Video in the Church

In last week’s post on the use of video in the church, I asked two questions:

Why would a church not embrace one of the most powerful forms of communication today?
Why would we not speak the truth in a mode of communication that is best understood by our communities?

Once a church does decide that it wants to move forward and engage the culture with this form of communication, it is not merely enough to buy and install the equipment in the sanctuary. Indeed, there is much to consider in utilizing the equipment in a way that enhances the worship experience and glorifies God.

After last week’s post, Paul Liggitt, of Paul Liggitt Communications, and founder of Mission Video, made the following comments:

As a believer and an evangelist for multimedia in the Christian community I see three main obstacles:

Having someone who knows how to communicate with the medium(s) and who can produce media with sufficient production value so as not to distract from the message. A storyteller.

Acquiring basic equipment that costs some money (but no where near what it used to cost.)

A willingness on the part of the pastoral leadership to allow various degrees of video and multimedia to advance the church’s mission and to be spirit-filled guardians of the presentations so that God is always magnified.

We serve a creative God who showed us how to communicate. It is all about the message, but just as Christ came to us in the form of a man, we should use every tool available to reach the world.

To explore these ideas more thoroughly, click here.

Once your church installs the appropriate equipment, then, you must carefully discern ways to use the communication tool to most effectively enhance worship and proclaim the gospel. Here are a few ways that video can be of service:

display of lyrics for all congregational songs (consider software made especially for worship)
display of Scripture passages
images that enhance a part of the worship service
testimonies ( a real value in filming and editing testimonies for maximum impact)
film clips to help with the sermon
mission video promotions (many great free resources from BSCNC, NAMB, and IMB)
short videos for various uses available through church video sources on the internet
creation of “infomercials” about church activities
video of recent missions trips or ministry projects
background images for musical presentations of other church productions
video interview with a missionary oversees (via Skype or other communication service)
image magnification – if your worship center is large, you can use the video system to show the pastor as he preaches or others who are leading worship to aid with communication.

Careful planning to utilize video with excellence is so important. Haphazardly throwing together media to use in worship can be more distracting than enhancing.

There are many more ways to use video. Share some ways your church uses video effectively.