Our vision is to offer an alternative to Halloween. We go out to be Light
and to draw people to the light of the world – Jesus!
We aim to:
Redeem the 31st October – we go out to freely give rather than get, to
bring light in darkness and offer a safe place for people to mingle.
Meet the people in the community where they are. This is one night when
many people come out of their houses. They come out to have fun,
oblivious in most cases to the darker side of Halloween. We can join them
in the fun ‘treating’ aspect and offer them a taste of the best treat ever -
a relationship with Jesus.
Provide a non-committal way for church members to dip their toe in
evangelism (i.e. it is a ‘one off’ event) and hopefully get a taste for it.
Empower our young people - when all their friends are asking them at
school what they are doing on Halloween, rather than be on the back foot,
they can say, “We are doing ‘Light’: come and join us!”
Here's what others have said:
"I love the beacons because it means getting out there and engaging with
people rather than retreating on what is seen as a ‘dark night’. Let’s take
the ground Jesus has already won and be out there engaging with people
without judgement but armed with the gospel and Christ’s love! The light
beacons do just that; go for it!"
George Osborn
Pastor
Hope Church Kensington, Liverpool
(formerly Elder at Send Evangelical Church)
"St Mark’s Church Westfield has been running a light beacon since 2010
on Westfield Common. It has grown significantly over the years and we
now welcome over 150 people. Local families remember we are going to
be there and look out for us, with some who don’t like celebrating
Halloween making it their Halloween event as a positive influence for their
children. We have some great conversations about all sorts of things
including our Christian faith and it has helped us build and develop really
good relationships with families in our community."
Rev. Jonathan Thomas
Vicar
Parish of St. Peter, Woking
"We involve our church youth group with the Light event by having them
serve as part of the team. Because we have a number of youth from the
surrounding community come to the event, one of the lovely benefits is
that our young people are able to welcome and spend time with friends
of theirs from school, and to bless them on that evening. It is a great
chance for them to be a witness to their friends as a Christian and to also
provide a welcoming youthful presence for the community at large."
Rev. Vincent Sacco
Associate Pastor/Youth Worker
New Life Church Woking
"The Light beacons that Andrew and others have pioneered are a great
alternative to Halloween, giving the community a taste of the light Jesus
brings into the darkness. And as well as providing a safe point of
connection for the community, they are appreciated by Christian parents
seeking a positive activity for their children."
Rev. Alan Nelson
Pastor
New Life Church Woking
