Woburn Church Uses Webkinz to Promote Community
North Congregational Church brings children's virtual game into the world of faith
 If you have any children, or know any children, then you know the hottest toys these days are no longer beanie babies. They are Webkinz®. Webkinz pets are small stuffed animals that come with unique secret codes. These secret codes get you into the computer internet world of Webkinz where you care for your virtual pet, answer trivia, earn KinzCash, and play games.
When Rev. Marian Williams of the North Congregational Church heard that her church school children were playing with Webkinz, it piqued her interest enough to go out and buy one of these stuffed creatures. Williams, a former computer science professor, was curious to know what this computer-meets-low tech toy was all about.
Williams purchased a tree frog for about $15 that she named Trefoil -- representing the Trinity -- got her secret code, and logged into the world of Webkinz, where she learned how to care for her pet tree frog, played fun arcade games that resulted in earning virtual cash (which she could spend or save), and cooperated in virtual games with others that were online. She then added all her church school children to her Webkinz list of friends.
"I discovered that the kids were having fun while they learned computer skills, math skills, and a variety of other subjects as they played together online," said Williams. "I became a fan and tried to think of ways to use Webkinz to enrich our children's ministry."
Williams invited the children to bring their Webkinz pets to church to meet Trefoil. When Williams logs in to Webkinz World during the week, she searches for the Sunday school children, and the children search for their minister. When Williams earns her KinzCash for playing the Webkinz games, she sends the children virtual gifts for their pets, showing generosity that she hopes they will model.
A wise 10-year old, Stephanie O'Neill, said: "Our church is a place you can feel comfortable expressing your personality with your Webkinz. You might have all frogs or all dogs or all cats. It doesn't matter if your Webkinz are old or new."
Because of this "Webkinz ministry," the children are eager to attend church on Sunday morning. Their parents report that whenever they get a new Webkinz, the children say they need to bring it into church to "show Marian."
"It's fun that most kids in our church have Webkinz," said 7-year old Sean O'Neill, "even Marian!"
According to Williams, there are usually as many Webkinz in Sunday School as there are children. When the children learned the story of Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors, they made child-sized coats of many colors for themselves and spontaneously made little ones for their Webkinz pets to wear home.
"Our Webkinz have helped to create community among kids who come from different schools and different towns," Williams said. "And some kind souls have given me brand new Webkinz pets to give to kids whose families can't afford them. And kids are welcome to play on my office computer if they don't have computer access elsewhere."
Some of the other adult members of the church have started to play in Webkinz world, too. Last Fall, the church hosted a Webkinz party, to share the joy with other local children. Each child was invited to bring their current favorite Webkinz pet (some children have large collections of these stuffed animals). The party featured a lunch of normal foods with Webkinz names - like "Green Gak" and "fire and water sandwiches" - as well as Webkinz Halloween costume-making, and a visit from one of the Webkinz characters. Williams reported that the church hall was filled to capacity, half of the children from the church school and half from the community.
Carl McDonald, Director of Boston Urban Outreach at the City Mission Society, was impressed with this new type of ministry. "This just shows how a small church pastor is using new technology to reach out to the younger generation," he said.
Williams says "It's a reality that today's children are very, very busy. It is increasingly difficult to gather them at church during the week. Our Webkinz play gives us a way to stay connected from one Sunday to the next without having to be in the same place at the same time. And inviting Webkinz to church is a very visible way of saying "children are welcome here!"
One of the new members of North Church -- a mother with two daughters in church school -- told Williams: "North Church is like Webkinz World. You feel welcome, play (pray), and feel very safe."
The Rev. Dr. Marian Williams can be reached at the church office at (781) 933-1229 or email: NorthChurch 896@aol.com.
Note: WEBKINZ, WEBKINZ WORLD, KINZCASH, and all character names and game names are trademarks owned by GANZ.
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