Sunday, December 31, 2006

Cultivating Gifts

This time of year we usually do two things: we reflect on the year past and we resolve to change something for the coming year. Maybe this past year the Lord revealed in you a talent or aptitude or even your spiritual gift in which He wants to work through you. Maybe you pursued that purpose or maybe you didn’t. Either way I believe that God demands results. As we see in the parable of 3 servants in Matthew 25:14-30, God is not interested in us just having what He gives us; He expects us to do something with what He has given us. Another example is Paul exhorting Timothy to “…not neglect the spiritual gift you received…” (1 Timothy 4:14 NLT) and to “Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress.” (1 Timothy 4:15 NLT) And also to “…fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…” (2 Timothy 1:6 NLT)
The reason that we cultivate and manage our gifts is to bring glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He gives us this ability to do His purpose and we should be doing all that we can to offer that ability back to Him in service.

Now you may not be certain as to how your ability in a specific area correlates to your spiritual gift and I believe that may be common. I know I had difficulty in that area. I know that God gave me the spiritual gift of administration but also knew He had given me specific ability in technology and media. God taught me to use the gift of administration to facilitate the ministry of media and technology. We can see another example of this in Exodus 31:1 - 5 (NLT)
1The LORD also said to Moses, 2“Look, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, grandson of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. 3I have filled him with the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, intelligence, and skill in all kinds of crafts. 4He is able to create beautiful objects from gold, silver, and bronze. 5He is skilled in cutting and setting gemstones and in carving wood. Yes, he is a master at every craft!
God gave Bezalel the spiritual gift of wisdom and knowledge but his specific ability was creating beautiful objects from gold, silver and bronze. His purpose or task was to create these beautiful objects for the temple of God.

I pray that in this next year that you discover your gifts and abilities and that you cultivate those gifts and use them for the glory and purpose of God.

1 Peter 4:10 - 11 (NLT)
10God has given gifts to each of you from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Manage them well so that God’s generosity can flow through you. 11Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen.

Articles of Interest

I have actually had some time to think the past couple of weeks. Tonight I found myself with some time on my hands and decided to tackle the e-mail inbox. I respond to personal e-mails as quickly as I can but the plethora of e-newsletters I receive really add up. Anyway I was perusing the headlines and I found a few that piqued my interest so I thought I would pass on to you as well. These are from July, August and September. Maybe in a few more months I can see what was there from the last 3 months of this year.

I have considered a home studio for audio recording and other media production for some time now so this first hand account of an artist building his own studio in a spare bedroom was interesting.
THE BOOM BOOM ROOM
Between albums, producer/MC Thes One of the L.A. hip-hop duo People Under the Stairs (also including MC/DJ Double K) got married and bought a house. But the house wouldn't be a home without a real studio to record the group's new album, Stepfather (2006, Tres), so Thes and a few inexperienced friends took on the challenge of converting a spare bedroom into a high-level project studio. Here, he relays what he learned.
Click here to read the rest of this article.


Here is an article that has some practical advice for planning in media ministry.
Planning for the Unforeseeable
Are your sound, video and lighting systems a disaster waiting to happen? Even if you have a great system from mic to speaker and source to display, it's all delicate electronic equipment, and something could go wrong. If you have a system strung together with bubble gum and baling wire, your chances for trouble increase exponentially. And unless your budget is about the same as Walt Disney World's, your workforce is primarily, if not entirely, volunteer. What do you do when a key team member doesn't show up?While your budget may not equal the one for Mickey and company, you can share in their investment simply by visiting with Discovery Church's Technical Arts Director, Sean Kruckenberg, a former Disney employee. Can't fly to Orlando? No problem. We've done that for you. Read on!
Click here to read the rest of this article.


Tim Vear is one of the most knowledgeable and also approachable people I have had the pleasure to meet. This guy knows audio and he knows churches. That is why the publication “Audio Systems Guide for Houses of Worship” that he authored should be in your library.
The Insider: Tim Vear
Shure & The Church
In preparing this issue, it was clear that the many of facts of Shure’s church audio history resided in one individual. The author of Shure’s popular “Audio Systems Guide for Houses of Worship”, continually revised and expanded since its formal debut in 1990, is Tim Vear, Senior Applications Engineer in the Applications Engineering Group.Tim took us almost all the way back to the very beginning. We talked about how Shure grew with the modern church, the impact that the Church has had on Shure product development, and what makes you – our community of church audio specialists – so remarkable.
Click here to read the rest of this article.


Quickly becoming one of my favorite artist on the Christian music scene is David Crowder and his band. Nice interview from Shure.
Collision:Head-on with David Crowder
Sold-out concerts, six Dove Award nominations, the 2006 pop/contemporary song of the year from his new “A Collision” CD and a faithful following that’s growing exponentially. This, of course, is the David Crowder Band. We hooked up with David to talk about the early days, home recording and the tangible benefits of clean living.
Click here to read the rest of this article.


I prefer Shure microphones in most live sound applications if for nothing more than their consistency. Great sound doesn’t hurt either. Here is a history of this great company.
Genesis:The Story of Shure Inc.
Late last year, we sent a survey to Shure Notes subscribers, asking for article and topic ideas. Surprisingly, many of you wanted to know about the company. As Shure celebrates its 81st year, still owned by the same family that founded it, here’s a brief look back at an enterprise that began as a radio parts store, supplied broadcast microphones for every US president since FDR, joined the war effort, made Elvis look even better, and won the hearts and minds of musicians, engineers and consumers. It’s the story of the entrepreneurial spirit, a commitment to its customers and an American brand.
Click here to read the rest of this article.


I’m starting to see more and more of this type of application.
Sennheiser New Mic Stands
Sennheiser is introducing three new microphone stands with a cable connection at its base rather than at the microphone. This new system means that plug-on wireless transmitters can now be attached to the bottom of the stand or, if preferred, cables can be connected at the base, eliminating the necessity to run the mic cable up the stand.
Click here to read the rest of this article.


This article made me wonder if any churches are actually still mass producing cassette tapes. It seems to take forever to move the church toward change especially in technology but once that start using something it is just as difficult to get them to move on to something better. As for myself, I don’t even listen to CDs very often. Most of my music is saved on some type of memory whether it is hard drive or flash.
CDs Still Dominate in Church Media Publishing
Despite the advent of web streaming, podcasting, DVD publishing, and other new technologies, a large number of churches continue to give audio CDs the central position in their outreach and media publishing programs.
Click here to read the rest of this article.

