Today, I’m going to introduce a solution that both fulfills the desire for live fellowship and is simple enough for any church to put into action.
The attempts to put something together have mostly been futile and furthering the disdain toward the congregation not being able to meet. How then does a church, of any size, accomplish a simple and effective live stream? The church is now in a position where it must embrace a technology it has never had a reason to use, in an effort to continue fellowship and stay true to preaching the gospel.
To assist, some individuals and companies outside of the church have put together impromptu suggestions for live streaming on a budget. However, a lot of it might be too overwhelming for someone who doesn’t know what OBS is and has no desire to ever use it. Some of the church leaders I have talked to have considered just using a laptop to record the sermon, but this really does no kindness to the congregation as far as being able to tune in for a live event.
Since the emergence of COVID-19, places of worship have been heavily impacted. Most have been forced to close down, and some have been charged with legal issues for not complying. In an effort to keep their doors open, many pray for a solution as they continue to tithe into an uncertain future. The thought of a virtual service has crossed the minds of most church leaders, but very few have actually done anything to pursue this course of action.
Benefits of Live Streaming Services for Churches
Additionally, live streaming can be beneficial during crisis events. For example, this past Atlanta snowstorm which paralyzed traffic, many people were unable to travel to a place of worship. Having a live stream would have provided them a sense of normalcy and routine during a chaotic and trying time. This makes the impact of the church today still very relevant: meeting individuals where they are at to share the love and hope of Christ.
Live streaming allows congregants who are sick, shut-in, or out of town to be a part of the worship experience. Families stuck at home with small children can still attend Sunday service. More importantly though, live streaming affords accessibility to the unchurched, shut-ins, and people seeking spirituality. For instance, many times someone has called the church office inquiring if the week’s sermon is online since they were unable to attend service. In most cases, the church may not have the capabilities to provide the audio online or it may take a few weeks of time before it is available. Unfortunately, by that time, the person who initially inquired may have found what they were looking for in another community and thus a religious opportunity has been lost. With the live stream, individuals can watch weeks, months, and years of services and determine if this church is the “right fit” for them.
Increased Accessibility to Worship Services
The main reason that people are increasingly tuning in to watch live streams is that it encapsulates an experience that isn’t replicable with an on-demand video. Live streams offer an interactive experience with the ability to communicate with the people running the stream as well as the viewers watching the stream. This could mean for a church, a live Q&A prayer session after a sermon or a real-time engagement with churchgoers who are watching the live stream. Live streams can also offer an “exclusivity” not felt from on-demand video, where the viewers know they are watching something that is special and ‘one time only’. Because the live stream format is typically an ongoing series, live streaming can lead to better engagement as it forms a more consistent viewing experience for an audience. Live streaming can allow a church to provide a ‘virtual church service’ for an online audience.
According to Nielsen’s Law, internet bandwidth speeds will increase by 50% annually. This means that a larger number of people will have higher speed internet that allows them to partake in an engaging live stream experience. Only until recent years, the high-speed internet trend allowed this to take place.
Churches are increasingly finding the benefits of having live streamed worship services accessible to a larger audience. Empirical studies have revealed that a vast majority of live stream viewers actually prefer to watch a live stream instead of its recorded counterpart, for live streaming encapsulates a sense of the live energy in the church as well as a live engagement with an audience.
Extended Reach to a Global Audience
The global reach of a live stream can also lead to increased revenue or donations for a church. If someone is viewing a church service or event for the first time, and it impacts them, they are much more likely to donate money to a church that has touched them than if they were just attending a service. Also, for missionaries sponsored by a church, a live stream is an invaluable tool. Family members and other supporters can now view events where their missionary will be speaking, and this can often be a source of much-needed encouragement for the missionary.
A live stream event has the potential to reach the entire globe. With nearly 2 billion people online, your event can be broadcast to places that it may never have been able to reach, for example overseas or to shut-ins, the disabled, and the elderly. These people can now view an event that they may not have been able to attend in the past. This is especially relevant for a church, as there are those who for various reasons are not physically capable of attending a church service that now can do so with an internet connection.
Enhanced Engagement and Participation
Another significant advancement through live streaming is the ability for members and newcomers to preview a church’s style of worship and teaching prior to attendance. Most people find comfort in knowing what to expect and may avoid visiting a new church without some prior information. The elderly, in particular, can find church visits to be mentally and physically taxing. This “preview” helps people feel more comfortable about the visit and lowers the inhibition for trying a new church. Live streaming has opened wide the door for potential missionaries as they can share exactly what it is they will be doing with those considering supporting their efforts.
One area of focus will be the increased accessibility for those who are homebound, living in care facilities or in the military. Now, those who are not physically able to attend worship can access services from their home computers. Additionally, many people are involved in the virtual world mainly through online communities. This is where they are comfortable and may feel out of place in a traditional church setting. By live streaming a service, a church can sponsor full immersion services in virtual worlds or just offer server-wide links to the online service, drawing in those who may never have considered attending church or who may have been hurt by previous churches.
