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In the past few years, many churches have started to implement video streaming of their services to their websites, Facebook, YouTube, and more. Now that COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has prevented a large number of churches from gathering together for services, more ministries are looking to live stream than ever.

If you’re wanting to get started, we understand that it can be overwhelming! There are so many different options, opinions, and strategies to consider before your church can actually go live on the web. We know that it’s stressful.

To make things easy for you, we have worked together with church media professional, Brad Zimmerman, to compile three achievable methods that your church can get started in this endeavor. With over 10 years of experience in this field, he brings a lot to the table to help you pull this off. Here are his three suggestions:

Option #1 – Simulated Streaming

One of the easiest ways to get started with live streaming is actually not going live at all.

Instead of streaming a live event at your normal worship time, you can prerecord your service and play it back at a specific time as if it were live. Viewers will all see the same moment at the same time, just like a live stream and can interact and chat just like a live event. The best part of this solution is you don’t need new streaming gear. Simply create and upload a video, schedule the start time, and you are ready to go.

With this method you could record a time of worship in your church office, show clips from previously recorded services, or prerecord a video message from your pastor without the stress of being live.

The Setup:

Church Online Platform (free) – This resource allows “simulated streaming” using a video from YouTube, Vimeo or Wistia. Plus you can still use all of the great features like chat, message notes, Bibles and prayer that the platform provides.
Facebook Premiere (free) – Upload your video to Facebook, choose the Premiere in the publish settings, and choose the date/time. Your video will be “streamed” in real-time, with a chat area, then saved to your page.
YouTube Premiere (free) – Just like Facebook, you upload a video and in the publish settings, select “schedule” and choose the premiere option. This also gives you access to chat and other features.

Tips:

Since you can prerecord, make sure to keep your service as tight and short as possible to keep it engaging.
Even though your video is prerecorded you can ask for engagement just like you would in real time.
Make sure to join the chat during the simulated stream and help create interactions with the video even though it is prerecorded.

Best Fit:

Churches who have not streamed before, or are on lockdown and can’t get into the same room to stream together.

Option #2 – Simple Stream

Even if your church is large, that doesn’t mean your stream needs to be extravagant. You can create a simple, yet engaging live stream for free with tools you already have.

The Setup:

Smartphone, tablet or webcam streaming to Facebook or YouTube (Note: YouTube requires 24 hours+ approval before you can stream)
1 or more people in front of the camera in a brightly lit room with a nice background (Try to avoid blank walls or messy rooms)

Tips:

If streaming a worship service as it happens each week, try to capture video from the front of the room to give a front-row experience.
If recording from home or office during COVID-19 season, change it up to be relaxed and casual. Remember you are not a big event styled gathering, you are hanging out and talking.
Upgrade to an external mic for higher quality audio.
If you use a phone or tablet get a stand or tripod.
Post links in the comments/chat to song lyrics or bible passages to help engagement.

Best Fit:

Churches who are new to streaming and are working with a low budget.

Option #3 – Basic Camera Kit

If you’re ready to start your journey into a more advanced livestream setup, you’ll want to move beyond just using your phone. With just a few tools, you can set up a camera and start sending high quality video to multiple places.

The Setup:

A dedicated computer running this free software – OBS (Open Broadcast Software)
A video camera: recommended low price or mid range options
A fluid head tripod: recommended entry level option
A video capture card:
- USB 3.0: Cam Link or Intensity Shuttle
- Thunderbolt: UltraStudio Mini Recorder or Intensity Shuttle
- USB: Blackmagic Web Presenter
(Optional) An audio capture device if your computer doesn’t have a mic input: Scarlett Solo

Tips:

Set up an aux mix (post fader) on your soundboard for better control of your online mix.
You can get your ProPresenter 7 signal into OBS via NDI using this free plugin.
Make sure that you have plenty of light on your stage and that you white-balance your camera.
Stream to more than one destination by using a stream splitting site like loola.tv, restream.io or castr.io

Best Fit:

Churches who have already been considering investing in live streaming and are finally ready to make the jump.

More churches than ever are starting to live stream their services and other ministry announcements. If you’re wanting to get started, we understand that it can be overwhelming! There are so many different options, opinions, and strategies to consider before your church can actually go live on the web.

To make things easy for you, we have worked together with church media professional, Brad Zimmerman, to bring clarity to 10 frequently asked questions. With over 10 years of experience in this field, he brings a lot to the table to help you pull this off. Here are his three answers:

#1 – What free streaming tools are available?

Streaming Video platforms: Facebook, YouTube, & Periscope.

Stream encoding and creation: OBS, vMix & xSplit

Website platform, including chat, bible, prayer and notes integration: Church Online Platform

#2 – How much bandwidth do I need to stream?

The rule of thumb is to only use half of your available upload (upstream) bandwidth for your stream. Go to SpeedTest.net to test your speeds. The second number is your upload speed. It’s recommended that you have upload speeds of 3 mbps for 480p, 6 mbps for 720p, and 13 mbps for 1080p.

#3 – What licenses do I need?

You will need a license to stream your band playing worship songs. Here are two great options:

CCLI has a streaming add on which allows your band to play any song in the CCLI catalog in your stream and post it for on-demand viewing after.
WORSHIPcast from CCS allows your band to play any song from all major publishing companies—not just Christian songs. But, you CANNOT post these for on demand viewing.

#4 – What should I NOT do on my live stream?

Play prerecorded music, such as iTunes or Spotify.
Show videos without a proper streaming license.
Original backing tracks or STEMS from sites like Multitracks.com in your online audio mix.

Any of these will cause your video be flagged by streaming services and potentially removed.

#5 – Is it okay to show lyrics on my live stream?

CCLI support representatives have said on phone calls both that you can and that you cannot show your lyrics on your live stream. They have not put an official written statement on their website. The growing consensus is that it is okay to show your lyrics on your stream since no official license is available and due to the yes answers from CCLI support.

#6 – How can I stream a prerecorded service video?

You can set up a “simulated” live stream which plays back your video at a specific time as if it was live. Viewers are all watching the same moment at the same time, just like a live stream and can interact and chat just like a live event. The best part of this solution is that you don’t need new streaming gear. Just create and upload a video, schedule the start time, and you are ready to go. You can do this using the Church Online Platform, Facebook Premieres, or YouTube Premieres.