I hope you enjoyed this hodge-podge of information.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

We Are the Reason for the Season

I got to thinking about the popular slogan that has emerged in the last several years as groups have become more and more hostile about the meaning of Christmas.  I’m, of course, talking about “Jesus is the reason for the season”.  Now I will admit that the reason we have Christmas is because of Jesus’ birth but He is not the reason for the season.  Let that one sink in for a moment.  Why did God send His only Son to earth to be born a helpless, defenseless baby?  Why did the heavens just not open up and Jesus in all His glory and righteousness and majesty come down and proclaim that He was here to save the world?

The reason is us.  We are the reason for the season.  We needed a savior and we needed an example of how to live.  Jesus is that Savior and He is that example of how to live.  Jesus was born and raised up and lived just like you and me to show us how to live.  What makes Jesus different from us is that He lived a blameless, sinless life.  He died on the cross as a sacrifice for the sin of the world and that makes Him a Savior.   God did not need to do anything but He loves us so much that He yearns for a relationship with us His creation.  God actually wants!  He wants us!  Isaiah says…

Isaiah 9:6a (NLT)
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
(Emphasis mine)

As Mary treasured in her heart the gift of God born of her that night over 2000 years ago, I pray that you treasure in your heart the gift that God has made available to all of us in Jesus the Christ.  Remember as the gifts are being passed out in your house this season that we are the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas!

Greg Atkinson: Jesus Is The Reason For The Season

I have been meaning to take the time to feature this guy for quite a while now but had just not found the right time to do so.  His name is Greg Atkinson and his blog is Church Video Ideas, plus he writes a column for Monday Morning Insight as well.  Although he now lives in the Dallas, Texas area he is a native of South Carolina so that raises him a notch in my book.  Not that there is anything wrong with anywhere else.

Greg has some of the best ideas that I have heard when it comes to video.  Of course I’m a sound guy so everything in video sounds like a good idea.  No, he really knows what he is talking about.  He also gives excellent reviews on all the top distributors of graphics and motion backgrounds and videos from sites such as Worship House Media and Midnight Oil Productions and many others.  This is one of the best sites for those of involved in technical ministry.

Greg was obviously picking up on my brain waves this week as I have been struggling with exactly what he wrote about this week.  Or maybe all of us heavily involved in ministry struggle with this same thing.   Check out…

Jesus Is the Reason
You’ve heard the saying many times I’m sure: “Jesus is the reason for the season”. With all the December festivities, events, parties, concerts, productions and services, it’s tough to remember and live out that simple phrase. So, I must ask, how’s your December going? In the midst of the craziness and busyness of the season are you intentionally finding time to get away in your private prayer closet? Are you too busy “serving God” that you miss out spending time with God? Trust me, these are questions I ask myself and must constantly keep before me.
Click here to read the rest of the article.

It is so true that I have been too busy doing the “Lord’s work” but not really serving the Lord.  I have been too busy with ministry to focus on personal time with the Lord and with my family.  This is why I was prompted to write the article this week, Reflections on Service.  I realize that I need to put aside my perfectionism and reallocate some time to be with people on my team that I know are capable of doing what I have been doing.

Thanks Greg for an excellent article!  

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Reflections on Service

The stress of the Christmas season is almost over here at First Baptist. The major outdoor and indoor productions are finished. Our Christmas Eve morning service will be some work but nothing compared to what we have been through. I’m looking forward to a few days off since I haven’t had one in several months. This time of year I start to reflect on the year past and I thought I would share with you.

I know you have all heard that 10% of your congregation does 90% of the work or something to that affect. This year and especially this past couple of months I have found that to be very true. Project after project, production after production I see the same people contributing their time and talent. After a while though you see the weariness in their face as they are used and abused by the church. I know that I hate to say no to anything but it is becoming easier.

So what so we have to do to get people to serve. Jesus said to His disciples that the “harvest is great but the workers are few” and the same goes for the work of media ministry. As we do our part in the harvest we are most certainly few. Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 9:38

So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”
Matthew 9:38 NLT

How about that? We should ask for more workers. We should pray to God for more workers. God is the one who does the calling on a person’s life for His purpose and service. God may give us discernment whereas we can see the potential in someone for the Lord’s work in the same area that God has given us.

Secondly we have to let people know that there is a need. I let the staff know that there is a need. I let the worship planners know that there is a need. I let the prayer warriors know that there is a need. I’m always looking for just a hint that someone has technical aptitude but more importantly a servant’s heart. When I see that in someone I let them know that there is a need and actively attempt to recruit them.

I believe that we also need to communicate to our entire congregation the vision that we have for media and technology in our churches. When people see and hear that you have long range goals and a clear objective for your ministry then they are more likely to want to know more or be a part of something that is well planned and structured.

One of the fundamentals of service is that people need to be of the mind set that all they have from health and finances to time and resources all belongs to God and He has made us stewards of those things. Instead of putting aside time for service we should be praying to ask God how He wants us to serve Him with the time He as given us.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Giving Thought to Planning

Ah…’Tis the season for giving. So far I have been given a pounding headache and a bad attitude. It stems mostly from the “YOUR poor planning becomes MY problem” department. Everyone has some kind of Christmas production they want to present. Some put a lot of hard work in planning and preparation and even let me in on it to practice with them. Others do not plan, prepare, practice or let anyone know what they are thinking until it is too late to present a program with excellence. Everything we do is for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When are Christians going to realize that? I have come across some excellent posts on other blogs that I want to share that speak to hard work, planning, practice and excellence.

