Volunteer Culture, Worship
Creating the Experience
Christians have a funny way of communicating.
Check out how we sound sometimes:
All believers are called to communicate and share with others what Jesus has done in us.
Sometimes we use words, sometimes we use music and song, and sometimes we use tools like audio, lighting, and video to create experiences where people can encounter Jesus. Where they can hear how Jesus lived and died for them. Where they can hear how they can take their next step in growing in their walk through baptism, membership in your church, serving, studying their bible, or finding community through groups. Where they can learn how to live a life that is daily surrendered to Jesus.
Your volunteers are a part of creating that experience for people. From your ProPresenter Operator to your Director, every little piece is a part of creating an excellent, distraction-free experience. People will come to your church, and keep coming where they may not go to another church. Why? Because of the experience they had.
Keep in mind also that your volunteers are worship leaders.
You are a part of leading your people into His Presence.
In fact, they are just as much a worship leader as the musicians on stage.
You must cast vision to your volunteers that they are not merely pushing buttons.
They are creating an experience.
If you’re volunteers do not have a heart for seeing lost people surrender to Jesus and for believers to grow in their walk, they perhaps may be on the wrong team. Encourage your volunteers to pray for those who walk in your doors for every service you do.
Ask them:
What do you want for the people that sit in our services?
What would happen in our city if the people that sit in these chairs at this church this Sunday were on fire for God?
What do you want them to experience when they see one of our services?
What do you want God to do in their lives?
In what ways are you casting a bigger vision for your volunteer team?
In what ways are you communicating that their service goes way beyond executing a production, but creating experiences for people to encounter Jesus?
CARL BARNHILL
Creative Director / Owner
[twelve:thirty]media | Columbia, SC
twelvethirtymedia.com
Carl Barnhill has served on staff at some of the largest churches and organizations in the country. He served as Media Director at Precept Ministries International, directing the television and radio program Precepts for Life with Kay Arthur, broadcasted to over 98 million homes around the world. He served as Video Production Director at Pinelake Church in Brandon, MS, where he produced media content for four campuses, as well as led volunteer teams.
He most recently served as Video Coordinator for Newspring Church in South Carolina. Newspring has 10 campuses across the state with a weekly attendance of over 35,000. At one campus alone, the number of consistent volunteers serving in media production tripled, under his leadership.
He currently serves as Creative Director and Owner of [twelve:thirty]media, a company that serves churches and ministries all over the world through motion graphics content and church media coaching.
