Positioned on stage left is a potter’s wheel.  As the sounds of the introduction to Darlene Zschech’s  "Potter's Hand" rush into the auditorium a young woman dressed in costume strolls to the ancient tool and begins to spin the wheel.  The camera zooms in on her hands, and everyone in the 2000+ seat auditorium can see the clay become a simple vase before their very eyes.  On the left side of their 28 foot by 14 foot screen is the dramatization, on the right side, the lyrics of the song appear.

 The people worship.

 The People’s Church, in Franklin, Tennessee uses modern technology to help their congregation interface with the “old, old story.”  The Video Wall--a system of stacked monitors that delivers VGA quality output in a brightly lit room, allows for one large image or multiple images in different configurations.  In some situations, traditional projection systems are not adequate because of the amount of ambient light flowing into the room.

 According to Joseph Perlman of Church Audio Visual Systems (770-497-9630) "The application of installing video wall technology in Churches works for two main reasons; first because the light path is enclosed in the video wall cabinet which off sets the effect of ambient light conditions.  Second the footprint for a rear projection system is minimal.   This quality delivers the Lords message with an incredible impact on a congregation.”

 Fifteen minutes prior to the service, the staff  uses the Video Wall to “loop” announcements, reducing the need to use Worship time to promote activities.   With the Video Wall, the church is able to project a “split screen” image, something  projectors can’t do. Recently, at their Annual Global Impact missions conference, the technical staff split the 4X8 wall into two 4X4 screens.  They put a photo of a missionary on the left side with their biographical information on the right.  After featuring each missionary, they faded into a final shot showing all the missionaries on their own individual monitor. Typically, during the sermon,  they show a live feed of Pastor Rick White on one side with a “Power point” presentation on the other side.

 Audiences love the multi-sensory worship experience.   After attending the service with the “potter’s wheel,” Mike, a third time guest said, "I don't know why but that was so cool it gave me shivers."

  As with any application, the Video Wall has its downside.  The People’s Church Video Wall is actually 32 separate monitors stacked 8 long and 4 high.  The lines between the monitors can be distracting.  The technical staff has to design their power point presentation to make sure  the lines don’t split the words they wish to project on the wall.  Another issue is the inability of the communicator to maintain eye contact with the audience. “Beyond the first 6 rows,” Teaching Pastor Ed Rowell said, “everyone is looking over your shoulder at your image on the screen.”

 For worshipers at The Church at Brook Hills, in Birmingham, Alabama the interactive experience begins the moment they walk into the lobby.  Greeters at the Information Island are ready to answer questions and give directions, and for those who prefer computers, interactive Kiosks, installed by Details Communications (800-231-3857) are strategically located next to the Information Island.  Using the touch screen monitors, the users can retrieve information, get directions and even email the staff.

 When they walk into the Worship Room they are greeted by a stage that is as suited for a Broadway musical as it is for a worship service.   At the rear is a set of 35 different batons (backdrops or scenes).  In the foreground is a convertible orchestra pit, and overhead is a computerized lighting system that provides a limitless variety of options.

 On their opening weekend, the combined praise teams and band performed the music from their new CD “Whosoever.”   With the technical staff introducing theatrical fog and smoke during the performance, it was not a typical worship service.  George Vinson, Director of Technical Ministries, commenting on the opening weekend said,  “Kim Meadows, our Lighting Director, effectively used standard PAR and ellipsoidal lighting fixtures, and automated instruments such as High End Systems’ ‘Studio Colors’ and ‘Cyberlights’ to create a high energy worship experience.” The interactive service was so well received that the church had to add an additional performance to accommodate the crowds.

 The powerful sound system, designed by Sonics Associates (205-733-0500), the same firm that equips IMAX Theaters, delivers the softest whisper and the most robust shout with equal clarity and realism.  Utilizing three true channels, the sound system guarantees the audience can hear the clear gospel message, without distortion.

 At the heart of the system is a 112 input Soundcraft Series 5 mixer.  It also features laser-aimed speaker arrays and a Peavey Media Matrix processor.  One of the engineers from Sonics told George Vinson that “given four or five hours, we could reconfigure the PA into a surround-sound capable system.”

 Theatrical Lighting Systems (256-533-7025) designed and installed an intricate state-of-the-art system that is highly adaptable to the church’s future needs.  It is a combination of lighting equipment commonly used in theatrical settings with equipment used by “touring acts.”  The technical staff operate all the moving fixtures and the traditional cans in a central location with the Jands Hog Eschelon lighting controller.

 The lighting equipment, according to Doug Bennett, the system’s designer, “is distributed over five motorized onstage electrics, onstage floor pockets and wall boxes, and an extensive front-of-house catwalk system.”  The catwalk system is the key to the lighting system’s flexibility.  It keeps future ministries from being limited by today’s technology.

 At the Next Level Church, in Denver, Colorado, less is more. To accommodate their weekly attendance of 2000, they borrow a worship facility.  Unfortunately, it feels  more like a Warehouse than a Sanctuary.  The room has huge ceiling, steel girders and the lighting with the ambiance of cold gym lights.  Not exactly the kind of environment a trendy Gen-Xr gravitates toward.

 “The lighting can make or break the power of a moment,” Trevor Bron the Founding Pastor of the 6-year old ministry said, “It should never drive nor detract from the moment, but add to it,  creating an inviting environment for worshiping and learning.”  To enhance the experience, they pack in auxiliary lighting each week.  They light the stage  with “production quality” lighting, accented with arrangements of thick candles.

  They have 12 channels of 2.4 kw dimming on their Strand Century Digital Environ dimmers and have added a 12 channel ETC Sensor portable dimmer rack.  The lighting fixtures used are a mixture of ellipsoidals, fresnels, and PAR Cans, all controlled by a Strand Century GSX Console running Strand Century's Genius software.

 The perimeter of the back half of the room is filled with inexpensive, household quality “torch lights.”   With this accent lighting, the room has a concert or club atmosphere that invites the worshipers to be themselves and feel uninhibited before the Lord.  The technical crew works to create  a "private mood" that invites the worshipers  to focus only on God.

 As the doors open at 7:17 PM, crowds of young adults rush into the auditorium.  For the first thirty minutes,  the crowd stands and sings the songs projected on a screen by Sharp XG-E120OU LCD projectors.  As the band plays, some of the worshipers move into the aisles or walk to the stage area–a few of them even remove their shoes, “making themselves at home.”

 When they transition into the 45 minute teaching portion of the service, they pull the audience lights up so everyone can see to take notes and read their Bibles. The teaching platform is darkened, except for a wide spotlight on the Pastor standing behind a music stand.  Bron usually uses a Power point presentation, and tries to use small props that rivets his point into the minds of his hearers.

“Did anybody bring any corn with them today?” Bron asks.  “I did,” a member of the audience replies.  As Bron moves toward the man, he pulls an ear of corn out of his sock and hands it to his Pastor.  Holding the corn in his hands, Bron asks, “Will you lend me an ear?”  The crowd laughs.  “Pastor humor,” Bron adds as he turns to walk back to the teaching platform, “is like normal humor, except not as funny.”  The crowd laughs again.

 Slowly, Bron peels back the corn shucks as he drives home his point about generosity.  “All of this corn, came from a single seed, and remember that each stalk has many ears of corn on it.”  He continued.  “If you want to harvest something you first have to plant it.”

 Whether they use a 200 member choir, a potter and her wheel to enhance a song, a theatrical performance, complete with smoke and fog, or a lone preacher standing beside a music stand holding an ear of corn, churches are finding ways to help their audience interact with the gospel message.  The technology they use changes--the message they preach doesn’t.