By Marilyn Miller
Mission Statement: “Gaming with purpose—building community, supporting causes, and giving players a place to belong.” The Game Warriors
Charles and Sonya Bell are co-founders of a “sorta” new non-profit organization in Minden. Ask Charles and it’s like, “Well, we’ve been doing it 15 years on and off.” Fifteen years?? And prior to finally finding a meeting space at the CCAM (Christian Church at Minden), “we had a ‘home’ thing.”
It all started out as a youth group raising money. The kids got tired of the car washes and candy sales, and they ask their pastor if they could have a charity video game tournament. And the pastor said, “Yeah.” So, the “idea” was there…it just had no home. Some tournaments took place in the American Legion Hall, some at the Forestry Building, and several at the CCAM Youth Room. Then a former pastor of CCAM, Paul Gray, offered a building in the back. It needed work, but the Bell family “had to put the brakes on” first, because of COVID and next because son, Conner Bell, developed a tumor in his shoulder and was sent to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN for treatment. The tumor was eradicated, but it returned and more treatment was necessary. At that time (about three years ago), associate pastor Joel Gray offered permanent space for the organization. Trips to St. Jude’s aside, the Bells and volunteers managed to make the initial space “somewhat useable.”
“We even managed to have a couple of tournaments,” Bell said.
Today, there are 11 tournaments with prize money, with a 12th “Night of Champions” which features the previous winners. There are 15 to 20 gamers participating in the monthly tournaments or just showing up on a Saturday to play in the company of like-minded folks from the ages of 14 to 40. Bell would very much like to grow that number.
Game Warriors is a 501c3 charity today, and all monies (with the exception of prize money) go to a specific cause each month. For instance, on Saturday, Oct. 31 the Charity Video Game Tournament will support the Joe LeBlanc Food Pantry “Feed a Family” program. Other sustaining charities are the Minden St. Jude Auction (St. Jude’s), the Make-a-Wish Foundation, RAINN (rape, abuse, incest national network); and Extra Life (raises money for area hospitals).
“Sometimes we will step up and have a tournament like the Minden Police Department’s domestic violence event. And we’ve helped Holy Angels of Shreveport and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.”
“We pray about them. And, of course, we experienced it at St. Jude’s, and we see the impact of Joe LeBlanc. There are a couple of others we’re looking into. We’re also raising awareness of these organizations…like I knew about the obvious ones.” But some he had never heard of before.
Currently, Game Warriors owns 52 different video games. Everyone plays on the same level, but eventually a Junior League will be added. Almost any Saturday, the Game Warriors Haven is open for “Frag Night” (fellowship, refreshments and games). On Thursdays, it’s “Pray and Play Day,” where requests from the Prayer Box are prayed over. “We have a little devotional, hang out and play games. We have a monthly calendar on our website so people know what is happening.”
“We make sure parents are okay with it (since the age of play starts at 13 or 14). Registration for tournaments is $10. The tourneys are double-elimination, bracketed and “we have four systems running at one time.” Each charity video game tournament takes place the final Saturday of the month at the Gamer Haven.
All of the proceeds from a tournament go directly to the charity. The money to have the tourneys is provided by Ludas Magnus Tactical of Sibley. Of course, CCAM provides the shelter, and there are other donors and volunteers. “We have a really good sponsor who has helped us a lot,” Bell said of Ludas Magnus.
Game Warriors has a board of directors which meets monthly. Members are Charles Bell, president & co-founder; Sonya Bell, secretary-treasurer & co-founder; Callie Martin, board & vice president; Conner Bell, board; Sadie Maddox, board; and Jacob King, board. CCAM Pastor Greg (and Angel) Lee “have been very supportive and encouraging.”
“We’re building a community of gamers who have a safe place to come and play,” Bell said. “There’s a stigma with gamers (that we are lazy). We are not. We want to help people who are stuck in certain situations…we want to build a better community…there are too many people who need help.”
Contact Game Warriors at gamewarriorsunite@gmail.com or www.game-warriors.org.
