Virtual Missions: Spreading Faith in VRChat

Ten avatars gather in a circle inside a penthouse designed in a Japanese style. The lighting is dim. Among them is a stormtrooper standing next to an orange cat. This cat, voiced by Curt Curtis, a missionary from Texas, begins to lead a prayer. Curtis, now in his 60s, addresses God. The setting may be virtual, but the prayer is sincere.

For the past three years, evangelical missionaries from Cru have been holding sessions every Friday in VRChat. This popular platform allows users worldwide to interact through avatars like anime characters, animals, and robots. Here, people chat, play games, and, in the case of Cru’s missionaries, share their faith.

Religion News Service and The Associated Press have partnered for this story, with content developed by Religion News Service.

Adapting to Virtual Spaces

As people increasingly form connections and spend time in virtual spaces, missionaries at Cru adapt their evangelistic practices to meet them. Frank Kuligowski, a digital strategist, spearheaded this initiative of using VR headsets. “Who comes to these places? What are their needs?” he pondered initially. Now, missionaries select a world using virtual maps, aiming for groups of about 20 users—enough activity without chaos.

These missionaries divide into small groups to start conversations in quieter corners. Kuligowski might compliment someone’s avatar, then gently introduce religion into the discussion. This method opens doors to deeper conversations about faith.

Real Connections in Virtual Worlds

Nic, a social worker from the Netherlands, encountered the missionaries in VRChat. He remains anonymous online, appearing as a small floating cat in virtual worlds. Initially intrigued by their calm listening approach, Nic later accompanied them to VRChurch. Although he eventually stopped meeting with them, Nic valued the spiritual dialogues they offered.

In another instance, Kuligowski recalls guiding a woman from China to a virtual church. Their unexpected companion in this journey, a silent listener, followed them, eventually connecting to real-life campus ministries.

The Evolution of Digital Evangelism

Cru, founded in 1951 as Campus Crusade for Christ, traditionally focused on colleges and youth evangelism. Recently, it ventures into video games and virtual realities. Heidi Campbell, a professor at Texas A&M, relates these efforts to earlier online evangelism initiatives by groups like the Billy Graham Foundation.

However, not everyone on VRChat welcomes Cru’s presence. Some users on Reddit express concerns that missionaries could introduce anti-LGBTQ+ views into the diverse and inclusive platform culture.

Challenges and Future of Virtual Ministry

Kuligowski, Curtis, and other missionaries continue navigating this complex digital landscape. Geoffery Powell, with extensive experience in VRChat, recognizes the community’s struggles with loneliness and other issues. He sees a genuine need for hope and spiritual guidance within these virtual communities.

Stewart Freeman shares how his life transformed after a pastor began visiting him in VRChat. Stuck in virtual reality’s darker side, he found renewed faith through conversations and guidance. This inspired him to dedicate his life to virtual ministry, helping others find connections and faith in the digital world.