Adding more hands to the creative process
Now Paul doesn’t mention specifically “creatives,” however the role of artist is one that often falls under the role of prophet. As leaders in the church and as prophets our role is not just to do the work of the ministry but to extend an open invitation and be co-labors so that creative work becomes the work of the people as we are equipping others for works of service.
Over the last year or so in our creative department at our church we have begun the process of really enlisting creative types to join us in all areas of production. I would still say to a certain degree we are at the beginning stages of using volunteers and really figuring out the best way to utilize them.
Below are 5 ways to start incorporating volunteers in the creative process at your church.
1. Extend an invitation and wait
Use existing advertising mediums such as worship guides, websites, signage etc.. to put out a call out for photographers, designers and video gurus and see who is interested. Consider holding a creative ministry fair in the commons of your church one Sunday where you can actually talk with people that are interested in this type of work.
2. Hold an initial meeting
Once you have their information its time to cast vision. Put together a meeting where you can get to know everyone, here their stories and cast vision for the group.
3. Begin the creative process
Don’t wait before you have a really big project that needs volunteers or when you have free time, because you will probably never get around to it. Consider challenging volunteers to take on a photo story or video project by themselves that we would potentially be displayed one Sunday in the commons of your church. Having a non time-sensitive project allows for them to begin creating without feeling the need to immediately be involved in the inter workings of current time-sensitive work that may or may not lend itself for help.
4. Provide training opportunities
Part of equipping is training and doing creative work always lends itself to continual training. Consider holding a photo team training night where you discuss photography basics and aesthetics. Video production is often more complicated and a lot of the training may take place on set during a shoot or in the editing bay. Whatever the case provide opportunities for volunteers to learn formally in a class environment or by allowing them to sit in on a shoot.
5. Build community
Provide opportunities where volunteers can not just be apart of creating projects, but can be apart of a community of artists. Invite all your media folks over to watch the oscars. Take your photo team on a photo scavenger hunt. Whatever you do, don’t forget to bring fun into the mix….
About the Author
Brandon Riley Has Written 43 Articles For Us!
Currently I work at Sugar Creek Baptist Church as a Creative Media Producer. There I am apart of the Creative Communications team as well as the LYF Student Ministry assisting with creating and strategizing video projects and interactive media needs for both departments. When I am not at work or volunteering with middle school students, you may find me blogging at Part of the glue or creating media projects for organizations and other churches/youth groups Radiant First Productions. In addition to these side projects, I am also the Director of User Experience for Tuggle a ministry management platform. You can follow me on Twitter
