How Your Church Can Use Video

April 7, 2006 by

Part 4 in a continuing series on What Web 2.0 Means for Your Church

Online video is the latest tech fad. There are TV shows for sale from Apple, you can buy downloadable movies, you can watch old school TV reruns (PC only). Thanks to broadband, video is exploding online. It’s also becoming incredibly viral, like the recent Lazy Sunday and Microsoft’s iPod packaging clips.

But video meets web 2.0 when users submit the content. Sites like You Tube, Google Video and Vimeo are essentially Flickr for videos. Sometimes they’re short and shaky clips and sometimes professionally cut and soundtracked mini-movies. Web videos are even making a splash on real TV, like VH1’s Web Junk 20, Bravo’s Outrageous and Contagious: Viral Videos and The Net with Carson Daly in development by NBC and USA.

Video and the Church
So here’s that question again: What does all this have to do with the church?


Online video is yet another opportunity for churches to connect. It doesn’t have to be a hilarious viral video (though it could be—talk about cheap publicity), but it could be a one-minute visitor walk through so potential visitors have a better idea what to expect at your church. It could be a promo for an upcoming sermon series or youth group event. It could be a recap of a missions trip. The possibilities are endless, and the web 2.0 sites like You Tube make it possible to easily host and distribute the video.

It’s already happening:

Churches can best make use of video when they don’t try to do and control everything. Let the creative members of your church go wild and make their own videos. Work with what you have and don’t worry if you don’t have the latest and greatest production values. Be authentic. Be creative. Have fun.

Your church videos may not spread like Natalie Raps, but they may help you connect with your local community.

Post By:

Kevin D. Hendricks


When Kevin isn't busy as the editor of Church Marketing Sucks, he runs his own writing and editing company, Monkey Outta Nowhere. Kevin has been blogging since 1998, runs the hyperlocal site West St. Paul Reader, and has published several books, including 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading, The Stephanies and all of our church communication books.
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29 Responses to “How Your Church Can Use Video”

  • Dennis Cummins
    April 14, 2006

    I think video is vital to keeping current with communicating the gospel. We use online video and interactive video illistrated points, what we call VIP’s in every sermon. We post these all online.
    Very impacting!


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  • Dennis Cummins
    April 14, 2006

    I think video is vital to keeping current with communicating the gospel. We use online video and interactive video illistrated points, what we call VIP’s in every sermon. We post these all online.
    Very impacting!


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 14, 2006

    I think video is vital to keeping current with communicating the gospel. We use online video and interactive video illistrated points, what we call VIP’s in every sermon. We post these all online.
    Very impacting!


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 14, 2006

    I think video is vital to keeping current with communicating the gospel. We use online video and interactive video illistrated points, what we call VIP’s in every sermon. We post these all online.
    Very impacting!


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 14, 2006

    I think video is vital to keeping current with communicating the gospel. We use online video and interactive video illistrated points, what we call VIP’s in every sermon. We post these all online.
    Very impacting!


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 14, 2006

    I think video is vital to keeping current with communicating the gospel. We use online video and interactive video illistrated points, what we call VIP’s in every sermon. We post these all online.
    Very impacting!


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 14, 2006

    I think video is vital to keeping current with communicating the gospel. We use online video and interactive video illistrated points, what we call VIP’s in every sermon. We post these all online.
    Very impacting!


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 15, 2006

    We use video in every one of our sermons. We call them VIP’s, video illistrated points. We find that it helps to be able to take them to a completely different place and touch more of their senses. One study showed that if a person watched a scene in a movie six times, it is the same as living it. I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week. But, if we are low on the creativity scale, I will just do a monolog with cool music and graphics on location. It is still very effective. In my last series “DespereateHouselives” we actually had a detctive theme throughout, yet was very funny but to the point.
    We publish all of our messages on the web so our people can still stay connected if they miss a Sunday. We are also starting to build quite an online audiance.
    I love doing ministry in the new century.