Practice Makes Better
By Tony Morgan
I read a fascinating quote from K. Anders Ericsson, a professor of psychology at Florida State University, in the November issue of Fast Company. He was talking about the importance of practice.
"Successful people spontaneously do things differently from those individuals who stagnate. They have different practice histories. Elite performers engage in what we call "deliberate practice"--an effortful activity designed to improve individual target performance. There has to be some way they're innovating in the way they do things."
Click here to read the rest of this post

Do It Right The First Time
By Jim Walton, Church Tech Matters

Creating An Experience
By Perry Noble
From time to time we will have a pastor/church leader call NewSpring & want to know what in the world we are doing to reach so many people.
I have had this conversation with many people…and I have seen many walk away from that conversation either discouraged or disappointed because I could not give them a magic formula or a program.
The bottom line is that if a church wants to impact a community–IT TAKES WORK.
For far too long the church has been lazy…that’s right…LAZY. We have sat back on our butt and done nothing, asking God to “do it all” and claiming to be “led by the Spirit.” And then people walk into our boring, lifeless and predictable services and we give “God all the glory” (or the blame!)
Click here to read the rest of this post

Monday, November 27, 2006

Thankful in all Circumstances

On Friday I was still being thankful as I shared with our media ministry team that although we are always thankful for the good things such as family, health, job etc. we should also be thankful for the adversity and challenges that God puts into our lives. I used 1 Thessalonians 5:18 as a key verse which states;

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

God says in all circumstances. Because we believe that God is working in all things we can know from His word that He is working in all circumstances for our good.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT

Unfortunately by Saturday afternoon I was not so thankful anymore. If you have noticed my blogging has almost come to a standstill. My responsibilities have increased greatly to the point that my days are filled to capacity. That doesn't leave much time for blogging and seems to be common theme among many bloggers here lately. After a while the work load takes a toll when there are so many irons in the fire you don’t know which one to grab first so you end up just reacting. Unfortunately our lack of planning and almost non-existent communications once again was evident this weekend. For some reason I took it personal this time. I know it is not because I know everyone else is way too busy as well. I was disappointed in some people but by Sunday night I realized that I had also disappointed others. Because of my busyness I had failed to follow through on some things I had said I would take care of.

I’m thankful once again for that adversity to show me where I need to improve and areas that we need to address in media ministry and our worship services and productions as a whole.

What really cemented my realization of this weekend’s problems is when God led me to Ecclesiastes 2 this morning.

18 I came to hate all my hard work here on earth, for I must leave to others everything I have earned. 19 And who can tell whether my successors will be wise or foolish? Yet they will control everything I have gained by my skill and hard work under the sun. How meaningless! 20 So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work in this world.
21 Some people work wisely with knowledge and skill, then must leave the fruit of their efforts to someone who hasn’t worked for it. This, too, is meaningless, a great tragedy. 22 So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety? 23 Their days of labor are filled with pain and grief; even at night their minds cannot rest. It is all meaningless.
24 So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. 25 For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from him? 26 God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please him. But if a sinner becomes wealthy, God takes the wealth away and gives it to those who please him. This, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.

It is not about me or my work. I need to take satisfaction in that what I do, I do for my Lord. He is the source of happiness and joy. He is the reason we are doing all that we do. Media ministry is for God and God alone. I hate that I lost sight of that but very thankful that I worship a God that lets me know when I go astray. I'm thankful for this circumstance and that God is still working it for good.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

HOW To Sound Workshop Looking For Host Sites

I wanted to forward this message that I received recently. This is a workshop that I can personally vouch for. The workshop is led by Mike Sokol who is as outstanding a recording engineer as you will find. He teaches gain structure a little differently than I do but the entire workshop is rock solid information and very valuable training for anybody who wants to know about sound. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced you will get something out of How To Sound Workshop from Fits and Starts Production. I'm definitely looking forward to someone to sign up as a host in my back yard of Charlotte, NC. Please read the following:

Dear Church Sound Leaders,
We're currently booking our 2007 tour of the HOW-TO SOUND WORKSHOPS and looking for new host sites for January through April 2007 in the eastern United States. Please join us in this important ministry by becoming a host site.




We're looking for host sites in or near the following cities during the months of January through April 2007. For course content and other information, please visit www.howtosound.com.




PA: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia
MD: Annapolis-Bowie-Crofton-Odenton
DC & VA: Alexandria-Arlington-Suitland-Annandale, Richmond
KY: Louisville, La Follette, Knoxville, Chattanooga
NC: Charlotte, Wilmington
SC: Charleston
AL: Huntsville, Birmingham, Montgomery
GA: Atlanta, Savannah, Macon
FL: Tallahassee, Bradenton-Sarasota, Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Naples, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami
WV: Morgantown

Hosting a workshop is a great way to show your members you care. We make it enjoyable for you and your staff. Please call or e-mail me with any questions.

Sincerely,
Hector La Torre
Fits & Starts Productions, LLC


email: hector@fitsandstarts.com
voice: 732-741-1275

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Christian Music Debate

We have had the debate before on this blog about Christian vs. secular when it comes to the arts.  World Views has a post but the best thing is the debate going on the comment section.  Go ahead!  Dive in!  Christian music vs. music by Christians

Monday, October 23, 2006

Thoughts on Ministry

Today there was another excellent post from Perry Noble.  I promise that one of these days I will quit regurgitating Perry’s post and come up with something original.  Really!  It seems that Perry Noble and I are dealing with the same issues right now.

Perry is speaking of his staff this morning and his first point is that they have a “whatever, whenever” attitude.  They will do what they have to do to get the job done.  I have to admit that many times I’m not that person but usually that is because someone has been lacking on point #2 of Perry’s post.  Point #2 states that to Perry’s staff excellence is a consuming passion.  They are not content with half way doing ministry.  Unfortunately many times my attitude is adversely affected by someone’s laziness and lack of planning.  It is as simple as that.  I am absolutely thrilled that people want to reach people for Christ but wanting and doing are two different things.  We are accumulating ministries faster than flies at a dinner on the grounds but are we doing these ministries with excellence.  Are we giving the effort that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ expects and deserves from us in these ministries?  I’m all for reaching out to our community to show Christ and tell of His love for them.  Jesus also had this same compassion for the people around Him and He also knew that there would be few to go out reach these people.  We must first plan and ask for workers before we can go into the harvest field.  Read Matthew 9:35-38  and then also read Perry’s post Some Thoughts on Staffing.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

God is at work in Charlotte too!

It seems that God is at work in the region and not just upstate South Carolina.  Thanks to Tony Morgan for reminding me of another church much closer to me than Newspring who is also getting it done in their back yard.  That church is Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC

Seven families decided to pack up and move to Charlotte and plant a church.  They started back in February with 98 people.  This past weekend they had attendance of 735.  That is phenomenal growth.  Here is another example of a church who is investing in the people around them to reach them for Christ.

