The Pastor's Guide To Visual Media

The Pastor’s Guide
to Visual Media
Table of Contents
Leader’s Guide..............................................................................................2 We speak as men

approved by God
The Power of Visuals to be entrusted
NOW YOU SEE THE SCREEN with the gospel.
by Tyler Charles...........................................................................................3 We are not trying
PREACHING BY FAITH AND BY SIGHT to please men but
God, who tests
by Eric Reed.................................................................................................5
our hearts.
ENGAGING A POST-LITERATE WORLD
by Andre Daley.............................................................................................8 —1 Thessalonians
2:4
Choosing and Using the Tools
GETTING YOUR MEDIA MINISTRY OFF THE GROUND
by Dave Clark.............................................................................................10
HI-TECH, LOW-BUDGET
by Ryan Hobbs...........................................................................................12
UNDERSTANDING MEDIA TYPES
by Ryan Hamm...........................................................................................15
TECHNICAL BASICS
by Len Wilson and Jason Moore................................................................17
USING FILM CLIPS IN PREACHING
by Marc T. Newman...................................................................................20
Additional Resources...............................................................................23
C H RIS TI AN ITY T OD AY
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
© 2009
Visit BuildingChurchLeaders.com
LEADER’S GUIDE
How to use “The Pastor’s Guide to Visual Media”
Welcome to BUILDING CHURCH LEADERS: Your Complete Guide to Leadership Training. You’ve purchased an
innovative resource that will help you develop leaders who can think strategically and biblically about the
church. Selected by the editors of Christianity Today International, the material comes from respected
thinkers and church leaders.
“Worship Essentials” is completely flexible and designed to be easy to use. Each theme focuses on a particular
area of worship ministry and comprises brief handouts on specific aspects of that ministry. The handouts give a
succinct and practical overview of the issues most relevant to your goals. You may use them at the beginning of a
meeting to help launch a discussion, or you may hand them out as brief primers for someone new to a particular
ministry.
This specific theme is designed to help your church make the best use of visual media in its ministry. You may
use it either for a group planning session or to give individually to people who would help prepare these videos.
Simply print the handouts you need and use them as necessary.
For example, to find some insights into the visual expectations of our culture, see “Preaching by Faith and by
Sight” (pp. 5–7) and “Engaging a Post-Literate World” (pp. 8–9). For help finding technology that your church
can afford, see “Hi-Tech, Low-Budget” (pp. 12–14). Or for answers to some of the most common technical
questions, see “Technical Basics” (pp. 17–19).
We hope this theme helps your church to be creative and effective in its use of media.
Need more material, or something on a specific topic? See our website at www.BuildingChurchLeaders.com.
To contact the editors:
E-mail BCL@christianitytoday.com
Mail Building Church Leaders, Christianity Today International
465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
© 2010 • Christianity Today International

BuildingChurchLeaders.com
THE POWER OF VISUALS
Now You See the Screen

Embrace the visual age—at your own pace.
1 Corinthians 3:5
When I picture the church from my youth, I remember the choir loft off to the right, a piano and organ to the
left, and the stained glass window in the center—its circle of colors shining down on the pulpit. Tucked
somewhere behind the pulpit was our baptismal, subtly concealed by flowers and candles, and blocked from
view by a behemoth Bible—always opened to Matthew, or Mark, or occasionally, thanks to an ornery youth, Song
of Solomon.
When we sang praise songs it was with hymnals splayed wide in our palms, or spread on the back of the pew in
front of us. Later, we referred to the words printed on a yellow or brown (or occasionally pink) bulletin insert.
Oh, we had a screen, but it was reserved for rare occasions—maybe a slideshow when a missionary came to
speak, or for displaying pictures after a short-term missions trip. The screen was one of those pull-down
contraptions that would conspicuously conceal the opening for the baptismal—covering candles, flowers, and
even the Bible.
When I was in high school, an interim pastor spent some time at our church. One Sunday, in the middle of the
sermon, the lights dimmed, and suddenly a familiar scene from Rudy leapt onto our screen. A movie in church?
There were murmurs, and it was impossible to gauge the sentiment they carried. The following week, the screen
was down, staring blankly at us as we shuffled into the pews. And sure enough, it happened again. Somewhere in
the middle of another sermon I don’t remember, the lights dimmed and the screen lit up. Instead of Rudy
Rudiger, this week we saw Eric Liddell (portrayed by Ian Charleston) in a scene from another familiar movie,
Chariots of Fire.
The first week had been exciting, but the novelty was gone by week two. Now we were wondering what was
wrong with this interim pastor. Why couldn’t he tell a compelling story without Hollywood’s help? “He really
likes these movie clips,” I heard someone say. It wasn’t meant as a compliment.
Believe it or not, this was only ten years ago. In the decade since, the church of my childhood has moved to a
new building. The circular stained glass window survived the transition—an elevated testament to a more
traditional time. Mounted in its newly-appointed place, the radiant glass shines down on a much different
environment. There is no choir loft, no hymnals. Soft, portable chairs have replaced thinly-padded pews. Most
notably, the lone pull-down screen has been supplanted. Mounted screens now occupy space above both sides of
a sprawling stage. Unlike their predecessor, these screens cannot be retracted; their role is evident to all who
enter—the screens are, and will remain, an integral part of the service.
For this church, the transition was relatively smooth. Of course, the head pastor (my former youth pastor) was, if
not tech-savvy, at least tech-literate. But this shift to the visual has impacted churches everywhere, and for some
the transition has been a little more gradual—or maybe even non-existent.

All churches are different; all congregations are unique. For some, a media ministry is indispensable. Others
might only be interested in using their screen for song lyrics—and even then, only occasionally. As
BuildingChurchLeaders.com strives to help churches embrace media ministry through this resource, we fully
understand that the specifics of each ministry need to be tailored to the make-up of each congregation.
Our goal is not to convince every church to use more visual media. Our goal is to equip churches to use visual
media in a way that will enhance their specific ministry—to help pastors master technologies and strategies that
seem too daunting today. We don’t want to see churches using visual media; we want to see churches using
visual media effectively.
This download was designed specifically for pastors. Comprised of articles that examine trends within the
church and the philosophy behind media ministry, it gives suggestions for how churches can start using media,
even if they have a limited budget. Wherever your church lands on technology’s ever-shifting spectrum, we
believe this download will assist you in your efforts to use media in the context of your ministry.
— TYLER CHARLES; © 2008 Christianity Today International/BuildingChurchLeaders.com
Discuss
1. What is the ceiling for media use in your church—philosophically, culturally, and pragmatically?
2. How effective are you in the ways that you currently use media?
3. Can you think of other churches that seem to use media in a way that is effective and consistent with their
identity?

