Faith Talks card game
In addition to the books, we created this card game – ‘Faith Talks’. This game encourages intergenerational conversations so that people of all ages can express their faith, listen to and learn from each other and deepen their personal faith. Most of the questions of this game aim for sharing personal experiences rather than knowledge.
We encourage you to try this game! The questions and actions on the cards will inspire and challenge you. But above all you will have a great time together while learning more about God, The Salvation Army and each other!
Spiritual conversations are one of the sources for our spiritual life. In a conversation we are able to find the words for what we think, feel, hope for and fear. In a conversation we are able to listen to the stories of others that help us to better understand ourselves, others and God. In a conversation we may be surprised by God’s presence through a simple word, feeling or image.
Jesus was a ‘Master’ of conversations that led to transformation. Sometimes Jesus shared a story, sometimes he asked a question and sometimes he explained something. Whatever he shared in the conversation, it changed something in the lives of people who joined the conversation. The disciples started to think and act differently, making them signposts to God’s Kingdom. Having spiritual conversations is life-giving and vital for anyone who wants to follow Jesus.
Download the game
‘Faith Talks’ is available in various languages as a PDF download, which can be printed or used on-screen.
See the cards
Group size
2-20 people
Colours of the cards
The game consists of cards in seven categories that link to the chapters in the book Called to be a soldier. Each category has a colour that corresponds to one of the seven colours of the rainbow. The colours reflect the covenant and promise from God: ‘I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth’ (Genesis 9:13 NIV). The seventh category, ‘Finish’, is for use at the end of the conversation.
How to play the card game – online
- Find a dice.
- Go to ‘Faith Talks’ on this website.
- Ask the youngest player to roll the dice to select a category.
- The player clicks on one of cards from the selected category and reads the question or action out loud.
- Let the reader respond first, then others can respond in turn.
- When the conversation on that topic has finished, close the card on the screen.
- Take as much time as you like.
- At the end, click on one of the purple coloured cards to close the conversation.
Categories of the card game
- Symbols – How The Salvation Army expresses itself through symbols and rituals
- Holy habits – How we connect with God (spiritual disciplines)
- Beliefs – What we believe (the doctrines)
- Faith into action – How we act (living by Kingdom values)
- Building relationships – How we connect with others (relationships)
- On a mission – How we connect with the community and creation (mission)
- Finish – How to close the conversation
How to use the cards in other settings
Classes and groups
The cards could also be utilised as an opener and closer to classes such as Junior Soldiers, Corps Cadets, Character Building, Sunday School, Scouts and Guides and Bible study groups. You could also decide to split into small groups and give each group a different card to discuss.
Meetings
Use the cards to encourage people to share their testimony in a meeting. Choose a card that links to the theme of the meeting. Project the card on a screen and ask someone to answer the question on the card. Or print a card and give it to someone before the meeting, asking them to respond to the question on the card in the meeting.
You could also project or print a card and use it to interview someone in the meeting.
Mentorship
Print a few cards and take them with you when you have a conversation with your mentor or mentee. Choose a card and have a conversation!
Finish cards
You can use the cards from this category to finish any conversation such as a pastoral visit, a Bible study or a meeting.
Acknowledgements
We are very grateful to everyone who helped us in creating this game.
Territorial youth secretaries from the different zones of The Salvation Army helped us in formulating the questions. We couldn’t have done this without you!
Thanks to Fernanda Rivera, our intern, who designed the game.
A special thanks goes to The Salvation Army's Australia Territory which gave us permission to use some of the questions from ‘Pass the Salt’. If you enjoyed our game and want to have more conversations, we recommend you order ‘Pass the Salt’. There is also an online version.