#7 – How do I track attendance for my stream?

All streaming platforms give you analytics showing how many devices are watching, but you don’t know how many people are watching each screen.

The rule of thumb is that each device streaming equals 1.5 – 2 people.

So, if you had 107 viewers, you would estimate that 160 – 214 were watching your stream. Also, each stream will have spikes in viewers. Use the consistent average for your whole stream, not a spike to gauge attendance.

#8 – How do I communicate about my live stream?

If you stream to Facebook, it will automatically show up in people’s feeds. But, to really get the word out, schedule an Instagram post using Hootsuite (free edition available) and send out an email to everyone using MailChimp (free edition available). Make sure you send these communications out at least 30 minutes – 1 hour before your stream starts.

#9 – What happens if I get a copyright claim?

Streaming platforms like Facebook Live and YouTube Live have automatic music recognition systems that will flag your band for the songs they play. This happens even if you are not using stems/tracks with your band, which is not allowed. On YouTube, these flags do not hurt your account, they only remove monetization from the video. On Facebook, sometimes these flags stop your video from being watched on demand, and in rare cases if you have too many issues on Facebook your streaming rights will be terminated, even if you have the proper license.

#10 – How can I avoid copyright claims?

First, make sure you are not streaming any pre recorded music including multitracks or stems. If it continues to be a problem, the next step is to use a private paid streaming service like StreamMoney, BoxCast, ChurchStreaming.tv, or Living As One. These private companies do not scan your stream or flag for potential copyright infringement.

Live streaming has gained popularity in churches over the last decade as an effective way to share Sunday services with those who are home sick, traveling, and even outside of their congregations. It’s one part convenience and one part outreach.

Typically, churches will add a streaming setup to their auditoriums to capture and share their worship services live and post to the internet. These setups can range from a simple smartphone on a tripod to a complex system of multiple cameras capturing every element of the experience.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many ministries to cancel their services until further notice to prevent spreading the virus, churches everywhere are seeking alternative methods to continue to preach sermons and worship together to music. Live streaming is one of the most popular solutions.

We recently took a poll in our Facebook Group filled with thousands of church tech leaders and volunteers to see what their live stream setups look like. During this season, many of them are using video equipment they already have set up in their auditoriums. Others have set up makeshift streaming studios in their church offices and homes.

We hope that seeing this range of equipment will help you as you put together your streaming system, possibly for the first time.

Setup #1

• iPhone 11 Pro
• Sandmarc 60mm telephoto lens with polarizing filter
• Roland GO:Mixer
• Amazon Basics 60″ Tripod

Setup #2

• Sony AX43 camera
• ATEM Television Studio BlackMagic Mini Recorder
• Focusrite Scarlett Solo
• Wirecast

Setup #3

• Galaxy S8
• Lenovo Tab 4
• Logitech c922 webcam
• OBS software
• iMac running ProPresenter for lyrics

Setup #4

• Panasonic HMC 80 camera (x2)
• Blackmagic ATEM Television Studio
• Blackmagic Web Presenter

Setup #5

• iMac with ProPresenter and iVGA
• Tricaster Mini stream to YouTube Live
• Epiphan Webcaster stream to Facebook live
• Sony PTZ camera (x3)
• Presonus Studio Live 32 channel mixer with aux for sending lines to stream

Setup #6

• Blackmagic Studio HD camera with 45-175 PZ lens (x2)
• Blackmagic ATEM 4K switcher
• iMac with ProPresenter 6 for graphics
• Behringer X32 for sound
• Feeds to Living As One

Setup #7

• PTZOptics 30x NDI cameras (x2)
• PC for live streaming using vMix software (to YouTube and Facebook simultaneously)
• Mac Mini with ProPresenter 7 (using NDI to pull this into our live stream)
• Behringer X32 connected to streaming PC using the X-USB card for sound

Setup #8

• iPhone (x3)
• iPad
• Switcher Studio app

Setup #9

• Mevo camera
• iPad
• Behringer X32
• iRig 2

Setup #10

• Sony NX5U (x2)
• Blackmagic ATEM
• Wirecast to Restream

Setup #11

• HP HD 4310 webcam
• vMix software
• Yamaha MG16xu

Setup #12

• Panasonic HD camera (x2)
• iMac
• Blackmagic ATEM HD
• Boxcaster
• Behringer X32 via Aux Feed

Setup #13

• Canon G40 camera
• Webcaster X2
• Behringer PMP6000
• Zoom U-22

Setup #14

• Sony PMW-200 camera
• Go Pro
• iMac for Pro6
• Blackmagic ATEM mini
• OBS to Stream Monkey and Vimeo Live

Setup #15

• Canon HD XF305 (x2)
• Blackmagic Television Studio 4K
• Blackmagic Mini Recorder PCI card
• PC with OBS streaming software
• Restream going to YouTube, Facebook, and Church Online Platform

Setup #16

• Canon C100 camera
• Blackmagic ATEM controlled by a StreamDeck
• Matrix out of LS9
• Boxcast

Setup #17

• Sony PXW-z190 Cameras running 12g SDI (x4)
• Sony PXW-z190 on a Mobile Rig with a Teradek Bolt 4k 750
• Marshall CV-420CS Cameras with 12g SDI (x2)
• iMac’s feeding different Graphic needs both in room and broadcast (x3)
• Blackmagic ATEM 4 feeding into Decklink card in a Mac Pro
• Wirecast 12 pushing out to YouTube and Churchstreaming.tv
• Churchstreaming.tv also pushing out to Facebook and Church Online Platform
• WING consoles split over AES50 Protocol (x2)
• Broadcast console feeds Main LR mix back to the FOH console.
• FOH console has the ability to also mix broadcast through a stereo post fader bus in case of sickness or failure.
• FOH feeds a stereo signal to a BMD analog audio to SDI converter
• Converter to ATEM via SDI
• ATEM carries audio with video feed via SDI to DeckLink card

Setup #18

• Panasonic HPX255 Camera (x5)
• Ross Carbonite Black switcher
• Matrox Monarch HDX H.264 encoder/streamer
• Couple smaller Marshall-ish cameras for drums and other close shots

