Cactus Game Design Message Boards

Long Island owes its great beginnings to the following people who have in any way inspired NY to keep the game going.  In chronological order (I will update later with anything I have forgotten to include):

1.   Rob A.  – inventor of Redemption® CCG;  handed me a starter deck at a trade show to give to someone I know.  He is the reason why Redemption was given by God to this world!
2.   Steve B. – he and his son were with Rob at CMN in 2004 at Somerset’s nostalgic DoubleTree Hotel playing what I would later discover as a game called Redemption.
3.   Reggie F. – my sister’s son, my nephew and godson; first Redemption CCG player on Long Island NY.
4.   Steve K.(NJ) – he was host to our first tournament that we attended in NJ.
5.   Mike I. (NJ) – Steve’s good friend and my good friend who has been attending Nats on a yearly basis.  Truly and inspiration.
6.   Chuck B. (and his wife and kids - NJ) – hosted Steve K.’s tournaments at his church in Williamston NJ.
7.   Justin S. (NJ) – Nats champ who was essential to strengthening NY’s competitiveness.  A great inspiration.
8.   Ross L. (PA) and Jonathan T. (PA) – together with Justin, helped NY to become a force to reckon with in Redemption.
9.   Claude and Christian Fong – two brothers; two nephews, two gentlemen that will forever be held dearly in my heart.
10.   Andrew, Allan, and Brandon C. (NJ) – my nephews who made a great impact on NY as they kindled the flame of the game at one point in time.
11.   Sergie (NY) my brother-in-law and my sister Owen who, with open minds and hearts supported Reggie’s Redemption endeavors by driving 5 hours away for our first tourney, and even hosting a couple of events.
12.    All my other nephews and nieces who played Redemption competitively:  Kaiko, Rachelle, Cos, Margo, Cal, CC, etc.
13.    John M. (MA) – my soul brother who, together with Sam N. (CT) cemented NY’s foundation as a steadfast Redemption playgroup.  John co-hosted Nats06 in NY.  That’s a classic - MA? NY? Together?  Hah!
14.    Major John L. and his sons and kids at Salvation Army (CT) -  together with the MA group, came to play at NY’s first State tournament in 2005.
15.    Ginger D, her mom Nana Betsy, and Ginger’s kids and family (MD) – they traveled all the way to NY in 2006 just to learn the game.  At one time, they hosted more than 15 players in their area just for a local tournament.  NY owes you a lot, Ms. Ginger!
16.    Sean W. (MD) – a son, brother, friend, and inspiration.  I will never forget this young man’s Redemption fervor.
17.    Kitty Jones, Marc V. (NY) -  Cortland NY’s pride.  Kitty, Christian bookstore owner single-handedly organized Cortland’s first Redemption playgroup headed my a great young man, Marc, who at a tender age of 15 hosted his first State tournament in 2008.  Add to that the Hulle family, who have since tirelessly played and taught the game.  Steve, the dad, now also plays and teaches Redemption.
18.    Al Bauer and Jon Greeson (Upstate NY) - without these gentlemen, the NY Redemption map will be incomplete.  Al has been loyal to the annual Nats except in 2006 when he needed to make his heart bionic!
18.    Mr. Tim H. (FL) – Math teacher, brother, friend.  This former CT teacher at CHS inspired his students by organizing a Redemption club in his school.  Tim attended his first formal game on Long Island, thus, making him an NY adopted Redemption son.
19.    Rebecca H., Joshua, and Miriam (FL) – Tim’s wife, son and daughter; flames who continuously burn inspire me to keep the fire kindled for Redemption.
20.    Marti W. and the Shipwreckers – ever loyal, ever loving.  Two of them claim NY Nats blessed their future marriage by letting them meet for the first time.


(continued on next page)

From Jon G.:
http://www.cactusgamedesign.com/message_boards/index.php?topic=14763.msg230618#msg230618

--- Excerpt:
"... Aside from my competitive gaming attitude, Redemption has been a wonderful journey.  I encountered it twice in my life.  The first time in 1999 at a Youth Specialties convention.  I got a couple of packs thinking that it was "neat," but I didn't have the money to invest in any further (being a newlywed youth pastor).  Fast forward to the summer of 2004, I see an eye catching banner with an angel at a concert weekend at Kings Island.  I ask about the game and buy a deck right away.  It's another year before I figure out that there are tournaments and a website.  Probably another year, before I figure out that there is a message board.  I used it as a teaching tool in the beginning at youth group: encouraging youth to learn the books of the Bible to become better at the game, and to read the background stories of their favorite characters.  Personally, it was a game that I could feel good about investing in.  It renewed old friendships, and it helped create new friendships.  In some ways, it helped the Bible come alive because at times I think of cards while reading a passage of Scripture.  Though, I don't get to attend many tournaments because of my remote location....I still have fond memories of the tourneys that I have been too.  It still kind of exciting to be teaching a lesson, and have a youth (who plays) raise their hand to say they recognize the character or story because of redemption.

