Located on the outskirts of Huntsville, Alabama, Flint River Baptist Church has long been a pillar of the local community. In 2022, the church embarked on an ambitious renovation of its worship center, originally constructed in 1999, to create a more modern and dynamic worship experience. At the heart of this renovation was a state-of-the-art lighting upgrade, led by Duane Allen, associate worship pastor and technical director.
A Vision for Modern Worship
The renovation was comprehensive. The worship center saw fresh paint, new carpeting, the replacement of traditional pews with theater-style seating, and a significant change to the ceiling.
The original 28-foot-high white drop ceiling was transformed into a sleek black ceiling, which set the stage—quite literally—for a modern lighting overhaul. The original ceiling lighting consisted of over 200 Par 38 incandescent bulbs, which proved to be a maintenance challenge.
These fixtures often required servicing, and the only access was via a cumbersome genie lift with a pew straddler. Allen recognized that replacing this outdated system with an energy-efficient, high-performance LED solution would not only reduce maintenance but also dramatically enhance the visual aesthetics of the space.
The Search for the Perfect Lighting Solution
As part of the renovation, the church sought a new stage and house lighting package that would meet the needs of modern worship services and video production. Allen, determined to find a solution, turned to the Internet in search of a fixture that could replace the aging Par 38 bulbs.
His criteria were strict. The fixture needed to be RGBW, compatible with existing E26 (regular household light bulb) base fixtures, and DMX-controlled for seamless integration into their lighting system.
Despite his thorough search, finding the right fit was proving difficult—until he consulted with Brian Leighton of Sutherland Sight and Sound, a long-time partner in the church’s AV projects.
They introduced Allen to Arlie Conner from Luxapel Lighting, whose innovative LED fixtures fit the bill perfectly. Luxapel provided the church with four LED lights and a wireless DMX controller for testing. The results were remarkable. The fixtures were powerful enough to allow for spacing out the lights in the ceiling grid, reducing the need for over 200 replacements.
Instead, the church could achieve the desired coverage and brightness with roughly half the number of lights, drastically lowering costs without compromising on performance.
Skepticism Turns to Satisfaction
One of Allen’s primary concerns was the reliability of the wireless DMX system, especially since these new LEDs would serve as the sole source of house lighting. Flawless performance was non-negotiable. Though assured that the wireless DMX technology, operating in the 2.4 GHz range, was rock-solid, Allen remained skeptical. However, he decided to give it a chance.
After meeting with lighting designer Felix Peralta to review the fixture and its capabilities, both were impressed. Peralta particularly appreciated the Luxapel lights’ ability to dial in precise white color temperatures and maintain a high Color Rendering Index (CRI) for accurate color representation, ensuring that skin tones in the house appeared natural and vibrant—a crucial factor for both live audiences and video production.
Creating a Versatile Worship Atmosphere
Once the renovation was completed, the impact of the new lighting system was undeniable. Each LED fixture is individually addressable and controlled via Allen’s GrandMA3 lighting console, allowing for unparalleled flexibility.
With the click of a button, the church can switch from a traditional warm 3200K lighting scheme for certain events to a cool, crisp 5000K for a more modern feel. The RGB capabilities of the fixtures are also used to create immersive environments during worship services, subtly enhancing the atmosphere without distracting the congregation.
The congregation’s response to these lighting changes has been overwhelmingly positive. By using rich, cohesive colors that align with the stage lighting, the church has elevated its worship experience, making it more engaging and emotionally resonant.
Two years later, any lingering doubts have been completely dispelled. The wireless DMX system has performed flawlessly, delivering reliable, consistent results with every use, proving its worth over time.
A Lighting System for Every Occasion
In addition to the week-to-week services, the versatility of the Luxapel LED lights has proven invaluable for other events, including youth gatherings, concerts, and special occasions. The church can map video content onto the LED ceiling lights or program dynamic color chases, creating fun and exciting visuals tailored to the event.
A Recommendation for Lighting Upgrades
For churches or venues seeking to modernize their lighting systems, Allen’s experience with Luxapel Lighting serves as a compelling case study. The fixtures not only met the technical demands of the space but also exceeded expectations in creating a dynamic, immersive environment for worship and other events.
Flint River Baptist Church’s lighting transformation is a testament to the power of modern technology in enhancing worship spaces.
With attention to quality and performance, Luxapel (formerly Luxium Lighting) designs and manufactures advanced yet easy-to-use entertainment and architectural lights and controls that improve the appearance of performances and enhance the experience for audiences by creating immersive, mood changing effects with color-adjustable smart LED lighting systems, www.luxapel.com.