The need is great in Charlotte.  I have worked in this city for ten years and I have witnessed as this city’s population has increased to nearly a million people the need for Christ has also risen.  I rejoice with Elevation Church and hope to visit them soon.

Excellence

“Excellence honors God”.  That is a quote from Mark Batterson yesterday on his blog.  I believe that it is absolutely true.  It is a necessity when it comes to media and technology.  People know excellence in media because they see and hear it everyday.  When it doesn’t look right or sound right then people are turned off.
When we strive for excellence we are showing God that we want to do the very best with what He has given us.  It also shows others that God deserves our very best.  I’m disappointed in people that do not want to put forth an effort worthy of service to God.  God wants our best because He wants what is best for us.

Check out Mark’s post, Eye for Excellence

Saturday, October 07, 2006

God is at Work in SC!

Well, once again I write whereas I have not written in a while.  Federal initiatives are still taking up my blogging time.  Not only am I behind in writing but also in reading the many blogs that I enjoy reading.  One of those blogs is the blog of Perry Noble.  

Perry is the pastor of Newspring Church in Anderson, SC.  Not too far from my own church.  I was overwhelmed with emotion as I read his account of their service back on September 24th.  That is what it is all about.  I must say that God is working in the upstate of South Carolina.  We have also seen a great influx of people attending our services.  Nothing like Newspring though.  I don’t think 8,000 people would fit in our church, all of it.

It has been awesome to see standing room only at one of our services for the last month or so.  We have people sitting where ever than can find a place to sit down.  We have had people come and take a chair in the tech area so they would have a place to sit.  God is working in people’s lives in the upstate of South Carolina.

As I have been reading Perry’s blog for the past year or so I have learned a great deal about him and Newspring.  Perry has a passion for reaching the lost for Christ right there in his back yard.  I have learned that Newspring goes to great lengths to plan and prepare.  I know that the entire leadership, staff and creative teams are of one accord and on the same page when it comes to their services.  They all strive for excellence not for anyone but for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  For all of this they are seeing the fruit of their labor now.  What a blessing!

Newspring is only about 6 years old I believe.  They are very innovative but it is not a show.  The gospel and the scripture is not watered down at Newspring but is presented in more of a straightforward way than most churches have ever presented.  They don’t worry about offending anyone but Jesus Christ Himself.  What is your 20, 50, 100 year old church doing to reach people for Christ and to make them disciples?  Are you still doing the things that were being done 20, 50, 100 years ago?

People are hurting.  They are searching for answers to the problems that plague their lives.  They are all around us.  We know the source of the answers to their problems.  Are we doing everything with the abilities, gifts and resources that God has given us to show them that source?  I pray that we will if we are not doing so already.  Newspring is a great example.  Check out these posts from Perry Noble:

Words Can’t Come Close

A Fresh Perspective

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Posts on Planning

I can’t believe that this is the last day of August and I have not been able to write a word all month.  My day job involves tower sites and they have been most susceptible to lightening strikes this month.  I’ve been very busy with equipment failures and therefore falling behind on major projects that were also due this month.  Of course I still have all the church responsibilities as well.  All of that equals no writing for the blog.  I pray that the storms will pass soon both literally and figuratively.

In the past month there has been some excellent writing on other blogs that I would like to share with you if you haven’t read these already.  You know my passion for planning and preparation so these are in that mindset.  Enjoy!

Agile Ministry has had an excellent series of posts on growing your ministry.  Check these out.

Growing Your Ministry

Growing Your Ministry Through…Purpose

Growing Your Ministry Through…Structure

Growing Your Ministry Through…Process

Growing Your Ministry Through…Interviewing

Growing Your Ministry Through…Procedures


Anthony Coppedge has written a couple of posts that have struck a nerve both good and bad.  Check these out.

Big and Little Church Excuses

"Help! I Can't Plan My Sermons in Advance!!"


Perry Noble hit a home run, scored a touchdown, kicked a game winning goal and other various sports analogy clichés with his post on planning yesterday.  Check out this post.

Have A Plan!!!

I hope to be back to writing soon!


Friday, July 28, 2006

Back to Basics: Media Ministry - Why Are You Here?

Why are you involved in media or technology ministry?  Here are some possible answers:

“I like working with _____ (chose one or more: sound/video/web sites/computers).”

“The pastor said we need to serve so I had to pick something.”

“I work on computers for a living so I’m helping out the church.”

If any of these are your reasoning for being involved in media ministry then you need to get out of it right now!  If you are looking at being involved at church just like any other activity such as sports, clubs or volunteer organizations then you are there for the wrong reason. The correct answer should be something like this:

“I want to serve my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His church with the gifts and talents that He has granted me to the best of the ability He has given me.”

Media ministry, as with all ministries, is not about us or our abilities.  It is all about serving Jesus Christ and serving others.  By showing up to operate sound or video equipment or designing a web site or making publications you are not doing the pastor, or technical director, or worship leader or the congregation any favors.  If you come in with that kind of mindset then it becomes about you.  It becomes an issue of selfish ambition and pride.  Trust me it is easy to get caught up in being selfish and prideful.

In the mindset of serving God and serving others I believe there is nothing wrong with being pleased with our accomplishments.  If we are doing a great job mixing a service or produced a video that touches people or designed a web site that brought people to the doors of our church then we can be proud of that because we did it as a representative of Jesus Christ.  The Apostle Paul told the church at Galatia “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,”. (Galatians 6:4)  When we measure ourselves up against someone else then we are serving with a wrong motive.  Should we strive to do our very best?  Absolutely!  God deserves nothing less but our best may not be someone else’s best.  To paraphrase 1 Samuel 16:7 man looks at what we do outwardly but God knows our heart.

I believe that you should also see your service as an offering to God.  Our offerings should be unblemished and without defect.  Does that mean perfect?  No, there was only one perfect offering and that was Jesus Christ.  We should make every effort to make sure that our offering is the best we have.  We covered how in the last post.
We also went into more detail about our offering and how it correlates to worship in a previous post in May titled “It’s Really About Worship”  Please take a moment to read that post.

