Dynamic Ways to Reach Your Congregation
By Janet BeasleyIt's hard to believe we are approaching the 1 year anniversary of the worst disaster in history. September 11, 2001 left so many of us asking questions. Many questions which had never crossed the minds of most people. Searching for answers on how to snap back into reality and oddly enough, choose a faith.
Houses of worship began to see an increase in their attendance, yet this was a new crowd of people looking for ways to handle the reality they now faced. The reality of extreme loss, fear, broken trust, and the list goes on. Keep in mind; this crowd is from the age of technology. They are used to having a cup of coffee and a wrap while they listen to their favorite self-help speaker. They are accustomed to digital TV, the web, live productions, and movies that leave no room for hokey cheesy lame and greasy final presentations. They carry PDA's and have access to the world at their fingertips.
Multitudes of these same people who had never been in a church before, were entering the doors. But have they stayed with it - or drifted away.
It seems they're staying with it! This is exciting news! As the hurting "high tech's" of society entered sanctuaries across the country they found that going to church had changed considerably from their past experiences. They have found that it is very similar to watching their favorite style of movie, live production, or concert: only they don't leave feeling empty, and they can make it through the next week.
It is so awesome to think that over the past several years, churches have stepped up to the plate, incorporating cutting edge technology and drama to aid in presenting the gospel. As churches, we deserve a pat on the back for the effort. This is exciting, but is no excuse to become complacent and content with where we're at for the present. Out in the real world, there are presentations and productions taking place night after night that would knock your socks off!
We need to be conscious of keeping these people in tune and coming back for more! Let's take a look at the different ways churches across the nation are using, or in the future could use their audio visual systems, building projects, and/or theatrical talents to create dynamic ways to reach their congregations.
We will start with the one facet almost all churches use: audio. Church isn't just for podium microphones anymore. When you enter a house of worship nowadays, you most likely will find a stage set that resembles a concert setting. Microphones, monitors, speakers, keyboards, drums, guitars, and other instruments dawn the main stage floor awaiting their opportunity to participate in a contemporary praise and worship service.
Churches who have made the jump to in ear monitors are finding out there is a new level of worship when they are able to utilize the entire stage while playing. (Well, all but the drummers and keyboard players!) Surround sound systems provide effects for congregations who thought these effects were only being used in fancy theatres.
Sound effects are taking their place during illustrated sermons and theatrical productions. Installing a subwoofer system to compliment your existing sound adds wonderful depth to any performance. Need to jazz up that "the ground shook" scene? Subwoofers are just the thing. Voice transformers are sneaking in the back door of audio systems to create voices that are straight from the pit of hell! Robots and sci-fi is hip, and voice transformers merely enhance the vocals of any robot roaming the youth center.
Let's move on to themes. Why can't a church design its next new building to resemble the caves of David? You know, the sculpted rock entrance into a foyer resembling a cave. From there, visitors would enter the sanctuary only to find the stage from which the message is delivered is in the form of raised rock formations, and the walls match that of the entrance - cave rock. What about the seating arrangement?
Why not go with cut logs with backs for pews? Hang a few fake flame bowl lights and you're on your way to a new kind of worship venue. Youth rooms created using a spaceship theme could be interesting. We're not talkin' Styrofoam balls covered in aluminum foil - we're talkin' spaceship interior panels painted and dusted with silver effect oils, LED lights mounted into fake walls and counters resembling ship operational equipment, and a youth pastor who preaches from "the bridge" of the room... we mean ship. Make sure to create the laser cross beam effect in front of your "bridge" for the look and feel of a "no entrance or the ship will disintegrate" appearance. Add in a step pad under a rug or mat so if someone does cross through the laser beams, they step on the pad triggering a blast of air or an alarm sound effect.
Looking to worship in Noah's ark? It can be done with a little imagination and a few toys. When you build your new building, put your architect to the test. Have them create the front of an ark for passersby to stop and ponder. Visitors could enter into a foyer that consists of straw bale facades and fake bags of seed stacked high. Of course you need some animal statues in your main sanctuary, which is designed with walls made of huge wooden planks. Have the seating be that of long wooden tables with benches. Make sure there is plenty of "manna" and coffee to keep your congregation going.
Moving onto projection: a great tool that runs a real close second to audio systems and its possibilities are limitless. If you have never attended one of Tim Eason's seminars - consider it a must! He teaches creative ways to use your power point that are beyond your wildest dreams! Check out his seminar schedule and register for future seminars at www.churchmedia.net Projection is not just power point; it is an excellent tool to enhance illustrated sermons and drama sketches.
