Live Streaming church services has become popular, and whereas technology now makes it possible at a cost most churches can afford, it is still costly to have a quality broadcast and there are several matters that need to be balanced before streaming is embraced. This booklet aims to address some of these issues that should be considered and implemented to ensure your churches streaming service is of best practice. To embark on a Streaming service is to start a new ministry and as such the decision lies with the leadership if this is a ministry the church wants to have. It is important that the streaming ministry is an intentional decision from the church leadership or it will often be experienced as an add-on, and not receive the attention that is required. Prior to embarking on the technical aspect of streaming, the leadership needs to map out these issues: Why do you stream? For whom? Is streaming really the best thing for your church? Do you have the manpower to be consistent in your broadcast? Is it for members wanting to stay at home? For those unable to attend? Is it outreach? Does the amount of work that goes into the ministry balance with the people logging on? if you are a medium to small size church you may decide that this ministry is not for you.
Streaming your service does alter how you conduct a church service. It becomes intentional and scheduled on all levels. You no longer have the luxury of waiting for more people or for one person to show up before you start. Streaming is like a one way mirror of people looking in, we never know who is on watching, therefor in all our behaviours and words be a positive testimony.
What lends itself to streaming Sermons and intentionally led discussions can be very powerful in sharing the gospel though streaming. Some things to consider though is that not all sermons should be streamed, as there are times the pastor need to address the congregation in house. Streaming of inexperienced preachers can sometimes not be helpful as the content might not be what your church stands for. Our gospel message is the Good News, and we desire to lift Jesus up and draw people to Him. Therefor we should refrain from speaking in a manner that could be seen as hate speech or discrimination of another group of people or religion not only can this lead to prosecution, but we shouldn t need to compromise our Church message by speaking negatively about others. A ministry that has intentionality at its base is more fruitful and the church will then be ready to embrace the changes that comes when a service is being streamed.
Streaming is not for all churches. If you are considering, perhaps start out with recording the service and make it available on Demand for later viewing. It s a good place to start as it gives the church a possibility of experience an adaptation of worship to include an online congregation as well as it gages the likelihood of the team being able to deliver regularly each week. Often there is a surge of people interested of involvement in the ministry at the onset, but interest and involvement tends to decline, and to maintain the streaming every Sabbath can become a challenge. On Demand will also let you ensure the quality of your content is to the standard, you would want to share with your friends. With on demand you can decide to record and make 1 2 sermons a month available if that is all your team can manage. This wold be a manageable option for smaller churches >100 members. The church gets to choose the best sermons and those that are most relevant to other people. It also gives the added bonus of you being able to edit it and make it a better product before broadcasting it. An on demand archive on your website will still be of interest as you make it searchable by meta tagging. Streaming services should always be archived for later usage and to be viewed on demand.
Technical Technically speaking the equipment a church should invest in would vary from setting to setting in what is most suitable and within the budget. The SEC is ready to consult with each church individually on what is most suited. It is desirable that the team that manages the technical part of this ministry has received training. Technical checklist Camera Placement of equipment so it s not intrusive yet image quality and sound is broadcast worthy. Avoid placing a small cameras at the back of church- it gives a CCTV broadcast- no one can see much. Camera should be seen as a part of the congregation by the speaker Ensure Internet bandwidth able to support broadcast in the hall. A church should not necessarily film all the church. There need to be a safe haven in church where those who for various reasons do not wish to be filmed can be seated, knowing the camera will not zoom in on them. Light Ensure the platform and pulpit is lit so the camera can have a sharp image. Avoid shadow casting from light.
Audio Audio is key. The audio in the hall is not the audio that is broadcasted. Ensure a good quality audio is broadcasted. Microphone etiquette Speech should be clear and articulate Use of microphone properly holding it close to mouth Use of voice within a range, any shouting will distort sound Know which microphone to use so you don t test the microphones by tapping on them before you use it Ensure good care of microphones in between usage, so they are not all put together on the floor/ pulpit and can give feedback Check for batteries to be full before usage. Label each microphone so the audio engineer can easily identify which mic is being used. Always pause first when picking up the microphone, giving the audio engineer time.