Preaching by Faith and by Sight

Oral communicators are joining the visual revolution.
2 Corinthians 4:2
We are entering the third age of communication, according to Andy Crouch, culture guru and director of
Christianity Today International’s Christian Vision Project. The first age was oral communication, when history
and theology were captured in stories and shared around campfires and tables. The second age was written
communication, when the stories were committed to papyrus and sheepskin and paper and finally mass-
produced, thanks to Gutenberg. Now comes the third age. You might call it the age of Spielberg. Andy has coined
another name.
“Many centuries after the shift from oral to written culture, we are now well along in the transition to visual
culture—where the predominant mode of communication is images rather than words,” Crouch says. “Just as
the shift to writing required the skills we call literacy, so visual culture requires its own skills—for lack of a better
word, visualcy.”
For preachers, whose craft and trade is words both spoken and written, the question is: How then shall we
communicate?
Our recent survey of preachers shows the visual revolution is well underway. And this is about much more than
widescreen lyrics projected over purple mountain majesties and a few flying-bullet sermon points. The kind of
change Crouch and others describe is a large-scale adjustment to people who simply don’t get words the way
they used to.
Leadership surveyed 515 subscribers who, as lead pastors, preach regularly. Most have entered the visual fray—
some signed on willingly, others feel conscripted—but almost all have felt the ground shift beneath their pulpits
as technologies, audience expectations, and Game Boy learning styles make new demands on preaching. And on
the preacher. The television generation and its Web-wonk successors are changing the way we preach. Here’s
how:
“If you don’t have a drop-down screen, ten years from now your ministry will be dead,” Will Willimon quotes a
famous TV preacher telling him on the rostrum of a famous TV church. That was ten years ago.
While Willimon was making the case that incarnate words are not dependent on screens and the architecture of
some churches prohibits installation of a Jumbotron, Willimon’s big-screen goad had a point that in the
intervening ten years many congregations have accepted as fact. Some 73% of churches regularly use some kind
of visual enhancement.
More than half of pastors (58%) report their use of PowerPoint has increased in the past three years, and 50%
are using more multimedia clips from movies, TV, or other outside sources. About one-third of churches are
using more personal testimonies (36%), videos made by their staff or members (34%), and props (34%). And
one-fourth (24%) are using more artwork. The largest decrease has been in live drama, with 9% reporting they
use less drama today than three years ago.

Technology is increasing, and not only in contemporary services: 75% of all churches use video projection at
least once a month; 68% use video projection every week. As might be expected, smaller churches and liturgical
churches are less likely to use video and lighting technologies: Some 48% of churches under 100 attenders use
none of the technologies on our list, compared to 11% of churches over 500. And 56% of liturgical churches use
no video and lighting technologies, compared to 15% of contemporary churches.
But the gaps are not as great as they once were. Half of the smallest churches are using more technology now
than they did three years ago. And while half of contemporary/ blended services use more visual elements now
than three years ago, one-third of liturgical/traditional services also reported increases.
Even the churches whose heritage, facilities, and budgets hamper the use of technology are finding work-
arounds. The trend among emerging churches to project Renaissance paintings and eclectic homemade images
is making its way into all kinds of churches. Banners became “the new stained glass” in otherwise sterile
Protestant sanctuaries in the 1980s. Now, video is the new new stained glass.
Among all churches, the most common uses for visual elements are still functional rather than artistic: song
lyrics (92%), announcements, sermon points, and Scripture readings (75%). But increasingly pastors are
including visual elements in their services and sermons that communicate more than simple words on screen:
photographic images (70%), movie and TV clips related to the service (53%), video segments produced in-house
(43%), and artistic images (34%).
The shift from functional use of video to artistic (and therefore theological) use is under way. But who produces
the visual elements for worship? On average, in churches of all sizes, 39% of pastors produce the visuals used in
their sermons, 38% collaborate in their creation, and 23% delegate the job to someone else. In general, the
smaller the church, the more likely the pastor is to produce all the visuals. This is not news
What will be news in the next decade is how the growth of visuals affects budgets, staff, and volunteer recruiting.
Your Next Hire?

Next to a church’s preaching pastor, the most important staff member in the shaping of the message is the media
pastor, said the media pastor of a multi-site church whose web address ends in dot-tv. His audience at a national
church-media conference nodded as they typed on their laptops. The second hire in most congregations should
be the media pastor, he said.
The dot-tv media pastor and his team then showed a half-dozen stunning videos they used as openers for their
pastor’s sermons. This is the new wow factor at megachurches: TV network quality videos that connect with the
audiences and set up the message. In some churches, these videos are replacing drama, the quality of which
cannot be guaranteed when church-league actors take the stage.
But they are expensive. In 72% of the reporting congregations, worship technologies are operated by volunteers.
But we are hearing of the increase of paid A/V staff members in churches of all sizes. Among churches with more
than 500 in attendance, one-half have paid A/V staff. In some congregations, a new position called “worship
producer” is emerging, as image-heavy worship services need support similar to the behind-the-scenes staffing
of television shows.
The implication for pastors in churches of all sizes is this: If you aren’t involved in the development of your
church’s multi-media, you should be. Eager, often young media whizzes have the skills, but they need guidance.
Without it, your sermon may be at odds with its purported visual support, and your worship service will be
sending mixed messages.
Must Eye?
One of the panelists at that media conference was a young filmmaker, a prodigious college senior who was
editing his final film project before graduating. He served as a good counterbalance in a room of gung-ho
multimedia pastors and doubtful one-medium preachers. “Don’t add video to your sermons just to impress my
generation,” he warned. “We’ve seen it all, and we’ve seen better than you can produce.”

And, he said, you run the risk of looking, well, not cool.
That was sound advice, especially for pastors concerned about the cool factor, connecting with culturally aware
listeners, and their own comfort level.
For some pastors, the take-away is to use new technology to prepare the sermon, but beyond that, simply to take
themselves to the pulpit and tell the greatest story ever told, again. How preachers prepare sermons has changed
a lot in the last decade. Nine in ten pastors use the internet in sermon preparation, with more than half using
web gleanings extensively. Only 8% never use the web.
The most common resources sought online are illustrations and stories (78%), historical background (51%),
statistics (50%), and humor (45%). Even the grunt work of plumbing commentaries has gone electronic for 4 out
of 10 pastors. And about one-third are looking for artistic images, media clips, and references to pop culture
Only 1 in 5, however, listen to sermons by other preachers.
Overall, 58% of pastors are comfortable using technology when they are in the pulpit. In our survey, younger
pastors, pastors of larger churches, and pastors in contemporary services are more comfortable with multimedia
elements in their sermons, while 16% of the respondents were not at all comfortable.
Those who don’t use visual media in preaching have good reasons: the church doesn’t have adequate equipment
(43%) or time and talent (33%), the pastors feel unequipped to handle the technology (32%), or it’s not a good fit
with the worship style of the congregation (27%). Some choose not to use visual media because to them images
feel more commercial than spiritual (13%).
Visualcy Affects All Pulpiteers

Some 53% are asking how the message may be enhanced with imagery. That number is above 60% for larger
churches and contemporary services. And preachers are relying more on symbols, stories, and non-verbal means
of communicating the message.
They are following the young filmmaker’s subsequent advice: tell the story.
“In film, it’s all about the narrative,” he said. “And in the Bible, it’s the story that makes people come alive. Tell
the story—whether you use multimedia or not. You can make the images come alive by telling the story. That’s
what connects with my generation. They want to know the story, and they want to know you. That you believe
it.”
And that’s always cool.
— ERIC REED is a former managing editor of LEADERSHIP and media relations director for Christianity Today
International.
Excerpted from our sister publication Leadership journal, © 2007 Christianity Today International or the
author. For more articles like this, visit www.Leadershipjournal.net.
Discuss
1. Does our church have a clearly-defined role for a media pastor? If not, should we consider adding a media
pastor to our staff?
2. Has our use of visual media (and the reliance on a screen) changed in the last ten years? How?
3. What role do we expect media to play in our services in the next ten years?

