Millions Watched this Church Christmas Video

Okay, a million and 1 have now watched the video. Almost 4 minutes of my life I will never get back.

Lee

As multi-site churches and megachurches continue to grow, more congregations have staff members dedicated to multimedia resources. Southland, which draws in between 12,000 and 15,000 attendees a week among four campuses, creates at least 150 videos a year and shows original clips every Sunday. More than a third of today’s churches project materials during services, triple as many as in 1998, according to the National Congregations Study.

I was Pastor of a small rural church. We purchased a 55-in flat screen and placed it in front of the pulpit on a short platform. The pews were elevated in each row, so there was no issue with not being able to see the TV. I simply had a laptop with PowerPoint slides on the pulpit, connected to the TV with an HDMI cable. As I preached, I simply advanced the slide as appropriate to show pictures, verses, info-graphics, etc.

It cost us a grand total of $350.00 - much cheaper than a projector. Of course, our sanctuary was rather small and a TV worked fine (although, I suppose “small” is a relative term. We could have comfortably fit 80 people, and could have squeezed in 120 if we were desperate).

It isn’t only “big churches” which can do projections to accompany sermons. Any small church can do it, if they want to find a way. Very easy with today’s technology.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

[Jim]

As multi-site churches and megachurches continue to grow, more congregations have staff members dedicated to multimedia resources. Southland, which draws in between 12,000 and 15,000 attendees a week among four campuses, creates at least 150 videos a year and shows original clips every Sunday. More than a third of today’s churches project materials during services, triple as many as in 1998, according to the National Congregations Study.

As of about 6 months ago, my church (figure I just heard: 3,500 regular attendees) has a full-time “multimedia designer.” He seems to have plenty to keep him busy.

He produces original videos for pre-service or in-service viewing (we use a typically 1-minute video to introduce & illustrate the sermon theme during the transition between the choir/orchestra/band/etc. leaving the platform and the start of the sermon). We also use video announcements extensively, both pre-service in the auditorium (twin 14 x 7 foot rear-projection screens) and in our commons area (several wall-mounted 55” monitors). He produces other videos for other ministry uses (Sunday School classes, Youth ministry, Missions, etc). Plus there are website graphics (new website coming soon) and numerous print items he creates.