Setup #19

• Roland VR-50HD MkII
• PTZ optics cameras (x3)
• Canon G40 manned camera
• PC for lyrics & graphics
• PC running OBS Studio just to record or encode stream

Setup #20

• iPod touch
• Tripod with smartphone mount
• iPad
• TV and LED lights for background

Setup #21

• iPad Pro
• iPhone
• Many Cam app

Setup #22

• Ross Carbonite Ultra switcher
• Ross NK34 router
• Panasonic HX270 camera (x4)
• Aja Ki Pro Rack recorder
• Living As One Ray encoder

Setup #23

• Sony PTZ camera (x3)
• Sony Broadcast cameras (x4)
• Sony MVS3000 switcher
• Yamaha QL5 soundboard
• Boxcaster

Setup #24

• PTZOptics SDI camera (x3)
• LiveStream HD550
• LiveStream Studio 6
• Behringer X32
• Facebook Live

Setup #25

• Sling Studio
• iPad
• iMac with Propresenter
• Canon Vixia HF G20 (x2)
• iPod touch (x2)
• iPhone (x2)

Setup #26

• Tricaster
• Canon XF305 (x3)
• MacBook with ProPresenter
• Allen & Heath SQ5
• Boxcast streaming to YouTube & Facebook

Setup #27

• Canon Vixia HF G21 camera
• Canon AX40 camera
• Tripod (x2)
• Blackmagic HDMI to Thunderbolt converters
• Mac Pro running Wirecast software

Setup #28

• Xsplit Broadcaster
• Logitech 1080 webcams (x2)
• Ceiling mounts for cameras

Setup #29

• Sony PXWX70 camera
• Sony A3 camera
• iPhone 7S (x2)
• Sling Studio Hub
• Wireless camera link (x3)
• iPad for switching
• iPad for audio mixing
• iMac with ProPresenter

Setup #30

• Ikegami broadcast camera (x2)
• Ross Carbonite switcher
• Blackmagic router
• Living As One encoder

Still Have Questions?

Churches all over the world are facing the same challenges that you are in this season. Get connected to other media teams like yours by joining our Facebook Group filled with over 35,000 church tech leaders and volunteers who know what it’s like to be in your shoes. We encourage you to join our group and ask as many questions as you need. We think you’ll be surprised by how many others are like you and have advice to share.

Join Our Facebook Group

Church families all of the world may currently be separated and unable to gather together due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but that doesn’t mean that congregations can’t still connect. Through the technology of video calls, you can easily stay in touch with your friends from church during quarantine.

Here’s how you can use FaceTime, Facebook Messenger, and Zoom to make video calls with your small group for a time for fellowship, Bible study, or just fun.

We think you’ll be surprised by how much joy it will bring when you see each other “face to face” and check in during this difficult season.

Using FaceTime:

To use Group FaceTime video calls, all users will need iOS 12.1.4 or iPadOS on one of these devices: iPhone 6s or later, iPad Pro or later, iPad Air 2 or later, iPad mini 4 or later, iPad (5th generation) or later, or iPod touch (7th generation). Earlier models of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that support iOS 12.1.4 can join Group FaceTime calls as audio participants.

To make a call from the FaceTime app…

1. Go to Settings > FaceTime, and make sure that FaceTime is on.

2. Open the FaceTime app and tap the plus button in the top-right corner.

3. Enter the name of your contacts, phone numbers, or emails.

4. To start your FaceTime call, tap Video.

To make a call from the Messages app…

In a group conversation in Messages, you can start Group FaceTime right from the group conversation. Follow these steps:

1. Open Messages and start a group conversation. Or go to an existing group conversation.

2. Tap the contacts at the top of the group conversation.

3. Tap FaceTime, then start your call.

Using Facebook Messenger:

To use Facebook Messenger video calls, all users will need a Facebook account, plus a computer (PC, Mac, or Chromebook) with Google Chrome or a smartphone (iPhone or Android) with the Facebook Messenger app.

To make a call from a computer…

1. Navigate to Facebook.com and log in. Click on the Messenger icon located in the top right corner of the page. A drop-down will appear. From this menu, selected “New Group.”

2. Choose everyone from your friends list that you want to add to the call. You also have the option to name this group. Once you have selected everyone, tap “Create.” This will open a new group message window window at the bottom of your page.

3. To start the video call, look to the top right-hand corner of the message window. Click the icon that looks like a video camera. You may have to go through a relatively quick setup screen or two to make sure your computer is ready. Then you are ready to go.

To make a call from a smartphone…

1. Launch the Facebook Messenger app, then tap the pencil icon in the top right corner to start a new message.

2. Choose everyone from your friends list that you want to add to the call. Once you have selected everyone, tap “Done.” This will open a new group message window.

3. Tap the video camera icon located in the top right corner to start your call.

Using Zoom:

Zoom requires one free or paid account to be set up by the video call host. Free plans can host video calls up to 40 minutes. This number is expanded with their paid versions. Participants can join in by downloading the full Zoom application on their computers or smartphone, or just by quickly downloading and installing “Zoom Client” as prompted when they receive a video call invitation.

To make a call from a computer…

1. If you do not have the Zoom application installed, navigate to Zoom.us, select “sign up” to get started, then select “Host a Meeting” to begin installation.

2. Open your Zoom app on your desktop and click Sign In.

3. Click the downward arrow and select Start with video, then click New Meeting to start an instant meeting.

4. During a meeting, you can invite people to join the conference by clicking on “invite” tab in your meeting controls. Once you click invite, you can choose the option to Invite by Email or by IM. Another easy option is to click “Copy URL” or “Copy Invitation” in the share window. You can then paste the instructions for other users anywhere you like.

5. Users should then following the instructions from their invitations and links to log on from their computers or smartphones.

To make a call from a smartphone…

1. If you do not have the Zoom app installed, start by downloading it in the App Store.

2. Once downloaded, open the app. Select “sign up” to create an account.

3. Tap “New Meeting” to create a new video meeting.

4. During a meeting, you can invite people to join the call by clicking on “Participants” tab at the bottom. Click “invite,” you can choose the option to Invite by Email or by IM. Another easy option is to click “Copy URL” or “Copy Invitation” in the share window. You can then paste the instructions for other users anywhere you like.

