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I Owe You an Explanation About What’s Going On
Hi Friends and Supporters, I feel like I’ve sent you the “here’s what’s going on” email a few times, but thank you for your patience. There’s a lot of moving parts and changes being made and I think it’s important that you know what’s going on. There are 3 big changes happening. First, changing…
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The State of Things (XN Update)
A while back, I shared a story with my stream community and want to share it with you, too. It was something of a spiritual “vision” I had one day while praying for direction. (I’m a pretty conservative guy, but I’ve been learning more about listening to God, and He has only done this,…
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A Year of Contrasts (2025 XtianNinja Year-In-Review)
Reflecting on 2025 is complicated because it has been a year of profound contrast. In the same year, I’ve spoken on global stages and sat alone with a heavy, broken heart. My channel started the year with great momentum but ended with the lowest numbers I’ve seen in four years. At the beginning of…
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I Went to the Most Important Creator Event in the World (ReachConf Recap 2025: What Happened and Why It Mattered So Much)
When I first heard about ReachConf, it sounded almost too on-the-nose for what I care about: a conference for Christian gamers, streamers, cosplayers, and content creators, hosted in a church, built around the gospel, and unapologetically nerdy. Thanks to an absurd amount of generosity from my community, I actually got to go and was…
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Reach Lore Talk
Merging who God created you to be with who God called you serve,through the content God wants you to create MotherGoose Opens & Introduces Topic Briefly XN STORY: I remember when I first started as a pastor, straight out of seminary, I had no idea what I was doing. And that’s not an…
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Headed to Florida for ReachConf 2025!
Wow, it’s finally time! We’ve been talking about this for months now and I’m finally packed and ready to get on the plane. Reach is going to be amazing! For those who don’t k ow, ReachConf is meant to celebrate and inspire Christian creators, focused on fun experiences, relational connection, learning, and kingdom impact.…
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Personal Update: Reflections on My Sabbatical & a Brief Delay
I’m writing this personal update with those who’ve been walking with me for a while – leadership team, supporters, donors, volunteers, viewers – but a lot of people have discovered me through this crisis. If you’re new here and wondering who I am and what this is all about, check out my Digital Missions…
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An Important Update About My Work with TACO and XtianNinja Online Missions
To my donors, friends, prayer partners, subscribers, and the whole of TACO and the XtianNinja FamSquad: Right now Anita is in a highly structured residential setting receiving focused, specialist care. It’s the kind of environment hospital models haven’t been able to provide, and it is giving her a real chance to stabilise with dignity.…
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Why I Quit on Stream Today: What happened today, what’s underneath it, and what I need right now
Short version: I’m carrying more than I can manage, so the glitch felt like a collapse. Computer crashed and then I crashed. What happened on stream Anyone who has streamed for any length of time knows that glitches happen. “It wouldn’t be a Twitch stream if everything went right!”, we say. I’m used to…
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Torture for Views: The Death of Jean Pormanove and What It Teaches Us About Streaming, Exploitation, and Digital Missions
This article is about the on-stream death of French streamer Raphaël Graven. It covers what’s known (as best I could learn of Aug 20, 2025), the warnings that were ignored, and the wider culture that turns suffering into spectacle. Strong content ahead. You can also watch my full breakdown and reflections on YouTube here:…
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TACO Training Returns: A Free 8-Week Course for Christian Content Creators (Aug 9 – Oct 4, 2025)
Are you a Christian streamer, gamer, artist, podcaster, or online creator who wants to share Jesus through your content—but you’re not sure where to start or how to stay faithful while doing it? TACO Training is for you. From August 9 to October 4, 2025, join us for this completely free, 8-week, virtual course…
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“They Told My Friend to 💀 Themselves”
Ministry isn’t just happening in counselling offices and churches anymore—it’s happening live, online, in real time. During one of my livestreams, a viewer came into chat, shaken and angry. They had just witnessed something heartbreaking—a classmate had told their friend to end their life. They had spent 20 minutes trembling in fear and frustration,…
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Content Strategy and The Twitch in 2025: Reaction to Harris Heller’s Video
What is TACO & Why This Discussion Matters TACO (The Alliance for Creative Outreach) is a network dedicated to helping Christian content creators thrive in digital spaces. Whether it’s through streaming, videos, or community-building, our goal is to equip and support creators who want to make a meaningful impact. Part of that mission is…
