Reimagining Church: How Game & Table Brings Faith to the Table
When was the last time your church reached people where they already are? For Game & Table in Elkhart, IN, that meant gathering around video games, board games, and tabletop adventures. This innovative Fresh Expression of church is transforming what it means to build community and share faith in today’s world.
Created by Dallas Tharp, an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, Game & Table welcomes youth and young adults—many of whom don’t feel at home in traditional church settings. By combining the universal language of play with the timeless message of Jesus, this ministry is reshaping lives and relationships, proving that church can happen anywhere.
Born from Passion, Built for Connection
Game & Table was born out of Dallas’s lifelong love for gaming and his passion for relational ministry. Reflecting on the diminishing spaces for young people to connect meaningfully, Dallas saw an opportunity to create a new kind of faith community.
“So many of the places I went as a teenager just don’t exist anymore. Young people need spaces where they feel wanted and safe, but those spaces are vanishing.” – Dallas Tharp
Meeting on Fridays and Saturdays, Game & Table provides a welcoming space for participants to play games and share life together. But as Dallas explains, it’s never just about the games: “It’s about looking people in the eye, having real conversations, and doing what Jesus modeled—meeting people where they are.”
Why This Ministry Matters
Game & Table serves a specific and often overlooked audience: youth and young adults who may feel disconnected from traditional church structures. For many, social media offers connection but often leaves them longing for genuine relationships. Game & Table bridges that gap.
At a recent event, a self-identified atheist attended and shared a poignant reflection: “I noticed your big cross over there, but no one’s beating me over the head with it. I appreciate that.” This simple, respectful approach to ministry creates a space for faith conversations to happen naturally, without pressure or pretense.
“Jesus spent time with people in their settings. He didn’t force them to come to him; he went to them.” – Dallas Tharp
By integrating gaming into discipleship, Game & Table is also teaching participants valuable life skills. “Through tabletop gaming, you learn about real-life situations and consequences,” Dallas says. “You learn how to win gracefully and lose gracefully. Those are spiritual disciplines, too.”
A Fresh Expression in Action
Game & Table embodies the core principles of the Fresh Expressions movement:
Exploring Discipleship: Without pressure or programs, participants are invited to see how faith intersects with life, often through natural, organic conversations.
Listening and Loving: By recognizing the needs of young people and gamers, this ministry began with a commitment to understand its audience before creating a space for them.
Building Community: By fostering authentic relationships through shared activities, Game & Table creates an environment where people feel seen and valued.
The story of Game & Table isn’t just inspiring—it’s achievable. Whether it’s gaming, hiking, coffee shop meetups, or something entirely different, the Fresh Expressions movement invites all churches to think creatively about how to engage their communities.
The beauty of Fresh Expressions is that it doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your church. Instead, it begins with small steps: listening to your community, identifying shared passions, and creating spaces where faith and life naturally intersect.
“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” – Frederick Buechner
Snapshot of a Fresh Expression of Church
What is the Fresh Expression called?
Game & Table
Where is it?
Elkhart, IN
Who is it for?
Game & Table is for youth and young adults who might not feel at home in traditional church settings but are seeking genuine connection and community. It’s designed for those who love gaming—whether that’s video games, board games, or tabletop adventures—and want a safe, inclusive space to explore relationships and faith in an authentic way.
What do they do?
Game & Table exists to create a Christ centered gaming community of people who are being introduced to Christ by spending time together and modeling healthy relationships.
Who is the Pioneer?
Dallas Tharp
Where can I learn more?
