A THEOLOGY graduate whose Ph.D. research topic focused on how Gen Z and Millennials encountered God outside church buildings has created trading cards “with Pokémon-style aesthetics” to present biblical wisdom.
Dr Michael Tang, a programme coordinator for Southwark diocese and a barista, told the Church Times that he hoped to have interaction a recent generation through the cards. “I attempted to make something which is more accessible, supports culture, and squeezes in a message on to the training card,” he said.
Launched in September, each of the Kairos Cards features scripture and theological reflection. They are priced at £8 each and available online and within the church café Sacred Grounds, Dean Street, in Soho.
Michael TangDr Michael Tang, creator of Kairos Cards
The “empty tomb” card shows a tomb with a white cloth blowing within the wind, and three crosses standing on a hill within the background. Underneath is Mark 16.6: “He isn’t here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
Dr Tang said that the gathering had received positive feedback. “People prefer it, and children keep asking their parents to purchase it.”
Originally from Hong Kong, Dr Tang has covered the associated fee of professionalducing the primary set of cards, but has since created a GoFundMe page to boost funds for an extra series, which can present questions on on a regular basis life, resembling why people suffer. He hopes to boost £2000 to print 800 sets. He plans to create cards that feature Joseph, Job, and Elijah, in addition to figures from the New Testament.
These future series can even present wisdom from historic thinkers, including Christian theologians.
Dr Tang’s favourite card features the resurrection of Jesus, and can be released in time for Easter.
“These cards contain real theological substance, because Gen Z is definitely hungry for meaning. They’re just done with church language that feels irrelevant to their lives,” he said.
The cards were portable, he said. “You can’t easily share a theology textbook, but you possibly can pull out a card over coffee, post it in your [Instagram] story, give it to a friend. It transforms theology from something you study in isolation into something you discuss in community.”
Kairos Cards are in the stores in English and Traditional Chinese at: soloist.ai/kairos-en
