Greg Atkinson

As you know, 2008 will be a new season for my church as we move into our new worship center and begin renovating our current worship center (and some other rooms) into a theater for the kids. I’m having to be real picky about my time away and where I speak in ’08. I’m not doing any conferences in January or February and have chosen one for March and one for April. Here’s what I know so far:

• I won’t be doing any conferences in January or February due to the move-in
• I’ll be speaking in 3 classes at NRB in Nashville in March
• I’ll be teaching 2 classes at NAB in Las Vegas in April

This is from my friends at Technologies for Worship Magazine:

TFWM just wanted to let you know that I will be speaking in conjunction with the Technologies for Worship Pavilion® and Conference at the 2008 NAB Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV from April 13-17, 2008.

I will be presenting the following seminars:

1. Which Worship Presentation Software is Best for Your Church?
2. Church 2.0

For my complete seminar descriptions and dates, click here.

To register, click here.

EXTRA:

We’re in South Carolina visiting my family. Today I’m visiting NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC. I’ll blog about them later.

PERSONAL:
Today is my 12 year wedding anniversary!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What a wonderful celebration of Christmas we had at my church. In our 5 services, we saw between 6000 and 7000 people come worship with us. It was a special time, as this was our last Christmas in our current worship center. It was tough seeing 600 people sitting in overflow rooms – knowing that our new worship center (with plenty of room) was across the parking lot, but not quite ready for use.

Our service was very worshipful and very well received. We flew in our friend (the one-and-only “Gersh” – formerly of Whiteheart) to lead the band and arrange all our Christmas music. Our band sounded awesome playing these fresh, new arrangements that Gersh had written just for our services. The band was behind a scrim and you could just see their silhouettes as they played, then they would “disappear” during the drama.

The drama was also an original that one of our drama volunteers wrote just for this year (as we are in a period of change and transition) – the drama was called “Seasons” and followed a family that had gone through a lot of changes in the past year and shared Christmas memories. They would mention songs that were special to them and then the lights would go down on them and up on our vocalists, which were dressed according to the style and genre of each song. So, you had the band behind the scrim in silhouettes and the vocalists out front in various costumes.

After the drama (which was 40 minutes) our pastor came out and gave a great 15 minute message. We then had a special music piece (“What Child is This”) during the offering and then closed the service with 3 more congregational songs. The last 4 services, we had children come up on the stage and stretch out all the way across it, as we sang the closing medley. It was a sight I won’t forget.

How did Christmas go at your church?

This is “tech week” at my church. I’m working 14 hour days and at the church until 11pm each night. We’ve got a rehearsal every night this week, dress rehearsal on Saturday, 2 services on Sunday and 3 on Monday. I don’t know when I’ll be able to blog again. I will sometime though, because I’d like to tell you more about what we’re doing for our Christmas services. God be with us all.

As I mentioned before, in preparation for our new worship center and moving from 2 cameras to 3, I’ve been visiting other churches to get ideas and inspiration. The last 2 Sundays I’ve visited churches via the internet. I’ve attended both LifeChurch.tv’s and Seacoast’s Internet Campuses. It’s been fascinating to watch and worship via the web. If you get a chance one Sunday and can sneak away into your office, log on and check ‘em out.

EXTRA:

I’ve got to give another shout out to my friend, Shawn Wood (Experiences Pastor at Seacoast), for linking to this video. I can’t imagine Burger King without the whopper. If you want to see what it would be like, check it out HERE.

ADDITION:

I accidentally forgot to mention this year’s Christmas product from Radiate Films in yesterday’s post. It has been added now and I encourage you to check it out below.

Here are a few Christmas media resources that my friends sent me to check out and are new for this year. I encourage you to check them out as well:

• “Breath of Heaven” by eleven72 – $20
• “The Devil’s Take on Christmas” by eleven72 – $20
• “A Christmas Wish” by Flashlight Films – $12
• “Christmas 101” by Flashlight Films – $12
• “A Christmas Response” by Floodgate Productions – $20
• “Christmas v.2” collection by Igniter Media Group – $35
• “Xtreme Christmas Backgrounds 3” collection by Radiate Films – $25
• “Christmas Pak 3” by SermonVideos.com – $40
• “Complete Christmas” collection by WorshipFilms – $49 (also available in HD – $69)
• “Kid’s Christmas” collection by WorshipFilms – $35

EXTRA:

I made a collection of still backgrounds last year for Christmas/Winter. You can purchase them HERE.

