Production in Worship: Making the Most of What You Have (Part 2)
Let me tell you about Keith.
Every Sunday morning, you'll find him at our lighting console, doing what he's done for decades. What makes Keith special isn't his technical expertise (though he's got plenty). It's how he serves. Even when the room feels disconnected, Keith is there, one hand on the controls, the other raised in worship. He understands something crucial: production isn't just about pushing buttons – it's about creating space for encounter.
The Heart of Production Ministry
Here's a truth we need to sit with: We don't need any of this to worship God. Some of our brothers and sisters around the world gather in basements with nothing but three pages of Scripture, whispering their songs of praise for fear of being discovered. Their worship, offered at great cost, often times may please God more than our climate-controlled services with perfect sound mixing.
But here's the flip side: God has placed us in this context, in this season, with these tools. When stewarded well, our production elements can help people feel the weight of the truth they're singing. A properly mixed sound system encourages confident congregational singing. Well-timed lighting transitions can help moments land. Even something as simple as correctly anticipated slide changes can make the difference between distraction and engagement.
Starting with What You Have
One of the biggest mistakes I see worship ministries make is chasing after the latest gear while neglecting to develop excellence with what they already have. Before you eye that new lighting console or digital mixer, ask yourself: Have we mastered what's already in our toolbox?
A Recent Sunday Morning Lesson Last month, we had a moment that drove this home. Everything looked perfect during setup, but when service started, our tracks were barely audible, in-ears were cutting out, and comms were silent. The culprit? We'd skipped our basic pre-service checks, assuming everything was "probably fine" from rehearsal.
This experience led us to develop a comprehensive pre-service checklist. While every church's needs will differ, your checklist might include things like tracks and click, in-ear monitors, communication systems, lighting cues, presentation software, and camera settings. The key isn't just having a list – it's building the habit of systematic checking before every service.
Developing Your Team
Remember this: the best gear in the world won't help if your team doesn't know how to use it effectively. This is where intentional development comes in.
Start with the basics. Every new volunteer should understand not just how to operate their position, but why each element matters. Your slide operator isn't just hitting the spacebar – they're helping the congregation engage with truth. Your lighting team isn't just changing colors – they're helping create an environment where people can focus on worship without distraction.
Training That Transforms Consider implementing a cross-training program where volunteers can learn about different production positions. This not only builds backup capacity for your team but helps everyone understand how their role fits into the bigger picture of worship ministry.
Building Excellence Over Time
Excellence in production ministry isn't about having the latest gear – it's about stewarding well what God has given you. Start where you are. Master the basics. Train your team thoroughly. Create systems that support success.
And most importantly, remember Keith. Remember that at its heart, production ministry is worship. Every fader movement, every lighting cue, every camera shot is an opportunity to point people to Jesus.
When we get this right – when we steward our tools well and train our teams effectively – something beautiful happens: the technology disappears, and all that's left is worship.