In the fast-paced world of church production, where every Sunday demands seamless audio, lighting, video, and streaming to support worship without distraction, few names carry the weight of experience like Dave Cooke. After 36 years of dedicated service—most notably as Chief Engineer and Production Director for Willow Creek Community Church’s production systems— Dave recently stepped away from full-time ministry in December 2025. His departure marks the end of an era at one of America’s pioneering megachurches, but his insights remain a goldmine for church tech leaders, production managers, and volunteers everywhere.
This is the first in a series profiling key industry leaders and creative team members serving in local church ministries. Dave’s journey— from a high school volunteer in the late 1970s to leading massive technical builds—offers timeless advice on excellence, teamwork, stewardship, and balance in church tech arts.
“36 years of dedicated service, Dave Cooke stepped away from full-time ministry in December 2025.”
A JOURNEY ROOTED IN PASSION AND VOLUNTEER SPIRIT
Dave’s entry into AV production began organically in 1978–79 as a high school senior and pastor’s kid in California. Drawn in by an innovative youth pastor, he volunteered to run a newly purchased Shure eight-channel mixer for youth events, learning on the fly in a church gymnasium. What started as casual involvement— mixing sound, rigging slide projectors for multimedia—quickly became a calling. He dropped out of college (initially pursuing fisheries biology) after six months because “I was having so much fun doing the tech stuff for the church.”
Over the decades, Dave served in various churches, including stints in San Jose and Southern California, before moving to Willow Creek in 1989– 90. Starting at minimum wage ($6.50/ hour) in the production department, he transitioned from youth ministry creative roles (pioneering early video editing with tools like the Video Toaster) to main campus production. He played a pivotal role in the massive 2004 auditorium build—a 7,200-seat space with innovative features like motorized LED screen trolleys, moving light bridges, and a Meyer PA system.
“Dream big but steward wisely. Leverage skilled volunteers for custom solutions, but pay pros for complex rigging or safety-critical work.”
PRIORITIZE SEAMLESS, NON-DISTRACTING EXCELLENCE
Dave emphasizes Willow Creek’s “prime directive”: Ensure the spoken word is clear and intelligible above all else. “If people can’t hear what the pastor or communicator is saying, we failed,” he notes. Audio takes priority, followed by lighting and video. LED screens or lights can glitch, but the message must land.
DAVE COOKE
CHIEF ENGINEER AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR, WILLOW CREEK COMMUNITY CHURCH,SOUTH BARRINGTON, ILL.
Practical tip: Don’t chase flashy tech at the expense of reliability. Choose proven, repairable gear from established brands (e.g., Yamaha consoles, Sony/Hitachi cameras, Ross Video switchers). Avoid obscure equipment that might not have parts or support in 10–15 years. “We don’t want the most expensive gear, but we don’t want something you’ve never heard of from a company that may not be around.”
This mindset helped during the 2004 build: Facing a limited budget, Dave and the team (including Chris Gille and Bruce Smith) handled much of the install in-house with highcaliber volunteers (many engineers from Motorola). They rigged heavy Mitsubishi LED screens on custom motorized trolleys—innovative for its time—and built movable light bridges that still function today. The result? Professional outcomes at a fraction of integrator costs.
For your team: Dream big but steward wisely. Leverage skilled volunteers for custom solutions, but pay pros for complex rigging or safety-critical work.
BUILD STRONG TEAMS WITH GRACE AND OWNERSHIP
Church production is high-stakes—mistakes during live services can distract from worship. Dave learned from observing broadcast pros: When errors happen, respond with grace, not blame. This led to the famous “idiot cup” tradition in master control—a lighthearted “swear jar” for owning mistakes. Contributors tossed in a dollar; at year’s end, the group enjoyed a celebratory breakfast sharing stories.
Tip: Foster a culture where mistakes are learning opportunities, not sources of shame. “We want to be excellent, but not perfectionists.” During intense seasons like Christmas runs (14+ services), provide snacks, breaks, and downtime to prevent burnout. Plan ahead —give your team time off before or after heavy runs.
Dave also highlights the power of mentorship. Early on, he benefited from informal guides; later, he mentored younger staff on work-life balance. “You’re responsible for your family—your boss isn’t.” He advises young techs: Communicate needs directly (e.g., missing a late rehearsal for a child’s event), and as leaders, protect your team from overload.
Advice for longevity: Serve with excellence but maintain balance. Church ministry can be demanding, but God provides—many thrive on modest pay while raising families and enjoying the work.
“Willow attracts people because it’s fun to volunteer here—it’s not just work, it’s serving.”
EMBRACE VOLUNTEERS AND CENTRALIZED SUPPORT
Willow’s success relied on volunteers— from engineers building custom systems to camera operators. Post-2004, Dave helped create a dedicated systems team to handle maintenance, allowing operators to focus on creative execution.
Tip for smaller churches: Centralize where possible—pool gear and budgets across ministries for better stewardship. Train volunteers well, create intuitive systems, and recruit high-caliber people who love serving. “Willow attracts people because it’s fun to volunteer here—it’s not just work, it’s serving.”
“If people can’t hear what the pastor or communicator is saying, we failed.” Dave Cooke on Willow Creek’s “prime directive”
LOOKING AHEAD
As Dave transitions to consulting and family time in Southwest Missouri, his legacy endures in the systems he built, teams he led, and lives impacted. For church production pros: Strive for excellence that serves the gospel, own your mistakes with grace, mentor the next generation, and balance work with life. “Making Sunday happen” isn’t just about tech—it’s about creating distraction- free spaces where people encounter God.