5. Users should then following the instructions from their invitations and links to log on from their computers or smartphones.

Encourage Your Church Family To Try This

Social graphics like this are a great way to get the word out for your church to connect through video chats in this season. Church Motion Graphics offers a large collection of scroll-stopping images that are easy to download and share. Or, you can take it a step further by customizing them with the included Photoshop files or with CMG Editor. These social graphics can be purchased individually, or you can join a CMG Premium Subscription to gain unlimited access.

See More CMG Social Graphics

The following article was written by Alex Dion Wilson (@alexdionwilson), who is the founder and pastor of @instachurchlive – a ministry whose services all take place on Instagram. He has been kind enough to put together these tips to help churches utilize social media to reach their communities during this season of COVID-19.

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If the Church is a people and not a place, then the most effective way for a church to engage with their community is through personal practices. When most think “personal,” they think face-to-face interactions, which is highly discouraged given the current state of our world. So what do we do? We can use personal practices on Instagram to make our community feel seen and heard. A church’s “brand” isn’t their logo, colors, and fonts—it’s how they make their community feel and become a part of their mission.

1. Bible Story Quiz Sticker

When stories came to Instagram, the app exploded. And it’s still one of the most popular features. Since this is where people spend a lot of their time, why not teach them about the Bible while they’re there? With a billion monthly users, it’s safe to say Instagram is one of America’s favorite apps. Everyone’s screen time skyrocketed with the country’s stay-at-home order. Instagram stories will get even more traffic over the next couple of weeks, so how can we meet people there? By using the tools the app gives us. Instagram wants us to win; they want us to connect with people. The quiz sticker is an easy way to entertain and teach. You could introduce an Instagram Bible study with a Bible trivia question. For example, “How many books are in the Bible? 66 or 77?” It’s a fun way for your community to learn.

2. Live Church Services

A year ago, God gave me the idea to do a short church service on Instagram live. Online church has been around for a while, but never on Instagram. Large churches use Instagram stories to ask people to “swipe up” to watch their services, so I thought, “why not just do the service right there on Instagram?” With the quarantine, our page gained 25,000+ followers in a week. Now it’s your turn. Keep it simple and short. You never know who you will reach. We use an iPhone to go live and do one song, one message, and prayer. This makes it as easy as possible for your community to engage with God and each other. Every other brand in the world is thinking of ways for people to simply and effectively engage with their brand; why shouldn’t we?

3. Virtual Volunteers

Your church’s volunteers are now locked down at home with seemingly no way to serve God or your church. Now they can. You can never have too many people on a welcome team because people always have a desire to feel welcomed. Create virtual volunteers who use Instagram stories and direct messaging to personally invite their followers to service. Make a video calling anyone who feels led to serve God digitally during this pandemic. Let them be creative in how they invite through videos, graphic art, direct messaging, etc. The key is to invite them into serving God from home.

4. Voice Memo Prayers

A major tool that receives little use is the voice memo option in direct messages. I started using this feature when I got tired of typing and found out my followers like it way more. It is not only easier, but it’s more personal because they can hear the tone of the person’s voice. This is a great way to pray for people and counsel from a distance.

5. Short Video Sermons

Reposting parts of your pastor’s sermon is great, but your pastor talking straight to the camera is even more powerful and personal. At this time, people need answers and encouragement more than ever. I started doing something called “10-second sermons” nine years ago on Instagram. My formula has never changed: illustration/story/questions -> Bible verse -> application. Potent, pocket-sized, and personal is the goal.

6. Comments Build Community

Every comment where someone shows gratitude for your ministry is social proof that what you’re doing helps people. So share it. People love to see themselves highlighted on your Instagram page. Reposting other’s comments on your page not only makes your church’s social brand more personal, but it also makes people feel like part of the community.

7. Countdown To Service

The Instagram countdown timer gives a notification to users a few moments before the timer sounds, as well as when the timer sounds. This is the greatest gift Instagram has given to live streamers. Your church can now personally remind hundreds of people that it is time for church. Make the title of the timer simple like “Online Service” or “Sunday Service” and encourage your community to share the timer.

Final Thoughts

The real lockdown we are in isn’t from our government or the coronavirus, it’s from our own fears. We are afraid to try new things and we’re afraid of change, but change is here and there is no lockdown for those who have let go of fear. Let’s innovate, Church! Let’s use this time to bring the Gospel even closer to where the multitudes gather.

Live streaming has become the go-to strategy for churches to continue to worship together since the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many to cancel their services to prevent spreading the virus. Ministries across the world are using live video on Facebook, YouTube, and other popular streaming platforms to continue to preach sermons and worship through music.

We recently asked our Facebook Group filled with thousands of church tech leaders and volunteers for practical tips that can make your livestream better. During this season, many of them are using video equipment they already have set up in their auditoriums. Others have set up makeshift streaming studios in their church offices and homes.

We hope that these tips taken from all levels of video setups will help you to make positive tweaks to your church’s stream. Small improvements over time make a huge difference.

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#1 – Test your stream privately, including all individual elements, before you ever go live to the public. This will help you to identify any problems such as an unplugged mic or format issue.

#2 – Streaming with a smartphone is a great place to start. As you start to build momentum, you can add better sound, lighting, and cameras to make improvements.

#3 – If you have a chat section, have a dedicated staff member or volunteer ready to greet people, answer questions, and share resources as needed.

#4 – Be authentic. You’re not a megachurch and shouldn’t try to mimic everything that they do online. Present a true representation of your church.

#5 – Before your church begins live-streaming, determine if you will aim for a professional, high-production approach or a casual, homey feel. Go all-in with your decision.

#6 – Adding “room mics” to your post-fader audio mix can help to make your stream viewers feel like they’re part of the live experience.

#7 – Online forms are a great way to capture information from viewers so you can connect with them more. These can help to identify salvations, testimonies, new volunteers, etc.

#8 – Never play prerecorded music, such as Apple Music or Spotify. This content will get flagged immediately and could cause your stream to be shut down.

#9 – Lighting goes a long way to give your stream a great look. No matter the complexity of the setup, your subject should be lit well.

