With the recent Coronavirus outbreak and recommendations to limit gathering sizes, churches are having to rethink how they conduct regular gatherings. With increasing uncertainty over whether churches may be able to gather at all, it is increasingly necessary to consider online video options. This guide aims to provide some practical considerations when thinking about video and live streaming options, along with advice on the technical aspects of online video production.
Churches have a complex and dynamic relationship with technology. Often a church will use a mix of technologies to aid, support and enhance their ministries and mission. In particular, information technology can be used for many tasks, from coordinating rosters to doing evangelism via social media.
At OBT, we spend a lot of time thinking about how technology can be effectively used by churches, and we think churches should do the same.
St John’s Ashfield engaged Open Box Technology (OBT) to supply an AV system for their new Ministry Centre hall. The brief required that minimal equipment intrude on the space as hall will be used in a variety of ways and needs to be flexible. The system also needed to be very easy to use and quick to set up.
For many churches, the annual Christmas and Carols services are some of the most attended and effective outreach services they will run each year. For this reason, they end up being some of the most prepared for and special services run, sometimes with extra decorations and elements. They can even be held outside in public spaces and heavily advertised to the community.
One question that is often neglected for these events is, ‘How will we do AV?’
A little under a year ago we engaged to do a full audio and visual system overhaul for Drummoyne Baptist Church. We worked closely Brett Lee-Price (elder) to help turn what they had into a more functional system.
