FarmVille Fellowship
VALENCIA — Although many already called themselves neighbors, some in a group Saturday at Valencia United Methodist Church had never met in person.
Donning bandannas, cowboy hats, flannel shirts and overalls, members of the group were neighbors in FarmVille, a real-time farm-themed Internet game accessed through the Facebook site.
As part of the game, "farmers" tend to virtual crops and livestock, accruing rewards through successful farm management.
Although chores like planting, feeding and fertilizing earn the player rewards, the timeline for those tasks continues even when players are offline.
That's where neighbors come in: Friends granted access to a player's site can help complete the chores. Increasing neighbors also can earn a player more land.
"It's a pretend world where we're giving and receiving and chatting and asking for favors," said Karen Datt, 66, of Valencia, one of about 45 attending the social.
Neighboring usually begins when players grant access to personal friends. But befriending friends of friends can lead to to expansive networks.
"Any of my friends on FarmVille can suggest friends for me," said Ken Bray, 40, of Karns City. "That's how I got most of my friends."
Bray's neighbors include his mother, Peg Martin, married to pastor Bob Martin, who delivered a "Love Thy Neighbor" message.
Through his mother, Bray became neighbors with Marilyn Boyle, 64, of Valencia — whom he met for the first time at the gathering.
Although Boyle had known Datt in childhood, the two unexpectedly reunited in FarmVille through Boyle's sister-in-law. Peggy Martin met Datt through Boyle.
"It migrates," Boyle said.
Although about 45 people attended the party, Datt counted 10 she knew personally."It's kind of like a blind date," she said."We help each other every day. We harvest crops, we give animals and gifts, but we had no face or voice with this person."Although Datt planned originally to host the event at home, the guest list grew beyond her capacity. So the Martins offered the church hall, where food and farm-themed activities enhanced the occasion.As well as extending hospitality, the Martins saw the event as an opportunity for outreach."Some of these people aren't churched at all," Peggy Martin said. "(This is a way) to get them into church to see that we are doing things that they are doing.""The bishop has instructed us as pastors to meet people where they are," agreed her husband, also a FarmVille player."Jesus said go into the world and make disciples. On FarmVille, it's pretty easy. You just go and make friends."
