A ministry of The Grandmaster Project
I paint the game characters we grew up with to tell the story of Jesus.
The Gospel According to Nintendo is a series of more than 30 paintings that pair classic video game characters with Scripture. We bring it to churches, schools, campuses and conventions so people who grew up with a controller in their hands can hear the gospel in a language they already speak.
Saved
Romans 10:9 · James E. Whitley III
30+
Paintings in the series
2016
Sharing it since
5
Cities in Japan, 2019
800
Books printed in Japanese
Watch
See what a night looks like.
The event
The Gospel According to Nintendo Experience
Kids' Bible lesson · Centreville Baptist Church
Mario and Luigi's Big Adventure
The heart of the series
What is the Gospel According to Nintendo?
In his words
James talks about the series
Pure Nintendo · 2018
"James has found a way to incorporate his love of God into his various video game themed paintings."
Free for churches
Can't get us to your church? Host the night yourself.
The Event Kit has everything we use: all 38 paintings ready to print, an editable gospel presentation with speaker notes, gallery cards, and a host guide for game stations, cosplayers, and an obstacle course.
How the paintings preach
Every painting is built around a verse.
Gamers already know what it means to lose a life, find a power-up, or need someone to rescue them. I use those pictures to open up what the Bible says about sin, grace, and new life in Christ.
Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments
The two controllers stand in for the stone tablets. A lot of people see God's law as something in the way, but it works like a controller. It guides you and keeps you out of danger, and when you let go of it, things go badly fast.
Romans 3:23
All Have Sinned
These are the best heroes in gaming, and they still fall short. That's the point. Even the best of us can't get into heaven on our own record. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
1 John 2:25
Eternal Life
Grab the star in the game and you're invincible for a few seconds. The life Jesus promises is different. Once you receive it, nobody can take it back from you.
Bring it to your church
A gallery night, a gospel talk, and a lot of fun.
You pick the pieces that fit your crowd. A youth night might want the whole experience. A men's breakfast might just want the testimony and a few paintings on easels.
The art on display
Original paintings, canvas prints, or the portfolio, set up on your walls or on our easels.
My testimony and the gospel
I walk through the paintings and share how Jesus changed my life, then we open it up for questions.
The kung fu brothers demo
Two plumbers settle it with kung fu. It's a crowd favorite with kids, and it gets everyone in the room.
Japan · November 2019
We took it to the country where these games were made.
Japan is one of the least reached nations in the world, and almost everyone there grew up with these characters. In November 2019, Philippe Prosper, John Konisiewicz and I spent two weeks sharing the gospel through the paintings, sent by CBMC and McLean Bible Church.
We printed a Japanese edition of the book for the trip and gave it away at every stop.
Akita · Niigata · Tokyo · Kanagawa · Osaka
"You've taken the truth of the Gospel and paired it with the 'Hero's Journey' that is seen in the most basic of stories: Super Mario Bros."
Tim I. · Cartoons Got Saved
Meet the artist
I'm James Whitley.
I grew up in Washington, DC, and these games were a huge part of my childhood. I gave my life to Jesus in 2007. In 2015 the idea came to me to bring my faith, my art, and the games I loved into one series of paintings.
I'm an artist with The Grandmaster Project, and I've shared this work alongside my ministry brother Philippe Prosper at churches, schools, and conventions here and in Japan.
Partners
Churches, ministries and community partners who have hosted or worked alongside The Gospel According to Nintendo.
Churches & Ministries · United States
Christian Business Men's Connection
Reaching Japanese for Christ
Washington International Japanese Church
Rockville, MD
Farmingdale, NY
Jirani Coffeehouse
Manassas, VA
Manassas Christian School
Tree of Life Co-Op
Churches & Ministries · Japan
Heaven's Cafe
Win Love Ministries · Minamiuonuma, Niigata
Abide Christian Church
Osaka
Omagari Lutheran Brethren Church
大曲ルーテル同胞教会 · Akita
Akita Bible Baptist Church
Akita
Community
One Love Manassas
with the City of Manassas
Manassas, VA
Want this at your church, school, or event?
We don't charge a speaking fee. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll put together the right night for your people.