Why Most Churches....
buy the same thing three times
Here me say this: the money your church will save by bringing a qualified A/V contractor and
consultant in at the beginning of the process will be saved by the mistakes that are not made.
This isn’t a sales-pitch; this is truth.
If in the renovation process, the same is true: earlier is better. Let the experts be the champion for
the church. Allow them to fight the battles with electricians, GC’s and architects. After the
construction is complete, it will cost exponentially more to retrofit.
Finally, if your church is just beginning to use video, consider the applications you want to include
(song lyrics, sermon points, video announcements, testimonial videos, IMAG) and pick up the
phone to get some help. Find an expert that will work with your church and not only recommend
equipment, but also will train your volunteers and staff on the operation and maintenance.
Sit down with your consultant and tell them what you want to do and allow that expert to then
design a system to fulfill your needs. Their research and your input will create a system. Make
sure the system has a clear upgrade path for growth. That system will have a certain price. That
price is now your budget. If you can’t spend that, find a way to raise the money or hold off on the
purchase of the system.
“What should I consider for my video system?”
This will depend largely on what you want to do with video. In order to get you thinking along the
lines of what’s possible, I’ll list different video options that churches are using.
• Video projection in the Sanctuary.
- Song Lyrics
- Sermon Notes
- Video Illustrations
- Animated video backdrops
- Videotaped testimonials
- Announcement videos
• Stage/Choir reference video
- Sermon notes for Pastor to see
- Song lyrics for praise team singers
- Projection system in sanctuary facing choir loft
- Sound booth/ Tech booth reference monitors
• TV information displays.
- Foyer announcements
- Hallway information system
- Kiosks (You are here. Preschool is to your right)
- Foyer/Lobby overflow for parents with disruptive children
• Stage Video
- Additional monitors on stage (could be projectors, plasmas, TV’s) that has
looping animations to enhance the look.
- Music videos synced with live band and live singers.
• Video Cameras
- IMAG (Image Magnification) of pastor, singers, etc. for large sanctuaries
- Shoot and edit testimonials, promotional spots for activities, create a Visitor’s
Video, etc.
The possibilities are almost endless. The information that people can utilize from these video
displays is amazing. Don’t be overwhelmed by all of these options. Consider what it is your
church wants to accomplish with video and develop a plan to implement the technology and
training in stages. Research how you want to reach your audience and then work with your
consultant to formulate a plan to do it.
Be a good steward of God’s money. That means spend it once, not three times.
Used by churches all over the world to help teach worship, the Experiencing Worship study can help your worship team too.
Your team will learn why we worship and gain a better understanding of how to worship.
One user said..."Your 5 week study course has made a tremendous impact on my life in the study of worship... I would like to express my thanks for a well written study course that leads into a higher realm of praise and worship."
This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.