Improvements in technology have transformed the ways in which modern churches serve their communities. This article provides an overview of how churches of all denominations can benefit from live streaming their worship services, facilitating connections to their members and extending reach to a wider audience.
Challenges and Solutions in Implementing Live Streaming Services
These technical advancements have allowed New Hope to broadcast live streaming services to the Hawaiian Islands and the mainland. However, the lack of experience in personal broadcasting and the complexity of setting up such a system has resulted in mixed success. During its first couple years of attempting to broadcast to the mainland through audio streaming, rather than taking the time to seek proper consultation on how to do personal broadcasting, New Hope often attempted to do so without necessary knowledge and equipment, resulting in more technical difficulties and frustration than positive results. This was a lesson learned on the difference between the simplicity of radio-style internet broadcasts, and personal broadcasting through video.
As previously mentioned, live streaming service is a way to preach the gospel to those who are not able to attend church. It also happens to be the most challenging aspect of New Hope’s virtual worship efforts. Part of the technical revolution in promotion of the gospel is the reducing cost of personal broadcasting. Traditional television and radio broadcasts have always been available through purchasing air time, but the internet has opened up a new era of personal broadcasting that can reach a global audience at a fraction of the cost. As a result, not only can the message be preached more easily throughout the world, but it also opens up the ability to have direct, two-way communication with those interested in the message.
Technical Considerations and Equipment Setup
Often times a church is looking for a live streaming platform which allows them to embrace the use of one more cameras, or share computer screens to display presentations or videos with the congregation during a live stream. In order to determine if a platform will suit their needs, it is recommended to have a thorough understanding of what the live stream will look like once it is sent to the platform. The image below provides an example of a 3 camera live production with a video switcher. Note that the separate video feeds are all on the same audio feed. This is important, for some platforms require each video feed to have its own separate audio feed in order to broadcast all the audio sources. This is not ideal as it requires buying multiple accounts with a live streaming platform in order to broadcast different services. It is essential to select a platform that allows the use of one account to broadcast multiple different services. This is feasible if the platform allows for control over the embed code and designation of the location where the live stream will broadcast. Another main factor to consider when selecting a live streaming platform is whether or not the platform is compatible with the desired video quality of the live stream. Some platforms may limit the quality of video that can be streamed. Although this is beneficial to users with low bandwidth who are unable to view high-quality video without excessive buffering, it may be discouraging to the church attempting to provide the best online viewing experience for their congregation. Make sure the platform allows control over the video quality or is able to support the platform recommended bit rate. This information would usually be communicated when asking the platform about their recommended video streaming settings.
Internet Bandwidth and Connectivity Issues
When a church decides to implement a live streaming service, it is important to recognize the necessity for a reliable and high-speed internet connection, typically through a cable or DSL provider. Available bandwidth will affect the quality of the video and/or audio stream. It is generally agreed that a downstream and upstream speed of 500Kbps is the minimum required for a high-quality broadcast; though this level of bandwidth is available with a basic DSL connection, in reality, it may be necessary to have a much higher upstream speed due to other users on the network. If the location has Wi-Fi access with no wired connection, and it is not possible to run an Ethernet cable to the modem, an 802.11n or 802.11ac router is recommended. Wireless internet connections are susceptible to interference, and older routers may not be adequate. A newer router with a different frequency range may alleviate some of these issues. An internet speed test can determine the rate of data transfer at a given time from the modem to the computer terminal. In most cases, it will be necessary to contact an internet service provider and to purchase a higher rate of internet speed or to upgrade the present service. This will, of course, increase the monthly cost of service to the church. High-speed cable connections, such as fiber optics, are another high-cost option to consider.
Privacy and Security Concerns
The issue of consent can become even thornier when dealing with church members who are ill or homebound. Members of a caring ministry may wish to broadcast visits to these individuals, or Sunday services held in a private home. While these actions would likely be done with the best of intentions, they might not have the consent of those involved, and could have unforeseen effects on the spiritual lives of individuals being recorded. While they resemble a direct implementation of the live streaming service, it is helpful to think of these ideas as a second best alternative and a stopgap measure for people unable to attend worship in a more real-time context.
Privacy issues can span a wide spectrum of concerns. At the most basic level, churches will need to consider the privacy of individuals who participate in the service. Will music participants, lectors, or clergy need to sign waivers or give consent for their images and voices to be used? Will all members who are present be included in the video, or will the church need to establish a policy identifying certain areas as “off camera”? These questions bring clear practical implications, but they can also serve as a catalyst for discussing broader issues of inclusion and participation within the church community.
