Rob Lyons (High Street Baptist Church) & Blake Housley (Parkcrest Baptist Church), both in Springfield, produce fantastic church videos. Their break-out session at the 2015 BBFI Fall meeting at High Street Baptist Church (Springfield, MO) helped beginners (like me) and experienced people.
Here are some of the ideas and helps they shared…
There are several types of uses for videos in the church service:
- Video Announcements
- Event Promos
- Sermon Bump – transitions from music to sermon
- Event recap – after event to celebrate
- Worship Intro/Input – used to enhance music
- Story videos – testimonies of lifechange
Why? Your need to know why because it takes so much time.
- Helps make announcements brief (and correct)
- Can be replayed & posted
- Makes you get organized. Parkcrest doesn’t do an event unless it’s advertised 3 times. The ‘Activity Request’ form has a place to check if it is to be played on video announcements.
- Keeps leadership focused
How?
Technology is expensive. At the minimum you need a camera, tripod, lighting (you can use natural windows).
You need a host that has a an outgoing & friendly personality. Should be expressive.
“Church on the Move” (see below) has excellent training videos.
Editing software: imovie (free), final cut, premiere.
Lighting. Place a key light (powerful) at an angle to the host. A backlight can be used behind the host at the opposite angle of the key light to add definition & separate from the background. A lobby is a great place to shoot the videos. Host should be about 10-15 get from the backdrop. Put the the lighting & microphone as close to the host. Microphone can be wireless or use a boom microphone.
Wording. High Street has the host memorize the announcement. Parkcrest puts the wording on a sheet of paper (16pt font) and tapes it under the camera. Each announcement should answer the following questions: 1- What is it? 2- Why do we care? 3- What is the next step?
Placement. High Street places the host at the center of the video and has the wording scroll from the bottom. Parkcrest places the host off to one side so the wording can be placed on the other side.
Church on the Move (Tulsa) has some great resources: https://seeds.churchonthemove.com/home
** The BBFI provides an opportunity for church leaders to collaborate with other church leaders in similar roles in ministry. For more information, go to: http://www.bbfi.org/specialtynetworks/
You can read my other articles about this meeting at: Revitalization.