Evangelical Christians offer Halloween 'tracts and treats'

GARLAND, Texas (AP) Halloween has become the busiest time of year for publishers of Christian literature, or tracts, as evangelicals focus outreach efforts on the holiday.

The American Tract Society, a 178-year-old religious publisher based in the Dallas suburb of Garland, will distribute an estimated 3.5 million Christian tracts, or pamphlets, this Halloween season.

''It's a natural opportunity because people are coming to your door, instead of you having to approach them,'' said Dan Southern, president of the organization and a former crusade director for the Rev. Billy Graham.

Good News Publishers in Wheaton, Ill., expects to distribute 1.2 million Halloween tracts.

''A lot of Christians feel that Halloween is a dark holiday and has satanic overtones,'' said Erin Charles, literature ministries manager for Good News. ''What we like to do is take something that is negative and turn it into a positive by sharing the Gospel that way.''

Many evangelicals give out the pamphlets with candy or have their children offer them as thanks for the treats they receive going door-to-door.

http://www.atstracts.org

http://www.goodnewspublishers.com