Like it or not, this global pandemic season has forced all of us to connect with people online digitally. And yet, thousands and millions of people were already connecting with each other virtually through gaming, online communities, social media, and virtual reality. For many digital natives, relationships and friendships are seamlessly online and offline.
Spirituality and faith have also started to form communities online as churches and ministries. This Christianity Today article, The Next Mission Field Is a Game: Esports opens new opportunities for evangelism, even during a pandemic, noted the huuuuge opportunities:
… gaming includes a wide span of casual players too. A third of the world’s population plays video games, including more adult women than teenage boys ..
… GodSquad Church, an online-only congregation for gamers that attracts about 100 people for worship each Saturday night ..
… John Merritt.. at one point, he reached 20,000 viewers with his evangelistic gaming stream ..
A List of Christian Communities for Gamers and Nerds
GodSquad Church godsquadchurch.com – “Gamers Winning Together – GodSquad Church exists to Connect Gamers to God by meeting them where they are.”
Checkpoint Church checkpointchurch.com – “Checkpoint Church is the church for all people – especially nerds, geeks, and gamers. We’re here for who God made you to be.”
Love Clan loveclan.net – “an online, Discord based community of gamers that doubles as the base for our online church.”
Love Thy Nerd lovethynerd.com – “Love Thy Nerd exists to be the love of Jesus to nerds and nerd culture.”
God Mode Activated godmodeactivated.com – “We aim to build a community that is authentic and engaging. God Mode Activated is more than a group of gamers. It’s a family. We care for each individual as we walk alongside one another and grow in faith and maturity together.”
GameChurch gamechurch.com – “GameChurch exists to bridge the gap between the Gospel and the gamer.” (FB Group)
The “SKARFAM” community with twitch.tv/pastorskar
Unashamed Network twitch.tv/team/unashamed – “Together, as digital influencers, we will support & encourage one another as we collectively strive to reach the global gaming community with Christ’s love.”
The Christian Crew ccgaming.com – “Christian Crew Gaming — a faith based gaming community founded in 2003.”
Christian Game Developers Conference cgdc.org
Virtual Reality (VR)
VR Church vrchurch.org – “VR Church exists entirely in the metaverse to celebrate God’s love for the world. Everyone is invited to VR Church. It doesn’t matter if you believe in God or not.”
Cornerstone Church of Yuba City has a Cornerstone Virtual Reality Campus
CHVRCH+ chvrchplus.com – “CHVRCH+ (Church Plus) is the world’s first Virtual Reality (VR) platform committed to building digital faith communities.”