Building Online Communities and Mentoring Creators
Pastor and full-time content creator working hard to serve the online community by mentoring content creators and building meaningful online communities through entertaining content, real talk, and teaching God’s truth.
Introduction Video
If you want to learn more about XtianNinja and TACO (The Alliance for Creative Outreach), watch “Reaching the Untouchable”. In this video, I share my personal journey and mission to bridge the gap, reaching out to gamers, nerds, those battling mental illness, and others who find solace online.
Join XtianNinja’s Streams
12pm EST Monday-Thursday
In every stream, I try to pack as many fun, engaging, and meaningful things as possible. It starts with a talk about faith, content creation, or personal development, that always leads into great conversations, and then we jump into anything from indie and story games to weird internet stuff, quizzes, and giveaways!
Brief Overview of digital missions
What unique needs does digital missions meet?
In Jesus’ Parable of the Great Banquet the master of the house, upon hearing that his invited guests wouldn’t come, told his servants to “go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” (Lk
14:12-24). Online ministry is truly about going to unexplored mission fields and connecting with people that traditional churches simply can’t reach.
Mental Health
& Learning Disabilities
People with Depression, Social Anxiety, ADHD, and Autism make
up a large portion of people who connect best with people online.
Traditional church ministries and services are overwhelming to
them but gaming and chatting with live streamers give them a
form of connection they can adapt to their needs.
Gamers & Nerds
with Niche Interests
There are an estimated 3 billion gamers in the world today. Among people aged 18-35, watching gaming is more popular than watching traditional sports. Twitch has 3 million people who watch live streams every day.
Gamers and nerds are passionate about their interests and most churches not only lack ministries that connect to this special interest group but lack the ability to communicate with them at all.
People Who Have Been Hurt by the Church
On my streams, I regularly come across Christians longing for a faith community and pastoral care but have had very negative experience with traditional churches and refuse to go back.
There are also many Christian content creators who feel called to digital missions but when they brought their ideas to their church leadership, were totally invalidated, left the church, and have no pastoral support or training.
Those Held Captive by the Dark Side of the Internet
Much of the popular content online is dark, profane, overtly sexual, demonic, or inane. If you search for “Christian” or “family-friendly” on Twitch you’ll eliminate 99% of the content. And when it comes to purposeful, experienced, educated, high-quality digital missionaries the number dwindles to mere dozens.
Consider that! Hundreds of millions of people struggling with loneliness, depression, addiction, social anxiety, and more, sitting alone watching hundreds of countless hours of dark content, desperately searching for love, hope and meaning in their lives – and only a small handful of trained missionaries to reach them. These people are not in coffee shops, parks, on sports teams, or local churches. They don’t come to events and simply cannot be reached by traditional missions.
How do we share the gospel with people who won’t leave their homes and come to us?
We go to them through their computer.
Here are Some Videos that Showcase Live-Stream Digital Ministry
Listen to the Latest Episode of TACO Talks (Subscribe Here!)
The Art of Chat Moderation: Cultivating Safe and Supportive Christian Twitch Communities – TACO Talks: For Content Creators with Passion and Purpose
“When I came across XtianNinja’s channel on Twitch, I recognized he had a goal that was more than simply streaming and playing games. As I continued watching his streams, I saw how happy he was (and is) to be a true friend and reach out to those who may be hurting, whether they’re comfortable opening up or staying silent, all while having lots of fun with the community. XtianNinja is willing to make himself vulnerable and shares about his own struggles with the intent of lifting someone else up, and I find that highly admirable. He has been a great example to me for reaching out to others while still having a good time. I entered the XtianNinja community with open arms to welcome me, and I know his arms are wide open for anyone else looking for a safe place, a strong place, or a place to simply hang out.”
From online stranger to dedicated disciple
How can online ministries partner with local churches?
The ultimate desired outcome for digital missions is to be a safe and positive Christian community that can become a bridge to get people connected to an in-person church that can love and support them where they live.
So how can they make the move?
Step 1: Discover Great Christian-Made Content
Through platforms like Twitch streams, YouTube videos, podcasts, and social media, I connect with individuals across the globe. Our interactions begin with live streams, where viewers can chat in real-time, and continue onto our Discord server for deeper, personal connections.
Step 2: Support and Guidance Online
The online space we’ve created is one of compassion and companionship. As an online pastor, I share the teachings of the gospel and provide pastoral counselling, offering a digital haven for those seeking spiritual guidance and support.
Step 3: Building Trust Over Time
Engaging with an online community requires patience and consistency. It’s important to recognize that trust is built over time through regular interaction, authentic sharing, and demonstrating reliability. As an online pastor, I’m committed to being present and attentive, ensuring they feel heard and valued.
