Behind the Scenes: The Art and Orchestration of Church Production
When most people think of church, they imagine worship, preaching, and community. What they may not consider is the intricate machine behind it all—the volunteers, schedules, rehearsals, equipment, cues, and quick decisions that make every service feel effortless. As someone who's lived in the booth and behind the console for years, I want to pull back the curtain on what it's really like to run production in the church world.
Volunteer Management: Scheduling the Heartbeat of the Team
Volunteers are the lifeblood of church production. From camera operators to front-of-house engineers, stage managers to ProPresenter techs, every role matters. But managing a rotating team of volunteers is more like conducting an orchestra than checking names off a list.
The biggest challenge? Consistency and availability. People have jobs, families, lives—and they’re giving you their free time. That’s sacred. I’ve found that the best way to keep people committed is to:
Over-communicate early (scheduling one to three months out via Planning Center, email, or similar tools)
Be pastoral, not just managerial (ask how they're doing, not just what they can do)
Train deeply, not just widely (don’t assume people “get it” after one run-through)
Celebrate often (shoutouts from the stage, a coffee gift card, a handwritten note)
A volunteer who feels valued is one who will show up, and more importantly, show up ready.
Talent Coordination: Merging Production with People
Church is more than just tech—it’s people ministering to people. That means production must serve the message and the messengers. Coordinating with worship leaders, pastors, and guest speakers is a delicate blend of respect, preparation, and flexibility.
Sunday starts on Monday. That’s when we meet to talk:
Who’s leading worship?
What’s the theme of the sermon?
Are there testimonies, videos, transitions, communion, extra elements that need to be accounted for?
Every service is a mini-show, and like any good stage manager will tell you: if you can plan 80% and leave 20% for flexibility (the Spirit), you’re in a good spot.
One practical tip I swear by: always build in a 15-minute tech buffer between rehearsals and doors opening. Something always comes up. And if nothing does? Enjoy a moment to breathe.
Tech Decision-Making: The Art of the Daily Tweak
Most people think production is all about gear. But honestly? It’s about decisions.
What mic is right for this vocalist?
Is the lighting rig balanced with the message’s tone?
Can the stream handle this new multi-cam setup without dropping frames?
Do we upgrade this mixer now or wait until next budget cycle?
Every day comes with trade-offs. You’re balancing budget with reliability, usability with flexibility, volunteers with system complexity. I’ve learned to ask: What’s the simplest thing that will get the job done excellently?
Excellence doesn’t mean flashy—it means intentionality and good execution.
Also, tech fails. That’s not a possibility, it’s a certainty. What matters is how you respond. We run “failure drills” with our team. Power goes out? What do we do. A wireless mic dies mid-sermon? Who swaps it and when? Create calm muscle memory in the chaos.
Final Thoughts: It’s Ministry Before It’s Media
I’ve spent a lot of my life behind the console, but the most powerful moments weren’t the perfectly executed transitions—they were the tears on a pastor’s face, the spontaneous prayer after a song, the teen hearing the gospel for the first time because the message landed.
As church production leaders, we’re not just technicians—we’re shepherds of the moment.
So if you're in this world, remember: your work matters. Your late nights troubleshooting firmware updates, your patient coaching of a new camera op, your meticulous planning of transitions—it’s all kingdom work.
Stay faithful. Stay excellent. And never forget why you started.