God is THE Creator.  He is very creative but He is also very detailed and structured.  You need both in media ministry.  You have to have creative people and you need structured people and you need unity between the two and on occasion you will have someone that is both.  Bonus!  They will have various talents and personalities.  Those various talents and personalities unified to accomplish a common goal is what makes up a team.  On a personal level, as a director, God has entrusted me with discipleship of the team.  He has given me a stewardship responsibility over media and technology at our church.  He has entrusted me with a vision on how to proceed using the tool of media and technology to serve Him, serve others and further His Kingdom.  I don’t do this on my own.  I need each and every member of the media ministry team.  I prompt discipleship but ultimately they are responsible for their spiritual growth.  I work toward solutions with equipment by listening to the needs of others and by what the team tells me.  I work toward the prize of pleasing my Lord by using media and technology to do the very thing that He has called me to do.  The verses around Galatians 6:4 that I quoted earlier speak to teamwork.  

Galatians 6:1-5 (NIV) 1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.

Your team should all be helping each other with spiritual growth and with meeting the needs of each other as well as the staff and the entire body of Christ. Your team should understand how to proceed with the tools given them to help facilitate serving Him, serving others and furthering His Kingdom.  Your team should be striving for excellence in their service or offering.  Every team member should be responsible to take care of whatever task has been given to them therefore carrying there own load.  It is a team effort!  Everyone must do their part otherwise the burden is much heavier for someone else and will eventually get to the point that they collapse under the weight and then you have lost a team member.  It is the responsibility of tech directors and team leaders to make sure that the weight stays evenly distributed even if that means restructuring your team or making unpopular decisions.

We adopted a Media Ministry Team mission statement a year ago which I will not repeat here because we have changed it some to better represent our mission.

The goal of the Media Ministry team is to provide services worthy of the worship of Jesus Christ.  We will accomplish this goal by utilizing prayer, planning, preparation and practice while keeping our priorities of God, family and church in order.  We will seek how to best serve every ministry with media and technology to help facilitate bringing people to know Jesus, helping people to grow in Jesus and sending people to show Jesus.

That is why you are here.  

Sunday, July 23, 2006

Back to Basics: Media Ministry - How?

How do we do media ministry?

The short answer is very intentionally.  Media is not a tool that can just be thrown together and expected to be effective.  Unfortunately in many churches that is exactly what is happening.  The results are mixed.  In the area of audio, video and lighting sometimes you pull it off and sometimes you don’t.  If you pull it off then maybe someone was affected and their heart and mind was opened to what God had for them but your tech team is stressed to the point of breaking and completely missed the message of what the media was being used for.  If you don’t pull it off then nobody was affected and you probably lost someone for the entire service and in extreme cases maybe forever.

I don’t mean to be overly dramatic here so let me clarify.  How many of you have family members and friends that don’t know Christ?  I have a bunch.  It is like trying to push an elephant out of the way with a feather to get them to step foot in a church.  So say you finally do get them to come to church and the sound is bad, video is out of sync and a light bulb falls and hits someone in the head.  Ok, so the last one is out of our control and yes, that did happen.  What I’m trying to say here is that every Sunday we may have only that one chance to reach a particular person for Christ.  And we are not ready…

So how do we get ready?  Let’s take a trip shall we?  

First and foremost is PRAYER.  We should start everything by going before the throne of God and seeking His will.  We need to ask God where we are going and let Him provide us with a map.  We should be praying for God’s guidance in how to specifically implement media into every ministry of our churches.  We should be praying for guidance into what media to implement for elements of our worship services.  We should be praying for our team members and the staff in the area of spiritual growth.  We should be praying for our team members and everyone else who will be performing their duties during a worship service.  I also say a special prayer for media use in funerals and weddings because I know there will be people in the audience that this really is the only time they come into a church.  Prayer is our first step of communication.

Colossians 4:2 (NLT) 2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
 

Next thing we have to do to get ready is PLANNING.  God has given us a map so now we need to start plotting our course.  Like I said before, using media should be very intentional.  The decision to use media at all and what specific forms of media to use should come out of the planning for outreach, worship services and other special events.  Everyone needs to be communicating what God has laid on their heart concerning a certain event, sermon series, ministry etc.  If God is in it then we should all be on the same page of the map and carrying out a plan instead of everyone doing their own thing.  It makes it so much easier when everyone is using the same map to get somewhere.  If I know before hand what the heart of the worship leader is on a theme then I can create an atmosphere with sound, lighting and video to help convey that to the congregation.  
Now the pastor also needs to be of the same thinking.  We need to all be going the same place if you know what I mean.  If the pastor is preaching on a topic and the worship leader is leading us in songs the complete opposite of the topic then it makes it very difficult to use media consistently especially if you had no input and are making a cursory attempt to implement.  Everyone feels like they are on roller coaster ride.  
Good planning will also lead to less stress and exasperation of your team by them not having to react to everything on the fly every Sunday.  Some people are fine with adapting to a whim but most technical people are not.  The remedy to all of this is effective communication and planning.  

Proverbs 3:21 - 23 (NLT) 21My child, don’t lose sight of good planning and insight. Hang on to them,  22for they fill you with life and bring you honor and respect.  23They keep you safe on your way and keep your feet from stumbling. 

Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) 5Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.


PREPARATION is the next thing that needs to happen to get ready.  After you have prayed for God’s guidance and have plotted the course then it is time to prepare for the trip.  Prayer and planning should also be part of your preparation.  If you have planned and now know what the destination everyone is heading toward then it is most certainly easier to set lighting and choose what graphics, fonts and video you need to use.  In your preparation think of how this graphic or motion or video will be perceived and does it really fit into getting people to the destination.  Get others in your family or your friends to look at things and see what they think.  Continue the effective communication by running everything through those that were involved in planning to make sure you are staying true to what was planned.
Also with preparation comes the administrative part.  You need to keep in communication with your team who will be implementing the media by operating equipment.  They need to know what the plan is as well.  If we all plan a trip and have a bus (media) to take us there, then we better let the bus driver know where we want to go or we will never get there.  Our audio, video and lighting operators need to understand what we want to accomplish in a worship service and help us get there.  There needs to be easy to follow instructions or script for the service, also called cue sheets, for your team to use.  Tech team members need to make sure that they completely understand every element and if they don’t they need to ask.  I use a weekly e-mail to inform or remind the team what is coming up that Sunday and I also attach the service script for them to look at and start their own preparation.  Another way to accomplish this communication and also planning is through online collaboration which can be much more interactive but everyone has to take the responsibility to check in.
I ask the members of my team who will be operating gear at a worship service to be on position a half hour before a service starts and an hour before special events.  Those times are becoming increasingly not enough.  In that time they need to first prepare their hearts for worship.  Take time to pray with the team before every service.  Then they can start visualizing what they are going to do for each element by looking through the service script which they should have reviewed earlier in the week.  They should also use this time for final testing of CDs, DVDs, videos, and performing a final sound check.
Preparation is key in using media in ministry to creating an atmosphere conducive to worship and removing distraction.  Not everyone prepares in the same matter but our preparation should be beneficial in helping us to arrive at the destination.