Engaging a Post-Literate World

Using visual communication in worship.
1 Corinthians 9:22
“Preach the gospel at all times and, if necessary, use words.” This ancient maxim, attributed to Saint Francis,
may be more relevant today than ever before. In today’s visually oriented culture, we have come full circle from a
preliterate to a post-literate world. Words are no longer enough. In the same way that stained glass windows
communicated the gospel story to a preliterate world, visual media can communicate the gospel to a post-literate
world.
What Does the Gospel Look Like?

Visual communication means more than putting words to songs and sermon points on a screen. We can use a
variety of visual media to create and enhance our multisensory worship services.
 Prior to the start of worship, a worshiper or guest sees a continuous graphic loop on screen sharing
information about the day’s worship team as well as other relevant information.
 A short video clip or graphic montage can introduce the theme of the day’s worship in a kind of visual
prelude.
 On-screen graphics can enhance a sermon illustration or point. For example, an illustration about sailing
might include a graphic of a sailboat displayed briefly on the screen. Each message or series of messages
might have a specific graphic that illustrates the theme. A change in color or focus can communicate a
change in tone or indicate transformation in response to the Scripture’s message.
Visual communication should not be limited to visual media. Creative visual arts like painting and sculpture can
also greatly enhance worship communication. Consider the following suggestions.
 Use an artist or sculptor from the community or congregation to create an artistic interpretation of the
message or Scripture passage.
 Decorate the stage or platform with props that serve as visual cues for the day’s message. For example,
use running shoes and other gear on the platform or some other appropriate location in the worship
space for a message on running the race. Use a section of chain links for a message on the strength of
God’s link to us to remind worshipers how powerfully we are linked to God.
Tips for Getting Started

Just about now you may be beginning to sigh and wince as you consider adding yet another responsibility to
your already full plate. Relax! You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Several innovative churches and new media
companies produce resources that can help your church get started. Numerous websites and e-mail lists can
provide reviews, ideas, and tips.

A Word About Copyrights

A trip to the local Blockbuster or library is all you need to get movie videos. However, to avoid copyright
infringement, it is necessary to obtain a license to show video clips in a worship setting. The Motion Picture
Licensing Corporation (MPLC) provides low-cost blanket licensing for video similar to what CCLI does for
congregational songs. In addition, you may purchase a video clip library developed especially for worship from
some of the sources listed below.
Note that the MPLC license does not cover all movies and does not include the right to edit a video clip or copy it
from one media form to another. Permission to show a clip from a movie not covered by MPLC can often be
acquired by making a phone call to a studio and asking for the office that handles permissions. Last year we
wanted to use a clip from Saving Private Ryan from DreamWorks Studios. They are not covered by our license
so I made a phone call to the studio; they asked us to fax them a description of what we were going to do and
then faxed back permission. The only condition was that we would not show the whole movie or charge a fee.
Do It with Excellence
Does all this have to be done by the pastor and worship leader? No. Regardless of who initiates the vision for
using visual communication in worship, you’ll want to build a team to do the work. The team does not have to be
large, but it must be prepared to include others as the use of visual media expands. Anyone can share the
responsibility for finding ideas for clips and clip art and pictures. Share your vision with the team; train, equip,
and include them in the planning process. Having a team increases the knowledge base and the idea bank from
which to draw as you consider what type of visual media is most appropriate for communicating the Scripture
message.
Do only what you can do with excellence. Using visual communication in worship does not have to be expensive.
Start small and add pieces of equipment as you can afford it. Start with video clips, and then expand to shooting
your own videos. Be on the lookout for volunteers who have a heart for this kind of ministry.
Visual communication is a critical tool for communicating the good news of God in the 21st century. It has the
ability to bridge the gap between the culture and an encounter with God. Certainly God does not need visual
communication to connect with us, but God can and does use visual communication to get our attention.
Consider Moses and the burning bush. Videos, art, pictures, and other images can all help to connect the gospel
story with the stories of those who worship in our churches.
— ANDRE DALEY is lead pastor at Mosaic Life Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Excerpted from the September 2001 issue of Reformed Worship, © 2001 Faith Alive Christian Resources. Used
by permission.
Discuss
1. Are we licensed to show movie clips in church?
2. What are some basic (and inexpensive) ways we could include media in our services?
3. What are some other types of visual art (painting, sculpting, stage decoration) we could use to enhance a
worship experience?

CHOOSING AND USING THE TOOLS
Getting Your Media Ministry off the Ground

How churches can start using media.
Proverbs 12:15
As the media director at National Community Church in Washington, DC, I have seen media ministry impact
lives. Maybe it’s a baptism video that prompts someone in the service to decide to take that step in their own life.
Or maybe it’s a video illustration that helps the pastor’s sermon leave a lasting impression on the congregation.
Or when a great need is shown on the screen, maybe God will use that to call someone to the mission field.
I hear the same question from pastors all over the country: “How can we start using media in our church?” For
those who use media in their services every week, it is easy to forget that many churches aren’t using any media
at all. Some of these churches would like to incorporate media, but they don’t know where to start. So they
continue to do church the way they always have. For the pastors who would like to start using media but don’t
know where to begin, I have outlined the basic steps to help churches start using media effectively.
Get the Necessary Tools

At the very least, you need a screen or TV, a projector, and a DVD player or laptop. These are the basic tools you
need to use media in your church. You can use Microsoft PowerPoint to project images onto the screen, but if
possible, I highly recommend purchasing presentation software geared for church services. SongShow Plus,
Media Shout, Sunday Plus, and ProPresenter are all great options, along with many others. At NCC, we use
ProPresenter, and it has worked very well for us.
Getting Started
Once you have the basic equipment, displaying song lyrics, Bible verses, or sermon notes is one of the first things
I would recommend. Admittedly, this seems very simple. But if done poorly, this can become a distraction. For
example, don’t get too cute with the fonts. Readability is the most important factor. Choose a font that will be
easy to read even from the back of the church. Make sure the color of your background has a strong enough
contrast with your text.
The best option is white text with a drop shadow and a darker colored design for your background. Always triple
check for misspelled words and improper grammar, and ask at least two other people to proofread the content.
The next thing to consider is using videos or illustrations in the service. Maybe you don’t have access to a video
camera and editing software, but that’s okay. There is a plethora of media for churches available online.
Websites like PreachingToday.com provide various types of church media. Some churches also provide free
content, such as Lifechurch.tv and my church, National Community Church (also check out NCC’s
chasethelion.com). There are plenty of ways to get great media without ever having to touch a video camera or a
piece of editing software.

