I believe Karen and I are standing at one of the most important opportunities in history
Because –
1. The Gospel
The difference between eternal Life and Death.
- Eternal Life (a relationship with our loving Creator, an eternity of thriving freedom from the curse, and fellowship with God’s family)
- Eternal Death (eternal separation from all goodness)
2. Students
The most open to the gospel, the most bold, and most availabile to invest their energy in the gospel mission.
3. Video Games
Reach almost everyone everywhere and especially those who are hard to reach.
- 3 billion players globally (even giving access into societies Christians cannot reach otherwise)
- 90% of US teens play, almost a universal language (that number is 97% of teenage boys)
- A haven for the shy, neurodiverse, and outcast, and can engage even difficult to reach people (through online community and rapport-building fun).
- 81% of US adults agree games provide vital mental stimulation and stress relief.
- Video games help neurodivergent youth develop emotion regulation skills, practice executive functioning, and reduce daily anxiety.
- 89% of Gen Z players believe video games can introduce them to new friends and relationships, viewing digital communities as entirely valid social lifelines.
- Safer interactions for those with social anxiety.
- A danger to gamers and the whole world if the Church doesn’t engage
- Despite all of this, the Church has a history of setting itself against gaming and nerd culture, causing those of that interest to either hide their passions in order to fit in with the Church or else hide from the Church with nursed bitterness.
4. Cru
Campus Crusade for Christ International is one of the largest missionary organizations in the world, and has a history of innovation especially in evangelism.
Its largest ministry focuses on reaching young people. While the Church may not come around to engaging gamers and nerds just because a few small startup ministries are seeing success, they ARE a lot more likely to notice and normalize if they see a major historical organization like Cru glorifying God as they minister to this interest group.
Karen and I have a unique position in Cru, having been given platform to convince executive leadership that this is a viable audience and strategy for the mission.
If we succeed, the whole Church may better engage young people and all people in the current and upcoming generations.
If we fail, Cru and the Church may drift further away from spaces the modern culture cares about, and that culture may drift further from honoring God (in what games are made, in morality, in hope).
Mission – Celebrate, Surrender, and Send
We are trying to find Christian student gamers, and take them on a journey where they:
1. Celebrate God’s Gift
Students will come to see God’s love for them displayed through the games and nerdy interests they love. This can ignite their hearts to feel good about how they are wired, integrate their interests and their faith, and run with God in their strengths and passions.
2. Surrender to God’s Lordship
Students will come to see how gaming and nerdy interests have been polluted by sin, and the dangers of engaging their passions apart from God versus the beauty of inviting God to be Lord over their gaming. Allowing God to saturate every inch of their lives, including their hobbies, will help them thrive with hope, purpose, and discipline. It will affect why, what, when, and how they play as well as who they play with.
3. Share God’s Heart
Students will come to see God’s love for the other people who love the same games and interests that they love. This will release them to begin intentionally engaging with non-Christians with whom they have a natural access and rapport, spreading the light and hope of Jesus as well as into this cycle strategy.
We need you!
We need to complete a team of supporters like you. We need your help to go FAR!
F – Finances:
We need donors. We are full-time missionaries, dependent (for our salary, medical expenses, and ministry needs) on the faithful generosity of ministry partners like you (whether you give monthly, annually, or occasionally). Until our team of regular givers is complete, we are not able to be fully active in this pivotal space.
Our most frequent partners give $100 per month, but some are able to do more while others less. Every gift is powerful, encouraging, and has eternal significance.
Would you pray about whether the Lord is calling you to join our team financially, and what amount He is challenging you to give?
A – Action:
We need prayer partners to ask for protection from the enemy, a close walk with the Lord, and His leadership not our own. We also need volunteers who love God and love gaming to help us find and equip these students (online and locally).
Would you join us as a prayer warrior, getting our monthly newsletters, and/or a volunteer?
R – Relationships:
We need to know more people. Perhaps you know someone who might be encouraged by this mission. They might become a volunteer or a donor. Or, you might know a student, faculty, game designer, or powerful influencer.
Would you introduce us to those God might use to accomplish this mission?
For more about us, check out GrantMinistry.org!
Show me more: Reach out to us directly (gaming@cru.org) or browse our resource site.
Grant Ministry 