College students often have hobbies and favorite games that bring them together and occupy their time and interest. In recent years, tabletop trading card games have seen a resurgence in popularity.
In a post-pandemic world, tabletop games and trading card games (TCGs) have become popular to play at social gatherings, and the University of Oklahoma’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry (OU BCM) are using TCG gatherings as an outreach opportunity.
On Saturday, March 8, OU BCM hosted their Mana Master’s tournament at the OU BCM. This would have been the fourth time this event was held, with the first one being held last April. This began as a partnership of their in-house coffee shop ministry, Haystack Coffee, located right next to OU’s campus.
“We had a buddy who worked with Haystack Coffee who loved TCGs and said that the community needed Jesus,” said Wyatt Hebblethwaite, OU BCM freshmen ministry and organizer of Mana Masters.
Over 155 unique individuals have attended the event, making it one of the largest TCG tournaments in Oklahoma. Some even traveled from California to participate. Events like these provide opportunities for ministries to reach out and connect with people in the TCG community.
“We don’t know many Christians who play [trading card games],” said Reid Meadows, OU BCM associate director. “This is an opportunity to reach out to the lost who may never find their way into a church.”
During the tournament, the OU BCM provided a spiritual survey for those in attendance. This follow up survey, which was filled out by many of the players, paves a path for those who were interested in spiritual things to have a spiritual conversation. A local Baptist church partner, Norman, Bethel, has come alongside the BCM to connect with survey respondents.
The tabletop gaming community needs those who are willing to reach out to them and have Gospel conversations with them. A challenge is the possibility of unintentionally offending members of the community who are disinterested in spiritual things.
One work around for this challenge was the survey which was completely voluntary but offered those who entered a chance to win a special trading card. Additionally, OU BCM staff would talk with individuals between rounds and have Gospel conversations with them.
This strategy worked and led to many Gospel conversations, showing that members of the community are open to Gospel conversation, but they just haven’t been approached by believers.
“A lot of these people have not been approached by believers,” said Hebblethwaite. “They want to accept people for who they are because they just want to be accepted for who they are.”
OU BCM is in the process of creating a kick-start guide for other collegiate ministries wanting to start their own TCG tournaments, including ways those tournaments can be used to minister to the lost.
“You have to start with someone who knows the culture,” said Meadows. “Those in the trading card community can tell if you are faking it.”
Hebblethwaite advised that BCM’s interested in starting a similar event need to make sure the purpose of the event is to talk about Jesus with people. He also suggested that BCMs need to reach out and meet people “where they are” rather than wait for people to come to them.
“Know your affinity groups and where they are and meet them there,” said Hebblethwaite. “Join in what they are doing and use it as an opportunity to share Jesus.”
For more information about the OU BCM, visit oubcm.com.
