Tech in church – serving behind the scenes? It matters …a lot

It wasn’t quite what we expected.  The first event mixing on a newly installed sound system was for a small funeral. Not complicated or particularly glamorous. Pretty simple really with 1 mic, 1 song track, and a single light setting. The reality was that somebody knowledgeable and capable had to sacrifice a few hours on a Saturday morning to serve.  I was one of a handful that had the privilege of helping a good friend and serve his hurting family.

Few in this room will ever have a clue about the past two years of sound system planning, meetings, the complex installation that began 5 days prior, or the late hours our team spent getting things dialed the night before – so we could be ready for today.  They don’t know what we do behind the scenes nor should they have to. But for this group of people, carrying much sadness and grief, some who might be feeling far from God or maybe haven’t stepped into a church for a long long time, in this moment – this stuff mattered …a lot.  

If you serve your local church in the area of Technical Arts, please understand, what you and I get to do behind the scenes each week at our campuses matters …a lot. The time and energy you invest learning your craft and caring for one another on your team during the week matters …a lot. The effort you make to be on-site a few minutes ahead of the band ensuring that systems are fully on and working properly, on time matters …a lot. (It’s how we serve our team and create a low anxiety environment for our worship leaders.)

So thank you all: Thank you for serving in your church. Thank you and thanks to your families who get to see you devote maybe even one weekend a month to caring for and serving others. Thanks for re-arranging your work and personal time, for juggling vacations and recreation, for prioritizing your kid’s activities to make room for God to work in your life and in the lives of others. Thank you for taking part in creating transformational moments each week that minister to hurting people. Thanks for serving our pastors and musicians each week so God’s word can be clearly understood. Regardless if you serve a small group or single event of 6 – 60, or multiple complex  services with full rooms of 250, 350, 600, or 1000+, there will be stories of eternal life-change you will likely never hear about this side of heaven.

Your church – the people who serve in it and the people who attend it each week depend on you.

Please know that whether you are a veteran technician, or are just starting this amazing journey, your investment of time and effort providing audio, video, camera, and lighting operations is deeply appreciated and you are dearly loved. Blessings, and serve well this week!