Nerd Pastor Nate
@www.pixelandpulpit.com
👾 I write, think, and pastor at the intersection of video games, anime, pop culture, tech, and religion.
YouTube Partner (137k)
Check my feeds! I have some cool ones.
YouTube Partner (137k)
Check my feeds! I have some cool ones.
Pinned
Nerd Pastor Nate
@www.pixelandpulpit.com
· Nov 18
With all these new folks, let me introduce myself:
I’m Nerd Pastor Nate, pastor of Checkpoint Church.
I explore faith in nerdy and digital spaces via Twitch (1.6k), YouTube (77k), and the Pixel & Pulpit newsletter.
Interests:
Video Games
Anime
Manga
Tabletop Games
D&D
Writing
Let’s connect!
I’m Nerd Pastor Nate, pastor of Checkpoint Church.
I explore faith in nerdy and digital spaces via Twitch (1.6k), YouTube (77k), and the Pixel & Pulpit newsletter.
Interests:
Video Games
Anime
Manga
Tabletop Games
D&D
Writing
Let’s connect!
Algorithms may guide attention—but compassion sustains community.
October 17, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Algorithms may guide attention—but compassion sustains community.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
October 15, 2025 at 11:42 PM
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
I do not need another gaming themed mug.
A chat log is a prayer list. If I’m not circling back on names, I’m not pastoring—I’m just posting.
October 15, 2025 at 1:25 PM
A chat log is a prayer list. If I’m not circling back on names, I’m not pastoring—I’m just posting.
Not everyone meets grace in a sermon. Some meet it in a midnight reply, a remembered username, a check‑in after the thread cools. Don’t apologize for where the holy shows up online.
October 14, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Not everyone meets grace in a sermon. Some meet it in a midnight reply, a remembered username, a check‑in after the thread cools. Don’t apologize for where the holy shows up online.
We don’t need a bigger stage; we need a longer table. Care less about reach, more about who stayed long enough to be known.
Build rooms the algorithm can’t fake.
Build rooms the algorithm can’t fake.
October 13, 2025 at 4:08 PM
We don’t need a bigger stage; we need a longer table. Care less about reach, more about who stayed long enough to be known.
Build rooms the algorithm can’t fake.
Build rooms the algorithm can’t fake.
Games don’t just distract—they disclose.
A choice you didn’t expect to make is a mirror. Pay attention to what it shows you.
A choice you didn’t expect to make is a mirror. Pay attention to what it shows you.
October 10, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Games don’t just distract—they disclose.
A choice you didn’t expect to make is a mirror. Pay attention to what it shows you.
A choice you didn’t expect to make is a mirror. Pay attention to what it shows you.
I don’t want fans; I want neighbors.
If a post can’t become a conversation, it doesn’t ship.
If a post can’t become a conversation, it doesn’t ship.
October 9, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I don’t want fans; I want neighbors.
If a post can’t become a conversation, it doesn’t ship.
If a post can’t become a conversation, it doesn’t ship.
We’re not building content. We’re building rooms where names matter more than impressions. Homes the algorithm can’t counterfeit.
October 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM
We’re not building content. We’re building rooms where names matter more than impressions. Homes the algorithm can’t counterfeit.
Games let us pick “easy,” “normal,” or “hard.” Faith doesn’t always give that choice—life sets its own difficulty curve.
Discipleship means adjusting posture, not difficulty: learning to play faithfully no matter the setting.
Discipleship means adjusting posture, not difficulty: learning to play faithfully no matter the setting.
October 2, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Games let us pick “easy,” “normal,” or “hard.” Faith doesn’t always give that choice—life sets its own difficulty curve.
Discipleship means adjusting posture, not difficulty: learning to play faithfully no matter the setting.
Discipleship means adjusting posture, not difficulty: learning to play faithfully no matter the setting.
In games, checkpoints ground us—safe spots to rest, save progress, and prepare for what’s ahead.
Sacraments serve the same role: not an end, but a rhythm of return. What if we saw Eucharist or baptism as divine checkpoints?