Each season seems busier than the last when you’re in ministry, but no season tops this time of year! Here we are again in December juggling preparations for Christmas programs, special services, ministry outreach events, holiday parties, family events, not to mention Christmas shopping. And somewhere in here we have to focus on wrapping up “business” for the year. It’s time for those of us with “use-it-or-lose-it” budgets to make the most of whatever we’ve got left.

Thankfully, HighwayVideo.com has put together a terrific year-end sale, which means you can get more bang for the last of those 2007 bucks. From now until the end of the year, you can purchase ANY of Highway’s 5-video DVD volumes for only $25 each.

Highway Video makes some of the best videos on the market (in Collide Magazine I rated them as one of my Top 10 Church media producers), which makes these deep discounts all the more valuable. So check out Highway’s “2007 Blizzard of Savings” sale before the year, the sale and your budget all disappear!

I’m really enjoying my time off and getting some perspective and direction from God. I was too close to our building project and really operating out of my flesh. God showed me yesterday just how dry I was and how I need to be renewed, refreshed and revived.

The really cool thing is that he spoke to me through a movie. Yesterday was “$.50 cent Tuesday” at my local dollar movie. I saw a movie with themes of hope, healing, restoration, grace and mercy all through it and it reminded me of Christ’s unconditional love for me, His amazing grace, His unending mercy (which is new EVERY morning) and the hope that I have in Him.

Driving home, I prayed a dangerous prayer: I prayed that God would help me to fall in love with Him again. That He would give me a deep longing and soul craving for Him, His Word, His Presence and that I would once again find Him daily in my secret place.

Anyone that knows me, knows that I’m a true artist – I’m a night owl and definitely not a morning person. I prayed and asked God to allow me to wake up earlier and have time with Him each day before work. I’ve always done my quiet time at night – before bed. I still might read some at night, but I really feel a desire to start my day off in His Word and His Presence.

Pray for me – that God would answer my prayer, that I would wake up refreshed each morning and ready to spend that precious time with him DAILY. Pray that I would fall in love with Jesus all over again.

If you will take this seriously and pray this for me, I will forever be grateful and thank you one day in heaven.

Usually I do a thorough (and very time-consuming) review of all Christmas media resources each year, but this year I am swamped, so I’m going to link you to my review from last year HERE and the best of the new from this year HERE. I’ll be reviewing some select Christmas media products that are new for this year soon.

Also, a few years ago I worked on a template for a traditional “Lessons and Carols” service. I make it available to churches every year for free. If you’d like to use it, base yours off of it and make it your own, however it can serve you – download it HERE.

EXTRA:

A few years ago I arranged “O Holy Night” for worship leaders that lead from acoustic guitar and want something more modern sounding. You can download the chord chart HERE and listen to the arrangement HERE. On the recording, I’m playing guitar and a local worship leader friend (remember my blog on “The Network”) is singing.

PERSONAL:

I’m on vacation today through Wednesday. I hope to do a lot of reading and research for my book, as well as spend some time with my family and not think about church for a few days.

My friend, Dave Grumme, from Sugar Creek Baptist Church in Houston, TX is looking for a Creative Media Producer. This isn’t just any church, friends, this is the church that wins every film festival it enters. This team produces the finest media of any church in America. I was a judge at a film festival once where they won every category they entered, plus the they were the overall winner. Working with Dave will stretch you professionally and spiritually. If you are a talented media producer, I strongly encourage you to pray about this opportunity. Below is the job description from them:

Company: Sugar Creek Baptist Church
Job Title: Creative Media Producer
Description: The Creative Communications team at Sugar Creek Baptist Church is a highly creative and collaborative environment. We are a team of producers, directors, artists, designers, writers, programmers, technicians and musicians who are passionate about developing and executing shockingly beautiful, creative media to reach an audience who respond to spiritual concepts spoken in a visual language. We are currently seeking a full time Creative Media Producer to add to our team.

JOB SUMMARY:
The Creative Media Producer is a creative, energetic and organized team member with the ability to conceptualize, strategize, create and produce long and short form video projects, interactive media, and motion graphic designs. The primary focus of this position is to develop and produce creative media for our Student Ministry through individual ability and by building and leading a volunteer ministry.

This will involve:
Pre-production: concept meetings, script-writing, storyboarding, scheduling, and budgeting.
Production: Directing cast and crew, acquisition of video and audio, lighting and photography.
Post-production: logging, digitizing, editing, design, mixing, color correction, and output to various media formats.

The CMP is a devoted follower of Christ who maintains a life of spiritual development and accountability. The Creative Media Producer is a team player who exemplifies a positive “can do” attitude, creates and maintains a superior working environment and fosters an attitude of professional excellence.