Shooting Your Own Videos

I talk with many church leaders who want to start shooting their own original video work, but they don’t do it
because they feel like they lack the necessary tools. When I first came to NCC five years ago, we had two Mini-DV
cameras and an older Mac desktop. We didn’t have much, but we maximized what we had and made it work for
us. So if all you have is a consumer video camera and iMovie (Mac) or Windows Movie Maker (PC) then go for it.
For starters, begin to learn about how to mic your subject properly and how to light a shoot, and you can create a
very nice looking video with the tools available to you.
If you’re interested in trying this, I would encourage you to start producing some original videos. Record your
pastor casting vision for where God is going to take your church in the next year and play it for your
congregation. Record testimonies of answered prayer of people in the church and share them so that the
congregation can be encouraged. Record baptism services and let those who are baptized have a copy of the
video to keep with them to remember that day. There is something special that happens when people see their
church in action on the screen. When they hear and see what God is doing in their church it causes people to get
involved and to own the vision of the church.
Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

This is really important. After making the decision to use visual media in their service, pastors often try to do too
much too fast. Sometimes they attend a conference or visit a mega-church, and they go home and try to
implement everything they saw there. Though their intentions are good, more often than not their visual media
ministry will fail before it ever gets started. Most churches that are using visual media effectively have taken
years to develop that aspect of their ministry. If you have some good ideas for media you think you can create, I
don’t want to discourage you from trying. But don’t expect immediate results, and don’t expect to get it right the
first time. Sit down with a few people you trust in your church and create a plan to get the ball rolling. Then work
with these people to implement the plan.
Volunteers Are Key

As soon as you have a plan, you should find a team of volunteers in your church who enjoy media and love
technology. Find the guy in your church who loves making home movies of his kids. Find the guy who has a big
screen TV and is always talking about the latest tech gear. Often, the best volunteers are college students or
teenagers. Either way, find some people who can help support this new endeavor. If you know there are people
who are passionate about playing a role in media ministry, get them involved! Not only will they help get your
ministry going, but their passion will bring vitality to your team.
Media, when used effectively, can be a catalyst for change in people’s lives. I’ve seen it at our church, and it’s
possible in your church, too. It is exciting to see how God is using and will continue to use media to further his
kingdom. If you think your church could benefit from incorporating media, start taking steps to make it happen.
— DAVE CLARK is the media pastor and Georgetown campus pastor at National Community Church in
Washington, DC. You can connect with Dave on his blog or you can follow him on Twitter.
© 2008 Christianity Today International/BuildingChurchLeaders.com
Discuss
1. What media ministry tools do we have? What do we need?
2. What are some ways we can create/incorporate media at our church?
3. Have we tried to enlist the help of volunteers? How can we do a better job of this?

Hi-Tech, Low-Budget
How to optimize your technology budget when you don’t have a technology budget.
Luke 12:42
Stewardship can be defined as “maximizing the impact of every dollar.” This definition becomes more significant
when finances are tight. For many churches, the current economic climate has created shallower pockets and
increased pressure to spend wisely.
As the pastor of a small rural church, I have experienced this firsthand. Yet, even with added financial
difficulties, I cannot forget that the above definition of stewardship still includes the word “impact.” Our
spending must make a difference.
One area often caught between stewardship and impact has been technology. In my church, I have found that a
little bit of technology goes a long way. Yet, the cost presents a formidable challenge to our budget. Unwilling to
forgo the impact, I have tried to find creative ways to add technology without adding the typical high costs.
Though not profound, the result has been five effective ideas for becoming high-tech on a low budget.
Take Inventory
As I began taking inventory, I wanted to explore areas for technological improvement. With the need to be cost-
conscious, I thoroughly reviewed our current stock. This “taking inventory” revealed several instances where we
were not utilizing things we already owned. Let me offer two examples. First, our children’s ministry needed a
system for notifying parents during the service. Years ago we had bought a set of pagers, but they had
deteriorated. After considering comparable systems, I found that everything was priced well beyond our means.
However, upon examining the features of our projection software, SongShow Plus, I discovered a text messaging
toolbar. We could easily display a child’s assigned number on the worship screen. Our church had a no-cost
solution available to us for years, yet we had never known it.
Secondly, as most churches do, we often use performance tracks during the service. Cueing the track with a CD
player worked, but sometimes errors occurred. Volunteers would occasionally have trouble switching their focus
from the projection software to the CD player. But during my exploration of SongShow I found that it could
import and use audio files. All we had to do was burn the performance tracks from the CD and move them into
SongShow Plus. Using Music Match Jukebox, which came free with our computer, we could easily record the
tracks to the hard drive and then copy them into SongShow’s audio database. Now a single mouse click begins
the track. No more transitioning from the computer to the CD player and back to the computer. Once more
taking inventory led to a no-cost technological improvement.
Selecting Inexpensive Upgrades

Following my inventory, I began to consider various technology upgrades supported by our presentation
software. For instance, I saw that with the right Bible software we could import scripture directly into our slides
without retyping or cutting and pasting. This would have advantages in other areas as well, particularly in
sermon preparation and the creation of our sermon outlines. To make this upgrade we could choose several big

name Bible programs, yet each was quite expensive. There was, however, one lesser known option, The Online
Bible. For less than forty dollars The Online Bible (www.onlinebible.net) has numerous translations. This meant
a full feature upgrade at a fraction of the cost.
Another inexpensive upgrade I began to consider involved movie clips for sermon illustrations. Previously we
had played movie clips by making a mid-service switch on our projector, going from the computer to a stand-
alone DVD player. Yet I found that SongShow Plus could play clips by interacting with our computer’s DVD
player. Further investigation proved the feature to be impractical, but perhaps there was another way? There
was, the AoA DVD Ripper. The AoA DVD Ripper, only $35 at www.aoamedia.com, easily pulls movie clips
directly off DVDs. Of particular value, this ripper allows you to cut a scene at pre-defined starting and ending
points, while some rippers only allow you to cut whole chapters. (We make sure to use DVD clips in line with our
Christian Video Licensing agreement. Details can be found at http://CVLI.com/.) These two inexpensive
upgrades have significantly improved our Sunday morning presentation.
Utilizing Open Source

