Person in futuristic spaceship cockpit with glowing control panels.
Smiling person with beard and glasses wearing headphones.

My name is Matt and I am a pastor at McMicken Heights Church in Seattle who has a not so secret hobby, video games. During Covid lockdowns, I set off for the digital mission field on Twitch to bridge the gap between gamers and the Gospel. Over the years that has morphed as life has changed. Going from custodian to pastor, whilst also being married with three children, puts a limit on video game time and has forced me to be very strategic. Just as the local church has had to shift from a “come and see” mentality to a “go and find” outlook of the Great Commission, I have pivoted to what I call Gospel Gaming.

First-person view of a video game landscape featuring a grassy field, scattered rocks, distant mountains, and a clear blue sky with clouds, with a gun visible in the foreground.

Gospel Gaming

Gospel Gaming is playing video games online with others with the intention to build relationships with those that don't yet know Jesus as their Lord and Savior and introduce them to Jesus. This doesn't mean loading into a game and giving everyone in the lobby a “hard sell” come to Jesus message! It is about building relationships, being authentic in a space that is very toxic, and loving the lost. This is more influential without live streaming! The opportunities to share my faith have been plentiful with other gamers online, and most of the time they are asking me to share! Many people are living their lives online and trying to avoid God, which is why His people need to be there.

Illustration of a cartoon character with glasses and two heads, one smiling and the other frowning, wearing a t-shirt and pants.
A person holding a gaming controller inside a cathedral with ornate architecture and stained glass windows.

Online to In-Person

While getting behind digital missions, I am a staunch advocate for being a part of a local church. Loving God and loving others is near impossible in isolation online. Words online are very cheap, and we want to build up the church to experience the Spirit of boldness and power that Christ brings us. Fostering this faith means helping members of the gaming community online find a local church. Some of them are Christians who have been wandering since Covid and yet to return to the local church. Some are new to the faith and are in need of finding a church close to home. If you are looking for help finding a local church click on the button below, “Find Church”. If you are interested in partnering with me in Gospel Gaming click on the button below, “Join Me”.