Cactus Game Design Message Boards
Redemption® Collectible Trading Card Game HQ => Redemption® Resources and Thinktank => Topic started by: wyatt_marcum on August 31, 2015, 02:30:11 PM
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I want to start a new playgroup in my town, but I want to do it at a church I havent gone to much before. I'm not sure how to approach the church to ask them about it, or how to explain the game. can someone give a general outline of what to say, or a video I could show them or something to try to convince them to let me do it?
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i am really trying to do the same at our church here there is a huge congregation and a ton of kids more than enough to have a giant playgroup
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I would just begin introducing the game to people you have relationships with. Assuming they have been there longer than you, if their interest is sparked then they will know the correct channels to go through in your particular context. I find that building personal connections is way more powerful than simply starting a gaming ministry through official channels. Ultimately though, you will know about where you are than I ever will. Pray for God to provide open doors and stay attentive to the Spirit's leading in those directions.
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I mentioned this in my Land of Redemption article about starting a playgroup, but my recommendation for churches is to start by having a general "Game Night." This will introduce you to the "gamers" in your church, who are more likely to be interested in Redemption. You can bring starter decks and play during the Game Night, which should draw some attention. This should give you a foot in the door to expand Redemption at future Game Nights, and eventually to introduce tournaments.
As I noted in the article, churches usually resist because of objectionable imagery and the presence of demons. I would recommend that you avoid these things in your starter decks (i.e. do not use the I & J decks) by creating custom decks that emphasize historical themes like the Egyptians and Babylonians, and then include orthodox Biblical heroes like the Prophets and Priests. I would even say to avoid angels at first, IMO.
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I would just begin introducing the game to people you have relationships with...I find that building personal connections is way more powerful than simply starting a gaming ministry through official channels.
This
creating custom decks that emphasize historical themes like the Egyptians and Babylonians, and then include orthodox Biblical heroes like the Prophets and Priests.
And this.
Both are great ideas. When you are starting to go to a church, first find how you can serve the people there, before you worry about finding how you can get them to build YOUR playgroup.
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Relationships is the key. I taught Sunday school at our church and I played racquetball with one of the custodians. So when I ask about them sponsoring redemption events, I had already built some relationships. It still was slow getting the church to consider it. I'm just finishing up an article for the Land of Redemption with alot of the detail. God has been pretty amazing how he prepared the perfect storm for getting our play group going at North heights. I promised Gabe I would send it to him by Labor day so you will be able to read it soon.
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Relationships is the key. I taught Sunday school at our church and I played racquetball with one of the custodians. So when I ask about them sponsoring redemption events, I had already built some relationships.
And to put into context for Wyatt, I was on staff at Oakdale for a year before I started doing anything with Redemption there.
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To be fair, you thought redemption was lame until a student showed you some cards. Its not like you were playing before you came. :P
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To be fair, you thought redemption was lame until a student showed you some cards. Its not like you were playing before you came. :P
This is true. My Redemption experience prior to that point was playing with Starter A vs. Starter B decks and a few blue packs worth of cards. And that was certainly lame. However I think that it was all part of God's plan that I wasn't introduced to how far the game had progressed until the end of my first year there at Oakdale. That way I was less swamped with work (first year of teaching is always tough), and I had built up relationships with people so that they trusted me with teaching the students some weird card game that they'd never heard of :)
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I would also encourage you to get to know the youth pastor and children's pastor if your church has them (again building relationships). If you get the support from them, you will be set to start doing events at the church, given permission of course.
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Here's a link to the article I wrote for the Land of Redemption.
http://landofredemption.com/?p=2559 (http://landofredemption.com/?p=2559)