Over the past several years, the use of video in church has exploded. The use of video projection was common in the church by the early part of this decade. Most of that use was limited to outlines of sermons and the occasional movie clip or still illustration. Today, even the smallest of churches haul out a portable projector to project song lyrics and announcements on a screen or, in some cases, a wall.

In the past few years, congregations in larger churches have suddenly been treated to (or assaulted with) the giant smiling face of the teaching pastor and videos produced specifically to support that teaching. Other churches jumped to use video to extend the reach of their church, on broadcast or cable television, or on the Internet. They have installed broadcast-quality cameras, state-of-the-art equipment in full video control rooms and post-production suites, investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in technology.

Over time, the use of live video has pushed down to even relatively small fellowships, both as a teaching aid and as a way to take their brand and message beyond the walls of the church. For the church considering taking video beyond simple lyrics and PowerPoint, or making a leap into the world of live video, it can be a confusing world.

But, for most, the first step toward the use of live video in a worship context has nothing to do with technology. It starts with a conversation, and a question: “Why do we want to use live video?”

It sounds like a simple question, but it’s not as straightforward as it might seem. There are lots of reasons for using live video. Some are likely valid for your congregation. Some are not. Answering this “why” question first will make decisions about equipment and technology much easier down the road.

There are many reasons that congregations are drawn to live video. For those with large facilities, the use of Image Magnification, or IMAG, helps connect worship participants more directly to worship leaders. It allows them to see things that might otherwise be obscured due to sight lines or simply distance.

IMAG is not for everyone. In a room where the distance from preacher to the most distant seat is 50 feet or less, there may not be any need for IMAG.

Further, doing IMAG well requires skill and effort, both from your technical team and the teaching pastor. It is used most effectively in conjunction with supporting images and video. Take a look at a television newscast. You don’t see the anchor simply reading for very long. Simply placing the image of the speaker on the screen for an entire sermon may not be the best use of your video system.

Another valid reason for the use of live video in worship is to leverage existing teaching and worship leadership resources. Video allows a teaching pastor to be in more than one venue and to teach at multiple services over the course of a weekend without killing the teacher!

For those pushing video beyond the walls of the church via the Internet, cable, or broadcast television, there is no denying its potential power in extending the church’s reach. It can be a powerful tool for evangelism and for growing a church. It is important to remember, however, that that power can cut both ways. Done poorly, a broadcast can do great damage to what might be a great church.

The church contemplating a broadcast ministry must also remember to count all the costs. A broadcast outreach can quickly become a tail that wags the worship dog. Ego issues can surface. It’s also important to think through how, or if, you will provide pastoral services to people who connect with your church via a broadcast. What happens when they call from the hospital, or request a pastor for counseling or a funeral?

One huge benefit of having a broadcast or Internet outreach via video is the preservation of connection with older members of your congregation. There comes a time for many folks where they simply are physically unable to attend their church. A service delivered via television or the Internet can be a huge comfort to those members, allowing them to continue worshipping with their existing church family.

Perhaps the most powerful use of video in worship, however, has nothing to do with broadcasting, or with IMAG. It is simply the use of the video medium in telling stories. 

Kirk Longhofer is passionate about using technology, particularly in small and medium churches, and doing it in ways that build up and add to the experience. You can visit him on the Web at www.technopraxis.org.