Virtual Evangelism in the Digital Age: A New Frontier for Missionaries

3 weeks ago 0

A group of ten figures gathers in a virtual Japanese-style penthouse. The dim lighting sets the scene as a stark white stormtrooper sits next to a large, orange cat. Bowing his head, the cat speaks in the voice of Curt Curtis, a Christian missionary from Texas in his 60s. His words are a prayer, addressing God.

“Father God, thank you for this opportunity to reach out to people who need you,”

Despite the virtual setting, the prayer is genuine.

“Guide us to those with needs in their hearts,” Curtis continues.

For the past three years, Cru missionaries have convened on VRChat, a social platform where users, represented by avatars, interact in virtual worlds. Some of these avatars look like anime characters, animals, robots, or humans. The platform allows users to chat, game, and connect. In the case of the missionaries, they spread the gospel.

Note: This article is produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS holds full responsibility for this story.

As virtual relationships deepen, Cru’s missionaries have adapted their evangelistic approaches to these new environments.

“Initially, we wondered about the space and who occupied it,” says Frank Kuligowski, Cru’s digital strategist. He led the initiative for missionaries to begin purchasing VR headsets. “How do we love them and listen?”

The missionaries consult virtual maps after prayer, selecting worlds thoughtfully. Twenty users per world is optimal, according to Kuligowski, offering activity without chaos. Once a world is chosen, the missionaries divide and engage small groups in less crowded areas. The approach starts simply.

“Cool avatar,” Kuligowski might say. “Did you make it?”

The conversation then turns gently toward religion with questions like, “Is faith part of your life?”

Nic, a 30-year-old social worker from The Netherlands, met the missionaries in a Japanese garden world during one of their outings. Nic appears as a small, floating cat in the virtual world. Preferring online anonymity, Nic chose not to share his last name.

“You guys are calm,” Nic observed. “Just listening.”

Nic later joined the missionaries in VRChurch. Raised as a Christian, his newfound practice of using oracle cards led a Cru missionary to share a Bible passage warning against divination. Though Nic eventually parted ways with the group, he valued the opportunity to discuss spirituality online.

“It’s nice discussing spiritual topics online,”

he shared. Such opportunities are rare in virtual reality.

In a memorable encounter, Kuligowski recalls a conversation in a bustling spaceship world with a woman from China who longed to attend church. The missionaries led her to a virtual service. This experience inspired another user, listening quietly, to follow and eventually connect with a real-life campus ministry.

Founded in 1951, Cru, previously known as Campus Crusade for Christ, traditionally focused on college students and youth. Recently, the organization ventured into video games and virtual reality.

Heidi Campbell, a professor at Texas A&M University specializing in digital religion, notes these efforts date back to the 1990s. The Billy Graham Foundation once trained Christians for online chat room engagement.

“Digital spaces are seen as new religious frontiers for evangelism,”

Campbell remarks.

Despite their success, not all welcome Cru’s VRChat presence. A subreddit thread questioned the “influx” of Christians. Some users express concern that missionaries might bring anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs to the inclusive community.

Campbell acknowledges such worries are common, suggesting missionaries integrate with existing online cultures rather than attempt to transform them.

Cru’s missionaries vary in their VRChat experience. Some, like Geoffery Powell with thousands of VRChat hours, contrast with those using the platform mainly for evangelism, like Curtis.

Powell, a multimedia artist, appreciates VRChat’s creative potential. However, over seven years, he’s also observed loneliness, addiction, and inappropriate content.

“I felt the community’s pain,”

Powell states. Early on, he guided Cru members through VRChat, becoming the group’s technical expert.

Another transformative story is that of Stewart Freeman, who met a VRChat pastor, Jason Poling, after a difficult breakup. Logging over 10,000 hours in VRChat, Freeman explored its darker aspects.