Step 4: Creating Nerd-Friendly Church Environments
To bridge the gap between digital and traditional ministry, it’s essential to prepare local churches to welcome individuals with diverse interests, including those from ‘nerd’ cultures. This involves creating an atmosphere where hobbies like gaming, technology, and science fiction are respected and can be integrated into church activities and discussions.
Step 5: Empowering In-Church Content Creators
Many churchgoers already possess the skills and passion to create digital content but lack guidance or resources. By identifying and training these content creators within the church, we can reach a wider and more diverse audience. This training includes equipping them with the knowledge to produce engaging content that aligns with the church’s values and goals.
Step 6: Transitioning to In-Person Church Communities
Content creators and digital pastors serve as bridges between the digital and physical realms of worship. Their unique position allows them to smoothly transition followers by providing online guidance and support by working with the denomination and connecting with the local church pastor to prepare them for the first meeting.
It has been a great privilege to be part of XtianNinja’s community over the past year. For me it has been a welcoming warm place to hang out during my evenings at home. A place full of fun, games, laughs and thought provoking devotionals and ideas. A place full of real people with real emotions, lives and struggles. That might seem an odd thing to say as it is entirely online, with the community spread around different countries. All of this would not have been possible without XtianNinja who has shaped and guided the direction of the channel and who has shown himself to be committed to this work and the many people whose lives he has touched. What he is doing would not be possible in a normal walk in church setting, as many of the people who come on line do not fit into the usual mould. He does not shy away from difficult subjects or from telling the truths about God, yet he does it in an inviting, chatty, friendly way and the discussions are very real.
SisPineapple
What is T.A.C.O.?
The Alliance for Creative Outreach (TACO) exists to share God’s love with the lost, lonely and disenfranchised around the world by uniting and equipping a network of passionate Christian content creators on multiple platforms to develop culturally engaging, welcoming, innovative, and God honoring content.
Being XtianNinja has let me touch a lot of lives.
Stats & Testimonials
Through the power of digital outreach, I’ve had the privilege of impacting individuals worldwide, fostering spiritual growth and community in ways that transcend physical boundaries.
Working in the Country
XtianNinja’s channel has helped me throughout the year. I work from home, I live in the country. I don’t get out much, but every Twitch stream I watch makes me feel closer to humanity. I am reminded through XtianNinja’s teachings that I am still a Christian and I need to demonstrate that to my family. I believe there is a large segment of our population that is lonely and hurting, and that his teachings and his fun stream can reach these people and help them like he has helped me.
Datagod
Content Creator Training
Pastor Al is a light in the world to the gamers on Twitch who would never darken the doors of a church. He has cultivated a safe, welcoming and Christ-centered community that people are glad to be a part of. This year I was privileged to be part of the TACO training group. Pastor Al is training other Christian creators how to make the best impact with their ministry and reach people for Christ. No one else out there is providing this type of high-quality training! It has helped me to improve my podcast, encouraged me during the tough times, and partner with other creators.
Diana
Kindred Spirit
Pastor Al is as hurt and broken as me, but he manages to be cheerful anyway (not always of course, but often enough to touch me). He and his people accepted me when my original church wouldn’t. He puts up with me when I have got to be silly, and he cheers me on when I open up, reassuring me that I’m not whining. He is even more of a geek than I am, and just as much a Jesus geek. That means a lot.
Tam
How You Can Support XtianNinja
Help me change lives online…
If you’ve witnessed the need for a unique ministry like mine, met Christian Content Creators seeking quality training, encountered believers who find solace in an online community, and have the desire to extend a light into the darkness of the internet, become a one-time or monthly supporter. Here are a few ways you can support:
Bayview Glen Alliance
I’m excited to be part of The Alliance Canada’s “New Ventures” program and to have been included in Bayview Glen’s official missionary support program. Donations through this special link will go through their church’s financial system and you’ll be able to get a tax deductible receipt!
Ko-Fi
If you want the latest ministry updates follow me on Ko-Fi. It’s also where you can sign up as a monthly supporter through the membership program. There are lots of tiers (starting at $2) and some great perks!
*Ko-Fi members do not get a charitable tax receipt.
Twitch Subs & Donos
Donating while I’m streaming is easy and fun! Do it during my stream and things will get even more exciting!
Becoming a “subscriber” gives you ad-free viewing, custom emotes, exclusive chat privileges, and more!
Streamelements allows you to donate live using PayPal and credit card.
XtianNinja 