Church’s kids event offers a Halloween alternative

Halloween doesn’t fit into all religious beliefs, so a church offers a different kind of fun.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — Ghouls, goblins and ghosts, oh my! The season may bewitch some, but some follow their religious beliefs down another path.

For many, Halloween hauntings and happenings are just the ticket. For others, the Hallelujah Night on Wednesday at Rising Star Baptist Church, 2943 Wardle Ave., was the way to go.

The annual event, held for more than 20 years at the church, provides an alternative to trick-or-treating and Halloween parties. But the event was just as much fun — with carnival games of darts, bean bag toss and balloon pop — along with basketball, bowling and bounce-around.

“We just don’t follow that custom,” said Millicent King, a youth coordinator at the church, referring to practices associated with Halloween. “It doesn’t fit with our religious beliefs ... witches, ghosts and goblins.”

King also cited safety as another reason for the event: “It’s a safer environment for children. They’re not exposed to what could be a hurtful or dangerous situation.”

Many families agree, as the event attracts some 100 children from the congregation and community. “Children are excited about the event,” King said. “And when parents see a need, they pitch in to help out.”

Along with games and face painting, storytellers Jocelyn and Bob Dabney concluded the evening with various tales.

The event also included a charitable message, King said. Each child was asked to contribute a canned good and a bag of candy; the church also is collecting food items into November. Rising Star donates part of the collection to a local charity and uses the rest in Thanksgiving baskets the congregation assembles for the needy.

“We try to convey to the children that it’s just as much fun to give as it is to receive,” King said. “We’re putting the emphasis on Jesus Christ, not Halloween.”

Lauren Davenport of Youngstown works with the church youth department and has been a member all her life. “I came to this event as a child. It’s a good alternative,” said the 20-something, and she credited King with adding more activities.

Davenport brought her 6-year-old daughter, Keemyah Hawkins. “She’s indifferent to Halloween; she likes the games. I like it because I know kids aren’t in harm’s way.”

DeMaine Kitchen of Youngstown attended with his wife, Leslie, who has been at Rising Star “since birth”; he joined in 1995. Their daughters are Olivia, 4, and Savannah, 2.

“It’s important that the kids have this social part of life and don’t feel left out,” Kitchen said. “This is a safe, well-supervised environment,” he said, noting that times have changed and made trick-or-treating potentially dangerous for children who may get tainted candy or even be abducted or accosted. “The family dynamics have changed. You don’t see parents out with the kids,” he said, referring to trick-or-treating rounds.

For Rosalyn Donaldson, wife of the Rev. Kenneth Donaldson, church pastor, the event is a “way to share our Christian faith.”

“We don’t want to celebrate things that are scary,” she said, noting that Halloween “praises fear and is morbid.” Focusing on God’s love and positive elements are a better choice, Donaldson said. The Donaldsons’ 8-year-old son, Kenneth II, participated in the event.

Five neighborhood children ranging in age from 5 to 9 came with Charis Jordan of Youngstown, also a church member. “The parents preferred this to having their children dress up and pretend to be something else,” Jordan said. “It shows the kids that church can be fun.”

It’s a two-for-one event, said Toney Yancey of Youngstown, who also belongs to Rising Star. “There’s the positive, religious side and there’s no scary things. And the kids have fun.”

And fun they did have — not only with the games but with refreshments prepared by the kitchen committee. Delicious aromas of fresh-made popcorn and cotton candy mingled in the eating area, which was decorated in an autumn motif. Children also had shaved-ice cones, cookies and hot dogs.