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Little can be more disconcerting to a pastor than speaking to a congregation full of glassy eyes and nodding heads. But today, audio and visual technology can help people see, hear, and understand messages more clearly. And, for many churches, this means using video projection. From worship lyrics and sermon notes to church announcements and video clips, your music and message can be dramatically enhanced with state-of-the-art video projection.

From my experience in the video industry, I'd like to share some practical steps to success for churches considering purchasing a video projection system.

Every ministry should begin with a vision or mission statement. Your goal(s) should be definable, measurable, and attainable. The statement can be broad but powerful, such as the vision of Tom Newman and Impact Productions: "To reach a sight-and-sound generation." Newman's Tulsa-based performing arts ministry has helped thousands come to know Christ. He understands that to reach our culture one must communicate both audibly and visually.

Video projection is a key element as your church builds and expands its media ministry. Whether through videos or computer graphics, this technology allows a service to be enhanced with well-prepared visuals. Just as with word pictures, these images have a way of penetrating deep into your audience's heart.

Suggest change and some will always be reluctant to answer the call. It is natural to resist something new when you are comfortable with an existing approach. Therefore, your church should consider various opinions before deciding what makes sense for your situation.

According to Barry Whitlow, founder of EternityWorks.com, a Christian entertainment company, "The question is not 'Will the people in your church be open to you using multimedia?'. They will. They validate multimedia as a communication medium every time they turn on a television, go to a movie, watch a video, or surf the Web. The real question is how do you start using multimedia in your church? Once you be gin, people will become comfortable with its use very quickly."

One way to overcome resistance is to see what is working elsewhere. Traci Schaefer of NEC Technologies offers this success story from a church that installed NEC video projectors. Liberty Temple Full Gospel Church in Chicago had been projecting song lyrics, Bible verses, and church news for years. Yet as the congregation grew and church personnel became more technologically sophisticated, it became clear their current projection system was not getting the job done. Not only was it disruptive during services, but the brightness level could not compete with the sanctuary's ambient light—resulting in washed-out screen images.

Norman Waddell, Liberty's production director, says, "We needed a projector that would allow us to show images at any given time. In addition, we wanted to accommodate visual aids, such as PowerPoint presentations, for meetings and ministry classes. The projector really surpassed our expectations as far as its ability to show sharper images in ambient light." Even the reluctant are less likely to complain if the images look good.

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