Church Video Ideas

Today’s blog is simple: I’d like for you to get your FREE copy of “Facebook for Pastors” and read it. I wrote the Foreward for this book and think it’s a good read. Check it out HERE.

In my “Church 2.0” class at NAB, I did a live text poll where people in the class texted in their vote and it updated in real time on the screen (via PowerPoint). Many asked how I did it. I did it using a website called Poll Everywhere.

I’d like to encourage you all, my blog readers, to participate, too. Please go HERE and select your answer to the poll. I tried posting the poll on my blog, but the text was too small to read. If you go to the link above you’ll be able to read all the options well and vote online. Tomorrow I’ll post the results.

EXTRA:
Here are some places to check out free videos (that’s right: FREE) - actually they’re all types of media resources.

• Free Countdown from SermonSpice
• Free loop or motion background from WorshipHouse
• Free iPod film from Modern Parables
• Free stock footage from RevoStock
• Free download from SermonVideos.com
• Free Mother’s Day Countdown from WorshipFilms
• Free Mother’s Day Backgrounds from Midnight Oil
• Free media resources from WORDsearch Media
• Free video from eleven72
• Free download from Floodgate Productions
• Free media resources from Organic Videos
• Free media resources from Sermonade
• Free media resources from Muddy River Media
• Free graphics from WorshipGraphics
• Free SD or HD clip from 12 Inch Design

The Swerve blog announced a summer message series entitled “One Prayer“, which is very intriguing. It’s many churches coming together and participating. Check out the explanation video from Pastor Craig. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Is this something you’d do at your church?

EXTRA:

I am thrilled to announce that SermonSpice has opened a Spanish media store. I have been begging producers for years to produce content in Spanish or at least with Spanish sub-titles. I applaud….cheer… and herald SermonSpice for their vision and commitment to equip this HUGE part of our Church. Well done!

TechMission has just launched www.UrbanMinistry.org as a Web portal for the Urban Ministry world. Some of the sections you may be interested in include:

* UrbanMinistry Blogs: including some of the top syndicated Blogs of Urban Ministry leaders.
* Sermon Videos & MP3s including John Perkins, Jim Wallis, Noel Castellanos, Wayne Gordon, Ray Backke, Effrim Smith and Martin Luther King Jr.
* Gospelpedia: similar to Wikipedia but covering youth ministry, addiction recovery, technology and ministry and volunteer management.
* Conference Materials: including over 100 keynote talks and workshops from CCDA, Kingdomworks and Compassionworks/YouthPartnersNet (coming soon).
* Local Volunteer Opportunities: including over 1,500 volunteer opportunities from nearly 900 organizations. National partners on this site include: CCDA, UYWI, YouthPartnersNet, HLIC, Salvation Army and AGRM.
* Online Courses
* Account Registration (FREE)

EXTRA:

Cory Miller (from Church Communications Pro - and is also a part of my book) is offering people a coupon code to get Granger’s Church Communications Form Bundle for FREE. I have it and it’s great! You can get it HERE.

BONUS:

Yesterday, WorshipHouse Media launched their Thanksgiving and Christmas seasonal stores. Check them out for the best in seasonal media (new for this year and good stuff from earlier years).

If you don’t read WIRED magazine, I highly suggest you check it out. This past month’s issue came with a cool supplement called their “Geekipedia” - “149 people, places, ideas and trends you need to know now”. It’s pretty cool. I’ve asked this before, but I like getting updates. What magazines do you read? How many of you have checked out the new Collide Magazine? On my “Charter Sponsors” page, you can see some other magazines that I subscribe to and recommend. One final question: Do you have a favorite magazine? If so, what is it?

I’m working on a book called “Church 2.0″ (at least that’s the title for now). It’s a collaborative conversation with several great Church leaders and thinkers. You can check out the book’s Facebook group HERE and join the conversation. I’ll be posting more info in the near future.

Speaking of collaboration: How many of you have checked out YouVersion?

EXTRA:

How ’bout them Cowboys? Watch out!

Our pastor, Pete Briscoe, started a new message series last week called “Opening the Door”. Last week was kind of an intro/overview. This weeks is the official start of this series, which will last all the way up until the time we move into our new worship center (December). For his message/illustration, he asked our Visual Arts team to build him a giant door. Check it out (that’s a ladder to the right of it). To get a perspective - I’m 6′5″ and the door knob is at my eye level. I’ll try to get a picture of me next to it.

BONUS:

Be sure to download this cool new motion background at WorshipHouse Media.

EXTRA:

Check out THIS new article from my friends at Midnight Oil Productions. The article is titled, “Identifying Your Team’s Purpose”.

In meeting with the folks at MediaShout the other week, they mentioned that out of the list of the Top 25 Most Innovative Churches in the US, 19 of them used MediaShout. I found that interesting. I’m a regular user of EasyWorship, but also have a great respect for ProPresenter and MediaShout. I’m curious as to what you use at your church…SO, I created a Squidoo poll where you can vote. Please go HERE to place your vote or.

EXTRA:

Have you heard of Sermon Cinema? Might be worth checking out.

PERSONAL:

Yesterday was a great day. We did a funny drama, great music, our pastor was back from his sabbatical and we played an in-house video we did that was hilarious. Also, we had 4 people shadowing people on the Tech Arts team and watching what was going on behind the scenes. We just did a volunteer campaign called “iServe” and it produced some great new contacts.

Also, after our last service last night, I got to sneak over to Denton Bible and catch one of my favorite artists in concert: Shawn McDonald! I love him, his music and his testimony. Wow!

As I mentioned before, I’m holding several training sessions at my church this summer. The first one is for video directors/switchers and is this Thursday night. I have some “in-house” things that I’m going to talk about as well as some skills we’ll seek to learn/improve. I’m curious, though, if any of you have 3 tips or guidelines that you would share in general with video directors. I’d love to hear them.

EXTRA:

Simpsons fans will dig this cool interactive promotion for the upcoming film based on the animated family. You can go HERE to get “Simpsonized.” Basically, you just need to upload a photo of yourself to get transformed into a character.

BONUS:

“Five Storytelling Secrets for Pastors and Teachers” by Steven James:

• Key #1 - Let the story speak for itself.
• Key #2 - Stop telling your listeners what happened and start showing them who struggled.
• Key #3 - When you tell stories from your life, always be the mistake maker.
• Key #4 - Never tell the same story twice.
• Key #5 - Pretend Less; Believe More.

To read the entire article click HERE.

Yesterday was a great day at our church. Our pastor was speaking on AIDS. We did a video interview with Kay Warren (Rick Warren’s wife), when she was in Dallas. The Warrens are very passionate about AIDS awareness and ministry. What she had to say was insightful, inspiring and a great part of our worship services. We also showed a video entitled “The Straton Story”, about a pastor in Rwanda. I’ll be showing it at all my future conferences - it’s one of the most moving videos I’ve seen.

Speaking of the Warrens - I’m heading to California today to speak at Saddleback’s Worship Conference. I’ll be teaching 3 workshops. If you’re going to be at the conference, give me a shout. I’d love to meet you.

EXTRA:

I came across this guy’s music on Myspace. I’ve been listening to it lately and dig it. Check it out HERE and see what you think.