Why Media Ministry Matters Now More Than Ever

There was a time when I thought all I needed was a microphone and some musicians. As a church musician and media director, I believed good music and passionate preaching would carry the day. But week after week, I found myself struggling with feedback, blank screens during worship, and the all-too-familiar sound of someone whispering, “Is the livestream working?”

What I’ve come to realize is that media ministry is no longer an option—it's essential. It’s the bridge between the pulpit and the people, between the sanctuary and the screens. Whether your church has 30 members or 3,000, the way you approach media can either support the message or distract from it.

But here’s the catch: doing media ministry well doesn't start with buying new gear or downloading the latest app. It starts with vision, planning, and execution with the right people in place. Technology can enhance worship, but without structure, training, and support, even the best equipment will fail to serve its intended purpose.

This booklet is for pastors, ministers of music, ministry leaders, and decision-makers who know media matters, but maybe aren't sure exactly where to start—or what questions to ask. I’ve written this not just from a place of expertise, but from real-life experience, hard lessons and a heart for helping churches thrive in the digital age.

Let’s explore together how to build a media ministry that’s not only technically sound, but spiritually aligned—and Wired For Worship.

You’re Not Crazy — Media Ministry Is Hard

Let’s be honest: if it feels like your media ministry is hanging on by a thread most Sundays, you’re not alone.

Maybe the livestream drops right before you preach.

Maybe the mic dies during altar call.

Maybe Sister Johnson keeps asking why the lyrics are wrong every week.

And maybe your one faithful tech guy just told you he’s “taking a break.”

It’s okay — you’re not crazy. You’re a pastor trying to lead in a space that most seminaries never prepared you for. Media ministry isn’t just plug-and-play. It’s a living, breathing part of your church — and when it’s not working, it affects everything: sound, worship, giving, outreach… even the sermon.

But here's the good news: you don’t need to become a tech expert. You just need a plan — and some help turning that plan into something sustainable.

This short booklet is designed to help you take a step back, breathe, and look at your media ministry with fresh eyes. Whether you’re starting from scratch or trying to make sense of the wires in your sound booth, this is your invitation to think differently — and start moving toward something better.

Let’s walk through it together.

Why Media Ministry Deserves a Real Plan

Here’s the truth: media ministry isn’t just a convenience anymore — it’s a core part of how your church communicates, connects, and carries out its mission.

Your microphone matters.

Your livestream matters.

Even your announcement slides matter.

They’re not just tools — they’re extensions of your ministry. And when they don’t work, it’s not just a “tech issue.” It’s a distraction from worship, a disruption to the Word, and sometimes a missed opportunity to reach someone who needed to hear hope that day.

That’s why media ministry deserves more than quick fixes and YouTube tutorials. It deserves a plan — just like your preaching calendar, your outreach goals, or your worship schedule.

Without a plan, you end up reacting every week:

“Why is this mic cutting out again?”

“Did anyone check the livestream audio?”

“Who’s running ProPresenter today?”

And the cycle continues — week after week, problem after problem.

But with a plan?

You know what gear is needed (and what isn’t).

Your volunteers know their roles.

Your services flow more smoothly.

You spend less time troubleshooting and more time ministering.

Planning doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to be intentional. And it can start with something as simple as a conversation with your team and an honest look at what’s working and what isn’t.

Trust me, as someone who’s worked in both the pulpit and the booth: when your media ministry has a plan, your entire worship experience gets stronger.

Volunteers Are Not Magicians (But They’re Ministry!)

Let’s clear something up: your media volunteers aren’t lazy, disorganized, or “just not into it.”

They’re often overworked, undertrained, and doing the best they can with what they’ve been given.

Many of them are learning on the fly. Some were voluntold. Others signed up to serve but got discouraged because no one ever showed them what to do — or gave them a real shot to grow and succeed.

And here’s what I’ve seen over and over again:

A pastor wants excellence (rightfully so), but the people running the tech are still figuring out what all the buttons do. Then when something goes wrong — which it will — everyone gets frustrated, and the cycle of blame and burnout continues.

But media ministry is still ministry. That means:

People need to be discipled, not just assigned.

Teams need training, not just equipment.

Volunteers need appreciation, not just pressure.

A media ministry built on guilt, guesswork, and last-minute scramble will not thrive. But when you begin to lead this area of ministry with clarity, consistency, and compassion — just like you would with a choir, deacon board, or ushers — you’ll start to see a change.

Your people want to serve. They just need the structure to succeed.

The Sunday Pressure Cooker

Picture this: It’s Sunday morning. The worship team is rehearsing, the congregation is filing in, and you’re running through your sermon one last time.

Meanwhile, in the booth, your media team is sweating bullets.

The mic isn’t connecting. The lyrics aren’t syncing. The livestream dropped again. And someone just walked in and said, “Hey, can you play this video real quick?”

