In Ljubljana, Slovenia, IMB missionaries Daniel and Heather Bates discovered an unexpected gospel doorway: a local game store. Realizing a game shop meant gamers were nearby, Daniel joined a weekly game night and built friendships through both in-person gatherings and online platforms like Discord. Language barriers and cultural differences had made deeper relationships difficult, but the gaming community welcomed him readily. As trust grew, so did spiritual conversations, rare in a country where evangelical Christians are often misunderstood. One gamer asked to meet one-on-one, giving Daniel a chance to share the gospel clearly. The Bateses have since partnered with local churches to host game and Lego nights, drawing young adults, many stepping into a Protestant church for the first time. For the Bateses, gaming isn’t the goal but the bridge, helping Slovenians explore faith in a culture where belief is often tied to tradition rather than personal conviction.
Pray for Daniel and Heather as they build relationships among Slovenia’s gamers, both online and in person, and that these connections would lead to lasting gospel impact.
Southern Baptists’ generous giving through the Cooperative Program sends and sustains missionaries like Daniel and Heather Bates to build gospel friendships through gaming culture in Slovenia.