There are many considerations for a church to address when deciding whether to provide a live streaming service for parishioners. Questions related to privacy and security are bound to come up, and the decisions made in these areas can have important cultural implications for how the church views itself and its mission. It is important for church leaders to think through these issues carefully, considering the needs, resources, and expectations of the community before making any decisions.
Best Practices for Successful Virtual Worship Services
Another method of boosting engagement is by utilizing sermons which include children. While live streaming on Facebook, the Cathedral Church in Hereford has started to incorporate a weekly Tuesday night event they refer to as “Tuesday Time Story”. During this event, a member of the church reads a story to children and parents who gather to watch on the live stream. This has helped to maintain a tight-knit community among young families who are heavily involved with the church, and parents are grateful for the added excuse to unify their children for a bedtime story. At Holy Communion Church in Memphis, Father Sandy Webb has occasionally included his 7-year-old daughter Evangeline in sermon videos, and this has been found to significantly increase views, with many viewers commenting on the “adorableness” of having a child ask a Bible-related question to her father. By any means, the quality of a sermon and its relevance to scripture must not be compromised, but the use of these methods can help to keep a church congregation engaged and connected.
To assure that the virtual service is able to foster the same sense of community that a traditional church service provides, it is pivotal that the sermon remains engaging and interactive. One means by which to achieve this is to make the sermon shorter, and this is something that streamers from all different kinds of denominations have been suggesting. Though many pastors will argue that the ideal length of the sermon is 20-35 minutes, it has been found that many video sermons exceeding 15 minutes do not get viewed in their entirety. Fitness trainers who have become accustomed to recording and posting their workouts to social media platforms have noted that the ideal length for instructional videos is in the 10-20 minute range; after this point, levels of engagement drop significantly. Recognizing that the expectations for engagement during a virtual sermon might be lower also opens the door for interactive questioning via the comment feed, which has been suggested as a means of keeping viewers engaged while also providing potential talking points for later private or group discussion.
Engaging and Interactive Sermons
Pre-recorded Sermons Sermons that are pre-recorded rather than being delivered live allow for a different kind of sermon to take place. There is no longer a time limit and no pressure to get everything said in one go if the speaker is interrupted or loses their train of thought. This automatically takes away stress and can allow for a more relaxed and confident delivery. The speaker also has the opportunity to write a script for his sermon, record it, and then go back and edit anything he is unhappy with to ensure that the best possible version is released. Even the most able public speaker will not always get everything right the first time, and this method ensures the sermon is of the highest quality. A pre-recorded message also has the potential to reach a lot more people. With the increasing popularity of video and podcasting, the average person is likely to share or recommend a recorded sermon to others more often than to invite them to a church service.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, a core aspect of an engaging sermon is that the speaker is speaking to something that is relevant in the lives of the listeners. Several pastors mentioned the extra effort being put into connecting the current situation with the biblical text so that the sermons are directly relating to the listener’s lives and the issues they face today.
Many pastors spoke of using a combination of personal stories and analogies to keep the listener’s attention, as well as more incorporation of questions into the sermon. These questions may simply be rhetorical questions the speaker later answers, or “pause points” and quick polls that give the listener an opportunity for reflection and response. One pastor mentioned using a “symbol or quick illustration that the congregation could see and respond to in real time – a piece of fruit, a symbolic piece of art, etc.” to stimulate discussion.
Virtual Sermon Delivery When it comes to delivering the actual sermon, the majority of pastors cited the importance of eye contact, body language, and utilizing nonverbal cues to underscore a point. One respondent said he tried to “look directly into the camera at key points to visually reinforce what was being said.”
Incorporating Virtual Choirs and Music Performances
During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown and restrictions led to many changes in people’s personal lives and business environment. Churches and other faith-based organizations had to adapt to the situation and therefore had to come up with new ways to continue serving their communities. From live streaming services to using social media for community building, churches embraced the online environment to remain connected. A built-in fast in the software for that you can use pre-recorded music for services due to copyright restrictions, initially led to it being very difficult for churches to use any kind of music within their live streams. This was the case for Fraser MacLennan, worship director at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand. “We found a way to embrace the change in order to create the most engaging service possible for our church community that feels together while not physically gathering together”.
Utilizing Social Media and Online Platforms for Community Building
Another powerful tool is the usage of social media platforms or streaming websites to organize online events for church members. It can be a movie night, game event, or even Bible study sessions. Creating these events has proved very successful to retain church members and bring new ones, sign of friends or family of current members. By providing attractive events, it entices interested individuals to return and inquire about the church community.
Social media has become a norm in the life of people in today’s society. Churches can create chat forums or private groups which can act as a central location for socialization of its members. This helps Christians who are not comfortable with strangers to slowly open up to the members. Although this method seems simple, it can be a powerful tool to slowly introduce newcomers to the social structure in the church community.
Unlike physical churches, online churches have to make much initiative for community building since there is no face-to-face interaction between members. It has become important to foster bonds between members to create an active community of believers.