Christian Missionaries Embrace Virtual Reality to Spread Evangelism
In a virtual penthouse designed in a Japanese style, ten avatars gather. The atmosphere is dim. A stormtrooper avatar sits next to a large, orange cat avatar. The cat, speaking in the voice of Curt Curtis, a Christian missionary from Texas, leads a prayer. The environment may be digital, but their mission is very real.
“Father God, thank you for this opportunity to reach out to people who need you,” Curt says as he prays for guidance to find individuals seeking spiritual connections.
For over three years, missionaries from Cru, an evangelical organization, meet every Friday in VRChat. This platform allows users worldwide to interact through avatars, ranging from anime to animals or robots. Within these virtual realms, missionaries aim to share the gospel.
As the digital world becomes integral to social lives, Cru has adapted its evangelistic methods. “Initially, we wanted to understand who visits here and why,” explained Frank Kuligowski, Cru’s digital strategist. He initiated the idea of using VR headsets for their missionary work. The missionaries begin with prayer, plan their virtual routes, and select a world to visit. Smaller groups attract them, as these provide intimate settings without much chaos.
Once inside, they engage users by complimenting avatars or starting general conversations. Religion enters these dialogues gradually. Some questions they use include: “Does faith play a role in your life?” or “I was reading in my Bible today.”
One encounter involved Nic, a social worker from The Netherlands, who uses a small cat avatar. Initially attracted by the freedom VRChat offers, Nic joined the missionaries in their endeavors after an enlightening conversation. Though he eventually parted ways, he valued the rare opportunity to discuss spirituality deeply.
Kuligowski recounts various successes, such as meeting a woman from China who wished for church attendance. They invited her to a VRChurch with another user who joined quietly and subsequently connected with a real-life ministry.
Cru, initially founded in 1951 for campus and youth evangelism, now explores newer domains, including video games and virtual reality. Heidi Campbell, an expert in digital religion at Texas A&M University, mentioned that such efforts parallel older initiatives like those of the Billy Graham Foundation in online chatrooms during the 1990s.
“These digital spaces represent a new frontier for evangelism,” Campbell notes.
Yet, not everyone welcomes missionaries on VRChat with open arms. On Reddit, users discussed the influx of Christian missionaries. Concerns focus on potential cultural shifts or the introduction of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments in VRChat, a platform heralded for its diversity and acceptance.
Stewart Freeman shares how a pastor’s guidance on VRChat changed his life. After a breakup, he spent excessive time online, exploring VRChat’s darker aspects until Pastor Jason Poling intervened by visiting his virtual home and sharing scripture. Freeman, who identified with Christianity nominally, rediscovered his faith online.
Freeman has since embraced a new calling. He joined Cru’s Jesus Film Project, aiming to assist others in finding spiritual pathways in virtual worlds. His focus lies in forming genuine connections within digital spaces, offering hope and spiritual guidance.