Digital Worship: A One-on-one Chat with Second Life Builder and Videographer Avatar Casey Davidson

Since its birth in 2003 the Second Life 3D online gaming world has exploded to nearly 7 million residents, covering every aspect of SIM-related humanity from an ever-widening range of entertainment to sales, tutorials, media and an enormous spectrum of support groups. But for all its digital reflection of real life there has been one thing that possibly no one familiar with the Second Life universe thought could exist in virtual reality, church.

Yet, beating the odds in a land seemingly created upon a foundation of sin one religious establishment has managed to find secure enough footing to settle, build and flourish.

They call themselves, LifeChurch.tv, located inworld on Experience Island 206.108.27 and what they have built, besides an enormous campus with a sanctuary, preschool, store, offices, library and studio, is an impressive ability to share the word of God within the ever-expanding universe of Second Life.

I'd the great fortune of a one-on-one chat with an affiliate of LifeChurch, Casey Davidson. (Please note that Casey Davidson is the name of a Second Life avatar and not the real life individual's name) Casey is a videographer for LifeChurch and enjoys building, particularly in the sandbox behind the church, and also enjoys hanging out with others in the Second Life community.

The interview began with Casey inviting my avatar over to the campus, to see video from NBC Nightly News coverage of the virtual reality church from a few weeks ago titled, "Give me that online religion". LifeChurch has several Video On Demand areas on campus, where an avatar can watch videos from LifeChurch.tv.

For Casey and members of LifeChurch the exposure was phenomenal with NBC's 9 million viewers but what I wanted to know was what kind of reception the church received when the idea for a Second Life virtual reality campus was first brought up to its real life members.

"Everyone loves it so far," Casey replied, explaining that he first discovered Second Life from an article in Time magazine about Harvard having live video of their lecture hall. He thought it would be a great place for LifeChurch, since they are all about live video. "We've had the Internet campus for a while, which is web based/chat video,"

"What hand have you had in its development?"

"I built all the video including the outdoor screens on the west side of the building, but most of it was built by Anshe Chung Studios."

Anshe Chung Studios is a multi-million dollar operation founded in 2004 by Anshe Chung who wanted to know if Second Life economy could support a real life person. LifeChurch is only one of their many clients, as Casey explains, "Thomas ACS was the head builder, and we gave him blueprints and pictures of one of our real life campuses.

"So this is based on a real life (RL) church?"

"Yes, none of them (RL) have outdoor facilities, of course, but the designs are based on the Stillwater Oklahoma campus. There are 14 or so LifeChurch campuses across the country and metaverse; our newest locale is in Albany, NY."

While the church manages to bring a lot of people to the Second Life universe, Casey and LifeChurch's goal is to get the already established Second Life community interested. Casey says the SL church averages 55 avatars during Sunday's first service with close to 30 at the second. Weekends and special events are held at the main auditorium where live feed is broadcast featuring a band as well as teachings from the LifeChurch Senior Pastor, Craig Groeschel.

"There's room for growth, our Sim will hold 80 comfortably," Casey noted Life Church's next series, "At the Movies," where they'll be giving away movie character avatars. Promo tool packs are available at the SL church lobby, "Should be a lot of fun!"

For information on LifeChurch in Second Life visit their website at http://www.lifechurch.tv/secondlife/gallery.php

Services at LifeChurch are 8 to 9:30 a.m. PDT