In our Back Talk column (page 98) this issue, Technical Arts Director Bill Swaringim, from The Crossing St. Louis, talks about "next steps" for the Church Technical Director Roundtable (CTDRT). During the past year since the organization was founded, the CTDRT, which Swaringim launched, has grown to nearly 1,000 members and is serving the needs of church technical personnel by offering a community where TD's can share their struggles, frustrations, celebrations, and get encouragement. As the CTDRT considers what's next for their growing organization, they are praying for God to reveal His plan.
As I read the Back Talk column during our magazine editing process, I was struck by the similarities with our cover story on "Church on the Move" based in Tulsa, Okla., (page 60). Church on the Move's Production Manager and Audio Director, Andrew Stone, describes how the church's worship style had evolved over the years, but their auditorium hadn't changed. The lack of progress was beginning to affect how the church did ministry. Church on the Move needed to move ahead, but their existing tools were holding them back.
Similar to the growing process the CTDRT is going through now, Church on the Move did a lot of soul searching. They researched the possibility of building an entirely new facility, but a range of factors led them to remodel and retool their existing worship space. Taking an innovative, in-house approach to conceptual design and equipment selection, the result is a room that provides the church the tools for providing the creative experience they were looking for.
"Next steps" are important. Whether they are in your personal life, your work life, your family life or your spiritual life, we should embrace "next steps." They could involve new tools, new approaches, new associates-maybe a new environment or location, or just a new attitude.
What are your "next steps"? We'd love to hear about them, and share them with others. Join the discussion at www.churchproduction.com/brianblackmore.
Best Regards,
