Ginghamsburg Church

A Safe Halloween Alternative For The Entire Fort McKinley Community

On Tuesday, October 28 from 5:30-7:30pm, Fort McKinley Church will host it’s annual Light The Night: Truck or Treat event.  Children and parents are invited to an evening of food, games, story telling and contests. The night will conclude with a free pumpkin patch and trunk-or-treating, where cars will line up by the dozens to serve treats to the Fort McKinley community.

“As a church in the Fort McKinley community we are always looking for opportunities to bless the people around us. Light the Night is a great way to bring light to an evening that can be full of darkness,” said Fort McKinley Children's Coordinator, Amy Nooks-Evege.

This Halloween alternative is a free event open to families with children of all ages.  Enjoy food, games, story telling and the pumpkin patch from 5:30-7pm followed by Trunk or Treat from 7-7:30pm. All events are chaperoned by background-checked adults who are looking forward to lighting the night with the love of God.

“We want to show the Fort McKinley Community the love of Jesus. We want our neighbors to know that while we would love for them to join us for worship on Sunday, we also are here for them and care about this community every day of the week. Trick or Treating can be a dangerous in our community. This is a chance for kids to have fun in a safe environment,” said Nooks-Evege. 

Fort McKinley’s Light The Night event is FREE and open to the public on Tuesday, October 28 from 5:30-7:30pm at 3721 West Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton, OH 45406. Children are encouraged to wear costumes, bring a bag to hold candy and come ready to have a great evening with friends and family in the neighborhood.

Fort McKinley worship times are Sundays at 8:30, 10 & 11:30am at 3721 West Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton, OH 45406. Childcare is provided at all worship celebrations. Breakfast is served from 8-9:45am.

On Saturday, September 6 the Ginghamsburg Church front lawn is set to transform into an evening of fun for the entire community. All ages are welcome, and admission is free for the 2014 Fall Fest featuring giant inflatables, carnival games and rides, food vendors and more. The festivities all conclude with a fireworks show at dark. 

The fall fest has been held annually at Ginghamsburg for more than a decade. Last year nearly 4,000 guests took part. Due to the overwhelming number of participants last year, festival coordinators plan to double most of the attractions at this year's Fall Fest.

"The purpose of Fall Fest is to provide a fun, free event for guests and families. We want to create an atmosphere that produces lasting memories and most importantly shows the community the love of Jesus Christ," said Nathan Mills, Director of Guest Services and Events. 

Guests will enjoy a fun-filled activity tent for kids, a DJ, hayrides, pony rides and a pumpkin patch where every child receives a free pumpkin. Approximately nine food vendors will also be on site offering all the favorite traditional festival foods such as elephant ears, funnel cakes, cotton candy, Philly cheese steak and sausage sandwiches. There will also be gourmet burgers, pizza, chicken and hand-cut chips.

The fireworks show is provided by American Fireworks and is scheduled to last about 20 minutes. "You won't want to miss this incredible firework display. It's going to be the perfect end to a fantastic evening," said Nathan. 

In addition to providing a good time for all visitors, Ginghamsburg also looks forward to introducing newcomers to the church. With over 100 volunteers and staff members hosting the event, festival goers will be invited back to the Ginghamsburg Church front lawn on Sunday, September 7 for a powerful one-of-a-kind worship experience bringing together all three Ginghamsburg campuses.

This "All Church" Outdoor Worship will take place at 10am, and the community is encouraged to take part. 

Sponsors of the 2014 Community Fall Fest include: Troy Ford, Dave Arbogast Buick/GMC, Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln Mercury, Emerson Climate Technologies, New Tech Plastics, OPOC.us, ProSource, Piqua Steel and Crane, Speedpro Imaging, Tipp City Veterinary Hospital and Wellness Center, American Fireworks, US Bank and Amlin Advantage.

On Saturday, September 13 from 2pm to 9pm the City of Trotwood in partnership with Trotwood church The Point and the Trotwood YMCA will host its second annual Trotwood Block Party. The event will take place on Main Street between Stuckhardt Road and Beardsley Drive in Trotwood, Ohio. The Block Party will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display. 

The evening will also includemusic and entertainment under the direction of Deron Bell, inflatables, games for children, a teen zone, food vendors, non-food vendors and much more.  The Trotwood YMCA will host a teen zone, specifically designed to entertain teenaged visitors.  This year’s event has added health screenings, sponsored through Grandview Hospital, which will be available from 2pm to 6pm.

The Point Pastor Rosario Picardo says it’s his hope that residents in the city of Trotwood come out and support their community. “I hope people take away a sense of belonging and a renewed vision for the city.  Even though Trotwood has seen hard times, God can still move in the midst. Instead of looking at the past, I hope people see a refreshed sense of vision for the future,” said Picardo. Picardo is also hopeful about the church’s partnership with both area business and the city itself.

Trotwood Public Safety Director and Deputy City Manager Quincy Pope explained, "We believe this partnership is consistent with the City’s strategic plan initiative to expand collaborations with faith-based communities, helping Trotwood thrive, grow and build strong community capacity." 

The Point — a Ginghamsburg Church worship community— will host a basketball skills challenge in the church parking lot. The community is also invited to take a tour of the church and enjoy free pizza. Both The Point and the city of Trotwood hope the Block Party will build community pride.

Pope explained, "We've coordinated with all public safety officials to close a portion of Main Street from north of Beardsley Drive to Stuckhardt Road to allow for Trotwood neighbors and community visitors to enjoy the block party. My hope is to bless Trotwood by providing a spirit of pride and community engagement."  Last year’s event, which was held on a Friday evening, drew more than 6,000 visitors.

Ample parking is provided close to the event grounds, as well as parking for those with physical challenges.

Trotwood VFW Post 4270 will start the event with a presentation of its color guard and will also include a flag retirement ceremony just prior to the fireworks display at 9pm, so those who need to properly dispose of their American flags can do so at the event through the VFW.

For more details, visit www.trotwood.org or contact 937.854.7270.

About Ginghamsburg Church 

Ginghamsburg Church is committed to changing the world, serving over 40,000 people annually in Miami and Montgomery Counties through its outreach services. Since 2005, the congregation has invested $6.9 million into sustainable humanitarian projects in Sudan and South Sudan. A member of the West Ohio Conference of United Methodist Churches, the church has an average annual weekly attendance of 4,600 with church campuses located at Fort McKinley - 3721 W. Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton, OH 45406 and The Point, 506 E. Main Street, Trotwood, OH 45406. Worship at The Point is on Saturdays at 5pm. It will launch a Sunday 10am worship time as well starting October 5. 

For more information about Ginghamsburg Church, visit www.ginghamsburg.org.