In the midst of chaos and confusion on a Sunday, you might be asking yourself, "Why would anyone do this?" Why would someone allow themselves to be in such a stressful position?
But let's take it a step further. Why would someone volunteer for this? As I think about it, to the person on the outside we must seem like crazy fools to endure like we do—and most times for no compensation. We can think things like, and there's no shame here because I have thought them too, "It would be so much easier to hold the door in the lobby. I would get here later, no stress, no technology, no cues missed ... just hold the door open."
So, why do we do this?
Well, the super spiritual answer is, "we are called," right? That seems to be the go-to for these types of questions in the church world. And it's not wrong. You have to be called to something like this because the weight is tremendous. And yet, that answer doesn't give the question a complete and justified answer, in my opinion.
Consider it joy to be called by obedience and grit to stand guard over the equipment that carries the electrical waves of God's message to His people.
We are called, and everyone who has a church home should be serving in one way or another to advance God's work for His people. But serving in a production role goes beyond calling and into the area of obedience. It goes into community. It goes into purpose. It takes a special person to be able to execute in the high capacities that are required in the booth. It takes a certain mindset to be able to flourish there. And it takes even more to lead there.
You and your team are the vessels for what God is doing at your church. Everything you do is profoundly spiritual and everything that is seen, heard, or felt in your church's services flows through your team in one way or another. Either directly or indirectly.
As a whole, we do this because the responsibility has been given to those who are able to carry the load. We do this because we want to be part of the transformation of lives that Jesus produces. We do this because, yes, we are called, and yes, we are obedient, but we also do this because we want to get better. We do this because it's amazing to be part of the handiwork of God in big ways. We do this because we have grit!
James, Jesus' brother, wrote:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1:2-4 NIV
Grit, joy, and eternal perspective
Grit is not something that everyone has. It is something that is built up, and James tells us about enduring and actually considering it joyful when we face hardships. When that switcher is not doing what it's supposed to, consider it joy. When that speaker is buzzing, consider it joy. When you have to take a step back to figure something out, consider it joy. When your team is pushed to its limit, consider it joy. When you have the "oh crap" moment, consider it joy. I know that sounds like lunacy, but let me take you to a different perspective.
We do this because we want to be part of the transformation of lives that Jesus produces.
When we run into the issues that we all must overcome as church techs, it's not us fighting the sound system or the worship leader or the computers, really. It is literally hell trying to break in the gates of what God is doing through you and your team. So yes, consider it joy to be called by obedience and grit to stand guard over your team.
Consider it joy to be called by obedience and grit to stand guard over the equipment that carries the electrical waves of God's message to His people. Consider it joy to be called by obedience and grit to fight hell with Heaven in order to see God's promises fulfilled.
That's why we do this.