We’ll start with an old joke. A minister opens a brand new church, delivers a beautiful sermon with perfect musical selections, and draws an impressive first crowd. The following Sunday, he does it again, but a devotee approaches him after the service, shakes the minister’s hand and says, “That was good, but I don’t know, I don’t think you’re as good as you are. . used to be.
Ever since we come together to worship, the shepherds fear the loss of their flocks. But today more than ever, churches have a real fear of declining membership. They fear their services have become relics of a bygone era, unable to reach people where they are and to inform, entertain and inspire. Don’t get left behind – consider these tips to modernize your church service and keep people coming back.
Install a sound system
Believe it or not, some churches still bristle at the idea of introducing electronics into the building. It’s as if relying on anything other than natural acoustics is somehow inauthentic. However, there’s nothing inauthentic about making sure your audience can hear speakers, singers, and musical instruments clearly during your service. You don’t need to compromise the beauty of your church with amps hanging from the ceiling – experienced sound designers can ensure that your church’s aesthetics and acoustics can co-exist.
Perfecting the system
Perhaps you have already installed a sound system in your church, but you are not getting the most out of it. While your congregants have no trouble hearing the spoken word, your church’s musical accompaniment is still a bit muddy. Take the time to master your mixer and make a few changes to your audio to get the best sound. This might involve playing with the EQ frequencies to better balance your lows, mids and highs, or fine-tuning your microphone positioning to capture instruments to the fullest.
Don’t be afraid of modern music
We have centuries of classical religious music to draw on, but to attract young believers and keep them coming back, you should also embrace contemporary music. A key part of how to modernize your church service is to modernize the musical selections. What may seem like a secular rock band with electric guitars, keyboards and laptops is just as capable of delivering a message to the music. Remember: all musicians over the years have used the instruments available to them. This music was then of its time, but now we can revisit the past with tenderness without living in it.