Ministering to Gamers

As I’ve discussed a few times in previous articles, the gaming table is a great way to build relationships, especially Kingdom-focused relationships. In the past, I’ve shared my experience as someone who was in need of the other people at the table, but as a result of what I’m doing with Disciple Gaming Ministry, I’ve recently had the opportunity to contribute to someone else’s life.

We’ll call this person Bob to protect his actual identity (especially because I don’t know anyone named Bob in real life). Bob has gone through a lot in the last year and a half, including a painful breakup, the loss of a close family member, and having to find an entirely new community after moving to a new city. Bob joined one of the games I run regularly, and all of us are blessed to have him around because he’s kind, excited to be there, and he’s passionate about God and ministering to other nerds.

I’m humbled to be one of the people Bob has reached out to for wisdom as he seeks God’s direction for the next steps of his life. I don’t have all the answers (if I really have ANY answers), but we’ve been able to have good conversations about what Scripture says about ministry, about his specific desires to minister to nerds, and his impression that he may need to move to a new city soon. I have the privilege of sharing these conversations with him because we’ve built a relationship at the gaming table. We’ve built trust, told fun fiction stories together, and shared life updates as a group. We genuinely care about what happens to each other, especially when it comes to how we can serve God.

This is one of the reasons I started Disciple Gaming Ministry. The gaming table does not, and I would argue should not, replace a church community, but it should be PART OF the church community, at least if we’re all followers of God (and if some are not, then that’s an opportunity for evangelism). Our gaming group doesn’t make up Bob’s church, but while he’s trying to get involved in a congregation and figure out where God is going to have him “land,” he has a group of people who are committed to God who can stand with him through this time of his life. He has people he can go to for help, advice, or even just as a sounding board so he can “think out loud” to figure out what God is trying to get him to do.

Bob isn’t the only person I’ve had the opportunity to minister to in this way, but he is the first person at one of my regular tables who is also seeking to do something similar to Disciple Gaming Ministry’s mission. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share in the events of Bob’s life, and I’m excited (and, again, humbled) that he’s chosen to include me. All because we get together from time to time to roll dice and tell stories. I pray God will continue to use gaming tables to help people like Bob navigate life!

Take a moment to think about the “Bob” in your life, whether you know one or many. How can you help them with their struggles? What joys have you shared because you get to spend time together enjoying a hobby? How have you been “Bob” in someone else’s life?

Also, if you’re like Bob and need prayer, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’d be honored to pray for whatever you need from God.