Joshua 7:13 (NLT) 13“Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the LORD. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things.
 

Next is PRACTICE.  Going back to the trip analogy, we all now know where we are going and how we are going to get there so now we need to check the bus to make sure it is in good working condition so that we do not break down on our journey. This is an area that is seriously lacking in many churches.  Once you have prayed, planned and prepared you absolutely need to practice.  If you create a slide show or video on your computer and then wait until you are in the worship service to see what it looks like on the big screen you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.  Then it is too late to change anything and people in the congregation are adversely affected by what we have presented. Recorded media can all be very different.  If the first time you hear a CD accompaniment is during the worship service and it starts out too loud or too low then you have caused a distraction and have possibly thrown off a choir or vocalist.  You need to take the time to know how your media elements look and sound before it is presented to a congregation.  I am a firm believer in tech rehearsals and sound checks.  I want to know that everything works and how it going to look and sound before I present it as an offering for my Lord because that is what it is.  More to come on that in another post.  Practice needs planning and preparation as well as communication and cooperation to be effective.  It is very difficult to practice when you have not prepared and/or don’t have the cooperation of others.  Good planning and communication will go a long way in making practice a reality.

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NLT) 25All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.
 

As with everything and not just media ministry you must remember your PRIORITIES.  Your personal relationship with God comes first.  Personal time in prayer, reading God’s Word and studying should come before everything.  Next is your family.  Your family comes before church or ministry.  I believe that with all my heart but I don’t always put it into practice.  I believe more time with family would come about when there is a team effort in planning, preparation and practice.  The more we can all rely on others to get things done because we are all using the same map and going to the same place then we can enjoy the trip and rejoice together in arriving at the destination.

Philippians 3:8 - 9 (NLT) 8Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ  9and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. 


With PRAYER, PLANNING, PREPARATION, PRACTICE all in the context of our PRIORITIES we can be used of God to accomplish His will in people’s lives.  We offer our gifts and talents for His use and glory and with that we should be very intentional.  

Monday, July 17, 2006

Back to Basics: Media Ministry - When & Where

When to use media?

As I stated in my last post media encompasses a whole host of things that that can be used to convey the message that we are sharing.  When to use that media is almost becoming a non-debatable issue.  With each generation the learning style is changing.  My grandparents, parents and I to a degree had to be auditory learners.  That means that we had to listen to hours upon hours of lecturing in school and preaching in our churches.  The only visual stimulation was reading text in a, what do you know, text book.  No wonder I didn’t like school.  

I was on the cusp of innovation when I was going through school so there was some visual and tactile learning but not much and definitely not to the degree we have today.  There was not a personal computer in every home.  The closest thing was a remote control with like, 6 buttons.  I had no experience with a personal computer until I was an adult.  Now kids could not complete their homework without a personal computer with internet access.  Today we have amazing acoustic advances in stereo and surround sound processing in our homes.  When I was growing up I think the most significant advance was quadraphonic sound.  If you remember that then move closer to the screen so that you can read this.  We have went from 8-track to now I travel with my music on a SD memory card.  We now have a lot of interaction and more and more our entertainment is becoming “on demand”.  I bring all of this up to demonstrate how much has changed in a relatively short period of time.  Technological advances are replicating at an ever increasing rate.  Our kids are now visual learners.  We ourselves have become accustomed to great sound and video in our consumer gear.  We are becoming conditioned to being able to interact and get the information we want in an instant.

Like it or not we as the body of Christ are competing for people’s attention.  We have to be able grab people’s attention and hold it.  If we are trying to reach people with the only hope of life which is through Jesus Christ and we are to make disciples of them then we need to be able to reach them and teach them using a tool that they can relate to and that is the various forms of media.  So when to use media is pretty much every time the doors are open.

When not to use media?

You know all of that quality in audio and video I was talking about that we have all come to take for granted?  When you step into a church and it is like stepping back in time and the quality is awful then you need to address your media use.  If you can’t use video with the utmost quality and to the best of your ability then just don’t use it.  If the sound is horrible then make every effort to make it right.  If your church website is outdated and not interactive then it would be better if you didn’t have a website at all.

Colossians 3:17 (NLT) 17And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

I state this verse once again because we are representatives of Jesus Christ.  I don’t want someone who is searching to think that my Jesus doesn’t rate quality.  I don’t want them to think that my Jesus is outdated.  I don’t want them to think that my Jesus is not interactive.  You get my point?  It is all about representing Jesus Christ!

Other instances when you will probably not use media are in your personal relationships.  One of the best ways for those that don’t know Christ is to see it lived out in your life.  In those relationships, opportunities arise where you can share why you are as you are.  This is not usually a good time to whip out your laptop and projector and go through the FAITH power point presentation.  Now you may be able to use media such as the Passion of the Christ and the Jesus film to help share the gospel and foster further discussion.  Like Jesus, use what you can.

Where do we use media?

Well, naturally we use media in our worship services.  We can also have a web presence.  Some things you might not think of are banners outside your church or posters inside that promote a sermon series or discipleship classes.  Another use is a good portable sound system that can be used for outreach events.  Video cameras on mission trips for reports back to the home church are great.  Mobile A/V carts with television and DVD player to go with the shut-in ministry to enjoy a worship service with them is another good one.  There are many, many more I’m sure you could also come up with.  

When and where to use media are ever increasing but should always be at the discretion of the Holy Spirit.  But whenever and wherever you use media you need to strive for excellence because we are representing Jesus Christ.  I can’t stress that enough.
  

Friday, July 14, 2006

Back to Basics: Media Ministry - What & Why

This is Part 1 in a series of articles in getting back to the basics of Media Ministry.