Of course the best price for any budget will always be free. In this regard, nothing beats open source software—
software developed out of a public collaboration and available at no charge. Two stable and highly valuable
pieces of open source software are G.I.M.P. and Audacity. Available at www.gimp.org, G.I.M.P. is a wonderful
graphic design tool for manipulating pictures. For churches it can be used to design first-rate images for sermon
series, brochures, and outreach material. Getting accustomed to G.I.M.P. takes some time, but complete help
files are available online. Without question, G.I.M.P. has made a remarkable impact on our visual appeal.
When I first arrived at my church, we were recording the sermons on tape. It worked, but the process was
antiquated and increasingly impractical. I wanted to begin taping the messages digitally. After a quick search on
the internet I learned how to connect our desktop to our soundboard, but we still needed software to record the
audio. The solution was Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/), a free audio editor and recorder. Incredibly
easy to use, our Sunday morning tech volunteers only need to know how to press record and stop. With only the
download of a quick plug-in, Audacity also permits exporting of the audio in MP3 format, ideal for uploading
onto our website.
Buying Previous Editions

Perhaps one of the simplest ways to save money on technology software involves buying previous editions.
Typically much cheaper, older software often only lacks a few of the features of its latest counterparts. Many
times these new features add little to the practical value of the product. While this approach could have
countless applications, for us the greatest value has been in obtaining quality photographs for backgrounds.
Broderbund’s Print Shop contains hundreds of professional level, high-resolution images. Currently Broderbund
markets Print Shop version 22, however version 21 can be obtained on Amazon for less than fifteen dollars.
Though rather clunky and unstable, the value of the software lies in its images. In fact, I do not even use Print
Shop’s publishing features. I simply find an image from Print Shop’s gallery and then copy and paste it into
G.I.M.P. for editing. Within a few minutes I have inexpensive, great-looking sermon promotions for the internet,
for PowerPoint presentations, and for lobby posters.
Watch for Rebates

This seems obvious, but if you are not familiar with the details it might prove valuable. In the competitive world
of technology, manufacturers constantly try to stir up business or reduce inventory by offering rebates. Rarely do
I visit an office store that does not have some brand of memory, peripherals, or software deeply discounted by
rebates. As for the software, these rebates do not typically hit the big name tools, but at a lower price, the lesser
names still function quite adequately. Recently I purchased VideoShow Expressions, a movie making software,
for ten dollars after a forty-dollar mail-in rebate. No one will mistake it for Adobe Premiere Elements, but it is
user-friendly and affordable.
Rebates can save significant money, yet who wants to spend the time searching for those deals? Well, instead of
collecting Sunday circulars or spending hours surfing websites, bookmark DealsOfAmerica.com.
DealsOfAmerica.com searches all the big name technology retailers and lists their deals for you. Last month I

added a new DVD burner to our production computer for only twenty-five dollars. Beginning with
DealsOfAmerica.com saves time and money.
Finding the Balance

Being a good steward of our church finances can be difficult. Yet, in spite of technology’s costs, it should not be
ignored. Stewardship requires spending money carefully but also effectively, and we live in a technological age.
When used properly, technology makes an impact. For many churches like my own, a balance can be struck by
looking for low-cost ways to add technology. These five inexpensive ideas may not bring a technological
revolution, but they can significantly improve the appearance and functionality of your church’s worship
environment. In reality, hi-tech does not have to mean high price. Useful technology can be more affordable
than you think.
— RYAN HOBBS is the senior pastor of Sulphur Springs Christian Church, a small rural church in eastern Indiana.
Comments about this article may be sent to pastorsscc@hrtc.net.
© 2008 Christianity Today International/BuildingChurchLeaders.com
Discuss
1. Are there programs on our computer that we could be using?
2. What do we most need to improve our ministry? How can we get it at an affordable price?
3. What should be our next step?

Understanding Media Types

Answering the question, “What do I use—and where?”
1 Corinthians 14:40
Sometimes it’s strange to think about the church media landscape of the past—as I was growing up, it was a rare
thing for the pastor to mention a film in a sermon, much less show a film clip or a video illustration. PowerPoint
was for corporate gatherings only (aside from some awful high school speeches I took part in), and I’d never
heard of anything called “MediaShout.” Maybe my church was a late adopter, but I think it was probably more
normal than we might remember.
Think about your own church’s past—fifteen, ten, even five years ago. Would there have been a ripple of
recognition if you’d talked about starting a media ministry? Would people have known what you were talking
about when you discussed the resolution of the new projector you’d just asked for? Would you have gotten
anything other than a blank stare if you started waxing eloquent on the merits of HD versus SD?
The point is not to criticize any church community for being “behind the times.” Far from it—in fact, it would be
remarkable for a church of any size to have kept up with the day-by-day changes to technology and media
terminology. So if you’re just starting to explore the possibility of a media ministry, how are you even supposed
to know what kinds of videos exist, much less where to use them?
Fortunately, there are some fairly intuitive uses for the myriad of video genres out there. I’d like to look at five
different video types and give some tips and suggestions for how you might incorporate these into your services,
church functions, or programs.
Still Photos
Still images may be the most versatile pieces of media you can incorporate into your service. They can be used
almost anywhere—as backgrounds for song lyrics, as still displays of art or graphics, as meditative backdrops for
communion, or even as thoughtful and peaceful reflections during times of prayer and silent worship. Consider
also using them as sermon illustrations—remember, still images connect to the audience in a more tangible way
than an oral description of an image does. Our emotions are engaged when an image is shown to us; while
sometimes it may be more appropriate to describe an image (especially if you’re making an abstract point),
showing an image is often a powerful complement to your sermon, lesson, or program.
Also think about using still images to evoke a mood. If you’re presenting a drama taking place in a common
household, display images common to a house in your context—this might vary wildly from community to
community, but using an image in this way establishes an immediate emotional connection with the audience.
Above all, use still images when you want people to be drawn in emotionally but not overwhelmed by moving
imagery. Static photos and artistic renderings are perfect for mood-setting and quiet reflection.
Worship Backgrounds
These types of videos are backdrops that are meant to be used behind other types of media. So, they often
contain a lot of negative space to put words, music, or other images on top of them. An important thing to