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 15, 2006

    We use video in every one of our sermons. We call them VIP’s, video illistrated points. We find that it helps to be able to take them to a completely different place and touch more of their senses. One study showed that if a person watched a scene in a movie six times, it is the same as living it. I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week. But, if we are low on the creativity scale, I will just do a monolog with cool music and graphics on location. It is still very effective. In my last series “DespereateHouselives” we actually had a detctive theme throughout, yet was very funny but to the point.
    We publish all of our messages on the web so our people can still stay connected if they miss a Sunday. We are also starting to build quite an online audiance.
    I love doing ministry in the new century.


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 15, 2006

    We use video in every one of our sermons. We call them VIP’s, video illistrated points. We find that it helps to be able to take them to a completely different place and touch more of their senses. One study showed that if a person watched a scene in a movie six times, it is the same as living it. I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week. But, if we are low on the creativity scale, I will just do a monolog with cool music and graphics on location. It is still very effective. In my last series “DespereateHouselives” we actually had a detctive theme throughout, yet was very funny but to the point.
    We publish all of our messages on the web so our people can still stay connected if they miss a Sunday. We are also starting to build quite an online audiance.
    I love doing ministry in the new century.


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 15, 2006

    We use video in every one of our sermons. We call them VIP’s, video illistrated points. We find that it helps to be able to take them to a completely different place and touch more of their senses. One study showed that if a person watched a scene in a movie six times, it is the same as living it. I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week. But, if we are low on the creativity scale, I will just do a monolog with cool music and graphics on location. It is still very effective. In my last series “DespereateHouselives” we actually had a detctive theme throughout, yet was very funny but to the point.
    We publish all of our messages on the web so our people can still stay connected if they miss a Sunday. We are also starting to build quite an online audiance.
    I love doing ministry in the new century.


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 15, 2006

    We use video in every one of our sermons. We call them VIP’s, video illistrated points. We find that it helps to be able to take them to a completely different place and touch more of their senses. One study showed that if a person watched a scene in a movie six times, it is the same as living it. I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week. But, if we are low on the creativity scale, I will just do a monolog with cool music and graphics on location. It is still very effective. In my last series “DespereateHouselives” we actually had a detctive theme throughout, yet was very funny but to the point.
    We publish all of our messages on the web so our people can still stay connected if they miss a Sunday. We are also starting to build quite an online audiance.
    I love doing ministry in the new century.


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 15, 2006

    We use video in every one of our sermons. We call them VIP’s, video illistrated points. We find that it helps to be able to take them to a completely different place and touch more of their senses. One study showed that if a person watched a scene in a movie six times, it is the same as living it. I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week. But, if we are low on the creativity scale, I will just do a monolog with cool music and graphics on location. It is still very effective. In my last series “DespereateHouselives” we actually had a detctive theme throughout, yet was very funny but to the point.
    We publish all of our messages on the web so our people can still stay connected if they miss a Sunday. We are also starting to build quite an online audiance.
    I love doing ministry in the new century.


     | Permalink
  • Dennis Cummins
    April 15, 2006

    We use video in every one of our sermons. We call them VIP’s, video illistrated points. We find that it helps to be able to take them to a completely different place and touch more of their senses. One study showed that if a person watched a scene in a movie six times, it is the same as living it. I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week. But, if we are low on the creativity scale, I will just do a monolog with cool music and graphics on location. It is still very effective. In my last series “DespereateHouselives” we actually had a detctive theme throughout, yet was very funny but to the point.
    We publish all of our messages on the web so our people can still stay connected if they miss a Sunday. We are also starting to build quite an online audiance.
    I love doing ministry in the new century.


     | Permalink
  • mrbelfry
    May 4, 2006

    I love the videos at http://www.diveintoflood.com/experience/multimedia/index.php expecially church linebacker and kung fu flood. They don’t actually tell you much about the church but they make me want to go!


