Biblical board games aim to give hope to young people

Pauline Shum Sui-ping has come up with a new and fun way for young people to learn more about the Bible and its messages.

Pauline Shum Sui-ping introducing a biblical game she designed, in Macau, on July 10, 2009. She was responding to a sudden increase of suicides among young people. — UCAN photo

In March 2007, shocked by the increase of suicides among young people, she felt that a greater understanding of the Scriptures would help bring a message of hope to those who apparently had none.

Her answer was to come up with a board game called “The Great Leader, Moses” based on the Old Testament prophet’s life. She says there are many inspiring messages one can glean from Moses’ life, the first being never to give up on oneself.

“Moses did not give up on himself after fleeing the pharaoh’s palace to become a shepherd,” she said. “I hope my game encourages young people not to give up on their lives so easily.”

The game can be played by three to six people. Players throw dice and move their tokens on the board with the aim of reaching the “Promised Land.” In the course of the game, they will land on squares that require the answering of bible-based questions. Clue cards are on hand to help.

Pressed by her customers, who liked this game, she came up with another one based on the life of Christ, called “The Great Teacher, Jesus.” This game was launched in September 2008.

Shum, owner of Resonance Publisher, also illustrates biblical storybooks depicting the lives and teachings of Jesus, Moses and other biblical figures.

The single mother with a 21-year-old daughter, said she hopes her religious games and storybooks will subtly inculcate the values of the Christian faith in children.

The designer has experienced the value of faith herself. In April, her stock was flooded and computers ruined when firefighters put out a fire at a building next to her company. “At first I felt so anxious because I had lost everything within minutes,” she said. But she was inundated with consoling phone calls and emails from friends and even strangers that showed her “the grace of God” and helped “consolidate” her faith.

Young Catholics who have played Shum’s games give them the thumbs up.

Margaret, for one, said the Moses game not only helped her to learn the story of the Israelite’s exodus, it also helped her realize that just as Moses persevered in his mission, “we also should not give up easily.”