Clarence Floyd Richmond - Audio, Video, and Media in the Ministry

Audio, Video and Media in the Ministry

DR. CLARENCE FLOYD RICHMOND
Author

Copyright 2010 by Thomas Nelson Publishers

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, TN, by Thomas Nelson.
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Book Interior: Stephen Ramirez

Editor: Gabriel Hernandez

Technical Editor: Dan Wothke

Series Editor: Michael Lawson

Produced in Association with Lawson Music Media, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.

ISBN: 1418541745

ISBN-13: 9781418541743

All Rights Reserved

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

AUDIO, VIDEO AND MEDIA HANDBOOK FOR CHURCH VOLUNTEERS

In a worship service a great measure of responsibility rests on those who volunteer in the audio, video, and media ministries. When everything is going well, no one notices; but when the microphones dont work or feedback creeps into the service, when the sound is too loud or the projected lyrics are late, everyone does. A well functioning audio, video, and media team can help the congregation enter into a deeper and more meaningful worship. A team that doesnt anticipate or prevent problems, and react when they arise, is a distraction instead. This handbook serves as a guide for those beginning to work in this ministry. Its goal is to help volunteers function to the top of their ability and contribute positively to a successful worship service.

TOPICS WILL INCLUDE

Common areas of AV audio-video ministry including, sound, projection, lighting, audio and video, broadcast, and Web;

Equipment that will be encountered;

Selection, setup, operation, storage, and maintenance of that equipment;

Common problems in rehearsals and in services, and strategies for preventing and solving them, and;

Working with the pastors, musicians, ministry leaders, and the congregation.

While this book wont turn a new volunteer into an instant audio engineer, it will help them understand how important they are to the ministry, and how to support the seasoned volunteers and professionals trusted with the production of worship services.

Dear Media Team Member,

Welcome to our team. Your work in the media ministry at our church is greatly appreciated and will make a significant difference in the quality of our churchs worship and the scope of our ministry.

Todays church members are often media-centric. They attend movies, watch hundreds of channels on television, spend hours on the Internet, and download music and video to their phones and other personal media devices. With this increased exposure to media comes an expectation that the quality of music and media that they encounter in churches and worship will be exemplary. The goal of the media team is to meet those expectations, to deepen the worship experience, and to broaden the ministry of our church. In this effort we partner with our pastors, music ministers, and other ministries within the church. In many ways our role is one of service and support. In this we are following the example set by Christ (Philippians 2: 5-8). Also, lest anyone forget, there is no member of the body of Christ that does not perform an essential function (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Your unique contributions are essential to our worship and other services, and to our outreach as a whole. Thank you for your ministry and service.

Sincerely,
Your Media Team Coordinator

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being inthe form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, butmade Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, andcoming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as aman, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,even the death of the cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members ofthat one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by oneSpirit we were all baptized into one bodywhether Jews or Greeks,whether slaves or freeand have all been made to drink into oneSpirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

If the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I am not ofthe body, is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say,Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not ofthe body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing?If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now Godhas set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But nowindeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot sayto the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet,I have no need of you. No, much rather, those members of the bodywhich seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the bodywhich we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor;and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentableparts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greaterhonor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in thebody, but that the members should have the same care for one another.And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if onemember is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

1 Corinthians 12:12-30

This book is intended to serve as a guide to help churches achieve success in the ministry of audio, video, and media. The first two chapters contain an introduction and explanation of the organization and maintenance of the ministry. The remaining chapters are devoted to the technical aspects including the basics of sound reinforcement, video projection, lighting, recording and editing audio and video, broadcasting, Web development, and network maintenance. Each chapter has a checklist, which can be used by the media ministry leader, distributed to ministry team members, or customized for specific needs within the church. Each chapter has a troubleshooting section that will help solve many of the problems that will be encountered in the media ministry. Each chapter also has a discussion of the function, setup, care, and maintenance of relevant equipment.

The importance of the media team in enhancing the churchs ministry cannot be overstated. Without sound amplification or reinforcement, members of the congregation may not be able to hear what is being said thereby missing important material. Without a microphone, preachers or presenters in a large space could lose their voice, long before their message is complete. Without appropriate equipment, the quality of the music may drive people away from worship rather than draw them into it. In many of todays churches worship songs come and go rapidly and printed materials cannot be produced quickly enough. Without projection of lyrics, people will find it more difficult to worship. Without audio and video examples, many sermon points will fall flat. Without a recording or broadcast ministry, many may not hear of Gods great love.