The Technologies for Worship Conference continues to build momentum and rejuvenate itself in its fifth year, with more than 80 percent of the sessions new this year.
Co-produced by “Technologies for Worship” magazine, the conference features 50 sessions. They began Sunday, but the meat of the conference takes place Monday through Thursday, running until 6:30 p.m. most days; Thursday’s sessions end at 2:30 p.m. In addition, special “Pastor’s Track” sessions take place two or three times a day.
PATHWAYS THROUGH NAB
Primarily aimed at Christian media ministries, the information nevertheless can be applied by media directors affiliated with any religion. With a focus on education and practical implementation of technology, the Pastors and Leaders Media Technology Track promises to “ignite the fuse of creativity in today’s media ministries.”
Some of the provocative topics this year include “Church 2.0,” “Podcasting Your Worship Service,” “The ABCs of Starting a Worship Broadcast,” “Enlisting and Training for your Broadcast Ministry Production Staff,” “Using Blogging Effectively: How to Create Dialog,” “24-hour Internet TV Stations for the Church,” “IPTV in Worship,” “Financing Alternatives for Church Media Technology,” and “Programming for My Community: Do I Really Need to go on National Television?”
Opening the conference will be the orientation address, “NAB Show Floor for Dummies: Making the Most of Your NAB Experience,” 8 a.m. this morning, presented by Rod Payne, minister of public relations at the First Baptist Church in Witchita Falls, Texas.
Payne produces the nationally syndicated television program “Pathway to Victory” with Dr. Robert Jeffress, broadcast weekly over Daystar, FamilyNet and Faith Television. Payne also serves as the president of the CFNT low-power TV stations in North Texas.
The 1 p.m. Pastor’s Track today will be presented by Tim Sauve, president of Worship Interactive in Raleigh, N.C. In a talk called, “High Tech — High Touch: Using Media Technology to Turn Your Vision into Reality,” Sauve adopts the term from best-selling author Alvin Toffler to assert, “We can choose to embrace emerging technology or be left behind in a media savvy culture.”
Sauve also presents the 5 p.m. Pastor’s Track, “Equipping and Managing Your Multimedia Ministry.” Having a media minister with a “good heart,” but limited technical know-how doesn’t work today, he said, “so we’ll look at some practical ways to manage the ministry as well as keeping the media team on the cutting edge.”
TECHNO-SAVVY HELPS
Both of Tuesday’s Pastor’s Track sessions are presented by David Rauch, principal consultant at Bridge Communications in New Braunfels, Texas. His 11 a.m. talk, “Introducing Change Without Offending (almost) Anyone,” will focus on what takes place when technology change is implemented, “and the non-negotiable aspects of building healthy technical teams.”
In his 5 p.m. session, Rauch will ask the question, “Why In The World Do We Need A Media Director?” His answer will cover the key qualifications, experience and skills that a media director must possess, as well as the related responsibilities, expectations and salary range.
Wednesday features three Pastor’s Track sessions with a variety of presenters. Mark Dreistadt, president and chief executive officer of Infinity Concepts and chairman of the National Religious Broadcasters Television Committee, will present, “Show Me The Money: Finding The Funds To Finance Your Vision,” 9 a.m.
Phil Cooke, producer/director of Phil Cooke Pictures in Burbank, Calif., will address, “Branding Faith: Why Some Churches and Non-Profits Impact the Culture and Others Don’t.” The 3 p.m. session is all about getting a message heard.
The 5 p.m. Pastors Track is the “Multimedia Roundtable” featuring Sauve, Rauch, Dreistadt, and Cooke along with Paul Crouch Jr., president of Trinity Broadcasting Network in Irving, Texas; Jay Delp, president of Jay Delp Productions in Telford, Pa.; and Brian Glassford, executive director of communications and media at Central Christian Church in Henderson, Nev. The seminar will be followed by a tour of My Father’s House, a Las Vegas media and technology-savvy church.
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