Greg Atkinson

Igniter Media Group just released Volume 2 of their very popular and widely used “Igniter Backs” series. Igniter Backs is a 3-disc collection of loopable motion backgrounds, countdowns and still images. This volume comes with a FREE Luchadore Shirt – all for $74.95.

If you don’t already have their Volume 1, you could order Igniter Backs 2 Pack for $124.95.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:
I use Igniter Backs at my own church and show them at every conference – they are top quality!

The Work of the People is offering 2 free videos:

FREE HURICANE KATRINA RESOURCE
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the tragic Hurricane Katrina. TWOP’s free film Please Don’t Make Us Sing This Song was used to promote participation in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina victims. Please help us tell their story. Music by Lori Chaffer, courtesy of Thomas Nelson from the CD Songs From the Voice. Please click here to preview this film.

NEW FREE VIDEO: THIS IS A MUST SEE!
TWOP’s friend Sam Sanchez of Stik Productions has produced a deeply emotional music video to the equally powerful song Constance by Mr. J. Medeiros of The Procussions. Please click here to preview Constance, a provocative new piece about human trafficking, prostitution and pornography. And please pass this video and this message on to like-minded folks and organizations. For more information on the devastating effects of pornography and other helpful resources available please visit our friends at XXXchurch.com.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:
I just watched Constance and “Oh my!”. This is a video and a story and a reality that we should all see and wrestle with and begin praying about. Wow.

WorshipHouse Media has changed their free monthly download to a new short film entitled “Bob Appleby“. Bob Appleby is a chaplain who helped during the recovery efforts of 9/11. He followed the orders “Go to the zone, stand there, and God will tell you what to do.”

“Be Still” from SermonVideos.com is one of my favorite videos. I show it at every conference I speak at. This Sunday my home church used it in worship. My desire in starting this blog was to share “church video ideas” from time to time – to not just tell the ‘who’ and ‘what’, but to talk about the ‘how’.

My home church (Fellowship Dallas) used the video just like I did at the last church where I served. They started off the service with 2 upbeat/celebratory songs, then had the video “Be Still” come right in after the second song. The video starts with a loud “Shhhhhh!!!”, then is silent for the remainder of it. The people just stood there silently and watched the words unfold on the screens. The video ended and our worship pastor, Sammy Davenport, softly began to sing and play “The Heart of Worship” (When the music fades and all is stripped away…). Many people commented that it was a very moving time during the morning worship.

Our pastor was preaching on being still before God and waiting on Him, so the video and the way it was used in worship really helped put things in perspective. Singing words like “I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about You, Jesus” was perfect to follow the video. If you don’t have the video “Be Still” in your media library, I strongly encourage you to download it.

Today I was a part of a cool thing at Prestonwood Baptist here in Dallas.

Todd Bell, Worship Pastor at Prestonwood, arranged a special luncheon from 11am to 1pm for me to speak to his worship and tech team leaders. I did a very brief highlight of the “Multi-sensory Worship” class that I did at Saddleback, but my main time was spent on one of my favorite classes to teach: “Resources for Media Ministry”. This is a class where I look at all of the amazing resources from tons of companies that are available to the Church. We had a great time of fellowship and discussion and I look forward to going back to do a few more seminars in the near future.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS:
What I just did at Saddleback and at Prestonwood is a very cool thing that I’m glad to see starting around the country. I, at both churches, was the first in a series of periodic worship and tech team get-togethers, where they will eat together and experience a presentation/seminar during the luncheon. Both churches are going to continue to do something like this from time to time, maybe bi-monthly.

All church staffs and team members, regardless of church size, should be constantly growing, stretched and strengthening/sharpening their skill sets. I’m glad to see churches like Saddleback and Prestonwood lead the way in a model that I think is healthy for all growing churches (or churches that want to grow). Forgive my shameless plug, BUT, if you’d like to start something like this at your church and are looking for someone to come and speak to your staff, give me a shout at gatkinson.msw@gmail.com.

WorshipGraphics is offering a FREE download of their “Real Heroes” series through Friday. Download it now, because it will go back to being a $10.95 product THIS FRIDAY at 12 noon, Eastern Time..

WorshipHouse Media has added a new “September 11th” tab to their homepage. Their new 9/11 area has several resources that you could use if your church is planning a service of rememberance. Check out the brand new video “Cross and Towers” from Atlas Productions.

What a whirlwind weekend! Saddleback Church flew my wife and I out for a very special visit this past weekend. We returned late last night.

Rick Muchow, Worship Pastor at Saddleback, was our host and guide for the weekend. Rick is the “real deal” – a man of God, a family man and a man that I greatly respect. My wife and I were able to attend Saddleback’s staff retreat which was going on Friday night and was held at the same hotel that we were staying at. What a sight it was to see a room full (over 500) of staff and their spouses praising God.

Rick Warren had just returned from a 49 day trip in which he had spoke countless times in over 30 countries in the last 48 days. He spoke to his staff Friday night and encouraged them to keep pressing on and moving forward for Christ. It was a sweet time of worship, fellowship, time in the Word and we were honored to just be there and witness it.

Saturday morning and early afternoon, my wife and I got to sight see and walk around Laguna Beach. The weather was absolutely amazing. Saturday evening we arrived to the church so I could catch some of their sound check/rehearsal. At Saddleback’s main service (they also have several other venues with multiple services) they have 2 Saturday night services, 2 Sunday morning and 2 Sunday night. I got to attend and worship in the main service twice. During some of the other service times I walked around from venue to venue – from middle school, to senior high, to college/singles, to their Terrace Cafe venue, to their Ohanna service which is their island-style venue, complete with hula and island-style music.

God is using this church in a mighty way. It reminds me of our commission to go to Judea, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world. They are known and loved in their community and surrounding areas. They are influencing churches around the United States and they are sending teams and staff to minister to countries around the globe. What an example!

Sunday afternoon, Rick Muchow had arranged a special lunch for me to share one of my seminars with his worship/music, tech and creative arts staff and leaders. I presented my class on “Planning Multi-sensory Worship”. We had a fun and interactive time of learning and discussing ideas to become even better communicators of the Gospel. I was honored to be there and honored to be able to speak to such a gifted team of leaders.

Granger Community Church (one of the most innovative churches in the country) hosts The Innovative Church Conference September 21-22. There is still time to sign up and there’s also still time to enter the Granger Film Festival.

FYI – Granger also offers a great resource website to all churches: WiredChurches.com (which I’ve used and supported for years). Check it out!

If you’ve been thinking about starting a blog for your church or one of your staff members, you ought to check out Blog Ministry’s ongoing series on blogging. The latest entry on “Choosing a Blogging Tool” is practical and will help get you going.