New Around the Mission
Kids Build Relationships and Bible Knowledge at Redemption Card Tournament
August 12, 2011
Collectible card games like Magic the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons are all the rage among middle schoolers, but parents like Art Middlekauf at Light of Christ Anglican in Kenosha, Wisconsin, worried about the games’ occult overtones influencing their kids. So Art brought out a Christian alternative called Redemption that quickly captivated his 11-year-old and all his friends at church.
“The kids used to show up at church with their Star Wars books or Halo books or other science fiction stuff,” Art says. “They would have conversations about what Star Wars character they are like. But now, their conversation is about angels and heroes of the Bible. One of the mothers told me that Redemption has caused her son to be more interested in reading Bible stories.”
In 1995, designer Rob Anderson of Cactus Game Design devised the game based on the Bible and incorporating all the playability, depth and strategy of secular games on the market. Players build their own decks from thousands of available cards that Redemption releases into the game system over time, in efforts to rescue “lost souls” and turn them into “redeemed souls.”
“Every card has a verse, and illustrates biblical heroes, character qualities and good and evil found in the Bible,” Art explains.
He was driving kids from Light of Christ to a church 90 minutes away that plays Redemption once a month when he thought, “Why not hold a Redemption tournament as an outreach to the families in our community?”
A nearby Christian bookstore offered a room in their building for a summer tournament. Art advertised online, in flyers and on community calendars, hoping unchurched families would come and have a chance to hear the gospel.
On June 4, seven kids ages 8-12 turned out to laugh, mingle and compete for a prize of rare cards. Though all participants were from the church, Art plans to use the experience as a stepping-stone for future outreaches.
“It revealed to me that it takes work, consistency, and planning for us to see this turn into a real opportunity for growth and outreach,” he says.
Most importantly, kids at Light of Christ are having fun and sharing the game with their friends.
“Some families and kids have gotten to know each other,” Art says. “We’ve built relationships with people with different backgrounds and had fun in an environment where I don’t have to be worried about the game leading in a dark direction or toward unhealthy spiritual things.”
Learn more at Cactus Game Design.
Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Youth
