While Some Debate the Dangers of "Pokeman Go," This Seminary Used the App to Lead 6 Gamers to Jesus

Mark Ellis : Jul 29, 2016
God Report

“Unlike any other time that we have done outreach in either the community or any type of mission trip, this was the rare opportunity where we didn’t have to go find people, but they were coming to us.”

[God Reports] With the Pokeman Go craze in full swing, a Texas seminary recognized a unique outreach opportunity to host a “lure party,” which drew several hundred from the community—and six people prayed to receive Christ as a result. (Photo via Godreports)

Realizing the unusual occasion for outreach, students and faculty at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a “lure party” at the Fort Worth, Texas, campus on July 19th, according to Baptist Press.

The seminary campus became home to three Pokémon “gyms,” or virtual meeting places, and nearly three dozen “Pokéstops,” or landmarks.

Then many Pokeman aficionados who wouldn’t otherwise set foot on a seminary campus made their way to the campus to play the game.

Amazingly, about 200 people from the community showed up over a two-hour period.

“Unlike any other time that we have done outreach in either the community or any type of mission trip, this was the rare opportunity where we didn’t have to go find people, but they were coming to us,” Joshua Clayton, a master of divinity student told Baptist Press. (Photo via Godreports

Clayton, who organized the event, wanted “to seize the moment and strategically utilize the game for evangelism.”

Jonathan Baldwin, Southwestern’s housing coordinator, was one of the evangelists, and he witnessed two high school students accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, according to Baptist Press.

“The conversation started about the game, then transitioned into school and future college plans,” Baldwin said. “I took this time to share how God had saved me during my senior year of college, and I boasted in the Lord at how amazing this new life with Him is.”

Baldwin says it’s “always exciting to see God save people and always refreshing to retell His story.”

The seminary produced a Gospel tract specifically for the event, which read: “Hello, Pokémon trainers! You think hunting for Pokémon is exciting? What if you were to find out that you may have just stumbled upon the greatest treasure ever…

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