Platform checklist How does the platform look- what is the visual image being seen. What would you like people to see when they walk into your living room? Is the background to busy plain colour background are easy on the eye. Ensure It s tidy and not messy. Are people sleeping or being restless on the platform, it might be better to consider not having people in the background How are people standing, are they in clear view and not hidden behind a too big pulpit? Are people sitting, then are they visible for the congregation and cameras? It happens that when arranging seating the chairs are to low for a good camera angle, and for the people to be visible beyond the first row of chairs. When speakers have the habit of walking on the platform, outline for the speakers the floor space to walk within. This will ensure the speakers is not suddenly walking off camera. Talk with the speaker and some markings on the floor will serve as a good guide. Eye contact. Have eye contact with the cameras. Make the camera as part of the congregations. And how people are seen, Encourage people to look engaging
When embracing recording the service, its important that this is communicate, and best practice in front of the camera is encourage. Some simple guidelines for a more engaging product. Smile, look interested in what is going on, who is speaking, who is performing. Make sure your facial expression matches the content being shared. Not every service is a funeral, so we should look to be engaging with the message accordingly. Talking to each other on the platform party is distracting the viewer from respecting the person speaking. Please don t fall asleep or close your eyes for a longer period of time, even if that is how you listen best. Think of how you are seated. Kneeling with your backside to the camera might not be a pretty sight Avoid standing with your back to the camera Think of your clothes anything with small stripes or shiny material can be difficult for the camera to capture. Speakers need to refrain from using the entire range of vocal capacity, as speaking too loud distorts the sound in broadcast. This is also a reminder to worship leaders that the mix heard in the room and monitors is not the audio that is broadcasted, not is the congregational singing being broadcasted well. Please choose singers who can sing to lead the congregation. Using backing tracks, needs to be given well ahead of the program to ensure a smooth transition by the audio engineer
SMILE YOU RE ON CAMERA
Content: Cater your program according to your mission. People check out a church before they attend, how are they welcomed and included online? Do they see visitors being singled out, is that comfortable? Be continues of your use of Language. If you are intending to use your streaming service as an outreach, be aware of your usage of in house Adventist vocabulary. Do we speak in a language that is understandable to our non Adventist community? This also go for using cultural specific illustrations, you can use them, just explain them. Are the topics presented something of interest to your non Adventist audience? Our Church has such a wonderful message to share and such an area of expertise, however we must be careful to make promises online of this will cure or if you do this you will become rich The messages we share when we are streamed and in the media spotlight needs to be carefully considered. Communicate what is happening throughout the program. Welcome the online viewers and let them know you are also there for them. Have a chat going while the service is streamed and assign someone to communicate with the online viewers, so there is a way to contact the church. Avoid the chat being filled with technical chat, and monitor the trolls (those who are abusive and hateful ) but steer it in a spiritual direction. You are free to ban ppl from chatroom if they are abusive.
Concerts and musical items do not come across well unless you have the hall wired specifically for a musical concert. Programs with drama also tend to do poorly as sound quality often suffers. A detailed program outline for platform party and media team: With who is doing what at what time and with what microphone to use when Instructions of standing, kneeling etc Quality Control Regular check How does our service look and sound, anything we can improve, is it meeting the target group we have in mind? Are the technical staff trained to operate the equipment? Do the technical team feel included in the ministry of the church? Are platform party briefed on streaming etiquette? Have the speaker been notified that your church is streaming, and has the speaker agreed to this? Some speakers will not wish their presentation to be streamed, and it is the speakers right to request not to be recorded. Legal Your church has a responsibility for what is presented from the platform and is distributed through media. If you are making Church recordings with music available on the internet via streaming/webcasting or as a download/podcast you ll require a Limited Online Music Licence available directly from PRS for Music. Please find appropriate licence: http://www.prsformusic.com/
This booklet is Copyrighted material. Edit & proofreading Megan Mole Design & Layout Jordan Huie