Report on how 50 Churches did Online Church Video last Sunday
This past Sunday, I reviewed nearly 50 churches and how they did church online.
Here are some things I observed and some tips that might help you.
- I found that most churches either Pre-Recorded or Livestreamed their Worship and Message to an empty room or with few people in the room. I think this Sunday, we’ll see a move to more Pre-Recorded services or Messages from the Pastor’s home.
- I found that Facebook struggled around prime-time Worship Times, around 11am. Some livestreams would buffer and not be in high resolution or struggle with catching up. I did not notice this in the evening or at other times, only in prime-time.
- I found several church websites where I had to dig some to find your Livestream page. Make this very clear right on the main area of your homepage. Make it super easy to find. A big “WATCH SERVICE HERE!” button would be great. Make it really easy for your folks to find updates and to watch your service online.
- Be sure to make your service available for replay. You might have “Off-Air” on Sundays to move people to watch during your service as an event, but come Monday, make sure your service is available as an archive or easy to watch if I missed it.
- Make your Kids and Student Services readily available as well. However you are doing your Kids and Student Worship Experiences, put those videos right with your adult service. Chances are, families are watching both together, so make it easy for them to find the Kid service as well.
- Full Screen Lyrics on your Livestream do not connect. Either have Lower Third lyrics on your camera shots or don’t have lyrics during worship.
- Make it super clear and easy to find your Online Link and Schedule! Make it clear on your homepage or Services page when your gatherings are and how I connect with them.
The church I found that I liked the most in their approach was GLORY CHURCH – Kansas City, MO.
They made their services really easy to find on their homepage. They had a Service Landing Page that was easy to navigate.
And they posted their Adult and Kids Worship Services together with resources for each.
Here was my report from most of the churches I engaged with on Sunday and some notes from each
Pre-Recorded Message
– On Website
– Pre-Recorded Worship
– Pre-Recorded Worship and message
– Pre-Recorded Message Only
– Small group, intimate feel
– Named their Online Experience “Virtual Victory”
– More stripped down approach. Acoustic set. Close. Message from Pastor
– Church Online Platform
– Live on Facebook only
– Church Online Platform
– Message from Pastor
– Worship and Message
– Pre-Recorded Message
Livestream of Entire Service
– Guessing recorded one and played back same one all day
– Vimeo Livestream
– On website and Facebook
– On website
– On YouTube Live
– On website
– On website
– Live on website / Church Online Platform
– Music was Live. Message Pre-Recorded
– Live on website
– Worship and Message
– Church Online Platform
– Facebook Live
– Worship and Message
– Church Online Platform
– Live Message Only
– Pre-Recorded first service, played back same service all day
– On Website
– On Website
– Worship and Message
– No replay
– Youtube
– Embedded YoutTube video replay
– Livestream
– Connect before Experience during Countdown
– Named names during the Message
– Livestream
– Church Online Platform
– Livestreamed services all day with Church Online Platform
Victory Church
– Clear on homepage on to Watch Stream
Crossroads Church
– With Schedule and Church Online Platform
– Acoustic Set, more intimate feel
Northwoods Church
– Lifestream with Church Online Platform
Using Zoom for Church
