Sunday, August 5, 2012

Items that Hinder Church Growth: Lack of Visibility and Audibility

Churches throughout the country are loosing youth and adults due to the “decision makers” failure to modernize the church’s technology.  Today’s worshippers want to see the speaker on a screen or large flat monitor, and the sound must be crisp, clear, and easily understandable.  Worshippers want quality that exceeds older “sound systems.”  Youth and adults today have come to expect high quality media.  Audiences quickly loose interest in media that is poor in quality, and often view it as laughable.  Sound and video projections should never distract from conveying a quality service and message.  Yet many church leaders fail to understand the need for clear visibility of the minister and worship leaders, as well as clear audible sound.  This requires some of the latest equipment and properly trained operators.  Decision makers and worship leaders destroy worship and eventually the church through a failure to understand that the congregation of worshippers wants to hear and see what is taking place.

One church where I occasionally worship has such outdated equipment, but to complicate the problem, they seldom use it.  When a congregation or soloist is singing, or the children are performing a play or musical, the screens are normally used.  However, when the pastor starts to preach the projectors are always off and the screens remain blank.  Worshippers are often moved by the facial expressions of the pastor.  The leader conveys the seriousness of the message or the love of Christ through facial expression that generally cannot be detected in larger facilities.  Churches that choose not to “magnify” the pastor’s image deprive the listeners of much of his communication.  There is a reason business deals are made face-to-face and not over the phone.  Pastors who do not allow their image to be magnified are faced with an increased pressure to use the spoken word, as facial and body language are removed from their ability to communicate.

One woman shared with me how her eyesight had diminished over the years.  She said, “When the pastor preaches, I can’t see him clearly anymore.  So I focus on the large cross behind him; I just focus on the cross and listen.”  While there is a message in this woman’s statement, it is sad that this woman could no longer see her pastor and his body language.  This is exactly what many churches do to the worshippers.  Fortunately, this woman’s church was able to install large screens and now she can once again see her pastor as he preaches.  Worship is more meaningful to her in the waning years of life and she can see the love and care once again in her pastor’s face as he comforts and encourages her through God’s Holy Scriptures. 

Contrary to popular belief, quality sound, lighting, and media tools are not just for the youth – although the fog machines might be.  As people age, their ability to see and hear usually diminish as well.  This is one reason baby boomers have aided the sale of large flat screens and surround sound for their home entertainment, and expect no less from their house of worship.  Younger adults and youth have grown up with the latest of technology, and they equally expect their church to use the latest technology to enhance their worshipping experience.  Sadly, this is a time in life when the Word of God is needed to comfort and sustain Christians in finishing the race of life.  So if you have opposed quality sound, lighting, and media in worship thinking it was just for the youth, think again!  Everyone likes to hear and see what the pastor and worship team is trying to communicate.  Great sound and visual aids, and yes even the fog machines, is about getting the message of Jesus to the masses who need salvation, discipleship, and comfort.  Let us see what we can do to improve the communication in our urban churches.  This Sunday, take a different look at how your church uses sound, lighting, projection, etc and see if you can suggest to your leadership team how your church might improve worship.