The hub of the spaceship was too crowded and chaotic for communication, so Frank Kuligowski motioned his pal to the peace of a nearby corridor. In the distance, the two ― both staffers of nondenominational Christian organization Cru ― spied a female avatar standing alone in the virtual hallway and decided to strike up a chat.
An avatar created by Geoffery Powell of Eureka, Ill., to connect with others as part of virtual-reality ministry outreach he and others conduct on the VR platform VRChat. Powell, 28, connected in summer 2022 with members of Cru, a nondenominational organization formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ, who saw the virtual reality landscape as ripe for missionary outreach. Four years later, they now visit VRChat almost weekly.
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At left, Frank Kuligowski, digital strategist for Orlando-based Christian organization Cru, speaks through his avatar to a young man whose avatar resembles the film monster Godzilla, about spiritual matters in an image captured from the virtual reality platform VRChat in January. Cru, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ, is among a growing number of Christian groups embracing virtual reality platforms, seeing them as fertile territory for evangelism.
Geoffery Powell of Eureka, Ill., wears his virtual-reality headset as he visits a VR world. Powell, a 28-year-old computer science worker and part-time photographer, started joining members of Christian organization Cru for virtual-reality ministry outreach in summer 2022; four years later they conduct such outreach nearly weekly. The Orlando-based organization, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ, is among a growing number of Christian groups embracing VR platforms such as VRChat as an avenue for evangelism.
At upper right, Frank Kuligowski, digital strategist for Orlando-based Christian organization Cru, chats with other avatars in the guise of his own avatar, a ballcap-wearing high-school-aged warrior from a role-playing videogame. Their March discussion took place in a Japanese garden world set in the virtual-reality platform VRChat. Members of Cru, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ, have taken to VR platforms to build relationships and spread the Christian gospel.
Appearing as their virtual-reality avatars, members of Cru and others prepare to embark on their virtual missionary outreach on the platform VRChat in an image captured in March. Cru, formerly Campus Crusade for Christ, is among a growing number of Christian groups looking to spread the gospel on virtual reality platforms , seeing them as fertile territory for evangelism.
Gemma Firth uses a VR headset to create social connections from her home in New Berlin, Wis., on Dec. 10, 2023.
A woman plays a video game with virtual reality headset at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on Feb. 27, 2024.
