Cactus Game Design Message Boards

i'd like to know also

Honestly I think that many people in the leadership of churches don't realize how neglected and marginalized gamers have been in relationship to the church. I mean if you think about the past and even now, gamers who play things like D&D and MTG are seen as less than because of the themes of the games they play. Ironically, these message boards forbid the discussion of them because of their demonic themes; even though Redemption certainly has demonic themes as well. All of that to say that Jesus loves gamers too and if the youth ministry is not willing to support and believe in that kind of assertion then maybe you should just do it on your own with those other people you know who love Jesus and sense the same need. (Remember: the chruch is not a building but a gatering of believers) For me it has been easier since I am technically part of the leadership team. I have been able to nurture our Redemption players and train them (ongoing process) to use the game to reach out and love other gamers. We currently have really awesome friendships with several guys at Schumer's whom I may never have had any relationship with had it not been for games we have in common, which happens to include Redemption now as well. If you want it to be a "ministry", that's fine. I have found though that if you just go and make friends and love people, that "ministry" will happen without you having to work it in. Our "Redemption Ministry," if you want to call it that, was initially supported by me, then by the church for a while under the guise of my normal youth ministry spending, and now it is completely supported by guys who are part of our Tuesday night group. God continues to bless us even though we were considered a little iffy...

For my "Redemption ministry" things all started when there were a large number of students play Yu-Gi-Oh on a regular basis.  The leadership at my school didn't feel like this was a very positive activity for them to be involved in, and I suggested that perhaps teaching an alternative game might be preferable to simply banning it.  Redemption quickly caught on, and Yu-Gi-Oh quickly disappeared, and we didn't have to create or enforce any new rules to accomplish it.  It was a win-win situation for everyone.

In time, the leadership also recognized a couple other benefits of having Redemption on campus.  It does seem that the students who play are more familiar with Biblical people and events.  It also seems to meet a need for certain students to connect that wouldn't otherwise.  Many of our students connect through sports (basketball or volleyball teams).  Other students connect through music groups (choir or worship team).  But often times there are students who don't readily identify with these things, and it seems like many times Redemption is something that they really get into.

with in the permitters set.

1. "connecting unreached students to Christ and one another."  Approach it as family game night like thus fulling the latter connecting to one another. the former is lumped in with 2 

2. "helping them grow in their relationship with Christ."  What we do at min-camp is Bill "every Tribe" will have a "card of the day" that he'll talk about and have a quiz about (the questions being about the story where its found the card SA and the like) thous getting the kids into there bibles.  He'll also take a song and talk about the themes in the song usually it will have some thing to do with the cards.

Quote from: Soundman2 on December 10, 2009, 08:53:18 PM

1. "connecting unreached students to Christ and one another."  Approach it as family game night like thus fulling the latter connecting to one another. the former is lumped in with 2 

well soundman i need to say, when ya plan times like "family game night", it's also family game night when you gather in one place with your brothers and sisters in christ to play card games,video games or board games, cause all of us who are in the family of God are family with each other regardless of whose bloodline we have.
just thought i'd bring up a point

I felt that if I just said family game night some smart donkey would say that is topic is about a play group not family game night

Any other thoughts on this?