Sacraments serve the same role: not an end, but a rhythm of return. What if we saw Eucharist or baptism as divine checkpoints?
October 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM
In games, checkpoints ground us—safe spots to rest, save progress, and prepare for what’s ahead.
Sacraments serve the same role: not an end, but a rhythm of return. What if we saw Eucharist or baptism as divine checkpoints?
Sacraments serve the same role: not an end, but a rhythm of return. What if we saw Eucharist or baptism as divine checkpoints?
Pixel Pilgrimages (our latest experiment) aren’t just fun events—they’re modern reimaginings of ancient practices. Traveling through sacred spaces in games shows that pilgrimage isn’t about geography, but about intention and presence.
September 30, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Pixel Pilgrimages (our latest experiment) aren’t just fun events—they’re modern reimaginings of ancient practices. Traveling through sacred spaces in games shows that pilgrimage isn’t about geography, but about intention and presence.
Game music often carries more theology than we notice. Think about laments, battle hymns, and themes of hope woven into soundtracks. What would it mean if churches curated worship like composers score a game?
September 29, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Game music often carries more theology than we notice. Think about laments, battle hymns, and themes of hope woven into soundtracks. What would it mean if churches curated worship like composers score a game?
Quite excited for this new take on our newsletter - less fluff, more substance. Starting with a story of how our nerdy ministry is helping shift people’s faith lives.
www.tothecheckpoint.com/p/checkpoint...
www.tothecheckpoint.com/p/checkpoint...
Checkpoint Church is changing lives!
A monthly roundup of stories, support, and spiritual journeys.
www.tothecheckpoint.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Quite excited for this new take on our newsletter - less fluff, more substance. Starting with a story of how our nerdy ministry is helping shift people’s faith lives.
www.tothecheckpoint.com/p/checkpoint...
www.tothecheckpoint.com/p/checkpoint...
Something I’m musing on as I grind for prayer beads in Silksong.
Grinding in RPGs feels repetitive, but it builds strength for the big battles. Spiritual habits—prayer, rest, service—can feel the same. Boring in the moment, essential in the long run.
Grinding in RPGs feels repetitive, but it builds strength for the big battles. Spiritual habits—prayer, rest, service—can feel the same. Boring in the moment, essential in the long run.
September 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Something I’m musing on as I grind for prayer beads in Silksong.
Grinding in RPGs feels repetitive, but it builds strength for the big battles. Spiritual habits—prayer, rest, service—can feel the same. Boring in the moment, essential in the long run.
Grinding in RPGs feels repetitive, but it builds strength for the big battles. Spiritual habits—prayer, rest, service—can feel the same. Boring in the moment, essential in the long run.
In games, a death screen isn’t the end—it’s a chance to try again with what you’ve learned. Sanctifying grace works the same way: every failure can become a next step forward.
(Can you tell I started playing Silksong? 🫣🤣)
(Can you tell I started playing Silksong? 🫣🤣)
September 5, 2025 at 12:12 PM
In games, a death screen isn’t the end—it’s a chance to try again with what you’ve learned. Sanctifying grace works the same way: every failure can become a next step forward.
(Can you tell I started playing Silksong? 🫣🤣)
(Can you tell I started playing Silksong? 🫣🤣)
Games save progress at checkpoints. Ministry has them too—moments where we pause, breathe, and take stock. They don’t erase what came before, but they prepare us for what’s next.
September 4, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Games save progress at checkpoints. Ministry has them too—moments where we pause, breathe, and take stock. They don’t erase what came before, but they prepare us for what’s next.
Game devs publish patch notes—small tweaks, bug fixes, balancing changes. What if we thought of spiritual practices as patch notes for our souls? Small adjustments of sanctification, version after version, refining us.
September 2, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Game devs publish patch notes—small tweaks, bug fixes, balancing changes. What if we thought of spiritual practices as patch notes for our souls? Small adjustments of sanctification, version after version, refining us.