#10 – Engage with your audience! Ask questions, take polls, and encourage prayer requests. Embrace a two-way street mentality to make it feel more like a community.

#11 – Keep your stage, studio, or recording area clean. When watching video, people can easily get distracted by the small details around you.

#12 – Utilizing multiple camera angles is a great way to make a small stage or studio feel larger and more interesting to your audience. This is particularly engaging during a music moment.

#13 – Look for new ways to reach your online audience with more streams. Going live on weekdays with a few minutes of encouragement can go a long way without a lot of setup.

#14 – Don’t just assume that everything is working perfectly for your online viewers. Have your stream pulled up on a consumer-level device to monitor real-world audio and video as an outsider would experience them.

#15 – Start a few minutes early to allow people to log on and chat together. Show “pre-service” slides with announcements or a countdown during this time.

#16 – Don’t be afraid to look straight into the camera and talk specifically to your online audience. Let them know that you see them tuned in and that what you’re saying is for them.

#17 – Showing lower-third titles is a great way for your audience to follow along when singing songs, reading scriptures, or preaching key points.

#18 – Since your live stream is available for anyone to watch, it’s a good idea to tell people where you are broadcasting from. It can also be fun to ask for viewers to tell you where they’re watching from.

#19 – Don’t feel like every element of the service needs to be live. Pre-recording worship or other elements can reduce stress on streaming day.

#20 – Your camera(s) needs to be close enough that the online viewer feels as if they could have a conversation with the speaker. Anything farther away feels too disconnected.

#21 – Provide multiple times that people can watch. Your church may normally be limited to 1 hour for a service each week, but these limits don’t exist online. You could stream the same recording multiple times on a Sunday and have the recording available to watch later.

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Still Have Questions?

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Communities everywhere are being asked to avoid large gatherings and distance themselves from peers in this season due to COVID-19. However, this doesn’t mean you have to be disconnected from your church family. Live streaming has become essential for ministries to keep their people connected and for regular worship to continue.

One of the most popular software options for churches as they start broadcasting their music and messages live is OBS (Open Broadcaster Software).

Open Broadcaster Software is a free and open-source cross-platform streaming and recording program built with Qt and maintained by the OBS Project. As of 2016, the software is now referred to as OBS Studio. There are versions of OBS Studio available for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux distributions. (Wikipedia)

To help you get started using OBS for your church, we’ve collected some of the most useful how-to videos that the internet has to offer. Some of them are tailored specifically towards ministry, while others are meant for any audience.

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CMG Is Here To Help You Stream

Broadcasting your church’s message online is a top priority for ministry in this season. Our team at Church Motion Graphics is here to help you make your livestream look awesome with eye-catching lower thirds, countdowns, slide templates, and more. Plus, we’re adding new streaming content all the time to keep your stream looking fresh.

See All Streaming Resources

We’re excited to announce that we’ve just added a large collection of story graphics to our social library! These vertical graphics have been specially designed to utilize the features that make stories great. The popularity of stories on Instagram and Facebook has exploded, but many churches still haven’t taken advantage of them. Don’t worry! We’re here to help you get started with engaging posts that will get you noticed.

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Social media is more than just posting announcements and videos. The more that you can interact with your online audience, the better. Graphics like these make it easy to spark conversation with your community. Get these stories now with a Premium or Social Subscription, or purchase individually.

We’ve Made Social Easy For Churches

Social graphics like this can make a major impact on your online pages. CMG offers a large collection of scroll-stopping images, in both square and vertical sizes, that are easy to download and share. Or, you can take it a step further by customizing them with the included Photoshop files or with CMG Editor. These social graphics can be purchased individually, or you can join a Premium Subscription or Social Subscription to gain unlimited access.

See All CMG Social Graphics

If you’re not using Instagram Stories, your church could be missing out on a huge opportunity. Not only are Stories fun and creative, but they’re also one of the best ways to communicate with your congregation and reach your community online.

With over 500 million daily users, IG Stories are a great way to reach potential new guests and build a stronger connection with your existing church members.

It’s also super easy to share the same stories that you’re posting to Instagram to Facebook to gain even more value for virtually no additional effort.

Not sure how to get started? Don’t worry. We’ve put together 9 ideas for your church to try.

See Our CMG Story Collection

1. The Countdown To Church Time

Pair an eye-catching graphic with Instagram’s native countdown tool for a powerful reminder that church time is getting closer. This feature even allows for your audience to set a reminder.

2. The Memorable Sermon Quote

Take your pastor’s sermon from Sunday even further by sharing a memorable quote to your Instagram stories during the week. Be sure to keep it short and sweet for optimal impact.

3. The Worship Set List

Try posting your worship band’s set list to build excitement about the songs you’re singing together. It also makes it easy for your congregation to add them to their playlist later.

4. The Volunteer Spotlight

Reward your best volunteers for all of their hard work and dedication by celebrating one of them each week or month. Acknowledging them publicly goes a long way to boost morale.

5. The Recommend Reading List

Challenge people to go deeper in their faith by sharing Bible verses they should read during the week. This is a great way to keep them focused on the content you’re teaching in that season.

6. The Question & Answer

Combine an eye-catching graphic with Instagram’s native question tool to start a conversation with your audience. You may be surprised to see what people will ask when given the chance.

7. The Inspirational Snippet

In our fast-paced world, sometimes it takes a simple post to grab someone’s attention. Inspiring posts like this are popular and will often get saved as phone wallpaper.

8. The Interactive Screenshot

Sharing a fun post with blanks like this is a great way to spark interaction. Your audience will screenshot, add their elements, and share with their followers. (While our example shows the graphic filled out, you should post the blank version so you audience can use it.)

9. The Salvation Celebration

Celebrate with all of Heaven when people make a decision for Christ! Sharing a story like this lets people know that God is moving in a big way in your church.

Get Story Graphics Like This & More

See More CMG Story Graphics

With church online now at the forefront of every internal conversation at your church, recognize that broadcasting your church’s weekend service or experience is just one piece of the puzzle, because social media (or the platform that you use to stream) almost always includes a social component to it.

Simply playing back your service is not even the tip of the iceberg for the potential reach of your Sunday video. The engagement that you can have with your audience (when you intentionally choose to engage with them) is great for both the audience that’s watching and the organic audience that your broadcast channel will share with.

