halloween. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/archaeology/the-origins-of-halloween/
[4] BBC. (n.d.). All Hallows' Eve. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/allhallowseve_1.shtml
[5] Smith, H. R. (2001). The Religion of the Ancient Celts. Oxford University Press.