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Overworking and Burnout: What Are the Signs? (Plus Practical Steps and Biblical Wisdom)
Burnout. It’s a word we hear often but don’t fully understand until it hits us. For me, this subject is deeply personal. In 2009, I hit a wall—a wall I didn’t even see coming. I was pastoring at a church that could only be described as abusive. Weekly meetings stretched into the early hours…
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The Art of Being Interesting: 6 Steps to Build Real Connections
Many creators share a common fear: I’m not interesting. This self-doubt can be paralyzing, hindering their ability to connect with their audience and build meaningful online communities. During a recent stream, a simple joke about feeling uninteresting sparked a powerful conversation, revealing how widespread this insecurity is. Many creators expressed similar feelings of inadequacy,…
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Lonely but Driven: Hunter Thornton’s Indie Game Development Journey to Build Community
Welcome to the Creator Profile Series, where we highlight incredible individuals who have answered God’s call to reach the world in unique ways. Traditional churches often struggle to connect with niche communities online, especially those who feel isolated or disconnected. God is raising up content creators from all over the world to fill that…
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The Wounds of the Faithful: Diana Winkler’s Mission to Heal (Creator Profile Series)
Welcome to the Creator Profile Series, where we highlight incredible individuals who have answered God’s call to reach the world in unique ways. Traditional churches often struggle to connect with niche communities online, especially those affected by ‘church hurt’—a phenomenon where individuals leave the church due to negative experiences, such as judgment, hypocrisy, or…
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It’s Support-A-Thon Sunday! (Come Join In!)
I’m excited to invite you to my Support-A-Thon happening this Sunday, September 29th, at 10 AM EST on my Twitch Channel! This event is not just about having fun—it’s a chance for our amazing community to come together and help support some really important future ministry goals. What’s the Goal?This Support-A-Thon will help raise…
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Why ComicCon Made Me Cry: The Heartbreaking Reality For Some Who Attend (and What We Can Do)
I’ve always looked forward to ComicCon, but this year, it was more than just an event for me. It became a window into a deeper truth. In fact, telling this story has brought me to tears twice this week. Over the past couple of years, I’ve been able to bring some young people with…
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The Role of Prayer in Content Creation: Passion & Pivotal Moments (Series Introduction)
What Do You Do Before Creating Content? Imagine you’re getting ready to start a big creator project – new video, art portfolio, new podcast concept, stream-a-thon. You’ve got your equipment set up, software open, references lined up, and a carefully curated playlist in the background to keep your energy up. You even posted on…
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Can I Ask For a Small Favour That Could Make a Big Difference?
As many of you know, I’ve been dedicated to reaching the lost, lonely, and disconnected through my work as a digital pastor. Whether it’s gamers, remote workers, or those struggling with mental health challenges, my mission is to bring God’s love and connection to those who feel isolated in the online world. Over time,…
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10 Steps to Uncover God’s Purpose for Your Content
Are you feeling called to content creation but struggling to understand why? Do you wonder what purpose God has for you in the digital space? Here are ten practical steps to help you align your content with God’s calling. I’ve also included some example answers from my own exploration of this exercise. 1. Burdens…
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Uncovering the Purpose of Your Content as a Christian Creator
As Christian content creators, it’s easy to get lost in the pursuit of likes, shares, and followers. But our true calling goes beyond the metrics. We’re not just here to entertain; we’re here to serve a higher purpose. Our content is meant to reflect His priorities, showcase the unique gifts He’s given us, and…
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Discovering Your God-Given Mission in Content Creation
As Christian content creators, it’s easy to get swept up in the whirlwind of trends, algorithms, and audience expectations. But our calling goes beyond just chasing the latest fads. We’re more than just entertainers; we’re messengers with a unique mission. How can we tap into the deeper, God-given purpose that guides our work and…
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Discover Your God-Given Purpose: 8 Steps to Uncover What You’re Meant to Do
Are you struggling to find your purpose in life? You’re not alone. Many of us wonder how to align our talents, passions, and opportunities with what God has in store for us. In a recent discussion, I explored how to discover your God-given purpose and what steps you can take to uncover what you’re…
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XtianNinja’s Rogue Energy $10 Gift Cards Giveaway!
