The first-ever conference for Christian bloggers concluded last week at Biola University in La Mirada, California. Some 135 people attended to discuss the implications of Christian blogs, whose lofty accomplishments one blogger said are akin to Martin Luther's 95 Theses launching the Protestant Reformation.

I'm not sure anything that important can come of what amounts to little more than electronic conversation. (Love is action and truth, not just words—1 John 3:17.) But I did agree with the blogger, who also told The Associated Press that one positive outcome of Christian blogs is a wider view of the issues.

"There's a bigger world out there than gay marriage and abortion," said Joe Carter, author of evangelicaloutpost.com.

The SmartChristianBlog also pointed to the worth of some blogs over others by categorizing them as either conversation for conversation's sake or purposeful change-the-world sorts of rants and raves. One thing's for sure, if all you do is read and write blogs you'll have no time left for anything else. The proliferation of these sites in recent months and years is simply amazing.

Halloween outreach news

I read the cover story this week in The Princeton Daily Clarion about a local church staging one of those Christian version haunted houses. A night in hell or some such event has become a staple in some congregations who either still preach fire and brimstone or wish they could. So they take it out on their communities once a year at Halloween. I just think this is weird evangelism.

Maybe it's better than giving out salvation tracts in trick-or-treat bags. That's akin to the neighborhood dentist giving out toothbrushes and toothpaste. That doesn't make you want to have good oral hygiene, just makes you hate the dentist.

The American Tract Society is updating their offerings this year, however, to include trendy rubber bracelets that glow in the dark for Halloween safety. That might be cool.

But the best example I've seen of shining the light on what some say is the darkest night of the year is an outreach involving a much more personal touch—Trunk or Treat. This is an event that encourages churches to open their parking lots for neighbors to socialize, get candy and prizes, and be gently introduced to the church. Check out this ad for a Trunk or Treat in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Trunk or Treat idea also removes the costume issue for the church. (I remember attending one church Halloween party where only Bible character costumes were allowed. There were enough kids in sheets and towels to stock a K-mart white sale.) Instead the party becomes about the people who may potentially come—obviously they'll be in costume. So the church people also dress up—with public school rules plus, i.e. nothing violent or scary.

Of course there are tons of other outreach ideas for Halloween that focus on the harvest aspect of the holiday, pumpkins and apple cider, etc. As with any event-based outreach churches should evaluate who they are targeting with their efforts, how to connect with people (visitor sign up sheet, prize drawing that includes registering name and address, etc.) and how best to show the love of Christ.