This is normal — not because it should be, but because most media ministries are running on hope, duct tape, and answered prayer.

What many pastors don’t realize is that the booth feels the pressure differently.

A worship leader can recover from a flat note.

A preacher can adjust mid-sermon.

But one accidentally hit one button in the wrong place and the whole system can crash.

And when something goes wrong, everyone turns and looks… at the booth.

That constant pressure? And it adds up.

So if your team seems short-tempered, distracted, or hesitant to commit — it’s not always about attitude. Sometimes, they’re just tired of flying a plane that keeps losing an engine mid flight.

What can you do?:

Make space for pre-service setup and sound check.

Encourage a culture of grace — not blame — when things go wrong.

Give your media ministry the same respect you give the choir or the preacher.

Because they’re not just pushing buttons — they’re helping steward the message.

Budgeting for Ministry, Not Just Gear

Let’s be real: talking about AV budgets doesn’t exactly stir the soul. But here’s the truth — media ministry will cost you something.

Most churches make one of two mistakes when it comes to media:

They underfund it — thinking they can YouTube their way to excellence.

They overspend — buying expensive gear without a plan, only to realize they can’t operate it or maintain it.

Here’s the better way:

Think of AV as ministry infrastructure. Just like you invest in your building, your musicians, and your outreach tools, your AV systems are a long-term investment in how your church delivers the Gospel.

That means budgeting beyond the initial gear purchase. You also need:

Training – So your team knows how to use what you have.

Support – For when things break (because they will).

Upgrades – As your church grows, your system should grow too.

And here’s the kicker: a small, strategic budget used wisely will do more than a big one used blindly.

If you’ve ever said, “We just need one good camera and a mic,” but haven’t mapped out how it connects to your current system, who’s going to operate it, or how it will be supported — that’s not budgeting, that’s guessing.

Bottom line?

AV ministry doesn’t need to break the bank. But it does need to be part of your ministry plan, not just a line item.

It is not about how much can you save... But instead how much  we don’t waste...

Purchase with purpose!!!

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

This might be the most freeing truth in the entire booklet:  You don’t have to figure out media ministry by yourself.

You’re a pastor, not a broadcast engineer.

You’re a shepherd, not a systems integrator.

You’re called to lead — not to run cables or decode equipment manuals.

And yet, many pastors feel like they’re supposed to “just know” how to make livestreams run, fix the hum in the sound system, or keep up with the latest tech trends. It’s overwhelming.

That’s where help comes in.

Sometimes, the most spiritual thing you can do is call in someone who knows what they’re doing — and let them help you build something better.

A good AV consultant won’t just sell you gear. They will:

Help assess what you really need (and what you don’t)

Design systems that fit your team and your worship style

Train your volunteers to run things with confidence

Be there when something breaks or needs an upgrade

You’re already carrying enough. Let someone carry the cables.

If you’ve made it this far in the booklet, you’re probably ready for a better way. And that starts by not walking this journey alone.

Next Steps (Even If You’re Not Ready Yet)

Maybe after reading all this, you’re thinking:

“This sounds great… but we don’t have the time.”

“We don’t have the budget.”

“We’ll get to it… eventually.”

That’s okay.

This booklet isn’t about rushing you — it’s about helping you see what’s possible when you start thinking differently about your media ministry.

You don’t need to overhaul everything tomorrow.

You just need to start.

Here are three simple next steps any pastor or leader can take right now:

1. Talk to your media team

   
   

   Ask them how they’re doing. What’s working? What’s not? What would make their job easier?

2. Walk through your current setup

   
   

   Even if you don’t know what everything does, look at it with fresh eyes. Is it meeting your needs? Is it simple enough for your volunteers to run?

3. Schedule a conversation

   
   

   Let’s talk. No pressure, no sales pitch — just a conversation about where you are, where you’d like to be, and how I might help you get there.

You’re not behind — you’re just at the beginning of something better.

And I’d love to help you build a media ministry that works for your people, your church, and your mission.

Let’s build something that actually works — together.

On Purpose, With Purpose, Built With Intention!

Thank you for walking through this booklet with me. If nothing else, I hope it helped you see that media ministry isn’t just about technology—it’s about people, preparation, and purpose. And it’s never too late to start building something better.

Whether your church has struggled for years or you’re just beginning to think about your media needs, now is the perfect time to take that next step. Not with pressure, not with perfection—but with intention.

“The best time to have planted a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is today.”

— Chinese Proverb

You don’t need a perfect system or a fancy studio. You just need a clear vision and the willingness to grow from where you are.

“Write the vision and make it plain… so that he may run who reads it.”

— Habakkuk 2:2 (NKJV)

So let’s start today. Your media ministry doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated. It just needs to be built with care—rooted in purpose and Wired For Worship.

D. Jarrett

Wired For Worship