What can we learn from 2020? While it was certainly the most unpredictable year of our lifetimes, it was also a year of incredible stretching, challenging, and growth in our roles as church techs.
In many respects, what we have learned about how to do ministry was chucked out the window and we had to reinvent ourselves on the fly.
We don’t always have to do what we’ve always done.
But with a new year comes a new hope for things to be different. We can’t necessarily change the pandemic, but we can change how we respond to challenging seasons. And while 2020 was a crazy year, it’s all for naught if we’re able to learn some lessons that can make us better in 2021.
Here are three areas where we can all make sure we reflect and learn as we look ahead to the promise of a new year.
1. Bigger isn’t always better.
It can be an easy trap to fall into: the constant pursuit of new technology that leads to bigger and more extreme productions. But this year, we all had to scale back.
Especially for Christmas in 2020, what many of us had always banked on (big, flashy productions) ended up being the outlier as more churches embraced simpler, nostalgic experiences.
Let this be a lesson for all of us. Sometimes we can make an event too big. And there’s oftentimes power in stripping it down and keeping it simple. Ultimately, it’s about what the audience needs, not what we as technicians want.
No matter what it is or who takes the lead, we need to be around other people to be healthy.
Perhaps the hardest part was letting go of the hold on annual traditions, for some, big concerts, performances, or services. By being forced to let go of our grip on these rites, we were able to prove that we can still reach people effectively by doing something different. We don’t always have to do what we’ve always done.
So, is this a concept that we can apply to other areas of ministry, too? Are there other things we keep doing just for the sake of doing them? Are there other “sacred cows” that we’ve been too resistant to put out to pasture?
Instead of worshipping the ashes of tradition, we can embrace the growth of new ideas and practices that may well end up being more effective.
2. We need relationships.
If there’s anything the “Zoom revolution” has shown us, it’s how badly many of us need consistent, intentional, in-person connection instead of just relating to others digitally.
It can be easy for techs to proclaim that, as introverts, we may not necessarily crave regular relational contact, especially with big crowds. But whether we are able to acknowledge it or not, God created all of us to be connected with others, and our success and health as people depends on it.
So, to the extent that we’re able, based on whatever guidelines are in place in our local municipalities, we need to create team-building opportunities as much as possible in 2021. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, maybe just a group of people going out to eat somewhere. Or maybe all ordering from Grubhub and having it delivered to the church.
What happens is irrelevant. The important thing is that we need to actively be creating ways for our teams to engage with each other.
As long as we have WiFi, we can do work from just about anywhere.
Maybe we feel deficient at planning team events due to not really having the “gift of hospitality.” No problem! Maybe someone on the worship team could organize a “mixer” for the two teams to hang out together, or maybe somebody’s spouse would love to run point on helping get a group together.
No matter what it is or who takes the lead, we need to be around other people to be healthy. Social interaction has a tremendous impact on physical and mental health, so let’s all commit to doing the best we can to keep our teams healthy.
It’s amazing how much we’re able to be productive when we embrace a little bit of ingenuity.
3. No office? No problem.
I used to be a real stickler for the idea of needing to be in the office to work. Just like the Postal Service, whether it was rain, snow, sleet, or hail, I was always going to be in the office to work. But when a pandemic forces you to change your routines, it’s amazing how much your eyes can be opened to the idea of doing work in different environments.
As long as we have WiFi, we can do work from just about anywhere, unless it requires actual tactile interaction with a piece of equipment. And I’ve seen other techs get incredibly creative by setting up editing suites in their bedrooms or taking lighting consoles home so they can program on their living room TV.
It’s amazing how much we’re able to be productive when we embrace a little bit of ingenuity. And I think that many of us had to be forced to see things differently to really understand that there are other ways to get the job done.
So, I no longer have to feel pressured to work 60-70 hours a week in the office. It is possible for me to get my work done at home and still have family time. It’s OK to have work/life boundaries. I’m able to have different routines about when I come and go from the office and the world doesn’t end.
More than anything, 2020 forced all of us to learn how to think differently and embrace a new normal. As the calendar flips to a new year, there’s no reason for us to rush to revert back to “the way things used to be.” There’s plenty that we have learned that we can keep as part of our routines, and it will all help us continue to serve our church and our families better.
