It is our Goal that we can use technology to help the church member to concentrate and participate in service in a more effective way.  We do this, not by concentrating on the technologies themselves, but rather they are tools to enhance the service and presentation of the Gospel itself.

Technology

Computer and audio video technology can play a vital role in the Christian church today. The use of computer systems for mailing lists is an old fashioned representation. Computers can fulfill a wide variety of functions in the church today.

There is a need for public address systems in most churches. There is also a need for an understanding that this should be an integrated part of the actual service and not an afterthought.

Running and maintaining the settings for the Public Address system is a ministry of its own, part of the “Ministry of Helps”. As the cost of video technology becomes more and more reachable, it become more apparent that this media is something that the church should consider and not just in broadcast form; but also for the shut-in and incapacitated as well as others who just can’t make it to a given service or ceremony.

Because the cost of technology has been dropping over the course of time, is now very affordable for even the smallest of churches to integrate these technologies in their evangelistic ministries. Also since costs are dropping dramatically, many aspects of each of the branches of these technologies overlaps with each other, giving more functionality overall. The inexpensive and simple personal computer, for example, can be a base component for both audio and video technology and their representation in the church.

There are many that feel that these technologies should be shunned or at least avoided. This kind of old-fashioned thinking can cause a church to fail, or at least, not grow. With the steadily dropping costs of technologies, they not only become more available to even the small church body, they are becoming so common-place that the average lay-person expects a certain amount of technology in the church.

Recently, it is becoming more popular for people to own personal computers and become more integrated into the technological world that we live in. Many people now prefer email to a letter sent by post. Shopping “online” is becoming so popular, that it is becoming a trillion dollar industry, just in the United States.

Because of this information age and the availability of these technologies to even the novice home computer user, it is becoming something that is expected in the church. The days of the mailing lists and cut and paste and photo-coping weekly bulletins are now part of the history of today’s church.

Ministries

Normally when we think of Audio and video in the church and as ministries, usually the very large churches come to mind. This concept is simply not true anymore.

Just about every church, no matter how small can have an audio and video ministry. Even the smallest of churches has some kind of audio equipment; a tape recorder, a karaoke deck, or even a full Public Address (PA) system.

Using this technology to benefit the church and ministry is the goal. As far as a layperson/parishioner is concerned, the audio technologies are functioning when they can hear and understand what is going on in the service and they aren’t aware of the technology that makes this happen.

Video technologies are not quite as unobtrusive in the service, especially when working with one of the many ways to video tape a service. The video camera and the operator (unless operated completely by remote control) typically find themselves in the service and though trying to not be noticed, sometimes it can’t be helped.

Fortunately, most people are so used to technologies, that having a camera and operator around is not something that is distractive. There are many more parts to these ministries and technologies than the PA and camera’s. Many functions also include audio and video tape ministries and libraries. Television and radio production and broadcasts are also part of the media ministries, though sometimes a separate part of that ministry.

Thank you.
Brent Hoefling