As more people engage with your broadcast – by liking, commenting or sharing – Facebook or YouTube sees that engagement, and wants to share it with others to see if they would also engage. Their goal is to keep people on their platform as long as possible. If you’re creating engaging content, then people watching it are more likely to stay and continue watching than leave.

Here are 3 ways to engage your online audience:

1. Ask Them To Engage By Asking A Question

It sounds elementary, but it’s a really great way to create engagement: ask a question. When you start your broadcast, ask some entry-level questions – simple questions that are easy to answer, and not too deep.

Entry-level questions could be “Where are you watching from?” or “How do you take your coffee?” or “Do you like my shirt, or my cohost’s shirt better?” or “How did you spend yesterday with the beautiful weather we had?”

Around the middle of your broadcast, ask more engaging questions about your topic. Pastors aren’t really used to this idea, since they’re used to preaching through their notes, not having Q&A and interacting, but it’s essential online.

Middle questions might sound like “What are your thoughts on this topic?” or “How would you handle the situation that this biblical figure finds himself in?” or “Since we’re talking about marriage, what’s your best tip for newly weds?”

At the end of your broadcast, ask questions that lead into the topic for your next broadcast. “Next week we’re talking about finances. Which budgeting tool do you use?” or “Tomorrow’s video is going to be about feeling motivated on a Monday. What’s your best Monday Motivation tip?”

Taking a moment to stop and ask questions might feel awkward when you’re simply talking to a camera or a virtual audience, but it’s the best way for people to engage and feel like part of the conversation.

We can listen to people talk at any time – radio, podcasts, YouTube – but there is something different when we know people are live and responding with us at that moment. Another way to think about it is a phone call is always more engaging than a voicemail.

2. Give A Reason To Engage

When someone engages with you in the comment section, it’s because they’re hoping you (or other viewers) will engage back. It’s a way to share ideas, and be part of the conversation.

Simply asking questions on camera is good, but responding to those questions, ideas, comments, or statements in real time is what your audience is there for. Don’t just ask beginning, middle, or ending questions – read them back, answer them, and recognize that people are in this moment with you.

If your pastor or host is tentative about the technical aspect or is awkwardly trying to have the conversation in a room alone, have a co-host read questions or comments and create interaction with the co-host on behalf of your viewers.

It’s takes the pressure off of a single person and creates a conversational aspects, giving you the best of both worlds.

3. Have A Team of People Ready To Engage

When your pastor asks a question on a broadcast, the first 1 or 2 responses sometimes take forever to show up. Once that ice is broken, people feel much more comfortable participating, as long as they’re not the first.

Just like your welcome team at your church, schedule a team of 4 or 5 friendly people who are listening for questions, and have these individuals be the first to answer.

This way, someone who is watching from home can feel comfortable being the 5th or 6th person to answer without having to be first to break the ice.

We have seen a few churches try a method where they have a team of people welcoming others as they arrive. “Thanks for watching, Jim. Welcome to the stream, Sue.” – Be careful. This can come across as awkward, especially when 2 or 3 people all chime in at the same time to say “Thanks for watching, Jim,” and especially if Jim just wants to snoop or watch in anonymity.

However, if your team is simply answering the questions that get asked on camera “I like my coffee with ice” or “I like mine with cream and sugar,” then ‘Jim’ might feel more comfortable jumping in on the conversation.

Be intentional. Engagement is as much of an outreach tool on social platforms as it is a tool for including the audience who is watching along with you. Aim to make your stream a place of community.

—

CMG Is Here To Help You Stream

See All Streaming Resources

Is your library of videos, still graphics and announcements in your church presentation software a mess? Chances are, like most churches, your growing library of church media could be better organized. Whether you are using ProPresenter, MediaShout, EasyWorship or another popular church presentation software, your media library needs to be managed in order to stay organized. This will require time, commitment and teaching everyone involved how to follow your media library guidelines.

Phase 1 – Organize Your Hard Drive

The first thing to do is to organize all the media on your hard drive. This means hunting down all your digital media assets, moving them into one designated folder and using a structure of sub-folders to organize. Store all of this important data on an internal drive other than your system drive or on a high-speed external drive. Besides being fast, your data will be protected if your system drive crashes.

Clean Up Your Media

Once you have all your media in one place, this is the perfect time to go through it and do some thorough cleaning. Here are some actions to take before you start the sorting process:

Delete or archive outdated media
Delete duplicate media
Delete low-resolution and poorly designed media
Re-encode oddly formatted media to a new format
Rename media using logical naming conventions
Test problematic media

Root Folder Organization

On your hard drive, create a single folder for all your media. Make it easy to access and find. Don’t have this folder deeply nested somewhere that a volunteer would have difficulty finding. Next, create a hierarchy of folders. At the root, we like to split all our media by format such as HD, SD and triple-wide resolutions. This is important to us, because we travel to different venues with various screen aspect ratios and projector resolutions. If you are only in an HD environment, you might consider archiving all your SD content in another location on your hard drive.

Another important folder we have in our root directory is for “Sunday Service”. It is common to have media that is only used for a particular weekend like an announcement slide, photo or Keynote/PowerPoint presentation, and we like to keep all this data in one place. Within this folder we have sub-folders for each weekend service that use this naming format: YYYY-MM-DD.

One additional folder we like to keep handy is for bundles and packs. CMG and other producers sell packages of media that include countdown timers, still graphics and moving backgrounds, and rather than sorting all the pieces in different folders, we prefer to keep them together. These sets of media are usually thematic and it only makes sense to organize them this way.

HD, SD and Triple-wide Folders

Within each “HD”, “SD” and “Triple-wide” folder, we have the same identical sub-folders: “Announcements”, “Countdown Timers”, “Motion Backgrounds”, “Sermons”, “New”, “Seasonal” and “Still Backgrounds”. This helps us to easily find the media we need whenever we’re switching from 4:3 to a 16:9 setup or vice versa.

The “New” folder is a great place to temporarily store media when you don’t have any time to sort and organize it. Be warned though that this folder can easily get unorganized if not maintained on a regular basis.