remember about worship backgrounds is that many of them have a specific rhythm, so be careful to match them
with whatever your purpose. You don’t want to marry a deeply exegetical sermon or a time of meditative prayer
to a frenetic motion backdrop. Instead, focus on finding something that moves in a way that establishes an
emotional tone that will aid your purpose.
PowerPoint
This is the media type that seems the most obvious at first—however, not all PowerPoints are made equal! The
best kind of PowerPoint presentation is one that fades into the background and fits together so seamlessly that
people don’t think about the fact they’re looking at a presentation. Therefore: Stay away from crazy transitions!
And give as much thought to the fonts you put over the slide backgrounds as to the background themselves.
Again, the goal is for it to look put together and polished—not ragged enough that people notice its flaws.
Loops
At first glance, loops seem almost the same thing as worship backgrounds. But there is a subtle difference: While
loops can be worship backgrounds, they don’t have to be. The uniqueness of loops is that they don’t have to
provide space for font or overlying images. Loops are videos that are literally moving pictures—essentially a
camera recorded some kind of scene that can be repeated over and over again fairly seamlessly.
Use loops in the same way you would use a still image, but keep in mind that the effects of a still image are
heightened by a loop because the picture is moving. So a still photo of a calm wheat field might not evoke as
much serenity as a loop of the same field where the wheat moves and sways gently in the wind. Conversely, the
image of a busy city street is heightened when the cars, buses, and people are actually rushing as much as they
do in real life (or more, if you want to speed up the loop when you show it). As with still photos, remember that
loops are best used to inspire emotion in your audience, and to set a tone that they—consciously or
subconsciously—will respond to.
Video Clips
The most important thing to remember is that video clips are not the same thing as traditional, spoken sermon
illustrations. These two sermon complements relate in that they both have a narrative, but they differ in that
video clips show a story instead of telling it. This gives clips both drawbacks and huge opportunities. First, the
primary difficulty: It’s hard (but not impossible) to communicate any kind of significantly abstract point because
it’s much easier to lose your audience to a video clip than with an engrossing story.
However, video clips offer huge opportunities to connect with the audience on an emotional level. Video is
naturally geared toward telling stories in a powerful visual medium, and these stories have emotional resonance
beyond oral story-telling. If you’re able to show a story about grace, with characters, a script, and video settings
that seem natural, the narrative connects with the audience on an entirely different level than an intellectually
rigorous exposition of grace might. It’s a fine line to walk—it’s very easy to let video clips slip into manipulation,
because your audience will be engaged with the clips at a raw, emotional level. However, if you can identify that
ahead of time and make sure you’re using the media to create a mood that will serve your audience (instead of
allowing your audience—and you!—to be controlled by the video), it’s a powerful tool that you should use.
Hopefully this helps as you try to sort through the constantly-shifting and myriad options of church media. Be
creative in your use of each media type—don’t assume that just because something says “background” that you
have to use it as a backdrop to lyrics, or because it says “loop” that you have to repeat it endlessly. Have fun with
each type of visual and explore ways that each can shape and shift your sermon, program, or praise and worship
time. Above all, be intentional with how you use them, and they will serve you well as you tell your story.
— RYAN HAMM; © 2008 Christianity Today International/BuildingChurchLeaders.com
Discuss
1. Are we successfully using various types of visual media?
2. What other type of media would work in our services?

3. Focus on two or three of the media types. How can you use these to connect with your audience?

Technical Basics
Find answers for some of the most common—and confounding—questions.
Proverbs 15:22
On the road, on the phone, and across the Internet I have heard the same cry from churches of all sizes and
persuasions: “Help! Only a professional can understand all of this technology!”
Fear not. There has always been a symbiotic relationship between art and technology. For example, Renaissance
artists were expert technicians at emerging technologies in paints, and at creating new paints to accomplish their
creative visions. A few basic descriptions will enable you to make your way through trade magazines, which is
the best way to increase your fluency and confidences.
So, here are a few snappy answers to some good questions.
Video
What exactly is video?
Video, like film, is actually a series of still images that run past the eyes at the quick rate of thirty frames per
second. Each still frame of video is composed of a number of horizontal lines. In standard-definition video, the
number of these lines is not to exceed 525, per national standards.
Each of these thirty stills per image is actually composed of two fields, or half the images that occur sixty times
per second, and are interlaced, like two hands doing the childhood game of “here’s the church, here’s the
steeple.” High-definition video, on the other hand, occurs within one of three standards: 1080i (or 1080
interlaced lines of data), 720p (or 720 progressively drawn lines of data, like on a computer monitor), or 1080p
—the highest quality and most expensive option being the last.
Computers
How do I get images into a computer for editing?
There are three primary ways to place an image or a series of images inside a computer, a process commonly
known as “digitizing.”
Flatbed scanners take a snapshot of a two-dimensional image, often a photograph, and reproduce the image
within the computer. Scanning is the best means of digitizing flat materials such as slides and 35mm
photographs.
Digital still cameras, which have become fairly ubiquitous, serve the same function as a traditional 35mm
camera, without the need for film. Images are stored onto a small disc that can then be transferred into a
computer system. Digital cameras are ideal for photographing three-dimensional objects for image manipulating
and compositing.

Videotape from a video camera can be digitized into a computer through special video capture cards or through
data transfer from digital videotape. As mentioned, videotape is fading, and soon all acquisition will be done
through hard drives.
What is dpi, and why should I care?

“Dpi” is dots per inch, a term coined during print days to refer to the number of pixels, or little dots on a display,
that comprise an inch of ink on paper. Although dpi in the print world may be 150, or 300, or much higher for
color reproduction, the highest dpi necessary for electronic images is 72. Anything more is wasted space.
The standard size for a digital image is dependent on the projector being used. For example, an XGA projector,
like its monitor counterpart, handles 1024x768 images. So any graphics built for this specific projector should be
made according to these specifications. Unlike print, there are a maximum number of pixels to a screen image.
When images are blown up to fit into a large screen, therefore, it may be possible to see the individual dots. We
recommend avoiding scaling images up above about 130 percent of the original size, unless you’re going for an
Atari or Commodore 64 effect.
How do I show the completed images?

Images that have been digitized or created in the computer must be saved to a standard picture format and then
placed into a presentation application for display. Some standard formats include JPEG, TIFF, BMP, and PICT.
Most presentation programs will accept these and other formats.
How much RAM and hard drive space do I need?

Video chews up hard drive space. A typical two- or three-minute video production might take up 4GB of hard
drive. The breakdown works like this: uncompressed video is 600k per frame, or 18MB per second. Video
compressed at a 2:1 ratio, then, is 9MB per second, and 4:1 video is 4.5MB per second. Most computer systems
are capable of playing video at 4:1 compression; data at this rate, then, takes up 270MB per minute, not
including audio. As you can see, it adds up quickly, which means that video processing on a computer used for
making media shouldn’t also share space with the church management software program.
Graphics are much easier to handle: a typical worship service of fifteen to twenty graphics can easily take up
50MB, which multiplied by fifty-two times in a year equals 2.6GB. Removable storage and recordable CD-ROMs
make good archiving mediums for storing data from crowded computer desktops. Consider using two duplicate
hard drives for archiving each year of your church’s productions
This means that to facilitate all this data around your computer, you’re going to need lots of memory. RAM is
relatively cheap and easy to get—and it is worth it the first time you have a crash in the middle of a worship
service or presentation.
Presentation
There are only 40,000 projectors to choose from…
The best way to understand the world of projectors is to break it down into feasible components. The first rating
determines the brightness of a projector, or the ability it has to withstand ambient light. It is called the ANSI
lumens rating. ANSI lumens are the most popular technical specification for determining projector quality. The
higher the ANSI lumens number, the better the projector. Another important rating is the contrast ration, or the
difference that the projector makes between white and black. Again, higher is better.
Most affordable projection systems come in two popular digital flavors, LCD and DLP. Both are a single-lens
style. DLP, pioneered by Texas Instruments, is the newer of the two technologies, although LCD is more
ubiquitous and established. With either style, a minimum of 2,000 ANSI lumens is encouraged so that you can
project an image without plunging the congregation into total darkness. Two thousand lumens isn’t an absolute
figure, for there are other variables that defy general categorizations. For more information, consult industry
trade magazines or websites for periodic product reviews, which occur once or twice a year.

