A Night of Light: Community Celebrates Hope Instead of Horror
- Adam Siaka
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
While most of West Drayton embraced the spooky spectacle of Halloween, Bell Farm Christian Centre, by contrast, chose a different path, celebrating light, hope and renewal.
Dedicated to the heart of the Bell Farm Estate, Bell Farm Christian Centre has long stood as a beacon of stability in one of Hillingdon’s most deprived communities. When other agencies withdrew from the area in the 1990s amid rising crime and youth offending, Bell Farm Christian Centre remained, committed to serving, rebuilding and supporting local families.
Today, the centre continues to reach over 2,000 people each year through children’s projects, family support and addiction recovery programmes.
This year, two young volunteers, Rae Claassen and Natasha Sadhra Sira, decided to turn Halloween into a night of light. They hosted an event for over 200 children and their families, a fun alternative called “The Glow Party,” with the theme “Wear White and Bright to Shine in the Light.” Claassen said.
“Everything about Halloween seems to glorify darkness,” “We wanted to do the opposite: to fill this night with the light of Jesus and help children grow up knowing that light always prevails.”
The celebration was not just for children. Parents, recovering addicts and former offenders joined an evening of music, dancing, food and fellowship — a night where redemption took precedence over temptation. One participant, a former drug dealer, said:
“I’m grateful to be in the house of the Lord, eating, dancing and laughing with the children. At a time like this, I could have been on the streets, getting high or dealing drugs. Instead, I’m enjoying life without causing harm. It means everything to me.”
For Bell Farm Christian Centre, the Glow Party was more than just an event; it carried a message. Even amid hardship, light can emerge. Hope is returning to a community once defined by struggle — one glowing night at a time.
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