The “Seasonal” folder is also unique, because it holds sub-folders for different seasons and celebrations like Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving. For media-heavy seasons like Christmas and Easter you might consider adding additional folders to organize the various types of content like “Christmas Countdown Timers” and “Christmas Announcements”. Another option is to add the year to the folder name for further clarity.

Phase 2 – Presentation Software Organization

Now that you have all your media organized on your hard drive, it is ready to be imported and organized in your presentation software.

In most cases you want to set up your folders with the same organization structure as your hard drive. Create the same folders for “HD”, “SD” and “Triple-wide” that have sub-folders for “Announcements”, “Countdown Timers”, “Motion Backgrounds”, “Sermons”, “New”, “Seasonal” and “Still Backgrounds”. Also make sure you include other special folders like: “Packs” and “Sunday Service”.

Same As Hard Drive

For the most part, we want to set up folders that have the same organization structure as our hard drive. We want a folder for “HD”, “SD” and “Triple-wide” that have playlists and folders for “Announcements”, “Countdown Timers”, “Motion Backgrounds”, “Sermons”, “New”, “Still Backgrounds” and “Seasonal”. We also want our other special folders added: “Bundles and Packs” and “Sunday Service”.

Themed Folders and Playlists

Additional playlists and folders can be created based on themes like color, tempo, church media producer and style to help easily find the piece of media you are looking for. Create as many of these as necessary without getting carried away. Simplicity will make organizing your library of media much easier.

Need help composing, editing and presenting worship slides? Download The Worship Media Handbook, which was just updated to include even more helpful information.

Facebook’s Frame Studio allows anyone to create their own custom profile frames for their cause. This easy tool provides a huge advantage to churches who can share a customized frame that allows followers to easily spread the word about the church or upcoming events.

With Christmas just around the corner, many churches are using this tool to get the word out about their services. By having your congregation add frames with event information onto their Facebook profile pictures, many of their friends outside of the church see this info right in their news feed. It’s a great way to get free publicity.

Download 3 Free Templates

To make it easy for you to get started, we have put together 3 free Photoshop templates that you can customize for your church. Each of them matches our Peaceful Glow Christmas 2020 Themes that we’ve designed to look great for this holiday. In less than 5 minutes, you can fill in your church information and export a PNG file that’s ready to use. It’s easy and fun!

Download Free Facebook Profile Frames

See All Matching Christmas Resources

How To Publish A Custom Facebook Profile Frame

1. Go to the Frame Studio page to start creating your profile frame.

2. Click the “Create A Frame” button. Then, click “Open Frame Studio.”

3. A new “Create A Frame” window will pop up. Here, you’ll be prompted to drag and drop a PNG image. This is where you can upload your PNG template frame.

4. Make sure that your previews look exactly as planned. Click Next to move forward. You’ll be brought to a page of options. Here, you’ll name your frame and provide some other basic information like when you want to make this frame available. Once you’ve completed this page, click Next.

5. Finish the process by clicking Publish. Your new custom profile frame is now ready to be used and shared with your community!

Ready to try it for yourself? Download these templates now to get started.

Download Free Facebook Profile Frames

Today, we are excited to announce that the all-new CMG Media Browser has arrived.

At Church Motion Graphics, our team is passionate about creating visuals for ministry, but what really gets us excited is serving people. That’s why we spent over six months in development carefully listening to customers’ ideas and turning them into a fresh user interface that is specially designed for how real churches use media.

Starting today, you can find your next great look in seconds with industry-leading search precision, helpful filter options, fast loading previews, stunning galleries, and more that you’ll be able to navigate with ease.

Try The New Media Browser Now

Here’s a closer look at what we’ve improved for you:

A Brand New Interface

The first thing that you’ll notice is that your browsing experience has a brand new look. This bright, clean interface uses new fonts, rounded edges, clearer labeling, and softer colors. An all-new “mega menu” and helpful buttons leading to our most popular content have been added right where you need them. Plus, we’ve included new trending sections and categories to help you find relevant content with ease.

Industry-Leading Search

At the core of our Media Browser is a brand new search bar that is more powerful than ever. It’s the fastest, most accurate, and smartest search tool that we’ve ever seen utilized in a church media gallery. You’ll find that when you can trust that a search bar understands what you’re asking for, you gain the freedom to explore more often. Additionally, you can now see what others like you are looking for when you are.

The New Filters Panel

Our subscribers have been asking for more ways to explore content in our growing library of visuals. We heard you loud and clear. Now, every CMG media gallery (motions, templates, social, etc.) can be filtered to narrow down the search to find your next great look. Here are all the available filters depending on the gallery type you are browsing: 8 Color Filters, 5 Tempo Filters, Category Filters, Minimum Resolution Filter, Minimum Playback Duration Filter, and Must Include Music Filter.

1-Click Downloads & Bookmarks

CMG Subscribers will enjoy using these two new quick action icons that are found throughout the entire Media Browser experience. The first icon is for quickly bookmarking your favorite looks. When activated, the icon will fill with blue to indicate the item has been bookmarked, and it will now be accessible on your bookmarks page. The neatly organized bookmarks page can be accessed via the Browse Media button. The second icon is for rapid downloading. Click this, and you’ll instantly start downloading the selected item. Your image resolution, file format, and download location settings will mirror those of your previous pop-up modal download, so make sure to double-check those settings before using this handy feature.

TempoMatch At Your Fingertips

TempoMatch is the best way to find the perfect background to match a song. Simply type any worship song title or CCLI number in the new CMG Media Browser search bar, and you’ll discover a gallery of motion backgrounds that match the tempo of that song. It’s super efficient and unbelievably clever, just like you. Additionally, to quickly filter your motion background by tempo speed, click the filter button on the right-hand side of the search bar and select one of the five tempo speeds. Instantly, the gallery of motion backgrounds will be filtered so you can download what you need.

New Fonts & Mobile Support For CMG Editor

You spoke and we listened. We’ve made our popular in-browser graphic design tool, CMG Editor, even better by adding 15 new fonts. Plus, it now has a new user interface that brings improved functionally on both desktop and mobile. That’s right – mobile! Go try them out for yourself by choosing any still background and clicking the “Open In CMG Editor” link.

