At CityLight Lincoln Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, a vibrant, gospel-centered community thrives near the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, drawing over 1,100 attendees — 70% of them college students—to four weekly services in a century-old, 300-seat sanctuary. Led by Audio Visual Coordinator and Sunday Production Director Alex Neill, the church’s production team has embraced a scrappy, resourceful ethos to create impactful worship experiences. Recently, a partnership with Fujifilm revolutionized their video production, delivering cinematic quality on a modest budget while aligning with their motto: “Excellence through simplicity.” This is the story of how Alex Neill’s journey and Fujifilm’s cutting-edge cameras are empowering CityLight Lincoln Church to magnify Jesus for a vibrant, predominantly college-aged congregation.
“Excellence through simplicity” — a motto that drives both the church and its production team.
CityLight Lincoln: A Scrappy, Student-Driven Church
CityLight Lincoln, planted in 2013 from a sister church in Omaha, is a beacon for college students seeking community and faith. Housed in a historic building with a “janky” setup—think two outdated mirrorless cameras mounted on a ceiling pole and a Blackmagic Television Studio HD switcher—the church prioritizes in-person worship over polished livestreams. “Our goal isn’t to make the live stream so good that people stay home in pajamas,” Alex says. “We want to encourage community in person while ensuring a non-distracting worship experience.”
A scrappy, student-driven church is leveraging pro-quality video without breaking the budget.
With four services (8:00 AM, 9:15 AM, 10:30 AM, and 11:45 AM) and a congregation far exceeding the sanctuary’s fire code capacity of 370, CityLight relies on video to feed livestreams on YouTube, back-of-sanctuary monitors, a mother’s room, and an overflow room projector. Limited by budget and aging gear, the church’s production team has long embraced a “use what you have” mindset, making the arrival of Fujifilm cameras a game-changer.
CityLight Lincoln’s production team grew from 10 to nearly 30 volunteers—most of them college students.
Alex Neill: From High School AV to Church Production
Alex Neill’s path to CityLight began in Lincoln, where he was born, before his family moved to Las Vegas and later Mount Juliet, Tennessee. Raised in the Bible Belt, Alex came to Christ in third grade and grew up immersed in church life. In high school, he gravitated toward audio-visual work, running sound for his church, shooting high school news, and operating cameras for sports broadcasts. “I’ve always loved the thrill of live production, and the creativity of filmmaking,” he says.
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Alex studied broadcasting and joined The Salt Company, CityLight’s college ministry. He served as a sound engineer for weekly gatherings, honing his skills. His senior year in 2024 brought a crossroads: pursue sports production with teams like the Chicago Bulls or Nashville FC, or follow a different calling. After declining three offers from CityLight’s lead pastor, Alex felt God “shoulder-checking” him toward ministry. “I had to relinquish control and trust God’s plan,” he reflects. “It’s been a joy to use my creative gifts to further the kingdom.”
Discovering Fujifilm at the IDEA Conference
Alex’s introduction to Fujifilm came unexpectedly at the 2024 IDEA Conference in St. Louis, hosted by the Image Display Entertainment Association. As one of two student interns selected for the Inspire the Passion Award, Alex networked with sports production giants like the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco Giants. While touring Busch Stadium, he met a Fujifilm representative whose Nebraska roots sparked a conversation. Learning of Alex’s decision to join CityLight instead of a sports career, she connected him with Victor Ha, Fujifilm’s team lead.
More than just equipment—this partnership empowered ministry and unlocked new opportunities.
“They wanted to partner with us and demonstrate how small mirrorless cameras can create intimate environments in small to medium-sized churches,” Alex explains. Fujifilm saw an opportunity to break into the church market, traditionally dominated by other brands. They set us up with three cameras, lenses, and training, with no expectation of exclusivity—just a desire to support the church’s mission.
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Fujifilm provided CityLight with one X-H2S and two X-H2 cameras, paired with 18-120mm power zoom lens and 100-400mm telephoto lenses.
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Fujifilm X-H2 camera (lens sold separately).
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Fujifilm X-H2S (lens sold separately).
Fujifilm Cameras: A Leap in Quality and Simplicity
Fujifilm provided CityLight with one FUJIFILM X-H2S and two X-H2 cameras, paired with FUJIFILM XF18-120mm LM PZ WR lens and FUJIFILM XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR lenses. These mirrorless cameras replaced CityLight’s outdated setup, delivering immediate improvements. “We mounted a Fujifilm camera next to our old one on the ceiling pole,” Alex recalls. “When we shook the pole, the old camera’s image looked like an earthquake, but the Fujifilm, which has image stabilization, was rock steady. Our co-lead pastor noticed the difference immediately and said, ‘Did you do something different? It looks great!’”
Fujifilm’s mirrorless cameras turned shaky, outdated video into steady, cinematic worship visuals.
The cameras’ features proved ideal for CityLight’s dual-purpose needs: livestreaming sermons and creating creative content like promotional videos and social media reels. The X-H2S’s open gate 6.2K sensor allows digital zooming without quality loss, perfect for IMAG (image magnification) on back-of-sanctuary screens. The XF18-120mm power zoom lenses, mounted to a Nucleus tilt head gimbal, enable smooth transitions even though the cameras are located in the sound booth. The cameras’ HDMI output—a feature absent in the old setup—streamlines connectivity to the live stream and multiple other outputs.
Beyond technical upgrades, Fujifilm’s film simulation modes enhance color grading, giving CityLight’s videos a natural, cinematic look. “The film emulation is a game-changer for our creative director, who’s uses the X-H2 for photography too,” Alex notes. Most importantly, the user-friendly interface empowers volunteers. “I was more familiar with operating other types of cameras, but Fujifilm’s interface is so intuitive, now I can train volunteers in minutes, even with only six months of experience myself,” he says.
Empowering Volunteers and Expanding Ministry
CityLight’s production team, which now includes nearly 30 volunteers (up from 10), thrives on inclusivity. With 94% of the congregation not serving, Alex and his team prioritize inviting college students to join production as a form of worship. “Whether you’re running slides, cameras, or lights, you’re worshiping just like the lead singer,” Alex emphasizes. Fujifilm’s training team equipped our volunteers with hands-on experience, boosting engagement and confidence. “People came to learn from a big corporation, and it sparked excitement,” Alex says.
The cameras also freed up budget for other upgrades, like an LED lyric strip display to improve sightlines in the new 50,000-square-foot building—a renovated 1917 car dealership---that’s opening soon. “Fujifilm’s support opened avenues we couldn’t have afforded,” Alex says. “It’s incredible how one interaction in St. Louis led to so many dominoes falling into place.”
A Vision for Simplicity and Impact
As CityLight prepares to move into its new space, Alex remains committed to their motto: “Excellence through simplicity.” Fujifilm’s cameras align perfectly, offering professional-grade quality without complexity. “We’re not chasing a broadcast studio vibe,” Alex says. “We want our volunteers in the sanctuary, worshiping alongside the congregation, not separated in a control room.”
CityLight’s story shows how small churches can achieve big impact with the right gear and vision.
For other small to medium-sized churches, Alex’s story offers a blueprint: leverage affordable, versatile technology to enhance ministry without losing your church’s heart. “Fujifilm didn’t just provide us with gear; they partnered with us to tell our story of how God is working in Lincoln,” he says. As CityLight grows, Alex and his team are proof that with faith, resourcefulness, and the right tools, any church can create impactful worship experiences that glorify God.
