We often describe the use of digital projectors in church as a tool. Some would liken it to a hammer, a basic tool that is integral in constructing the worship service. You take your basic service elements: the worship set, prayer time, teaching, special events, etc.- and whack them into place. One flowing into the next. For those who are really adept at wielding this tool, the transitions will seem natural, smooth, and unrehearsed.
I get a different picture when I think of the projector. You know right before Christmas how Home Depot always releases the latest, greatest, multi-tool. Guaranteed to be the perfect combination of strength, durability, flexibility, et all. This year it was pressure sensitive vice-grips cum hammer cum pliers, cum something I don’t know what it is for. This is the tool that I think churches need to tap into.
The multi-tool for church ministry that allows you to create customized worship presentations that truly enhance the worship experience and turn the focus onto God instead of our latest flashy presentation, or God-forbid, the never ending stream of typos and ‘slide-flipping’ that too often happens. The multi-tool that allows us to feature scripture and powerful imagery that relates to the message of the service. The multi-tool that can handle some of those ‘family’ issues such as announcements without taking up valuable ministry time. The multi-tool that can communicate our message in a way that we sometimes can’t or don’t.
Have you settled for whacking the pieces into place, or are you committed to learning how this incredible tool can work for you? It is time for churches to look at the projector for what it really is: an incredible device that can help communicate the gospel to a generation that relates to the digital better than to people.