Gamification of Catholic youth work. Time to play the Escape Game.

How Escape Games can teach faith

The church has a lot of competition when it comes to leisure activities. That's why it has to offer something fun, says Sebastian Trefon. He has developed an Escape Game in which children and young people can learn something about the Bible and its language along the way.

Do we need gamification in youth ministry? Sebastian Trefon is a pastoral assistant in the diocese of Augsburg. He has developed an Escape Game that can be used free of charge at youth camps, in religious education classes and in catechesis. In an interview with katholisch.de, he reports what the children can take away for their faith and why diversity in pastoral work is crucial for him.

Question: Mr Trefon, how did you come up with the idea of using an Escape Game in youth pastoral care?

Trefon: When I was a student, I did a compulsory internship. It was in the pastoral care of altar boys and there I had the opportunity to develop an Escape Game. I always wanted to do that, so I came up with the story and played the game with a few groups. Since it was very well received, I got an order from a parish that wanted to play it as part of a holiday camp. In the meantime, I offer a revised version of the game for rent.

Question: What is the game about?

Trefon: It revolves around a school class in a fictitious Israel, the teacher is on holiday and gives the children a task: the caretaker will not let them out until they have solved the riddles and discovered the treasure. The children are supposed to learn the Hebrew language and the writing system. In a simplified form, of course.

Question: What is special about using Escape Games in youth ministry?

Trefon: I like to use game forms in pastoral care because they convey a message. Of course, this also works in frontal teaching, but that is often boring. People go to the youth group voluntarily because they enjoy it. Playing encourages their creativity. In the Escape Room, you have this confined space, which on the one hand can of course be somehow constricting, but on the other hand you have all the possibilities in one room to solve the puzzle - with the Bible and other aids. You also have to try to communicate well with each other and make decisions. That can also fail. Learning to fail is fundamental in human life. It is also normal in faith to encounter challenges and obstacles. This is how religious and social learning should be combined.

Question: But isn't faith actually something rather contemplative? And doesn't that contradict the character of the Escape Game?

Trefon: Faith has something contemplative, but also an active component. It is not for nothing that we have the basic processes of faith: liturgy, witness, charity work and community. Community between people is always something active. It is important for a person to be free and to be able to make free decisions in a framework that is playful. You get a different approach to questions of faith. I imagine the feeding of the five thousand in the New Testament as people not only sitting around and listening to Jesus, but also talking to each other. The children certainly played, the adults may have played too.

Question: Do the young people perceive the faith aspect in the Escape Game at all or do they just have fun?

Trefon: On the one hand, it is very important for young people to be able to express their faith, but of course it is also very important to encourage young people to think about the religious themes of the games. They perceive that at least unconsciously. And they can also use it for their own faith, for example, when they learn more about the original language of the Bible.

Question: Do you think that the church has to have such offers to inspire young people today?

Trefon: I think the diversity of provisions is important. I always think that the Church has the best content of all time. I would like to refer to the children's Bible by the Professor of religious education at the University of Augsburg, Prof. Georg Langenhorst, whose title is "The best story ever". However, the packaging is often lacking in attractiveness. The church has to prove itself in competition with other offers, with other institutions. And in this respect it must also adapt. We should have different offers for all groups, where people can decide for themselves whether they are interested. There are people who are more active, like me for example, who really like to play and celebrate fellowship together. But there are also people who feel comfortable in quiet and contemplative forms of prayer. I find that just as good.

Question: Do you see yourself in competition with large producers of Escape Games?

Trefon: I don't really see myself as competition at all. My game is available free of charge, I think it is important that such offers for religious education and youth work are free of charge, because in church people gather around the Lord and support each other. And honestly, I do it all because I enjoy it. When I lie under the tree opposite the church and look up, I always get lots of ideas for more games. So it's far from over.

Source

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