Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
It seems that there are constantly things pulling for our attention in the church tech world: gear that has broken, computers that need to be updated, services that need to be planned, volunteers that need to be scheduled. Add on the register of “urgent” needs from other ministries and the list seemingly never ends.
No wonder, then, why it can be so easy to be consumed just with the immediacy of the here and now. When so many things in my environment are competing for my energy, it’s natural to just adopt a “survive and advance” mentality; get through today, then I’ll worry about other things tomorrow (or the next day) when I can.
Technical ministry is more than just tasks and gear.
The danger in having to maintain this head-down existence is that it can become all too easy to lose sight of the big picture of our ministry beyond just the urgent fires that need to be put out before the weekend. We forget that our part, and what we’re a part of, are much bigger than just the role I have in helping all of it happen.
What I’m part of is bigger than the part I play.
And in a 21st Century ministry, it’s critical that I adopt that perspective.
I don’t just need volunteers to fill certain service roles so I can check boxes that every station is manned. I’m here to help people use their God-given gifts and talents in a way that makes them feel fulfilled and that their life was created with the purpose to impact others.
I’m not just fixing a projector in a kids’ ministry room. I’m helping deliver the gospel to a child who is wondering about their significance and value and will be able to learn Godly principles that will be a foundation of their identity for the rest of their life.
The size of the ministry where I serve does not determine my ability to grow my influence with others.
I’m not simply hooking up a DVD player for a small group. I’m enabling someone who’s grieving over the loss of a spouse to find solace, comfort, and friendship in a group of people who will provide prayer and support in the coming season so that person can find the stability they need.
What I’m part of is bigger than the part I play.
And with advances in technology over the last couple of years, the impact I’m able to achieve as a technician is continuing to far outpace what happens within the four walls of my facility.
As I move into a new year, with new budgets to spend and new projects to spend them on, it’s critical that I adopt a “big picture” mentality to the tools I choose to use.
The COVID pandemic did nothing more than accelerate a trend that had been inching along in the church world: that it’s not uncommon for more people to experience a church’s service digitally than in person. With so many churches having to improve (or even begin) their digital presence, this has become a truth that many ministries must now adapt to.
What does that mean?
It’s no longer sufficient to think of our ministry as only having four walls. In every technology decision I make, I should also be thinking “big picture.”
How is this going to look or feel online, whether live or on-demand? How will this experience be accessible to future generations of people? How will this decision scale so that we can continue to grow and impact people beyond what is just happening right now?
And even more than just thinking about my ministry’s extension beyond our own building, I also have to consider relationships that extend beyond our walls too.
It’s far too easy to get in a lather-rinse-repeat cycle of pulling off events and putting out fires, day after week after month after year. In doing that, I can easily forget how critical it is that I have professional relationships, not only for people to learn from (in how I can hone my craft) but also to find people I can lean on for support and guidance.
All of us serving in the big-C “Church” have something to contribute to that broader community. Still, I’ll never discover what benefits there are from that large body until I’m able to prioritize the effort to engage. Can I take a step to network and build relationships with other ministries in my community? What about through social media?
As I start asking questions about how other people do their jobs, I’m also able to share insight from my own experiences. And over time, maybe I can help someone through their particular situation, whether personal or professional. The size of the ministry where I serve does not determine my ability to grow my influence with others.
Remember, what I’m part of, as a small part of an international ministry body, is bigger than the part I play as a technician at a local church.
With the turning of a page to 2023, let this be the year I challenge myself to think bigger. Think beyond what I touch and consider the larger impact. Think beyond what I see and contemplate its greater legacy. Think beyond what I do and ponder who I can help.
Technical ministry is more than just tasks and gear. It’s more than just the here and now. It’s bigger than me, and I’m blessed to be a small part.