What is Media Ministry?  

Let us take a look at exactly what is “media”.  Media is the derived plural from the word medium which I know conjures up negative connotations but when you look at the definition of the word medium it gives a different view.

  • An intervening substance through which something else is transmitted or carried on.

  • An agency by which something is accomplished, conveyed or transferred.

  • A means of mass communications.

We use different forms of media as an intervening substance to transmit or carry the message of Jesus Christ.  Our audio and video systems convey or transfer what the Lord has laid on the heart of the Worship Leader to the congregation.  We use media to communicate to as many as we possibly can at any one time.

We use media such as our website and our A/V systems to bring people to know Jesus.  We use printed publications, DVDs and projectors to help aid in discipleship classes to help people to grow in Jesus.
We use portable sound systems and show videos of the mission field to facilitate sending people to show Jesus.

Some examples of media are:
  • Audio/Sound

  • Video (backgrounds, presentation, produced, own films)

  • Lighting

  • Web site

  • Publications (newsletters, bulletins, inserts, posters)

  • Recorded media (CD, DVD, MP3, MPEG)

  • Special effects (fog, snow, aroma machines)


Why should we use media?  

Our primary use of course is to bring glory to God and to be a representative of Him in all that we do first and foremost.

Colossians 3:17 (NLT) 17And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Our church has a mission statement that states:

Bringing People to Know Jesus
     Helping People to Grow in Jesus
          Sending People to Show Jesus

That mission statement sums up our evangelism, discipleship and missions emphasis.  Are we using media to accomplish that mission statement?  We should be.

We know from the teachings of Jesus Christ that He used what was relevant and available to Him to create a word picture in the minds of His disciples and others that were following.  In Matthew 13 alone Jesus uses a mustard seed, yeast, wheat and weeds, hidden treasure, pearl merchant and a fishing net to explain the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today we should also be using what is relevant to the culture of today and that is media.  We are a media saturated society and people today are being bombarded with the message of the world.  Media is amoral.  It makes no distinction.  So what is used to convey the message of moral relativism and social depravity can also be used to spread the truth of God’s Holy Word and the awesome gift of life through Jesus Christ.

Media is an invaluable and powerful tool in ministry and should always be used with the mindset of bringing glory to God.  Let’s use we got.  The world and Satan are using it very effectively and it is time we do the same.

Friday, July 07, 2006

Stay Tuned!

It seems that I can’t find the time to write lately.  When I do have a few moments I draw a blank on what to write.  I hope to change all of that soon with a series of posts on our philosophy on media ministry and a review of our concert series.  
Next week I will be attending Seminars 4 Worship in Charlotte, NC.  S4W in the past has been geared towards worship leaders but this year they have added many technology classes.  I’m going to check them out and let you know my experience with the new format.  The great thing is that one of my favorite song writers, Paul Baloche, will be there and leading worship on Monday night.  
If any of you are going to be there then leave a comment or send me an e-mail and we can get together for lunch or something.

Monday, June 19, 2006

Announcements & Articles of Interest

It seems that since this blog had its one year anniversary that I have had nothing to say.  I have a lot to say actually just not much time to put it into this media right now.  Increased responsibilities and some life tragedies have kept me away.  For now I just want to leave you with some links to some articles and equipment announcements that you may have missed.

Training: Where to Get Help
Many of you indicated that audio education is valuable and the more the better. Shure Notes for Houses of Worship is one educational vehicle to help you in your quest for knowledge and we decided to dedicate this issue to other resources that are available to help you and your team make sound decisions.
READ MORE?

JBL MRX500 Series
JBL's new MRX500 Series comprises five passive sound reinforcement loudspeakers using JBL Professional 400W Differential Drive® transducers (the same as used in its VerTec line array). Featuring a specially engineered, lightweight plywood enclosure design, JBL Professional’s engineers have ensured the MRX500 Series is typically 20 percent to 30 percent lighter than competitive systems. All units despite a kick-resistant 16-gauge heavy-duty grille and a DuraFlex™ finish.
READ MORE?

Now Shipping: QSC PLX2
QSC's PLX2 amplifiers are divided into two product groups offering power outputs of up to 3,600 watts. Adding subwoofer processing and convenient back panel switches to the original PLX platform, the PLX2 "02" lineup (models PLX1802, PLX2502, PLX3102 and PLX3602) are complemented by the compact PLX2 "04" amps (models PLX1104 and PLX1804), which bring the same technology to applications where bridged or 2-ohm operation isn't required.
READ MORE?

QSC Audio Introduces MD Powered Series Loudspeakers
The MD Powered loudspeaker series from QSC Audio offers exceptional performance in a wide variety of applications, including houses of worship, performing arts facilities, hotels, casinos, night clubs, and sporting facilities.
READ MORE?

The MO Guys Introduce New Book
A new book from Jason and Len that explores the questions of how to communicate effectively in an image driven society and reach a world conditioned by television and videogames.
READ MORE?

The Life of a Backline Tech
You might be a musician. Maybe you build instruments. You have a mind for electronics. And you like to travel. Add the lure of the road and the excitement of touring with a band (or working in a hot venue) and you have the makings of a career as a backline tech. A roadie.
READ MORE?


Friday, June 02, 2006

ONE YEAR CELEBRATION!

Yesterday made one year of existence for the Media Ministry blog.  What a ride!  This has been an amazing experience so far and I look to continue on.  I have met some incredibly gifted and talented people.  I have been opened up to a whole new community that I never knew existed before last year.  God has truly blessed me through this blog.  I have been told a couple of accounts of how this blog has been used by God in an awesome way that gave me chills.  I did not get to witness first hand what has transpired but just knowing that God is using you as an instrument of His will is more than enough.

Thanks to all my loyal readers.  I hope to never disappoint.  I pray to only get better.  I want to strive for excellence in all that I do for the glory of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Of course the first thing you notice is the drastic change in appearance of this site.  I thought the one year anniversary was a good a time as any.  Change is good!

Romans 2:29 (NLT)  29No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God’s Spirit. Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God, not from people.

Colossians 1:6 (NLT) 6This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is changing lives everywhere, just as it changed yours that very first day you heard and understood the truth about God’s great kindness to sinners.

