Using Multi-Media 2 - Creating a Mood (75)

One of the greatest strengths of using multi-media is the ability to create a mood. A mood is defined as “[the] general feeling of [a] group”. Being able to change the mood of a large group by using multi-media is important because it is not simple to change the mood of a large group simply by going to every person and speaking with them directly. That is nearly impossible. By using multi-media we can control the mood of a large group of people very quickly.

Keep in mind that multi-media will have an effect on everyone it encounters. Make sure that your multi-media is producing what you want it to produce when you want it produced. It doesn’t make much sense to have really busy lighting on a soft, slow, somber song because it is creating the wrong mood. Likewise it doesn’t make sense to show a really serious video when your sermon is high energy and fun.

Multi-media is a tool, not an end. It is the means by which we move a people to a common mood. That mood enhances what the service/meeting is trying to accomplish and brings about a greater effectiveness more quickly. Remember, creativity is not what you do but how you do something.

Using Multi-Media

Multi-Media (power point (ppt), movies, videos, etc.) can either greatly enhance or greatly distract from a service. Here are some guidelines that will help you to use Multi- Media to your advantage.




1. When starting to use Mulit-Media, don’t overuse it

a. When you overuse multi-media it actually is counter-productive.
b. The goal of Multi-Media is to engage and connect people but a scattered overuse has a tendency to cause people to disconnect and they fail to pay attention.
c. Do a few things very well.

2. Plan out and practice how you will use your Multi-Media

a. Multi-Media is not something you can throw together; it must be planned for ahead of time.
b. When you have a plan in place, practice your transitions with your “media guy” so that the transition from live to media is not awkward.
c. It is vital for there to be flow from one media outlet to the next. This keeps it from feeling fragmented and disconnected.
d. The person who does your ppt should rehearse alongside the worship team in order to secure accurate slides that most certainly will enhance the worship experience for many people.

3. If your creativity distracts from the gospel, stop doing it

a. You know that if more people are talking about your light show and not the anointing of worship there is an imbalance.
b. Your creativity must enhance the church experience, not be the experience.
c. Your ppt is used to help people feel comfortable singing the words to the songs not to blow people away with how creatively you can present your ppt skills.
d. The backgrounds you use should enhance the purpose of the song.

4. Multi-Media should always submit to the vision of your church

a. I know this sounds really funny but we can focus so much on being creative and multi-media savvy that we forget to accomplish the vision set out by the church.
b. Once again, if your multi-media is not helping to accomplish the vision of the church, stop doing it.
c. Multi-Media should not be what keeps people in church; it must be the power of the gospel working in people’s lives.

5. Don’t use Multi-Media just because you can.

a. Everything you do should have a distinct purpose.
b. Doing just for doing sake is a big waste of time and energy.
c. Be intentional about how you use your multi-media so that it can accomplish a certain goal.