Church Trunk or Treats Impact Lives

DAMASCUS, Md. — Trunk or Treat started in the 1990s as a trick-or-treating alternative/supplement. Now many churches take advantage of the enormously popular activity by itself or in conjunction with fall festivals. Kids and adults alike enjoy the fun of decorating cars, some elaborately, giving out, and, of course, getting candy. They’re fun and give churches a chance to meet their neighbors —  but do they make an impact? Is all that time, effort, and money spent on candy worth it?

Andrea Schneider(r) and her daughter Maryanne attend Tri-County Baptist Church in Damascus.

It was in Andrea Schneider’s life.

Andrea Schneider placed her faith in Christ as a child, but she wasn’t attending church. After some past hurt, Schneider was hesitant to seek another church. That changed one year ago when Andrea and her daughter Maryanne (who will be five on Halloween) attended Tri-County Baptist Church’‘s Trunk or Treat. Because it was in a shopping center parking lot, Andrea said the event didn‘t feel “churchy” and wasn’t intimidating.

She loved the cheerful vibe, the fun games, and the car displays. “What really stood out to me was the live music. They were playing songs that I remember singing years ago,” Andrea said.

The other highlight was seeing a costumed bear playing the drums. That, she said, was a surprise and made her smile.

“I knew I must learn more about this bear,” she said with a chuckle. “I was surprised to hear the bear was a the church’s pastor (T.J. Johnson, pastor of Tri-County Church) with six children. I thought, wow, this man seems so relaxed and joyful!”

After reaching out to another friendly volunteer named Verda to ask about Tri-County Baptist Church, Andrea said, “I was thrilled to hear about a nearby church with happy members and children my daughter could interact with.”

Due to her family’s recent move to the area and the pandemic, Andrea said she really knew few people. “I was sad, anxious, and lonely, without a church to attend regularly anymore.” After the Trunk or Treat, Andrea said she felt God leading her to Tri-County Baptist Church and joined shortly afterward.

“I found peace and joy in my heart; thanks be to God! I have a refuge to call my own. She was baptized in September and recently began serving with Sunday Night BLAST, a children’s Ministry, ministering to school-aged children.

Andrea and Maryanne will attend this year’s Treat in the Safeway Parking lot on Main Street in Damascus. Tri-County is partnering with First Baptist Church of Damascus. They’ll work together and share a banner.

Pastor T.J. Johnson said, “Halloween is one of the few community-oriented holidays we have when the whole community comes out and participates together…person-to-person with the intention of interacting.”

He recalls his first year at Tri-County and Trunk or Treat. “I was amazed! We’re a small church of 80-90 people, and we must have had 3-400 people show up. It is an incredible opportunity.”

Johnson said this year, they will be more intentional in engaging people with the gospel. They will have one table where people can make gospel beads and hear the gospel and a prayer table. “We are going to create space where people can sit down, rest, enjoy themselves, and build deeper relationships. We want to let people know we are here and we care.”