Pastor Karl’s Minecraft Realm Information
Do your kids play Minecraft? Would they like to play with other kids online? But would you, as a parent, like to know the people they are playing/chatting with have been vetted and it’s a safe place? No more playing or chatting with strangers! Your kids can join my world! (If approved, of course.)
MINECRAFT is a fun game that kids are enjoying – and for good reason, it encourages not only creativity, but also some engineering and community cooperation.
If you aren’t familiar with it, it is basically like virtual LEGO played on a computer, game console or phone/tablet.
There are two basic modes:
CREATIVE – you get access to all the pieces and can build whatever you can imagine! (PK’s Realm is in this mode)
SURVIVAL – you start out with nothing, and must find or build what you want/need. In Minecraft, the process and making things from other objects is called “Crafting” – you combine certain items to craft new items. For example, sticks and coal can be used to craft a torch.
Normally, Minecraft is an individual game played alone. However, if anyone else is on the same WiFi network, you can actually join worlds and play together, which my son and I do a lot and really enjoy. However, you are limited by WiFi. If someone lives elsewhere, you can’t play together… unless someone hosts a world, which is what Minecraft Realms is. It is a subscription service that only the host has to pay for. Players can join for free and play, but by invitation only from the host.
There are other ways to play online, but there are safety concerns as there is chat within the game (very helpful and fun) but kids have no idea who they are talking to, and that can obviously come with some risk, if kids aren’t well trained, supervised, and know what they can and should never share online.
THAT IS WHY I HAVE DECIDED TO HOST A SAFE WORLD.
I am paying for the hosting of a world called Build with PK. There is no charge for anyone to join my world. (Donations always welcome, but not required or expected.)
HOW TO JOIN?
Your child needs a user account from Minecraft.net – that isn’t free, and you need one per person (parents are welcome to join too!) If siblings want to share an account, they just won’t be able to play at the same time. If they haven’t already, it is recommended kids not use their real name, but create a fun name just for Minecraft.
Then – fill out the form at the bottom of this page. I vet the families of those I will allow in. This means, anyone your kids are playing with, I either know or have gotten a recommendation from someone I know that they are someone we want in there. Yes, I can immediately remove/ban any player who doesn’t play nice, or for any other reason that violates the safety of the community.
REQUIRED INFO TO JOIN: All I need is your child’s real name, Minecraft username, and one parent’s name and e-mail. (Phone optional) I do not communicate with kids outside of the game, I will contact the parents directly if there is anything I need to address about a player’s behavior in the game.
I encourage parents to play with their kids – its a lot of fun. But if you can’t or don’t want to, at least you can know who they are playing with are approved by Pastor Karl. I will give my personal email to parents so if they have any questions or concerns at any time, they can contact me.
Getting Started in the Game:
Find Highpoint Church and go into the Main Auditorium. I will post signs and messages on the wall in there. There is also a REALM FEED they can check and post to. I post pictures, messages, and even challenges there for the kids.
RULES IN MY WORLD (this is for your kids)
- Don’t wreck other players creations.
- Don’t take other players materials, from chests, etc. In creative mode, players have access to all materials.
- Pick an open space, and build your house!
- Put a sign on your creations to mark them as yours. Occasionally, PK will remove old creations no longer claimed by anyone.
- Be nice to other players, and only build post things that are good.
- Have FUN, be creative and “do to others what you’d have them do to you.” (That’s in the Bible!)
NOTE: Kids start out in Survival Mode (They will know what that is.) If they prefer Creative Mode they can request to be changed to Creative Mode but I can only change it if/when we are in the game at the same time. Creative Mode opens a lot of “power” so I often don’t do it for younger players as they can tend to get destructive with it, blowing things up with TNT, etc. Creative Mode requires self-control and courtesy not to wreck what other players have created. That is why all players start in the basic Survival Mode, but many kids prefer that, as they have to mine, craft and advance the game in states.
Any player who breaks rules will get one warning directly, next to the parents, and third time will be removed from the Realm. Mean behavior or bad language will result in immediate removal. We expect everyone to be kind and cooperative with each other. We want it to be a FUN and SAFE place to play together.
That’s it! Check out what others have done, then find a place you want to build and start your house and get creative! It is an infinity world, so no need to be crowded, spread out, explore, build, and have fun. You can always use a Compass to return back to the center/home of the game.
It is my prayer that this will create a fun and safe place where kids can play and build with others while giving parents some peace of mind about who their kids are playing with.
CAUTION: Like all fun things, Minecraft can be very addictive, and children lose all sense of time while playing. Have them finish homework, chores, etc. first – use this as an incentive for things you need done, and set time limits as well. Playing outside is still the best play for kids!
Some more pictures of Highpoint Church in Pastor Karl’s Realm:
Watch a Tour of our Minecraft Church from a previous Realm I ran:
Our theme verse:
You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
– 2 Peter 2:5
Pastor Karl Bastian
READY TO JOIN? Fill out this form and Pastor Karl will be in touch. Most likely by text to walk through the sign up process quickly.
FOR MORE INFO ON MINECRAFT REALMS, what I’m doing, and if you’d like to host your own for your own church, check out: https://minecraft.net/realms
Each Realm is limited to only 10 players playing at any one time, but can have unlimited members. Inactive players may be removed to allow active players to participate. They can always rejoin just by asking.