I hope Redemption continues to have success because I look forward to the day where I can share the joy of this game with my own sons and compete with them.  Until then, I will continue to play and post on this board."

The Queens NY Boardgamers and Cardgamers Meetup Group was awesome!  The organizer is a great guy with a big heart for clean and exciting fun!  He holds the gamer meetup at his local Panera Bread,

See photos that include Redemption --- God is awesome!!!
http://www.meetup.com/queens-boardgames/photos/

Godbless all!

A couple of East Meadow High School freshmen who have a group at the local public library playing YGO, have started playing Redemption.  This pioneering kids at the library shows how God works in mysterious ways.  He asks us to simply sow the seeds of the game.  He decides where and when to do it.  When he does, we .... must ....sow!

Godbless ALL!

NY State is honored to be joined in by two great teens from the Oneonta area.  Randall and Kendall, we the NY group is proud to see your humble beginnings in your district.  It was great honor to meet you at Nats.  All my prayers for Redemption's flourishing in Oneonta!

Randall, I'm sure that God has 'finally' turned His caring glance towards this huge state for Redemption®, young brother.  Please send my blessings and prayers to both of you as you practice your Jedi skills to teach the game.  Blessings to the Jedis of all four NY corners and center of this beloved state, for keeping the Redemption fire burning!

Back here on Long Island, the game continues to grow at a local Christian store named ReBirth.  After its young owner had fallen in love with the game and has since become an avid player, fruits have been harvested.  Yesterday, a 10 year old kid whose parents take him to the store each Thursday to practice the game with us at 6:30pm, taught the game to all of his classmates and teacher at the kind request of his teacher.  He then visits the store in the evening to 'warn' its owner that a flock of young Jedis and an older Jedi school teacher will be purchasing starter decks very soon.

Five other avid players are fruits of ReBirth:  a Reverend minister, a gentleman from Texas who now is a Long Islander, two middle aged sisters, and a 7 year old 'man'.

Reverend Clinton B. was actually commissioned by his Bishop from a Long Island Christian church to learn the game so that he can teach the congregation.  As of today, the Bishop is, himself, playing the game.

As icing to the cake, a 7 year old with a 12 year old mind just like Kurt H (CA, and son of Bryon), just started playing the game.  His dad was watching him do it at first but then had since decided to start playing the game, too.  Correction then --- that makes it 6 main other ReBirth-born players, making their magnificent 7, not to mention the store's owner.

I see at least half a dozen power movers of Redemption just from ReBirth alone.  This is proof that The Creator indeed has chosen the store as breeding ground for His game.  ReBirth is a store 'reborn' from an old store that closed down a couple of years ago.  What an appropriate name God has chosen for a store to carry and teach His great game!  Why? Initially, the store was apparently reluctant to carry the game at their store. It took two mature ladies, sisters, from Valley Stream, to get the spark going at the store.  They had seen the game from somewhere, went to ReBirth thinking it would be readily available there.  A starter deck deck was ordered for them by ReBirth, and not even from my distributorship.  Then Jordan, ReBirth co-owner, had left his contact details on his name card with the sisters.  The sisters then proceeded to Walsh Conley, the store I work at (that also distributes the game), and hand over Jordan's name card, telling me to get in touch with him.  Cathy and Maureen are the core reason why Redemption® was born at ReBirth.  Their enthusiasm and initiative have reaped fruits for the game not only at ReBirth but even at a recent major family festival at Garden City in September where lots of people learned the game, mostly from the Christian (Catholic) church and school that hosted the festival entitled 'Spirit Day'.

And I thank the New England group that shared its expertise and inspired the new players during its visit at our back-to-back tourneys last month at ReBirth.  Thank you to your ever loyal group, John!  We are practicing to beat Boston at our first bi-State tourney --- lol!

Two of our heroic new players both have sensitive medical concerns I'm sure our prayers can lift to God with.

Randall, I had prayed and had waited for a New Yorker to share the latest testimonial before I unleashed mine.  Today as I awake from my slumber at 6am, see the fruits of my prayer in your awesome news about Ninja Duck taking over your chore to teach the game in your area, and you at your college and nearby areas.

You, young man, have inspired me to finally share my latest testimonial.  Thank you for being really some kind of 'kitten', SomeKittens!


GOD

IS

GOOD!!!!!!!

God bless us all!

***
p.s. -- Pray for another one of our young and seasoned Redemption Jedis who, in his hiatus from the game, has begun playing some other card games with his friends from college.  This, for me is another 'spark'.  I am almost certain that he will soon become a 'fire' for Redemption in his area.  I am awaiting his reply before I ship a few starter decks to his college.

My playgroup is growing, with nine Jedi in our ranks.  I'm jumping through the hoops for Redemption to be an official Roberts Wesleyan club.

HALLELUJAH!!!

A school in Valley Stream NY has begun playing Redemption® as a school club!
http://www.cactusgamedesign.com/message_boards/redemption-tournaments/schools-playing-redemption-officially/msg133641/#msg133641

A special thank you to Rockyaacdtm for being the inspiration for making all this happen.  God bless you, Dario!