Geoffery Powell, a 28-year-old multimedia artist and computer scientist, shares his interest in VRChat for its creative capabilities. He is part of a group of Christian missionaries from the evangelical organization Cru who gather in this virtual space every Friday. They use the platform to reach out and connect with people through avatars, sharing their faith.
Curt Curtis, a missionary in his 60s from Texas, leads prayers within these virtual gatherings. Despite the environment being a simulation, Curtis’s intentions and prayers are genuine. He asks for divine guidance to connect with those in spiritual need.
Cru’s missionaries employ traditional evangelistic practices adapted for VR. Frank Kuligowski, Cru’s digital strategist, guides missionaries in using VR headsets. The group explores virtual worlds, aiming to connect with users in small groups.
Cool avatar. Did you make it?
This casual approach opens doors to deeper religious conversations about faith, as highlighted in one success story Kuligowski shares. A conversation with a woman from China in a virtual world led to her joining a virtual church service, ultimately connecting her with real-life ministry.
Cru, founded as Campus Crusade for Christ in 1951, initially focused on college students but now extends its mission into video games and virtual reality. Heidi Campbell, a professor at Texas A&M University, notes this shift in evangelism as mirroring efforts from the 1990s when Christians were trained to engage people in online chat rooms.
Not all accept the presence of missionaries in VRChat. Discussions on reddit have raised concerns about potential clashes between the missionaries’ beliefs and the diverse culture of the platform. Campbell points out that any missionary work, including Cru’s, should adapt respectfully to the existing culture of online spaces.
Geoffery Powell, with his extensive VRChat experience, helps guide fellow Cru members. Despite encountering a community burdened with loneliness and explicit behavior, Powell remains committed to reaching out and supporting them. He sees the platform’s potential for meaningful connections through faith.
Stewart Freeman found solace in VRChat during a challenging period of personal upheaval. Spending extensive hours in the virtual world, he initially indulged in its darker elements. However, his interaction with Jason Poling, a pastor, helped shift his focus. Weekly visits from Poling turned Freeman’s VRChat home world into a place of spiritual growth.
Freeman, who had a Christian upbringing but not a profound faith, found new meaning through these encounters. He decided to join Cru’s ministry full-time, aiming to help others in virtual spaces discover faith and community.
Freeman expresses a desire to explore the darker corners of VRChat, building relationships with individuals in need of guidance, and pointing them towards spiritual answers.
This article is a collaborative effort between NPR and Religion News Service.