Recently an article was published in the Telegraph stating that board games are dying out. The author sited a survey that showed 73% of parents polled had vivid memories of playing board games with their families while only 44% of children surveyed said they play them now. From the instant the article was posted, gamers all over the world began sharing it and responding. If I were to sum up all of the comments and blogs that followed, it would simply be to ask what world the writer is living in?
In actuality, only last year the Guardian sited a 25-40% increase in games purchases annually over the past four years. That piece in the Guardian is only one of many articles appearing within the last few years proclaiming that gaming on the whole is “making a comeback.” Also, with convention season in full swing, many of this year’s events are boasting record attendance. So how did this article happen and why would I be writing about it in the context of ministry to gamers? The answer has everything to do with humility.
The language throughout the Telegraph piece shows that the article’s author has no regard for games or the people that play them. One of the more choice quotes that stuck out to my reading include, “a vast number of board games are badly designed, with too many pieces, rules, and faff.” This is said with no clarifying statements or examples. Vague over-simplification of an industry that ranges from a three card game called Win, Lose, or Banana to a sprawling epic like Twilight Imperium III perfectly establishes this author’s attitude for me. One survey, also coming from the Telegraph, was all he needed to write off a growing industry and community just because the limited experience he had with it that he found less than satisfying.
I have no idea whether the author of this piece intended to speak down to this community I’m proud to be a part of, or if it was just a poorly chosen collection of words designed to reflect his thoughts on a recent survey. This is partly why I will not join the throngs of people who insulted him. The other part is that we all do this at one point or another, and can even do so with good intentions.
If you read the articles here in the Abbey, you WANT to reach people that the Church has largely not taken notice of an even occasionally stood in opposition. I know there have been times in my ministry career that I have tried to connect with somebody unlike myself and basically looked foolish. It comes when you try to make a connection without actually giving regard to who you are trying to connect with. It comes from a place where strategy and excitement trump the simple humanity of two people drawing closer together in a tangible way. You cannot worry about making the connection as much as you are just making yourself aware of the person.
When dealing with a community you’re not familiar with, it is important to come in from a place of humility. Speaking condemnation, or even lame praise to try and “get in good” with the person, from the outside of their circles is likely to be ineffective and/or disregarded. However, this doesn’t mean you need a deep knowledge of all a group’s idiosyncrasies in order to make an impact. Here are some considerations that will help you impact gamers or any other community built around a common passion:
Real Interest
There is an innate uncomfortable feeling that accompanies a sales pitch. That feeling that you get as you wait for the ball to drop and the person’s real intentions are revealed. No matter how great the widget or revolutionary the program, nobody likes to be strung along. When you are trying to learn more, you cannot just be looking for an ‘in.’ Ask questions, try different games, and talk to people who know what the the games are about – and do it just to find out where that passion comes from.
Real Reactions
You won’t like everything. It is physically impossible to find every game to be a positive experience, let alone a favorite game. While it’s important to try a game before casting dispersion on it, there is nothing to be gained in smiling and suffering through a game you hate. In any context, there will be some aspects that draw you in and excite you, some that you are indifferent to, and some that will drive you crazy. Sharing these feelings while being appreciative of others is a big part of being effective.
Real People
The more I have traveled in the tabletop gaming world, the more I appreciate the variety of people that make it up. While there are trends and characteristics that can be traced throughout the crowd – there is no broad stroke statement that could cover everyone. You cannot hope to impact the people that you reach with your ministry when they remain “them.” You will need to connect faces and names to it. Otherwise your words will not find purchase and your actions will be meaningless. Whether you are a gamer, become a gamer in the process, or just want to serve this community without getting into the hobby yourself – these are real people with a passion for games. Never forget the human element. It’s not about the games. It’s about the people who love them. If you really want to demonstrate God’s love for them, you always have to keep them in the forefront of your mind.