Failure in games isn’t the end—it’s an invitation to learn, retry, and respawn stronger. Faith works the same: resurrection is baked into the system.
September 1, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Failure in games isn’t the end—it’s an invitation to learn, retry, and respawn stronger. Faith works the same: resurrection is baked into the system.
Some say video games are escapism.
But I’ve seen them become cathedrals—where grief gets named, joy gets shared, and grace respawns daily.
But I’ve seen them become cathedrals—where grief gets named, joy gets shared, and grace respawns daily.
August 26, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Some say video games are escapism.
But I’ve seen them become cathedrals—where grief gets named, joy gets shared, and grace respawns daily.
But I’ve seen them become cathedrals—where grief gets named, joy gets shared, and grace respawns daily.
Every time one ministry amplifies another’s work, the Kingdom grows louder than the platform wants it to.
Collaboration is resistance.
Celebration is strategy.
Collaboration is resistance.
Celebration is strategy.
August 25, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Every time one ministry amplifies another’s work, the Kingdom grows louder than the platform wants it to.
Collaboration is resistance.
Celebration is strategy.
Collaboration is resistance.
Celebration is strategy.
Our competition isn’t First UMC—it’s the infinite scroll.
Build homes that outlove the algorithm: trust, belonging, transformation.
Build homes that outlove the algorithm: trust, belonging, transformation.
August 21, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Our competition isn’t First UMC—it’s the infinite scroll.
Build homes that outlove the algorithm: trust, belonging, transformation.
Build homes that outlove the algorithm: trust, belonging, transformation.
Practice Sabbath in your settings.
Turn off autoplay, schedule DND, leave one hour unposted.
Rest isn’t absence—it’s resistance to the scroll.
Turn off autoplay, schedule DND, leave one hour unposted.
Rest isn’t absence—it’s resistance to the scroll.
August 19, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Practice Sabbath in your settings.
Turn off autoplay, schedule DND, leave one hour unposted.
Rest isn’t absence—it’s resistance to the scroll.
Turn off autoplay, schedule DND, leave one hour unposted.
Rest isn’t absence—it’s resistance to the scroll.
Play can be prayer.
Sometimes holiness looks like a quiet lobby where someone finally types, “I’m not okay.”
Go there. Stay there.
Sometimes holiness looks like a quiet lobby where someone finally types, “I’m not okay.”
Go there. Stay there.
August 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Play can be prayer.
Sometimes holiness looks like a quiet lobby where someone finally types, “I’m not okay.”
Go there. Stay there.
Sometimes holiness looks like a quiet lobby where someone finally types, “I’m not okay.”
Go there. Stay there.
My first for the Phygital Fellows.
Few things bring me quite as much joy as when ‘professional people’ share my work where I get to talk about Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop. 7-year-old Nathan would be so proud.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Few things bring me quite as much joy as when ‘professional people’ share my work where I get to talk about Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop. 7-year-old Nathan would be so proud.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Ever Ancient, Ever New: A Calling to Digital-First Ministry
Nathan Webb
substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 3:38 PM
My first for the Phygital Fellows.
Few things bring me quite as much joy as when ‘professional people’ share my work where I get to talk about Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop. 7-year-old Nathan would be so proud.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Few things bring me quite as much joy as when ‘professional people’ share my work where I get to talk about Fullmetal Alchemist and Cowboy Bebop. 7-year-old Nathan would be so proud.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Some folks won’t meet Jesus through a sermon.
They’ll meet Jesus through your YouTube comments, your Discord replies, your presence in the margins.
That’s pastoring, not posting.
They’ll meet Jesus through your YouTube comments, your Discord replies, your presence in the margins.
That’s pastoring, not posting.
August 14, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Some folks won’t meet Jesus through a sermon.
They’ll meet Jesus through your YouTube comments, your Discord replies, your presence in the margins.
That’s pastoring, not posting.
They’ll meet Jesus through your YouTube comments, your Discord replies, your presence in the margins.
That’s pastoring, not posting.