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  • Church Marketing Sucks Web 2.0 Series

    Web 2.0 is yet another techno buzz term that’s popping up everywhere. Our Church Marketing Sucks blog just finished a series exploring web 2.0, sorting out the hype and figuring out what it means for churches: What Web 2.0 Means…


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  • Dan
    October 5, 2006

    I know people do it all the time, but I was just curious if anyone knew if it is legal to use copywritten music in a video I made to be shown at our church?
    We made a short video for our church about an African Mission trip that has some songs by Jeremy Camp, Third Day, and Chris Tomlin in the background. We are planning to show it to our congregation (and have actually shown it in the past) this Friday. I would assume there are fair use terms I’m not aware of. We are not going to be selling the video or anything, although I am planning on making a few copies for the people involved in the video.
    I remember reading somewhere that any music can be used in an independent film or video as longs as you are not selling the video. Such as when films are shown at film festivals.
    Just curious if anyone knew.


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  • Pozycjonowanie
    November 4, 2006

    One study showed that if a person watched a scene in a movie six times, it is the same as living it. I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week.


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  • Przemyśl nocleg
    June 28, 2007

    Przemyśl hotel Marko zaprasza na nocleg przy trasie do Lwowa


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  • Rick
    July 10, 2007

    mrbelfry: It is not legal to use copyrighted music in ANY production without permission from the copyright owners EXCEPT as is allowed in the Fair Use Provisions of copyright law-this in and of itself opens a can of worms. The best thing to do is do a search on fair use and then try to apply the best common sense you can. It’s a very difficult issue. Why not try to use some creative commons music licensed music. (Again do a search)


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  • Kredyt
    July 27, 2007

    We publish all of our messages on the web so our people can still stay connected if they miss a Sunday. We are also starting to build quite an online audiance.


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  • bobby
    October 7, 2007

    I see our VIP’s as modern day parables. We developed Experience Media as our production department and use many extra’s in the church. It can become a daunting tasking trying to have something fresh every week.


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  • Lierac
    March 19, 2008

    Good article!


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  • Golebie
    June 9, 2008

    Hello.
    I recently saw an article written by a professor, which confirm that what is written here. I agree with that.
    :)


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  • Kyle
    June 20, 2008

    For the copyright owner to win an infringement suit, they have to prove a loss. And if you have site/venue licenses (Ascap/BMI) you have rights to play any song from the catalog. What is clearly illegal is to post other people’s content without their permission (i.e. posting that video online).
    On a side rant: There are a lot of new companies selling video licenses to churches, “so you can leagally use video in church” – you already can legally use video in church. Fair Use is generally using part of work in a instructional, non-profit, or scholastic/research kind of way. The preacher using a 1 minute clip of a 3 hour movie within his sermon CLEARLY falls under the guidelines of fair use. Showing the whole thing (i.e. competing with movie theatres ) is what you would need a license for.
    As an artist, I would encourage you to create what you want (i.e. the Jeremy Camp video) and then actually call the Publishing company for permission. They might say yes!


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  • Prezent
    June 25, 2008

    I remember reading somewhere that any music can be used in an independent film or video as longs as you are not selling the video. Such as when films are shown at film festivals.


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  • online shopping
    July 10, 2008

    Video is definitely a very good tool to be used, and I’ve seen it used to great effect. A friend of mine put together a clip on the Passion movie, with a song from Delirious “Jesus Blood Never Failed me.” It worked profoundly – I mean, it got the message across in such an unbelievable way. Much more than the movie did, that’s for sure (personally, I thought the movie was good but missed it in many parts.)


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  • oil portrait painting
    October 3, 2008

    One negative thing that I see from this method is that videos might replace real churches and priests. Instead of attending Bible Study or Bible School or the mass with real people at real church one might just content himself with the videos.


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  • nic.justice
    October 12, 2008

    http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6fKOd2FH5jc
    here is a video I created for my church. let me know what you think


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