From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Ephesians 4:16, ESV
I am looking for the missing link. Not the infamous key to connecting humans to monkeys or squids or whatever. I am looking for that missing connection that can make or break a service, a streamed event, and sometimes an entire ministry.
There are certain critical elements involved in a successful service or event. No matter what kind of tech work you are involved in, we have to operate with mutual respect. Without it, forget effective communication and presentation.
No matter what kind of tech work you are involved in, we have to operate with mutual respect.
Sometimes the tendency can be for the people on the stage or in front of the camera to view the techs as others, simply moving around in the shadows. Living off coffee and stale doughnuts. Able to speak only in grunts and techno-Greek. Laughing at things other humans don't understand.
Then there's the techs, and their opinion of the folks on stage. Mindless zombies. Air-headed clowns who barely understand which end of a microphone to sing into. So proud of their talent, but clueless about the things on stage that really matter.
Does any of this, or some semblance of it, sound familiar?
Sometimes, both sides have an opinion about the pastor or worship leader. That guy who makes a great front man, but won't take two minutes to figure out my last name. The one who just wants to hog the spotlight and keep us beneath him. We love him and support him, but wish he would do things differently. I think that's also why Van Halen split up. Great front man, detached from the rest of the band.
Not every church or crew thinks like this. But, there are plenty that do. My career placed me in a lot of churches over the years. I worked with pastors, teachers, evangelists, and musicians in hundreds of churches across the country. These type attitudes are much more common than anyone wants to admit. There is a big chunk of respect missing from many of these operations.
We are all working for a common mission.
Yeah. You techs who have been reading my stuff for a while may have opinions about my version of respect. It's there. I take production work very serious -- especially within the church. And it seems that some people are simply determined to find something to be offended about. My people skills have never been very good. I have a tendency to open my mouth and say things in a way that makes sense to me, disregarding how obnoxious it comes out. The sensitive and politically correct don't like me. They form opinions really quickly. And they don't last long in tech, either.
I will admit it. When it was showtime, I had serious tunnel vision. My own mother might have gotten pushed aside while I was making things happen. There are still people out there, mad at me, because they tried to get my attention during a service and I wouldn't give it to them. For that, I'm sorry.
For us to have the solid respect for the other side, we have to understand we are on the same team. We are all working for a common mission. We are all different parts of the same body. We may have completely different jobs within the mission, but we are all moving toward a common goal.
Here's a great way to see it, as told by a pastor I knew.
Imagine that you are a fireman. Within the confines of the firehouse there's a lot of work to do. Someone is the cook. Someone has to clean the truck. Someone is responsible for waxing floors. Another person gets to manage schedules and organize the crew.
Still imagining yourself in there? Do you see yourself finding a place and a job to do? Ok. Now, what is your job? Cleaning, managing, cooking ... what do you see yourself doing? Got it?
Wrong.
You are a fireman. Your job is to put out fires. Everything else is stuff that you do between fires. It's stuff you do to enable yourself to put out fires more effectively. Everything else is support structure for the real work.
Now, within the church, what is your job? Mixing, singing, preaching, whatever. They are all parts of the puzzle. Each part is there to complete the entire project. Each of us is enabling the church to fulfill the mission it is moving towards.
Overall, churches have similar missions. Seek and save the lost. Strengthen families. Feed the hungry. Build up leaders and expand the ministry. Read your mission statement. That's the roadmap to take your church where it has decided to go.
We never quite get there unless we are on the same page. The ministries that honestly work together, where everyone knows their part, are always more effective.
Bringing the common goal into focus will help create respect. Recognizing your team and the mission will help create respect. Communication between the leadership, worship team, and the tech crew is vital to developing that respect. That respect is your missing link.
