In a virtual Japanese-style penthouse, ten avatars gather in low light. A spotlight falls on a white stormtrooper beside a large, orange cat. “Father God, just thank you for this opportunity to go and reach out to people who need you,” the cat speaks, voiced by Curt Curtis, a Christian missionary in his 60s from Texas. Although the room is virtual, the prayer is heartfelt.
For three years, Cru, an evangelical organization, has held meetings every Friday on VRChat. This social platform hosts millions of users with avatars resembling anime characters, animals, robots, and humans. Here, people chat, play, and, for Cru’s missionaries, spread their religious message.
Frank Kuligowski, the digital strategist for Cru, spearheaded the initiative to purchase VR headsets for missionaries. He mentioned, “At first we were like, what is it like here? Who comes here? Why are they here?” Cru wanted to connect and listen to users, offering kindness and understanding.
After praying, missionaries pull up their virtual maps and select a world to explore. Kuligowski describes this as an art. Ideally, they seek out worlds with about 20 users, avoiding overcrowded spaces. Once there, missionaries search for small groups in quieter corners, initiating casual conversations. Among their tactics: complimenting avatars and gradually steering discussions toward faith.
Nic, a 30-year-old social worker from The Netherlands, met Cru through these virtual interactions. He initially joined their outings to the VRChurch. Despite eventually leaving the group, he appreciated having a space online to discuss spirituality.
Kuligowski shared a success story from a busy spaceship-themed world. There, he and a colleague spoke with a woman from China who wished she could attend church. They invited her to a virtual church, and another user, listening in, joined them secretly. This encounter led the newcomer to a virtual church service and a campus ministry connection.
Cru, founded in 1951, initially focused on evangelism among college students. Recently, they expanded into video games and virtual reality. Texas A&M professor Heidi Campbell notes that digital evangelism began in the 1990s with the Billy Graham Foundation. She sees digital spaces as a new frontier for religious outreach.
Not everyone on VRChat embraces Cru’s presence. A discussion on the VRChat subreddit attracted nearly 200 comments, with criticisms regarding potential anti-LGBTQ+ views and concerns that missionaries might disrupt the platform’s diverse culture.
The missionaries vary in their use of the platform. Geoffery Powell, a multimedia artist and computer scientist, has logged thousands of hours on VRChat across seven years. He sees VRChat as a place filled with loneliness and personal struggles, where he’s called to offer support.
Stewart Freeman’s life changed after meeting Jason Poling, a California pastor, in VRChat. Poling regularly visited Freeman to read the Bible with him, which Freeman claims transformed his faith. Before this, Freeman felt lost, engaging in multiple virtual relationships and other distractions.
Freeman now dedicates his efforts to helping others in these virtual realms. He joined Cru’s Jesus Film Project after moving to Orlando, seeking to provide hope to those feeling disconnected or struggling in virtual spaces.
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