Geekpreacher and GenCon 2014

Many of you may know me from my time at GenCon and various other conventions around the country. Some of you may know me from my blog and website The Geekpreacher.

Every year, except one, since 2007 I have spoken at the worship service at GenCon sponsored by the Christian Gamers Guild (CGG). Last year was also the first time we have had a booth at GenCon which is sponsored by the CGG, Fans for Christ, and Gamechurch and this year we will have a booth once more.

This booth allows us to connect Christian gamers from all across the country and our worship service gives many Christian gamers the opportunity to worship together in a "geeky" environment. For me, this has been a wonderful experience especially since other areas of ministry are growing! I find myself, in many ways, becoming an "unofficial chaplain" at GenCon and there are many people from various faith and non-faith backgrounds who often need someone to talk with about their hobby, where they're at, and how it intersects with life, family, and friends. I LOVE IT!

However, as GenCon continues to grow, (projected 50,000 gamers this year) the costs grow as well. Hotel rates continue to rise and gas prices don't seem to go down either. GenCon can get rather expensive and, while I normally pay for myself, I also help pay for a friend who attends with me. My friend helps with the video of the worship service and Faith & Gaming Panel, setting up of the booth, and makes sure I don't get into any trouble!

The reason I am starting this GoFundMe is because I need help this year. I hope to raise $750 to cover most of the cost of the hotel room. (We arrive on Tuesday to set up the booth and do not leave until Sunday evening.)

As a father of two and a full time pastor of two United Methodist Churches, covering these costs on my own gets rather difficult. I am also a seminary graduate (2012) and have loans to pay off so this makes paying for this trip even more difficult.

If I exceed this goal, which would be wonderful, any extra will go to help pay the rest of the hotel bill as well as gas and food. It is my hope you will help me out as I enjoy ministering to this missional community. It's a joy for me to be there and, while I don't get much gaming in, I have many wonderful opportunities to minister to a wide variety of people marginalized and, at times, ostracized by the church.