Using a scrim as your screen, you can easily project a narration or coordinating image on the front of the scrim during the speaking. Then bring the lights up behind the scrim. The projection will "disappear". By projecting the narration while it is being narrated you are reiterating your points. Seeing and hearing at the same time is a huge tool when it comes to retention. Front or rear? You make the call. Some swear by front projection, others by rear. To us it is merely personal preference. Both are effective for your projection system.
Several churches are using their projection systems to host a "movie night" for the family or youth. One church recently produced a drive-in theatre to raise money for missions. Here's how they did it. The producer of the event lives on several acres. He sets up a large silver tarp and brings out the projector. He sets up a really low budget sound system with speakers spread around the parking area - this gives the feel of the sound coming from those nasty drive-in speakers. Snack vendors walk thru the parked cars handing out complimentary popcorn, candy bars, and drinks. Others play the role of security guards and shine flashlights into backseats of unsuspecting cars. A donation bucket is placed at the entrance and all proceeds go to missions. And a good time is had by all!
Combined lighting systems of stage and house lights are sweeping the nation. Churches are finding that house lights and stage lights can be controlled from various locations. Both wall pads and lighting consoles will handle the dimming events. Churches like the idea of being able to program house light zones and turn them on and off from doorway locations rather than having to enter the dreaded "tech booth" and figure out how to get the lights on in room. To be honest, the technicians really appreciate the wall pads to keep stray hands off of the equipment. On the flip side, during a service, operating the house lights from the tech booth is a wonderful benefit during productions. House lights on dimmers and special wall pads assist in alleviating having to have several people stationed around the room at the various light switches. If you are hosting productions and/ or concerts you will want to design your stage lighting systems to produce appealing, soothing, and eye catching visuals for your viewing audiences.
Stage lighting systems are climbing the ladder to moving or intelligent lighting grids that offer the highest level of flexibility and variations in scenes. Moving lights change colors, gobos, and focus points with the push of a button from a special console. This means the problem days of the daunting task of figuring out how to get to the fixtures flown above the beautiful pews without scratching the pews just to change color gels or refocus lights for a production, are dwindling.
Imagine being able to include your congregation in the praise and worship service even more so than you do now. When the music is soft and the stage is lit in a calming light blue, why not design your lighting systems to illuminate the entire room in the same color? People love to "feel a part". Lighting is a wonderful subtle tool to create a bonding link between congregation members, choirs, and musicians, making all feel a part of the praise and worship.
Broaden your horizon with your existing spotlight. Are helicopters "landing" during your illustrated sermon? Douse the lights and swivel the spot light from side to side, creating a search light effect. Add in some strobes on the back of the stage to simulate a landing pad. The spot light beam can easily end on the stage and fade out as the stage lighting comes up to produce the effect of being on the helipad.
Are you ready to add some real razzle dazzle? Special effects bring them in by the busloads! Fog, haze, bubbles, snow, confetti, stage pyro, and black light are just a few ways you can evolve your productions into presentations of expected visuals. Here in Orlando, FL we are not starving for high end effects. Churches in this town have their work cut out for them to keep up with industry standards.
Convention goers in Orlando, FL often times find themselves attending churches in the area who are right up to snuff with the theme parks they visited a day or so earlier. You may be breathing a sigh of relief thinking you don't live in "tinsel town USA" and you need not worry about keeping up with the special effects technology. Special effects are not for everyone, and that is OK.
If you are one of those churches trying to make the decision on whether or not to begin incorporating special effects you may want to read the following and give it some thought. We will put it this way; Orlando is one of the top vacation destinations. What keeps the people coming back? One thing is the quality of the performances and presentations they are exposed to in the area. The other is the special effects in those productions found in a 20 mile radius.
Listening in on conversations while waiting in line has exposed this information to us. So we will let you decide for yourself regarding special effects. If these, shall we say, "toys" are bringing them back to Orlando, why wouldn't they bring them back to your house of worship? Then again, breaking it down to simplicity can also be very dynamic. Many times a single performer reading a monologue under a single light without props or hooplah has left a lasting impression on several. Several of the ideas above are merely dreams and suggestions. What we must all come to terms with is that the world has changed since September 11, 2001. What are we as houses of worship willing to do to create environments for a whole new gathering of people? We would like to say to the houses of worship across the nation: keep up the good work! You're heading in the right direction. Decide what dynamic ways work best for you and your congregation - and go for it!
