ChurchKreatives – A Community For Creative Christ Followers -

In college I dabbled in philosophy and ended up taking a course in aesthetics which quickly became one of my favorite classes. My sister at the time was not very familiar with the term “aesthetics” and preceded to ask me, “is that a class about arms and legs,” to which I replied I think you may be thinking of “prosthetics.” We laughed, and while my sister was way off, she may not be that far off from the average person’s knowledge when it comes to being educated in the arts.

VJ (short for) :: Video Jockey (meaning) :: One who creatively captures and effectively communicates a specific message using a wide range still and moving imagery.

I’ve heard arguments for the usefulness of twittering in during worship. I’ve done it myself on occasion. But as we continue to hear about more and more churches that are encouraging their members to tweet during the service, it’s caused me to ask a couple of questions.

Who doesn’t love vintage design?
So much drama.
So much color.
So many funky patterns.

The designs have to be more engaging than it would be for an older demographic because kids are bombarded with incredulous stage designs and production values. You can’t one up music videos, MTV or VH1 music award shows, Miss America pageants, Good Morning America or American Idol. Thankfully you don’t have to. No one expects anything from the church which is a good thing…and an incredibly sad one. So the only limitations you have are set by yourself and whoever governs your stage design.

I studied film in college and now currently work at a church as a creative media producer. In college I studied screenwriting a little bit but it wasn’t something I really focused on. Most of the videos we produce at my church are very non-fictional in nature, but occasionally we write scrips and occasionally I have to rely on my limited knowledge of screenwriting.

I used to be an art director at an ad agency here in Houston. It was a great job! I enjoyed everyone I worked with. My boss was a hoot. EVERYONE wore shorts and flip-flops to work.

I got to do some great projects. Stuff that I’m pretty proud of. But at the end of the day, I wasn’t satisfied. I realized that my job at the agency was to prop up a brand, or product so much that everyone felt like they needed what the ad was selling.

I like it when God uses technology, creativity and art.

I use technology, have creativity and appreciate art.

I guess that’s part of the image of God thing. Difference is, He created those things…I merely use what He created.

1. you work at a church in a creative role or volunteer heavily in some creative capacity

2. you use a mac or at least know you should

3. you despise the fonts (comic sans, papyrus, lucida calligraphy and chalkboard)

As we’ve begun initiating Twitter into the Sugar Creek culture, I’ve looked through tons of online tools to help us be effective in dissemenating information, building relationships, and expanding our reach. Below is a list of tools that I found to be very helpful…or at least worth looking at.