Having low-maintenance equipment is equally as important as having high-quality equipment. If a high-quality

piece of digital gear requires an engineer to operate, and no engineers are around, then that high-quality piece
won’t stay that way for long. Ditto if the best quality requires regular, expensive visits from the dealer’s service
department. There is little purpose to owning the most expensive piece of equipment if it can never maintain its
original state. Some projectors may fall under this category: improperly converged or configured, you may end
up with little green people on screen in worship. Whether this means buying a plug ‘n’ play projector or setting
up permanent cameras, do whatever is necessary to avoid needing the services of an engineer every weekend.
The most important thing to remember about the quality of your projected image is the role of ambient light in a
room. The best image in the world cannot withstand the direct assault of light. Why do you suppose movie
theaters are dark? If possible, explore rear-projection. If not possible, then focused light directed to places on the
front platform can remove direct light from screens and allow even mediocre projectors to look fairly decent.
The second most important thing to remember about the quality of your projected image is the use of a screen.
To save money, some churches project onto a white wall. This is a bad idea. Most paints absorb light, whereas
screens reflect light. The same projector makes a much nicer image on a screen than on a wall. Additionally, a
screen provides a nice frame for the image, which your congregations are used to seeing. Shooting onto a wall
gives a more amateurish feeling.
How big a screen do I need, and what kind?
There is actually a rule for determining the best screen size for a particular space. Formulated by SMPTE, or the
Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, the rule is called the 2x6 rule: the screen width should equal
the distance in feet to the first row of seats, divided by two, and equal the distance to the last row of seats divided
by six. In case the two are not the same, go with the larger figure. Screen height is then adjusted proportionally,
adhering to either a 4:3 ratio or a 16:9 ratio. For example, as a very general estimate (don’t use this—measure
your own!), a typical post-World War 2 church sanctuary (less than 50 years old) would need at least a 12-foot-
wide screen for a congregation of 500.
As mentioned, there is a difference between front- and rear-projection screens. Front screens are matte white,
usually a reflective vinyl surface, whereas rear screens may be composed of vinyl, acrylic, or even glass that is
non-reflective. Rear screens cost a bit more, but they are brighter and hide the projector. Since nearly all
sanctuaries built in the pre-electronic era are designed to allow natural illumination, rear screens are preferable
because they deal with ambient light better. On the other hand, unless you cover up the organ pipes or choir box,
few sanctuaries have the extra room to allow for a rear-mounted projector. In this case, shutters or other options
that convert light from natural to artificial might give you the ability to direct light away from the screen.
As far as number of screens, this depends on the physical space. Some rooms are so wide and shallow that
multiple screens are crucial for proper viewing. But if possible, stick with one large screen. It keeps the
congregation focused on the activity at hand, and in the line of sight for what is happening on stage, while
avoiding the “tennis match” effect of having to look at either the live action or the image.
— LEN WILSON AND JASON MOORE; adapted from The Wired Church 2.0, © 2008 Abingdon Press. Used by
permission.
Discuss
1. Do we have a plan for storing our media files? Increasing our RAM?
2. Does our projector work well in our space?
3. Does our church have a digital camera? Are we using it effectively?

Using Film Clips in Preaching

Careful choices yield the best results.
2 Timothy 4:2
If film clips are to be used effectively in preaching, guidelines need to be observed. How many clips should be
used in a single message? For preachers who are new to video usage, the prospect of illustrating an entire
message with vibrant images can be very seductive. I warn against using more than a couple of film illustrations
in a single message—one of which should be an opener or a closer. Movie clips are expansive. If the focus is to
remain on the text, it is important not to overwhelm the congregation.
How does placement in the message affect the way clips are used? There are only three places where clips can be
incorporated into a message—the introduction, the conclusion, or in support of a particular point in the body of
the sermon. Clips for an introduction need to encompass the sweep of the sermon, but they do not have to be
positive in tone. They can also afford to be lengthy.
The lights go down in the sanctuary and Denzel Washington, as Wiley College debate coach Melvin Tolson in
The Great Debaters, explains how people can control our bodies by enslaving our minds. I have used this clip to
introduce a sermon on the importance of thinking “Christianly”. Or imagine opening a sermon on greed. Corrupt
corporate raider Gordon Gekko in the film Wall Street appears on the screen. Gekko is thundering out his “greed
is good” speech to investors. It is moving; it resonates. It may even illuminate the hearts of some in the
congregation that find that they are inexplicably cheering (only inwardly, I hope). The clip champions greed, but
what a great setup to a discussion of that sin.
Clips for a conclusion can also be lengthy, but they must reinforce the thrust of the sermon. You should choose
clips that mirror the sermon’s tone and content. If I were ending a sermon on the Prodigal Son, or the parable of
the lost sheep, I might end with a clip from Finding Nemo. In the scene, Nemo, a clownfish who has been
captured by divers and is now on display in a dentist’s office, despairs about whether he will ever be able to
rejoin his father, Marlin. Unexpectedly, a pelican appears on the office windowsill. He begins to recount for
Nemo all of the dangers that Marlin has endured to come to Nemo’s rescue. In fact, Marlin is in the bay just
outside the office window. The recognition of his father’s love motivates Nemo in his struggle to escape his
captivity and get back home. This is a great way to conclude a message about our Father’s desire to reunite with
those who are lost.
In the middle of a sermon, however, lengthy film clips can be distracting. In support of a sermon point on
renewing the mind, focusing one’s mind on Christ, or the rewards of self-control, there is a moving clip from A
Beautiful Mind. The film chronicles the story of John Nash, a brilliant mathematics professor who overcame his
battle with mental illness by committing himself to a “diet of the mind,” refusing to entertain thoughts that
would trigger his illness. This clip is powerful and, more importantly, short. Regardless of length, film clips
should always be used sparingly. The careful, and thoughtful, use of video clips increases their impact on a
congregation.

