Outreach 2.0 …

with Bill Seaver

Virtual Worlds Need Real Christians

This year, I’ve noticed a population boom among an unreached people group—and I'm pretty sure they're not on your missions calendar. Now numbering more than 5 million, these people interact, live in communities, engage in commerce and do just about everything you and I do. Where can you find them? On your computer—in a virtual world called Second Life (Secondlife.com).

Never heard of Second Life?  You will. Launched in 2003, it’s an increasingly popular 3D online digital world that’s imagined, created and owned by its “residents.” Second Life “exists” only on computers, but for gamers, it’s very real. For example, the virtual world has its own currency called the Linden dollar, which has its own exchange rate for American dollars. Gamers can construct their own Second Life characters, called avatars, buy virtual clothes, purchase virtual property, conduct virtual rallies for real politicians and even go to virtual casinos and dance clubs.

If you think Second Life is some kind of bizarre meeting ground for techno geeks and weirdos, take a look at its growth. This time last year, fewer than 200,000 residents were on Second Life, and now 5.3 million have found a home there. It’s been growing by a million residents a month since December 2006—which puts it on track to hit 15 million residents by January 2008.  Either there are a lot more techno geeks in the world than we thought, or this virtual world is becoming part of mainstream reality.

Even American businesses are taking notice.  Apple, Dell, Toyota, General Motors, Sears, American Apparel and Circuit City are now on Second Life. And the world has also generated its own entrepreneurs, from fashion designers to real estate developers.  Last fall, a well-known Second Life real estate developer made her first million dollars.

So how do we, as Christians, reach out to this booming virtual world? Second Life is an "anything goes, do whatever you want" kind of universe, a great opportunity for Christians to reach people who might not otherwise interact with them.

First, remember real people exist behind the avatars.  They have real lives, real souls and a need for the real Savior. 

Second, think creatively about how you can engage Second Life with the message of the Gospel.  Why not create a team of virtual missionaries from your church to engage this new culture?  Even if you don’t understand the technology part, someone in your church probably does.  Provide the vision and instill the outreach goal in your virtual missions team, then let them run with it. 

Many Christians are taking this proactive approach. LifeChurch.tv, Outreach magazine’s most innovative church of 2006, recently launched a Second Life church campus.  According to their blog, the online missionaries have had some interesting interactions with residents and are learning more about being a church in this brave new world.

What will you and your church do to help people in Second Life find a real eternal life?

Bill Seaver is the Vice President of White Post Media where he consults churches and ministries in the development and implementation of new media (web 2.0) strategies. He's also an avid blogger on his personal blog, MicroExplosion.com.  For questions or article ideas contact Bill at fourthbill@gmail.com.

-Outreach magazine, "Web Exclusives," May/June 2007

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