Thank God for templates though.  Maybe some day this sound guy will learn code but it is not today.  I did do the banner image though so progress for me is hopeful. :>)

I pray that this blog will continue to be used as an instrument of God and that everyone that visits here will find encouragement, inspiration, knowledge or just the peace that you are not alone in going through the trials and tribulations of media and technology ministry.

Looking forward to another great year!

  

Saturday, May 20, 2006

It's Really About Worship

A recent thread on the Church Sound Check forum has garnered attention from many members on the list.  The thread started with a post titled “Time for a Break” in which one church sound guy stated that he was calling it quits after 19 years at this particular church.  The main reason it seemed was church leadership would not heed his advice on technical matters.  This thread brought forth a hail of similar stories and complete understanding on needing to take a break.  

But one post changed all of that.  The post was titled “He Doesn’t Need Us” in which a passionate response was given that God does not need us.  This post went on to assert that it is our own pride that causes problems because we think we are irreplaceable.  That we believe that the church would cease to exist because we don’t show up to turn knobs and push faders.

The post had this to say, “We seem to be operating out of the basic assumption that "serving God" is necessary and desirable.  This is usually and easily extended to "God needs my service", which then leads to "the church couldn't make it without my service" - which has to be extended to "God couldn't make it without my service".Really?????Now, let's be truly honest.   Let's drop our religious masks and be real.   We all would reject the above paragraph - and say that "of course I know God is almighty and that He and His church can survive without me".   But, then we go and live as if we truly believe the opposite!   We let our families suffer, and rationalize that this is okay because we are truly "needed" (and that God and His church wouldn't be okay without my services).   We let our personal life and even our health suffer, and also rationalize that this is necessary and okay - for the same reasons.   Most important of all, we let our spiritual life, no - drop that religious jargon and admit that a real trusting and listening relationship with our redeemer and Lord is sacrificed for the sake of the "ministry" and the "serving".   Be truly honest - have you ever hid behind a sound desk or a computer screen?

OUCH!   I felt that one.   I believe that he is correct in his analysis for many of us; including me at times.  Jesus was talking to Peter when He told him that He would build His church and that the gates of Hell would not overcome it. (Matthew 16:18)  Who do we think we are that the church in which we are serving would fail because we are not there?  If God is in it then there is nothing that we do that will stop it.  Therefore I agree with this post that God does not need us.  

This post goes on to speak about worship.  

“Do we really think that you can worship the God of the universe in spirit and truth while mixing or running PP, or otherwise working?   Oh, we may experience God in some measure, but you can't be lost in worship and still be doing your job.  You just can't!  I'm sorry, but I have come to take these two as mutually exclusive,…”

Although I can understand where the writer is coming from I don’t completely agree with this statement.  Many equate worship with singing and music and therefore many worship leaders are music ministers.  I believe that our offering is our worship.  Singing and playing an instrument is an offering to God and is worship.  Performing our best at the mixing console is our offering to God and is worship.  When we have the correct response to a trying situation at work that shows we are offering our life as a living testament to God that is worship.  Casting Crowns has a song titled Lifesong.  The first line goes;

Empty hands held high; Such a small sacrifice.
If not joined with my life; I sing in vain tonight.

Our entire lives should be an offering to God.  In everything we do we should be doing for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  That is true devotion and that is worship.  If we are allowing our technical offering to become just a job or work then we need to examine our own hearts to see if we are there for us or for God.

Galatians 2:20 (NLT) 20I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Colossians 3:17 (NLT) 17And whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

The premise of the rest of the post is that God does not need our service and that if we believe that God needs us then we are being prideful.  God, absolutely, does not need us but He created us for a purpose.  That purpose is to bring glory to Him.  God yearns for a relationship with us.  He wants us to need Him.  Although it is the better thing to sit at the feet of Jesus and worship like Mary; Jesus did not say Martha was wrong for doing the work but for being upset because Mary did not choose service too.  Likewise I don’t believe that Mary was upset because Martha was serving and not sitting with Jesus.  Whether we are serving or just participating in a corporate worship service we are there for God and God only.  It doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing.  We should be concentrating on bringing glory to God through praise, learning and serving.  I believe that we would be dishonoring God if we do not use the gifts and talents that He has given us for His service.  Once again I’m not saying that God needs our service just that He wants our service.  

The writer of the post wrote, "I heard recently that a study revealed that 85% of those that "made a decision for Christ" in today's churches are out of the church (any church) within a year."   I believe that we need to reach out to those that receive Christ and get them into service so that they do not fall away.  But with that service we must disciple.  I believe that is where churches fail.  The Great Commission is misinterpreted as "go and make converts" when what Jesus said was "...go and make disciples..."  It is a much greater thing to worship at the feet of Jesus but don't completely discount service to the church because as Paul said in Colossians 1:24 - 29 (NLT) 24I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am completing what remains of Christ’s sufferings for his body, the church.  25God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his message in all its fullness to you Gentiles.  26This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to his own holy people.  27For it has pleased God to tell his people that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. For this is the secret: Christ lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory. 28So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ. We warn them and teach them with all the wisdom God has given us, for we want to present them to God, perfect£ in their relationship to Christ.  29I work very hard at this, as I depend on Christ’s mighty power that works within me.

I also believe that God does not call us to just serve Him but to also serve others.  We serve in the technical ministry to facilitate worship.  We serve to help others hear and see what the Lord has laid on the heart of the worship leader or the pastor.  Jesus gave us this example,

John 13:12 - 17 (NLT) 12After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing?  13You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because it is true.  14And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  15I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.  16How true it is that a servant is not greater than the master. Nor are messengers more important than the one who sends them.  17You know these things—now do them! That is the path of blessing.

We were created to serve.

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) 10For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

We give of ourselves in service because God has given everything for us.

Romans 12:1 (NLT) 1And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 

Our service has meaning.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NLT) 58So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord’s work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.  
It really all comes down to worship.  Who are we presenting our offering to?  When we sing are we singing for the Lord?  When we play an instrument are we playing it for the Lord?  When we operate sound and video equipment are we doing that for the Lord?

I thank the writer for his passionate plea and for bringing to light areas in my life that I need to work on.  I pray that in all that we do we do with a heart to bring glory to God.  I pray that we do not let our own selfishness or pride get in the way of our worship or distract anyone else from worship.  Let us worship God with our praise, our service, with our lives.