Rolling for Connection: A New Way to Gather, Imagine, and Belong 

By Josh Carr 

What if hospitality looked a little different? 

Imagine a table where strangers become companions, where storytelling replaces small talk, and where imagination opens doors to connection. This is the heart of a new young adult ministry taking shape—one built around the collaborative storytelling game Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). 

For those unfamiliar, D&D is a guided storytelling experience. Each participant creates a character and, together, the group embarks on an unfolding adventure. There are no winners or losers—only shared journeys, creative problem-solving, and moments of laughter, tension, and discovery. One person, called the “Dungeon Master,” helps weave the story, while everyone else helps bring it to life. 

So how does this fit into ministry? 

At its core, D&D is about gathering people and making space for them to belong. Around the table, participants practice intentional listening, empathy, and cooperation. They make choices, face challenges, and explore questions of identity, courage, justice, and hope—all within a safe, imaginative setting. 

For young adults especially, this kind of space can be deeply meaningful. Not everyone finds connection in traditional settings. Some may feel unsure walking into a worship service or unsure how to join in. But a storytelling table? A shared adventure? That can feel different—more accessible, more inviting. 

In this ministry, the table becomes a place of radical hospitality. No experience is needed. Whether someone has never heard of D&D or has been playing for years, all are welcome. The goal isn’t mastery of rules—it’s connection. 

Participants might find themselves: 

• Working together to solve a mystery 

• Supporting one another through fictional challenges that echo real-life struggles 

• Laughing over unexpected twists in the story 

• Discovering new friendships along the way 

And perhaps most importantly, they experience what it means to be part of a community where every voice matters. 

This is not about escaping the world, but about engaging it differently—through creativity, relationship, and shared meaning-making. It’s about meeting people where they are, in ways that speak to their lives and interests. 

So if you’ve ever wondered what D&D is, or if you’re simply curious about new ways of building community, consider this your invitation. 

Pull up a chair. 
Your story—and ours—is just beginning. 

Hear below from one of Sanctuary D&D’s newest Dungeon Masters! Miriam Goodchild took on the daunting challenge of DM’ing for the first time, and has been doing an incredible job alongside our other Dungeon masters and players! Miriam was asked to speak about their experience with Sanctuary D&D and their opportunity to run the game for the first time within a safe and inclusive space!  

“DnD was something I first heard about as a teenager, and while the moments I was actually able to try playing were very few and far between, I quickly fell in love with this organized yet improvisational method of storytelling. The idea of a narrator guiding the story with main characters that are free to make their own choices that, in turn, affect that same story is such a fun, unique concept. After I started getting more invested in Actual Plays like Critical Role as an adult, my desire to find a space to engage personally in this game resurfaced with a vengeance. Sanctuary DnD has since become the space I was looking for.  

I initially started out as a player. I had thought of DMing at some point in the past, but I was nervous to try. The pressure that I thought would follow such a position kind of intimidated me, but as I continued to attend Sanctuary DnD on a weekly basis, I realized that any pressure to do “well” I might have feared in other groups was practically non-existent here. Most of our dms were new, or had only tried it a few times before. Many players were in similar positions. Each session felt like we were all sort of figuring out the game together, and I found that it dissuaded most of my anxieties and awkwardness very quickly. There was such an overt focus on just having fun with each other, and lifting each other up. There was no pressure to be a “perfect” narrator at all, only to do your best, whatever that may be.  

So I decided to take the leap. And I have since learned that I adore DMing! Having easy and open access to the materials needed to run the adventures alleviates a lot of stress regarding preparations, and the structure of Sanctuary DnD has created a space where encouragement, kindness, and constructive conversation are valued above all else, which has immensely aided in my ability to develop good relations with my players (both as a dm and as a friend, imo). I enjoy the chaos that is running combat, as well as encouraging active roleplay between NPCs and players, and more recently, watching and sitting back as my players engage and converse with each other in-character.  

I find myself becoming aware, more than ever, of what a communal process DnD truly is. While it’s portrayed as “complex” and even “tiresome” by some, I really think DnD (and any other TTRPG, really) is kind of the ultimate form of group storytelling. The DM may be the “leader” by technicality, but it’s the players who are the real stars of the show, driving the story set out for them forward through each decision and dice roll. I find myself enjoying the moments where I get to reveal bits of lore just as much as when I step back and watch everyone else discuss current matters, make jokes, and debate what choices they want to make. I don’t feel like a strict authority as much as a supportive guide, thriving as I watch each character gain experience and further the narrative with increasing confidence. It’s such a special experience that doesn’t really compare to anything else, and is why I highly recommend these sorts of games to anyone who has any interest.” 

We hope you’ll follow along as Sanctuary D&D continues to evolve and carve out space for young adults within our communities!  

Contact: Jess Andrews, Campus Minister, University of Calgary