Hello friends, supporters, and fellow nerds! As a token of appreciation for your amazing support, I’m giving away three $10 Rogue Energy gift cards! Whether you’re a stream viewer, a loyal supporter, or a new newsletter subscriber, this giveaway is for you! Why Rogue? Here’s an article I wrote recently explaining why I partnered…
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Partnering to Help Pros, Students, Streamers & Gamers with a Healthier Energy Option
As you know, I’ve been seeking creative ways to fund the initiatives we are so passionate about at XtianNinja Online Missions and The Alliance for Creative Outreach (TACO). I’m excited to share a new partnership that aligns with our mission, can help a bunch of people, and that I think you’ll want to be…
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XtianNinja’s Story: From Traditional Ministry to Digital Outreach (My Testimony/Biography)
In crafting this comprehensive story, I drew from a multitude of sources, including personal experiences, podcast transcripts, interviews, and testimonials. With the assistance of ChatGPT, I’ve been able to weave these elements together into a cohesive narrative. This is the story of my journey, from traditional pastoral ministry to becoming XtianNinja, a digital missionary…
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The Hidden Digital Mission Field: Unseen People and Unmet Needs
I recently gave a talk to a group of pastors at the Alliance Assembly 2024 and wanted to share it with you as I think it will serve as a helpful article to send to pastors and churches who struggle to appreciate or understand content creation and nerd-culture in general. Here is a link…
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Conference Recap: Fellowship, Inspiration, and New Connections
I just got back from the conference and wanted to give a quick report while it was fresh in my mind. This is a brief summary of what happened but if you’re curious about some more details (including pics and videos!) check out my channel on the TACO Discord. Day 1: Arrival and Initial…
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The Biggest Frustration & Hurdle to Leap as a Digital Ministry
Digital ministries are beset with a myriad of challenges. Ever-changing technology, high-level skillsets, creative thinking, long hours, fighting algorithms, making high-quality, competitive content, counselling and community building through text, following up with vulnerable viewers, and more… but when I think about the most difficult thing I’ve had to face in my two years in…
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2022 XN Year in Review: From Foundation to Framework
Introduction Like many others, 2022 was a year of ups and downs for me and my ministry work. It began with the sudden death of my second-born son which led to a series of difficult months, but throughout them all, my local church and online communities were there with support and encouragement for my…
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My All-Time Favourite Non-Fiction & Fiction Books (Two Top Tens!)
‘Tis the season for Top 10 Lists, so here are two of them! My favourite non-fiction, Christian books – and my favourite fiction books. I take time to explain why I chose them, what they mean to me, and a little about them. Here’s the lists: Non-Fiction List: Fiction List I Need Your Support…
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Proven Productivity Practices
Do you ever feel like you’ve got a million great content creation ideas, but struggle to get any of them done? Here are 6 things you need to be doing in order to maximize your creativity, grow your influence, and reach the people you’re trying to bring your content to. Plus, I share TACO…
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A Minecraft Server for Content Creators!
The Planet T.A.C.O. Minecraft Server will allow you to join with creators around the world whose values and commitment match your own and give you a place to invite your most loyal supporters! The Alliance for Creative Outreach (TACO) exists to share God’s love with the lost, lonely and disenfranchised by uniting and equipping…
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Twitch Chat Tips: How To Keep the Conversation Going
Despite how critical it is to consistently engage with people in chat, especially when newcomers drop in, it’s not always easy to keep a conversation going. Here are some helpful tips to keep the banter moving! I Need Your Support I’m doing this full-time and the only way I can keep it up is…
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Hey, Christian Content Creators! Check out The T.A.C.O. Network!!!
What is T.A.C.O. and how do we serve content creators and consumers all over the world? The Alliance for Creative Outreach (TACO) Serves the lost by creating a welcoming community that unites and equips a network of world-changing Christian content creators across multiple platforms. https://taconetwork.org/ https://www.twitch.tv/thetaconetwork I Need Your Support I’m doing this full-time…