The Nuts and Bolts of Using Film Clips

There are tremendous advantages to helping people see the truth through the use of film clips. The
disadvantages lie entirely within the logistics of using the clips. By making good choices in hardware and
software, and by adhering to some simple rules, preachers can use this technology seamlessly.
Playback
DVD produces clear digital images of the film. Skipping from one scene to another can be simplified through the
use of bookmarks, which allow you to identify places in a film that you can quickly revisit. Using a laptop or
computer to control playback allows you to use powerful software programs to navigate through the clips. I am
partial to the Power DVD software that allows you to save and import bookmarks that link to titles, so that if you
want to use a scene again it will be simple to cue up.
Screen Placement
Visual support is, by its nature, arresting. Contrary to popular theories about multi-tasking, when dealing with
complicated or abstract ideas, people focus only on one thing at a time. When your sermon illustration clip is
running, no one is paying attention to you. Spatial separation between the screen and the speaker is helpful.
Check, Check
Just as you would not cue a soloist or start a worship team without a sound check, you need to make certain that
your projection equipment and the volume controls have been checked and set—and checked again. Once, at a
local church, I was using a clip as an opener. I had set all the sound myself, double-checked it, and everything
was perfect, except I forgot to tell the soundman. He switched everything back for the worship team. The clip
was repeated three times before sound was restored. The congregation understood, but the impact of the
illustration as an attention-getter was diminished with each failed viewing.
Who Has the Remote?

When using a stand-alone DVD player, you have to rely on a volunteer to start and stop the clip. I was preaching
at a conference, and I reached a point where I wanted to illustrate waiting on the Lord. To show what most of us
are like, I used a clip from The Rookie. A friend of mine was the pastor at the church hosting the conference, and
he agreed to be my volunteer. He also happens to be a sports nut. He got so caught up in the drama of the clip
that I had to call out to him numerous times to stop the clip. Finally he snapped out of it and hit the stop button,
and everyone laughed. Fortunately it reinforced my point—sometimes you have to wait.
If you use a laptop, you can control the clip. You will even have your own monitor so that you won’t have to turn
to the screen. Each clip you cue up should have either a word or a concrete image that designates the start and
stop time. If you are likely to be captivated by your own clip, you can use the counter. No matter which method
you choose, you will need to practice.
Any New Tool Requires Practice

It’s amazing how many preachers believe that visual aids will take care of themselves. Visual support is not
something slapped onto a verbal message—it needs to be integrated. Moving from one medium of
communication to another can feel abrupt if the transition isn’t handled smoothly. Think of the Academy
Awards and how effortlessly they transition from music to acceptance speeches to film clips. Achieving that kind
of result requires practice. And it also requires a team.
Your church probably has a worship team supported by a sound technician. To make sure that everything blends
harmoniously, each instrument and voice needs a sound check. Even the pastor needs a microphone check so
that when the music ends and the speaking begins, everything flows seamlessly.
If you are going to be successful in integrating video, your church will require a video team. Everyone involved in
the incorporation of the clips needs to work together. The people who dim the lights, control the volume, and
start and stop the clip all need to be on the same page. The goal is to make a smooth transition from one medium

to another. The team should know what the speaker wants and when, so that, with a little work, the only way
congregations will notice the medium shift is by the increased comprehension and motivation they experience
when they attend to a sermon.
The Final Reel

We shouldn’t shy away from incorporating “native culture” into our sermons. Modern Americans are far
removed from the farm—agricultural metaphors are not enough—but they are adept consumers of
entertainment. To reach them we need to speak their language, but we must speak it fluently. By careful use of
film clips as sermon illustrations, and by adhering to some practical guidelines, we can make our way on the
Mars Hills of our culture and introduce the Savior in a new light.
— DR. MARC T. NEWMAN is the president of www.movieministry.com.
© 2000–2008 MovieMinistry.com. Used by permission.
Discuss
1. Have we used film clips successfully in our church? Why have they worked well?
2. Have we used a film clip that didn’t quite work? What was the problem?
3. Do we have a video team? If not, what should we do about this?

RESOURCES
Additional Resources
More tools to help you with visual media in your church.
 BuildingChurchLeaders.com: Leadership training resources from Christianity Today International.

-“Building Visual Media into Your Ministry” Practical Ministry Skills
-“Appealing to the Visual” Worship Essentials
-“Video Projection” Worship Essentials
 MidnightOilProductions.com: Founded by Len Wilson and Jason Moore, a website with digital
resources and aids for worship.
 Technologies for Worship: A family-owned magazine that helps churches to understand technology.
Media Ministry Made Easy: A Practical Guide to Visual Communication by Tim Eason. Eason’s book
is the “practical guide” it claims to be. This book provides a plethora of insights to help pastors begin and
continue to build a media ministry. This book also comes with a DVD containing additional information.
(Abingdon Press, 2003; ISBN 978-0687025787)
Sound, Lighting, and Video: A Resource for Worship by Brad Herring. This book is a comprehensive
overview of the technology systems used in worship. (Focal Press, 2009; ISBN 978-0240811086)
The Spectacle of Worship in a Wired World by Tex Sample. Examining our culture and applying to the
world in which we worship, this book is a great source for those launching a visual media ministry. (Abingdon
Press, 1998; ISBN 978-0687083732)
Video Ministry: Using Media in Worship Without Going Hollywood by Constance Stella. A thought-
provoking exploration of the powerful ways God can use video, graphics, and other visual expressions to deepen
people’s faith in our image-based culture. Sharing personal experiences, real-life illustrations, and hands-on
techniques tested in her own church, media director Stella offers practical tools and foundational principles for
starting or growing your media ministry. (Abingdon Press, 2006; ISBN 978-0687493456)
The Wired Church 2.0 by Len Wilson and Jason Moore. When Wilson and Moore wrote The Wired Church
(Abingdon Press, 1999), it was one of the best resources for those interested in building a visual media ministry.
Almost ten years later, The Wired Church 2.0 takes an even more comprehensive look at media ministry—
establishing itself as the premier source for those interested in visual media. (Abingdon Press, 2008; ISBN 978-
0687648993)


The Pastor's Guide To Visual Media

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Pastor's Guide To Visual Media

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Pastor’s Guide

Leader’s Guide..............................................................................................2 We speak as men

How to use “The Pastor’s Guide to Visual Media”

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Now You See the Screen

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Preaching by Faith and by Sight

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Your Next Hire?

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Visualcy Affects All Pulpiteers

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Engaging a Post-Literate World

What Does the Gospel Look Like?

Tips for Getting Started

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

A Word About Copyrights

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Getting Your Media Ministry off the Ground

Get the Necessary Tools

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Shooting Your Own Videos

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Volunteers Are Key

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Selecting Inexpensive Upgrades

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Utilizing Open Source

Buying Previous Editions

Watch for Rebates

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Finding the Balance

© 2008 Christianity Today International/BuildingChurchLeaders.com

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Understanding Media Types

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

What is dpi, and why should I care?

How do I show the completed images?

How much RAM and hard drive space do I need?

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Having low-maintenance equipment is equally as important as having high-quality equipment. If a high-quality

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

Using Film Clips in Preaching

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

The Nuts and Bolts of Using Film Clips

Who Has the Remote?

Any New Tool Requires Practice

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

The Final Reel

© 2000–2008 MovieMinistry.com. Used by permission.

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

 BuildingChurchLeaders.com: Leadership training resources from Christianity Today International.

© 2010 • Christianity Today International

You might also like