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
A committed follower of Jesus Christ with a call to ministry work for the purpose of utilizing video production to impact our community and world for Christ.
One year of professional video production experience.
A pro-active work ethic including a self-motivated drive for quality and creativity.
Excellent project management skills and ability to multi-task several projects at the same time.
Flexibility to adapt to unforeseen circumstances and a strong commitment to meeting deadlines.
Extreme attention to detail and a passion for excellence in creative and technical production.
Strong creative abilities.
Experience and training in digital video production exhibited by a professional reel.
Experience and training in studio and field production including lighting, audio and camera work.
Experience and training in post-production work including non-linear editing, compositing, and motion graphic design.
Expert use of the following programs: Final Cut Pro, After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator, DVD Studio Pro, Keynote, Soundtrack, Motion and Compressor

APPLICATION:
Sugar Creek Baptist Church offers a competitive salary and benefits package. This position is based in Sugar Land, Texas (a suburb of Houston) and the successful candidate will need to live within commuting distance or relocate.

To Apply:
1. Email a cover letter and resume including salary requirements (PDF is preferred). Submissions will not be considered without salary requirements.
2. Email links to your on-line work samples with detailed information about your specific involvement.
3. Mail a non-returnable DVD of your work to the address below.

Sugar Creek Baptist Church
Attn. Pastor of CC
13333 Southwest Freeway Ste. 200
Sugar Land, TX 77478

Yesterday I met with a tech director at another church here in Dallas. This is something I’ve done for the last 13 years. I guess you could say I’m a “networker”. It really comes natural to me and is a passion of mine. Everywhere that I’ve lived and each church I’ve served, I’ve always got to know the local churches and staff members. From my days as a college student serving part-time at a small church and meeting with a local mega-church staff member to meeting with churches the same size as mine and on and on.

I like to meet with churches that are smaller than mine to be a resource to them. I LOVE meeting with church leaders that serve at churches around the same size as mine. And I always love the sharing and learning that I do with church leaders that serve at churches larger than mine.

I’m glad to say that I have friends from serving in the Carolinas and friends in Washington DC, where I served before moving to Dallas, and these are guys that I stay in touch with and am glad to call friends. Here in Dallas, I’m a member of a few network groups: One is a group of Dallas area worship leaders, one is a ‘yal come/large group of tech staff from all size churches and the other is a small group of tech directors from churches around the same size as my church. I can’t recommend the food, fun and fellowship highly enough.

A couple of thoughts on networking:

• Church size doesn’t matter… no matter what size your church is, you can benefit from a local network.
• Denomination doesn’t matter… this is something I had to break free from years ago. You have a lot more than you realize in common with those from other denominations.
• Vent – take the opportunity to share struggles and frustrations with your local group. You’ll find that many others have some of the same frustrations. You need to be able to talk about these with someone outside your church.
• Share with each other. My local group shares equipment with each other and tries to help one another out with ideas, resources, contacts, etc. Just yesterday, I called up a local tech director (from the group) to ask where he would go in Dallas to rent wireless mics, as we’re going to have to rent some for Christmas.
• Be proactive. 95% of the time, people that I’ve had breakfast, lunch or coffee with were people that I called up or emailed and took the initiative to introduce myself to them. Again, this comes natural to me and may be out of your comfort zone, but it will be well worth your while.
• Take advantage of Web 2.0 technologies: things like Myspace and Facebook are great ways to meet people. I’ve met several people through one of them and then met them in real life.
• When you can, try to visit other local churches (for one of their services). I see local tech directors (and their teams) at my church from time to time and the past 2 Sundays, I’ve visited two different churches. It’s good to get out and see what others are doing.
• It’s ALL about the Kingdom. You’ve got to get this point. I can’t stand to hear of churches in competition with one another. We’re in this together. The reason I write, blog, speak at conferences and consult is because I want to help other churches grow, dream, do better, lead better and reach more people for Christ. Any spirit of competition is not of God and should be seen as sin. Get rid of it, friends!
• Not everyone will get this. I wish I could say that every person I’ve called or emailed has contacted me back and we met – that’s not the case. Some people have no desire to meet with someone from another church. What a shame and what a way to miss out on a blessing and possible new friend. My two cents: keep moving on and keep searching. Someone in your city will be interested in meeting and may turn out to be a great friend and resource for your ministry.

EXTRA (Free Christmas Countdown):

Get a really cool free, winter countdown from my friends at Igniter Media Group HERE.