Missionaries Are Now Spreading the Word in VR. Yes, Really.

For some, the metaverse is a place for virtual concerts and questionable fashion. For others? It's the new frontier for saving souls.

Christian missionaries are now bringing their message to virtual reality platforms like VRChat, turning digital worlds into unexpected mission territories. Because apparently, even avatars need spiritual guidance.

Avatar Evangelism

Cru, a global evangelical organization, has been holding weekly gatherings in VRChat for three years now. VRChat, for the uninitiated, is a social platform where millions of users interact through fully customizable avatars, exploring fantastical worlds, chatting, and, as it turns out, discussing eternal salvation.

Frank Kuligowski, Cru's digital strategist, spearheaded this virtual venture. Their strategy? Understand the digital landscape, then gently infiltrate. Missionaries scout virtual worlds with about 20 users — enough activity to be interesting, not so much as to be overwhelming. They then split up, find small groups, and initiate conversations, perhaps with a compliment on an avatar's dazzling digital hat. From there, it's a slow, casual pivot to faith: "Is faith part of your life at all?"

Kuligowski recounts one particularly successful encounter where he and a colleague connected with a woman from China seeking a church. They invited her to a virtual service, and another listening user joined in, leading to a real-world campus ministry connection. Cru, originally Campus Crusade for Christ, has always focused on college students, moving from video games to VR. This isn't entirely new, though. Heidi Campbell, a professor studying digital religion, points out the Billy Graham Foundation was training Christians for online chat rooms way back in the 90s. The more things change, the more the internet finds new ways to surprise us.

From Pixels to Preaching

Not everyone in VRChat is thrilled about the new digital evangelists. A lively debate on the VRChat subreddit revealed concerns about an "influx" of Christians, with some users worrying about anti-LGBTQ+ views infiltrating a platform known for its diverse gender identities. Campbell notes this concern about cultural shifts is common whenever missionaries enter a new online space.

Geoffery Powell, a 28-year-old multimedia artist and computer scientist, has spent thousands of hours in VRChat. He was drawn to its creative potential but also saw a community grappling with intense loneliness, alcoholism, and suicidal thoughts, alongside explicit virtual activity. Powell now helps Cru members navigate VRChat, feeling a clear calling to reach these digital denizens. "I knew that the people in VRChat were real people that God wanted me to reach," he said.

Then there's Stewart Freeman, whose life changed after meeting a pastor in VRChat. After a tough breakup, Freeman logged over 10,000 hours in the virtual world, exploring its darker corners. He met Jason Poling, a California pastor, who visited Freeman's VRChat "home world" weekly to read the Bible. Freeman, a nominal Christian, found true belief there. He eventually sold his business to join Cru's Jesus Film Project, now helping others find God in VR. His goal? To step into the "darkest of those places" to build relationships and point people to hope. Because even when you're a floating avatar in a neon-lit digital landscape, sometimes you still need a lifeline.