CANDY KINGDOM DONATIONS
Would you like to help underwrite this event? Your donations go toward providing candy for the hundreds of kids who come through our campus on Halloween. Every piece of candy has a Bible verse to point them to Jesus, because God's Word does not return empty!
2024 RECAP VIDEO
FAQS (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS):
1. WHY are we doing this? We are doing this because we want people to know and love JESUS. Nothing is sweeter than Jesus. We have an incredible opportunity on Halloween to share His love with our friends, families, neighbors, and community! God’s Word is powerful and each of the over 100,000 pieces of candy we will pass out that night have God’s Word on them. YOU are important too. People will see, hear, and experience God’s love THROUGH YOU! He is worth it! Nothing is sweeter than Jesus! Thank you for helping us “make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16
2. WHEN should I arrive? Arrive by 5:00PM. This will give you time to park, get dinner, and get to your station. People will also line up early, so we need to be ready. Pizza will be served at the volunteer tent starting at 5:00PM. If you work late, see the FAQs below for a solution!
3. WHAT am I supposed to do?
Passing out candy - If you're passing out candy, its ONE PIECE PER KID. I know this may not seem like a lot for some of the smaller candy, but if they go through all the stations, they're getting over 80 pieces of candy. We also need this candy to last us all night. ONE PIECE of candy per kid.
Registration Team - Please arrive early! Guests come early! Dress FUN, smile, & represent the Lord well! (see registration below)
4. WHAT should I wear? We’d love for you to dress themed for your station. If not, please remember our goal is to show them “Nothing is sweeter than Jesus”, so we want to dress FUN and avoid anything scary for our younger guests. “God is LIGHT and in Him is NO DARKNESS at all.” (1 John 1:5). Candy Kingdom shirts are for sale in the Valley Bible Bookstore.
Wristband. All volunteers need a wristband to enter either building. Wristbands will be available at the counter on Sunday, October 26, at the office during the week, or (if you forget) wristbands can also be picked up the night of the event at the volunteer area by the nursery play yard, but it will take longer. You should also bring water to have at your station with you.
5. WHERE do I go when I arrive? We would encourage all volunteers to park in the lower lot. Feel free to park anywhere on campus BUT PLEASE try to leave the best spots for our guests. Overflow parking is also available at the Hercules Transit Center and a shuttle will be provided. After you arrive on campus, if you have your wristband and know where to go, go straight to your station. Make sure you have everything you need, get settled and prepared to receive guests! If you do not have a wristband or you'd like pizza for dinner, head to the volunteer area by the nursery yard.
The event will be in both buildings. For the indoor trick-or-treating, our friends and neighbors will experience several fun-filled, bright and colorful "treat trails" with sweet-themed lands and candy around every corner!
Treat Trails include:
1 - Candy Kingdom Treat Trail (Family Life Center – Auditorium)
2 - Adventure Treat Trail (Family Life Center – Upstairs - entry by girls bathroom)
3 - Under the Sea Treat Trail (Worship Center Downstairs. Enter from the Main lobby)
4 - Candy Kingdom National Parks WEST- (Worship Center Auditorium RIGHT side - entry at lobby main doors)
5 - Mountain Treat Trail (Worship Center upstairs, entry by coffee cart)
6 - Candy Kingdom National Parks EAST (Worship Center upstairs, use the stairwell down the LEFT side of the Worship Center by nursery/elevator. Please note: Elevator will not be in use the night of the event)
7 - Candy Kingdom Around the World (Worship Center – Auditorium - Entry through far doors by the elevator)
If you haven’t chosen a specific station, visit the counter on Sunday to see the list or email us at [email protected].
We’ve sent nearly 1,000 postcards to VBC Family Members and guests who have come to Candy Kingdom before, with a ticket QR code so they can sign up ahead of time and make it as simple as possible! If they have tickets, they’ll show their barcode and get a WRISTBAND that will give them access to the treat trails in either buildings. If they do NOT have tickets, no problem! We have a simple card or QR code with just 3 questions so that we can follow up with them afterwards and invite them to church and other fun events like Christmas in Hercules! IMPORTANT: Everyone who comes to the event must register and get a wristband. No one will be allowed in the buildings without a wristband, including volunteers. Volunteers can get their different colored wristband at the Volunteer Area by the Nursery Yard.
Plan what you're going to wear (Costumes for your station theme preferred) and get a wristband. Pray for that evening and INVITE PEOPLE so they can see that Nothing is Sweeter Than Jesus!
We take kids' safety seriously. All candy has been purchased long in advance from stores by our staff. No candy was donated or purchased by or from unknown entities. Our team that is preparing the candy for each station (opening bags, counting, and versing candy) has gone through a volunteer certification process and are treasured and trusted. Every single piece has been inspected and versed.
We believe that candy is sweet, but nothing is sweeter than Jesus. We want everything we do to point to Him. Jesus died for us (that includes our guests who may not know that yet!)...that's a huge deal, and it can change their lives! We hope they enjoy the candy, but we hope that they get to know the God of the universe even more. With the amount of candy we've prepared, God's Word will be read over 100,000 times by over 3,000 people. And His Word does not return void! (Isaiah 55:11) Is it worth it? Yes! Starbursts? Yeah, they're great, but what about getting to know the One who made the stars! Dum Dums? Fun! But how about exploring that God made them with intention and they are NOT "dum". See what we mean? It's sweet to enjoy candy, but nothing is sweeter than Jesus!
We're on, rain or shine. Indoor trick-or-treating works great for rain, and our attendance jumps up exponentially when it rains!
No worries. Park in one of the guest lots and try to leave the best spots for guests. When you come, head to the volunteer tent to get your wristband and get to your station as soon as possible. We want everyone in place by 5:45 as doors open promptly at 6:00 and guests will be waiting! Please do your best to be on time. Please let your Trail Leader know if you're going to be late so they can have someone sit in for you.
Yes! If you'd like to help DURING the event, partner with someone at a station and switch off with them to give them a break. You'll park alongside the guests on campus or at our overflow parking off-campus (shuttle provided) and you can get a wristband at the volunteer tent before heading in to meet them.
You have to use the restroom. Each trail has a Trail Leader. They will be able to sub for you or find a temporary replacement.
The fire alarm goes off. We must evacuate the building and stay clear from all driveways as the fire department is coming. Take your belongings with you and calmly exit the buildings at the nearest exit helping others along the way. We will let you know once it is safe to re-enter the buildings.
There is a dangerous situation - Pray. God is in control. Security will be all over the campus. If there is an active shooter, our team has trained for this. Lock yourself in the room and arm yourself if the intruder should enter the room. If you hear the shooter is far enough that you can exit safely, exit and run to the Hercules Transit Center or to Burger King.
Yes! please! All the candy has been purchased, but as the price for candy goes up, it costs more to get the candy with verses out into the community. If you'd like to donate, go online to www.valleybible.org/candy and scroll to the bottom, or you can also give cash or checks at the counter on Sunday, in the offering and mark "Candy Kingdom" or drop it by the office. Thank you so much for your support and helping our community learn that Nothing is Sweeter Than Jesus!
- PRAY. Please be praying. God is powerful and worth every moment we spend preparing. The enemy does not like that we’re inviting people from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light. “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves. Colossians 1:13
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” Isaiah 9:2. We want them to know and love Jesus. Pray for God’s protection and guidance as endeavor to show them Christ in the sweetest way possible! - Invite at least ONE person, and be praying for them from now until then.
- Prepare your heart. The enemy does not like what we’re doing. PRAY PRAY PRAY and come prepared to share God’s light and love in our community. Nothing is sweeter than Jesus.