More than 1,200 attended Light the Night at Central Baptist Church in Conway. (Submitted)
It’s fall, and Arkansas Baptist churches across the state are celebrating the season and sharing the love of Jesus with their neighbors. They’re planting seeds of the Gospel through fall festivals, trunk-or-treat events, and other seasonal activities.
In Conway, Central Baptist Church annually hosts a special event called Light the Night. Associate Pastor David Moore said the family-friendly trunk-or-treat celebration is their way of welcoming their community and spreading the love of Christ.
“We are passionate about Conway and the surrounding areas, and through this event, we want everyone to know that there is a God who loves them immensely,” Moore said. This year’s event was on Oct. 26.
During Light the Night, Moore said the church family comes together to transform their back parking lot into a fun-filled, festive environment. They set up “creatively decorated trunks with engaging games and activities, creating an inviting space for children and families to enjoy.” As part of the event, they pass out lots of candy, making it a memorable experience for the kids.
In addition to the treats and entertainment, Moore said every person who visits their campus receives a Gospel tract, offering hope and the message of God’s love. Additionally, local Gideons pass out New Testament Bibles. The church also provides popcorn, hot dogs, and lemonade to ensure everyone feels welcome and cared for, Moore said.
This year, Moore said they welcomed over 1,200 people to their campus, “demonstrating the incredible community support and interest in coming together for a fun, safe, and meaningful event.”
“Light the Night is more than just a celebration—it’s an opportunity for us to demonstrate the love of Jesus in tangible ways and share His hope with our neighbors,” Moore said. “We look forward to continuing this tradition each year and to seeing more lives touched by the love of Christ through Light the Night.”
In Ferndale, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church held a Fall Festival and Chili Cook-Off. The event featured games, candy, food, and fun for the whole family, and served as a way for the church to share God’s love in the community. Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Children’s Ministry Director Rachel Brown said they had “a wonderful time this year.”
Church members set up their cars with trunks open outside and tables inside with games and candy. Brown said one highlight was Candy Mountain, which periodically erupted and sent candy raining down. Donations collected during the chili cookoff will go toward the church’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing party.
Brown said their purpose in putting on the fall festival event is threefold. They want to “bring the Ferndale community together, bear witness to the Gospel to all attendees by showing hospitality and kindness and engaging in faith conversations and build unity among their congregation by using their various and unique giftings in complementary, creative, and caring ways to reflect Jesus to our neighbors.”
In a Facebook post following the event, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church shared, “Our Fall Festival was a smash! We had such a great time playing games, getting candy, and enjoying fellowship together! This year we were excited to add a Chili Cook-Off to the fun and a huge congratulations to our winner, Nick Ryals! Thank you to everyone who came out and made the evening so special. We love doing life together here at Pleasant Grove!”
These are just a couple examples of Arkansas Baptists celebrating fall and sharing God’s love with their neighbors. Several Arkansas Baptist churches still have events to come. Any churches interested in sharing about a fall event and its impact can email [email protected] or [email protected].