Our Best Blog Posts of 2017
As we move into the new year, I’d like to share some of our favorite blog posts from 2017. These articles were written by several church media leaders – those who are in the trenches of production – either on staff at a church or in a ministry setting of some kind. Check out some of these great posts from our archives:
by Trevor Miller
So this is Love : Creative video from concept to completion
“So this is Love?” was a concept for our latest sermon series on marriage at
Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church. As a church staff we believe that one of the greatest needs in the Church today is to equip marriages, enrich marriages and renew marriages. The phrase that ignited this sermon series idea was, “Falling in love is easy, but staying in love is messy”. From this we began to develop our approach.
by Carl Barnhill
When leading volunteers, I’ve learned the importance of consistent training, both for new members of our team and for veteran volunteers.
When leading teams, occasionally I would offer some “Advanced Training” sessions on a Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon or another specified time, to give people the opportunity to learn more about the positions they were serving in.
For Camera Operators, I would offer an Advanced classes on Stationary Camera and Roaming/Stage Camera positions.
by Jonathan Malm
Evaluation is critical if you want to be effective.
Is what we’re doing working? Could it be better? Is it still necessary that we do ____? These are the types of critical questions you should be asking about each element of your church service. And I mean every element, no sacred cows.
Here are some tips to make sure your worship service evaluation is as effective as possible.
by Stephen Brewster
Teams are the most valuable resource that is ever entrusted to you.
I have been blessed to work with some amazing teams in my life, and likewise on some teams that just didn’t quiet have what it took to find success. As a leader we all find ourselves in different seasons. When I moved to Cross Point about 6 years ago, the team that was in place there was 3 full time and one part time employees. They were super close and had great chemistry. When I left a few weeks ago we had grown our little family from 3 and half to 24! Starting at Real Life in Orlando, I join a team that is over 20. Both opportunities are exciting but very different.
by Jonathan Pearson
Learn
Leaders are learners. When we stop learning, we’ll soon quit leading… leading well at least. The thing that I’ve learned from some of the best leaders I’ve ever been around is that they’re willing to learn from anyone. It doesn’t have to be an “expert” in a field or even a leader, but they’re willing to learn from those they lead and those that have something to teach.
I think one of the reasons we often fail at learning is because we get prideful in our leading. We can get so busy with the day to day that we’re unwilling to slow down, humble ourselves and seek counsel and seek leadership wisdom.
by Matthew Fridg
For multi-camera live video production, one of the most important things we can do is allow the audience to feel connected to what’s happening on stage.
Since many people may be sitting at a distance, it’s easy for the band members or the preacher on stage to appear tiny or far away. We want to give everyone (even those watching the livestream) a front row seat. So learning a few camera basics will allow you to create excellent productions that elevate the actions of those on stage.
by Michael Valletta
If you are on a church staff, prepping for your weekend events, this blog should make sense to you.
You’ve got time slots for worship, meet and greet, offering and of course the sermon. Some of you will also have a slot for announcements. Some of you aren’t fond of announcements, and I understand that too.
However, church staff members and volunteers go to great lengths to put events or gatherings together so that smaller groups within your church can grow and support each other in times of joy and pain, success and failure. So, what’s the best way to structure your announcements? Here are a few tips to help you put your best foot forward.
by Ben Stapley
Hey there everybody, my name is Ben Stapley and my desire is to help you create and capture moving and memorable moments.
Today I want to give you 10 steps to build a photo team at your church. Now you might not work in the church or non-profit world but don’t worry, if you lead or work with volunteer and professional photographers, these steps will apply to you. The reason we want to build a photo team is because the church has the most important message to communicate – that everyone is unfathomably loved by God. So the church needs the best communication tools to convey that message. And great photos are one of those communication tools.
by Carl Barnhill
In leading a few production teams on staff at churches and coaching volunteers through the ministry I run at Twelve:Thirty Media, I’ve noticed a few recurring things that keep popping up in successful teams across the country.
First – let me define “successful”. I believe that success with production teams is measured in a few different ways.
by James Wasem
In-ear monitors or personal monitor systems can be a great tool for both the worship team and the sound team.
One of the primary benefits of using in-ear monitors is that they can dramatically reduce the overall volume on stage. This lower stage volume helps the sound tech craft a better mix since there is no longer any influence from the stage monitors. This is also to the benefit of those sitting in the first couple rows.
by David Leuschner
When it comes to video, keep it simple.
I had been a technical director for about 10 years before starting at a new church. We were launching the video ministry. We had only done IMAG on the screens for a few weeks when I decided to adapt the switching style from my last church. I pushed the volunteers to take complicated shots. I wanted it to be the best switched service out there! I wanted to implement the format of a major music awards show or a concert with some edgy switching. Then I talked with someone who worked those big events. They said, “most of our camera ops have just one function. They don’t do a lot of crazy shots.”
