Halo 3 for Effective Outreach?

October 20, 2007 - Halo 3, the immensely popular video game is being used by churches to reach out to the youth and student population.

Released on September 25, 2007, 4.2 million units of Halo 3 were in retail outlets a world record volume release. Halo 3 holds the record for the highest grossing opening day in entertainment history, making $170 million in its first 24 hours.

According to a NY Times article, David Drexler, youth director at the 200-member nondenominational Country Bible Church in Ashby, Minn., said using Halo to recruit was “the most effective thing we’ve done.”

The article has reported that Protestant leaders in churches and youth centers, including evangelical churches, are holding Halo nights and stocking their centers with multiple game consoles so dozens of teens can shoot out around big-screen TVs.

Drexler said, the church needs something powerful to compete against the lure of less healthy behaviors. “We have to find something that these kids are interested in doing that doesn’t involve drugs or alcohol or premarital sex.” The congregation will double its number of TVs to eight, which would allow 32 players to compete at one time.

But the question is, what is the price to appear relevant? Some say that Halo may succeed at attracting youths, but that it has a corroding influence.

Students on campus are big gamers as well, according to one Apostolos Campus Ministry leader at Columbia University. Using the game as an outreach tool, however, has not been done before.

Apostolos Campus Ministry
Phone: (212)233-3057
Email: apostoloshq@apostolos.org
Website: www.apostolos.org