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Faith's Technical Ministry Duties

Welcome to the Technical Ministry team here at Faith Baptist Church. First, I would like to thank you for your willingness to serve. I would like to take this opportunity to provide some basic information about what this ministry is all about, and our vision for it.

First and foremost, the Technical Ministry is a Ministry. It exists solely to allow the ministry team to minister to the body and to reach souls for Jesus. Our role is servant-hood to the ministers of God's word. This extends beyond just making the sound come out of the speakers, making the video show up on a screen, or making the lights illuminate the stage. 

Our job is to see that all of the needs of the ministry team, whether technical, physical, or spiritual, are met. If we do our job right, God will be glorified, souls will be saved, and we will be unnoticed.

So what are the qualifications for membership in this hopefully invisible group? Here is a list of
characteristics that we strive for that may give you an idea.

1.   God's calling and anointing. Without this we might as well just stay home. Like the rest of the music ministry, members of the Technical Ministry will come under attack. We are on the frontlines of delivering the Gospel of Christ and we can not go into battle alone.

2.   The heart of a servant. This is a ministry of servant-hood and although we enjoy a word of appreciation, we are not in this for personal glory, but rather to bring Glory to the Lord.

3.   A musical ear or an eye for the artistic. You cannot adjust what you can not hear and you can not create what you can not see in your mind. Listen to well recorded music and attend community and professional productions. Listen and watch with a critical ear and eye. Determine why it sounds or looks good, then train your ears and eyes to detect problems by learning how things should sound and look.

4.   The spirit of David. We need people who's hearts burn to worship the Lord.

5.   A willingness to learn. Not just the technical aspects, but all facets of the ministry.

6.   An ability to problem solve without panicking. There WILL be problems and they always happen on Sunday morning.

7.   Technical aptitude. You will note that this is at the bottom of the list. Most anyone can learn the technical aspects of sound reinforcement, lighting, and video production. The other things have to come from God. You don't need to know how to fix the equipment, just how to run it.

So what have you let yourself in for? A lot of work, for one thing. You can expect to be the first one here for services, and the last one to leave. When we take our equipment on the road for ministry, you can expect to spend a lot of time staging equipment, driving it to the location, setting it all up, then tearing it all down and bringing it back to the church while everyone else is over at the Fellowship or local restaurant.

Before the service, everything has to be turned on, equipment set up, batteries checked and changed, and equipment checks have to be done to ensure that everything is working right. Stage lights have to be turned up, accompaniment music cued up,  then prayer and a final sound check for choir and soloist selections. Oh, and don't forget the service recording computer and tape.

During the service, you need to pay constant attention to the Pastor, Worship Leader, Praise Team, Choir and the Lord. Try to anticipate what the Worship Leader or Pastor needs. Be attuned to the Lord, so that you may know when He is speaking and be ready for His word to be brought fourth. Be constantly listening to the mix, working to achieve and maintain a good house and recording blend. Listen for off key music, try to determine who it is, then bring them up in the monitors a bit so that they can hear better. 

During pageant and special videotaped events, be there for practices and dress rehearsals. Get to know the script, what to expect, and when. Practice a steady hand and smooth camera moves. Even take part in a drama once in a while; it's a great way to get to know both sides of the camera. The more practiced we are, the fewer distractions there are when someone might just be ready to make a decision for Christ.

After the service, shut everything down, clean up, and note any problems for correction or discussion. Make sure the equipment and lights are turned off, do a final check for anything left out, and if your the last one out, lock the sanctuary before leaving.

I hope that I have not frightened anyone off. Yes, this is a hard, and by worldy standards, thankless job. It requires a person with the ability to use the left and right sides of their brain, and to know when to use which. It also requires you to be "on" for the whole service. But it is rewarding. Our God is always faithful to award His servants far and above whatever we may have sacrificed. He is well able to meet our needs and to guide our hands. 

A little secret, pray that He anoints your hands, eyes and ears every time you touch the equipment. He grants
the ability. He gives the skill. To Him goes the glory.

Our Statement of Purpose to our Ministry and each other:

The Technical Ministry exists for one purpose: to invest ourselves in a ministry that will directly support and reinforce anything and everything that goes forth from this church that requires the support of lighting, audio, video, graphics, or any other form of technical or stage support, in a manner that is pleasing to God, and will provide for a better reception and understanding by all those who are touched by our efforts.

1) We will encourage and support other members of the team and those whom we serve through our technical gifts.

2) We are committed to being professional in our craft, in the execution of our skills and in our relationships with others.

3) We are to submit to each other and to our leadership, out of respect for each other as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

4) We are responsible, individually and as a team, for our technical and spiritual development through study and commitment.

5) We are to build up one another, and have the responsibility of eliminating any word or action that is not constructive to our team or our church.

Biblical Basis:

As we serve, we embrace the scripture "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Philippians 2:3-4 NIV

It is the skills that God has given us that allow us to do what we do.

It is our statement of purpose that keeps us focused on how and why we do it. All glory and honor belongs to our Lord Jesus Christ.

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