12 December | St Albans, UK [Joe Philpott]
A new mobile game released in 2025 by a young Adventist developer in Spain is offering children and teens across the Trans-European Division (TED) a familiar, digital way to learn about the Bible stories and strengthen their faith.
Launched in September 2025, Crown of Life introduces players to biblical narratives and Pathfinder-themed environments through interactive challenges designed for mobile devices. Early presentations of the game across northern Spain have drawn interest from young people both inside and outside the Adventist Church, with many expressing curiosity about Pathfinders for the first time.
The developer, Erik Hook, said he was inspired by his own experience in the Pathfinder Club and wanted to share its values with wider audiences. “It was my desire to express how I felt about being part of this big international club, and to share it with people from all around the world,” he said.
Hook added that the project grew from a long-standing belief that the Church should be present in every form of media accessed by young people. “When I was a kid, I would have loved to share a video game about Bible stories with my friends. Video games are the biggest media in the world right now, and I felt we needed to be there too,” he said.
Leaders across TED have welcomed the initiative as part of a broader conversation about how to meet young people in the digital spaces they inhabit daily. Kevin Johns, TED Associate Youth director with responsibilities for Club and Teens Ministries, said, “Many of our children and teens are already spending time gaming each day, so a project that brings faith into that world is a welcome development. Crown of Life gives leaders and parents another way to connect with our young people, encouraging them to think about the Bible in a setting that feels natural to them.”
Hook explained that the game is designed to support both evangelism and faith development. “If we give our youth a tool they can share with their friends, we can reach a lot of people,” he said. He added that the game helps Adventist young people learn about lesser-known biblical characters and books, providing space to tell stories that rarely appear in children’s resources.
He believes gaming can contribute meaningfully to discipleship when used wisely. “There is always some level of risk with any tool, so it must be used safely and with prayer,” he said. “But video games can create community. They unite people from different languages and places around shared stories and goals, and that can be really beneficial.”
One of the most encouraging responses so far has come from secular young people in Spain, where religious engagement is often low. Hook said he initially feared negative reactions but experienced the opposite. “People who didn’t know the Pathfinders wanted to learn more. Many had never heard these Bible stories before, and now they have them on their phones. It has broken stereotypes for some and opened conversations about the Church here in my city,” he said.
Parents have also noted the value of having a safe, faith-centred alternative to mainstream games. One parent said, “My child really enjoys gaming and, if I’m honest, sometimes he probably spends too much time doing it. So I’m really glad to see my child enjoying playing this game. It’s planting seeds of faith and being a good source of encouragement to him.”
As the game expands beyond Spain, Hook hopes the sense of curiosity and community it has created will continue across Europe and further afield. “We want people to feel that they can be part of something big. The Pathfinder Club is already large, but it can always keep growing. We are adapting the content for different cultures and praying it reaches more young people,” he said.
He encouraged youth leaders to see the game as a shared ministry resource. “This is not just my game or my club’s game. This is everyone’s game,” he said. “I would tell leaders not to be afraid to share it with the young people they work with. They really enjoy it, and we are open to suggestions that help it serve different countries and ministries better.”
The developer continues to receive requests to present the game at events and in public spaces. He hopes that each introduction will lead to more young people encountering Bible stories, discovering the Pathfinder Club and engaging positively with the Church.
[Photos: Erik Hook & Joe Philpott]
Crown of Life is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For enquiries, Erik Hook can be contacted at [email protected].
