Master Chief the next apostle; Church uses video games to bring in kids

Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people (playing Halo). An article from the New York Times reveals that churches actually do have a soft spot for games. In fact, some churches are using video games as an actual tool to recruit more youths.

Taking a more modern approach at enticing kids to their community, church leaders have been renting out video games and inviting teenagers for “video game night” down at the church – and this is despite the fact that some churches hold some grudges against violent games (e.g. a very recent appeal to withdraw R:FoM from the BAFTA). The New York Times article runs:

Across the country, hundreds of ministers and pastors desperate to reach young congregants have drawn concern and criticism through their use of an unusual recruiting tool: the immersive and violent video game Halo[…] // Witness the basement on a recent Sunday at the Colorado Community Church […] where Tim Foster, 12, and Chris Graham, 14, […] locked in violent virtual combat […] Tim explained the game’s allure: “It’s just fun blowing people up.” // Once they come for the games, Gregg Barbour, the youth minister of the church said, they will stay for his Christian message. “We want to make it hard for teenagers to go to hell,” Mr. Barbour wrote in a letter to parents at the church.

Other supporters of this new method in recruitment believe that the important thing is for the church to connect to the youth. James Tonkowich of the Institute on Religion and Democracy points out that “If you want to connect with young teenage boys and drag them into church, free alcohol and pornographic movies would do it. My own take is you can do better than that.”

The story of Halo 3 is sometimes used even as a spring board for discussion about faith. As a 16 year-old Baptist in Lawrenceville recounts: “We play Halo, take a break and have something to eat, and have a lesson. [The pastor even tried to use analogies] between God and the devil.”

Sort of makes you think twice about the definition of “Covenant” doesn’t it? The simple fact that the game is called “Halo” might connote something rather holy as well. So what’s your take on this, though? Yes, there are a lot of controversial points raised by this issue, but please be mindful of your comments.

Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors and see all the people (playing Halo). An article from the New York Times reveals that churches actually do have a soft spot for games. In fact, some churches are using video games as an actual tool to recruit more youths.

Taking a more modern approach at enticing kids to their community, church leaders have been renting out video games and inviting teenagers for “video game night” down at the church – and this is despite the fact that some churches hold some grudges against violent games (e.g. a very recent appeal to withdraw R:FoM from the BAFTA). The New York Times article runs:

Across the country, hundreds of ministers and pastors desperate to reach young congregants have drawn concern and criticism through their use of an unusual recruiting tool: the immersive and violent video game Halo[…] // Witness the basement on a recent Sunday at the Colorado Community Church […] where Tim Foster, 12, and Chris Graham, 14, […] locked in violent virtual combat […] Tim explained the game’s allure: “It’s just fun blowing people up.” // Once they come for the games, Gregg Barbour, the youth minister of the church said, they will stay for his Christian message. “We want to make it hard for teenagers to go to hell,” Mr. Barbour wrote in a letter to parents at the church.

Other supporters of this new method in recruitment believe that the important thing is for the church to connect to the youth. James Tonkowich of the Institute on Religion and Democracy points out that “If you want to connect with young teenage boys and drag them into church, free alcohol and pornographic movies would do it. My own take is you can do better than that.”

The story of Halo 3 is sometimes used even as a spring board for discussion about faith. As a 16 year-old Baptist in Lawrenceville recounts: “We play Halo, take a break and have something to eat, and have a lesson. [The pastor even tried to use analogies] between God and the devil.”

Sort of makes you think twice about the definition of “Covenant” doesn’t it? The simple fact that the game is called “Halo” might connote something rather holy as well. So what’s your take on this, though? Yes, there are a lot of controversial points raised by this issue, but please be mindful of your comments.