Wait! There’s More…

Countless other improvements have been added throughout the Media Browser that you’ll love. Better access to tag and categories make it simpler to see past content. It’s easier than ever to use Pro Titles and Pro Layers to build slides without ever leaving your browser. Interactive headers display fresh content each time you visit. Did we mention that it’s lightning fast? You’ll find your next great look super quick.

Try The New Media Browser Now

Christmas is almost here, and churches all over the world are preparing for powerful worship services to celebrate the birth of our Savior—whether they be in-person, online, or even outdoor for this particular year. No matter the specifics, we know that one of the most important elements of every Christmas service is the music.

To help make your life easier going into your holiday services, we’ve handpicked motion backgrounds that match perfectly with the top 10 most popular songs for this season. All of these motions are from our new December 2020 CMG Pack.

Ready To Try Them Out?

Christmas is the perfect time to add a little extra creativity to your worship slides. Download this new pack of motion backgrounds to make it easy to have a great look this holiday. Or, you can download the still versions for FREE.

Get These Backgrounds

Ready to bring the wow factor to your Christmas services? At Church Motion Graphics, we’ve made it easy to utilize the power of visuals to inspire your community in ways like never before. We have products that can bring creativity to every moment of your time worshipping together.

Here’s a simple guide to how you can bring these elements together this holiday:

1. Social Media Posts

We have hundreds of ready-to-use social graphics that you can put to work for your church this holiday season. These engaging graphics will bring life to your social pages and help spread the word about your church in the community. Plus, many of them match our December 2020 Monthly Pack perfectly!

See All Christmas Social Graphics

2. Welcome Slide

Fill your screens with a welcoming graphic as your guests arrive. Each of our CMG Monthly Packs comes with a Welcome Slide motion, including this one that’s available in the December pack.

See More of the December 2020 CMG Pack

3. Announcement Slides

Make it easy for your audience to know what’s happening in your church by using announcement slides. Our CMG Template collection is filled with many announcements like this one that you can customize to fit your events perfectly.

Browse All Announcement Templates

4. Countdown Timer

Countdown timers make it easy to let your congregation know that it’s time to find a seat as your service begins. A matching countdown video is included in every CMG Monthly Pack like this one that’s from the December pack.

Download the December 2020 CMG Pack

5. Christmas Opener Video

Opener videos are a great way to capture the attention of your audience. This short video was created specifically for the 2020 holiday, plus is available in English and Spanish. It’s included with all CMG Subscriptions or is available for individual purchase. It’s an easy way to add a special creative detail to your services.

Learn More About This Opener Video

6. Worship Backgrounds

Download the December 2020 CMG Pack

7. Custom-Built Title Slides

Make it easy for your audience to know what’s happening in each moment of your service with custom titles. Our CMG Editor tool allows you to easily create custom stills and motion title slides to fit your ministry’s needs.

Learn How To use CMG Editor So You Can Create Your Own Titles

8. Sermon Graphics

Using a creative visual with your preaching and teaching can create a lasting impression. Our CMG Template library is filled with hundreds of customizable sermon graphics that make it easy to grab the attention of your congregation during your messages.

Browse All CMG Christmas Templates

9. Streaming Slide Graphics

Engage your church’s online audience with eye-catching slides that are specifically designed to be used on your live stream video. These visuals are perfect to use at the beginning of your streamed services, during special moments, or at the conclusion to move people to action.

See More Streaming Slide Templates

10. Lower Thirds For Video

Keep your church’s live stream audience informed by using these customizable lower third graphics with your video. They make it easy to present relevant information and keep your viewers on the same page.

See All Lower Third Graphics

Want These Looks For Christmas?

The holiday season is the perfect time to add extra creativity to your services. The easiest way to unlock all of the content that you’ve seen here is with a CMG Premium Subscription. It’s the best way to gain access to the best visuals for every area of your church for one affordable price.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PREMIUM

With Easter just around the corner, many churches are using this tool to get the word out about their services. By having your congregation add frames with event information onto their Facebook profile pictures, many of their friends outside of the church see this info right in their news feed. It’s a great way to get free publicity.

Download 3 Free Templates

To make it easy for you to get started, we have put together 3 free Photoshop templates that you can customize for your church. Each of them matches our Free Easter Graphics Kit and the April 2021 “Art Alive” Motion Pack that we’ve designed to look great for this holiday. In less than 5 minutes, you can fill in your church information and export a PNG file that’s ready to use. It’s easy and fun!

Download Free Facebook Profile Frames

See All Matching Easter Resources

How To Publish A Facebook Profile Frame

1. Go to the Frame Studio page to start creating your profile frame.

2. Click the “Create A Frame” button. Then, click “Open Frame Studio.”

3. A new “Create A Frame” window will pop up. Here, you’ll be prompted to drag and drop a PNG image. This is where you can upload your PNG template frame.

5. Finish the process by clicking Publish. Your new custom profile frame is now ready to be used and shared with your community!

Ready to try it for yourself? Download these templates now to get started.

Download Free Facebook Profile Frames

Are you looking to attend a church conference in 2020? Here is a list of great conferences that may be perfect for you and your team. Conferences are a great way to get inspired, learn new things and connect with other like-minded people.

C3 Conference

Dallas, TX
February 16-17, 2022

We believe healthy leaders talk about the raw and real of leadership. C3 Conference is a two-day event where leaders from around the world gather together for intensive coaching, inspirational teaching, incurable learning, and intentional relationships to advance the Church!

NRB Convention

Grapevine, TX
June 21-24

The NRB International Christian Media Convention is a jam-packed, four-day event that connects, equips, and edifies thousands of Christian communicators.

Exponential Conference

Orlando, FL
March 7-10, 2022

The theme focuses on how each of us is called for more in our lives, churches, and networks. We will walk through the 6 chapters of Ephesians during the main sessions. Shift 1: From More Effort to More Jesus. Shift 2: From More Volunteers to More Masterpieces. Shift 3: From More Guilt to More Love. Shift 4: From More Hierarchy to More Missionaries. Shift 5: From More Programs to More Mission Fields. Shift 6: From More Strategy to More Surrender

Watermark Church Leaders Conference

Dallas, TX
April 27-29, 2021

Join us next spring at Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas to be inspired by all God wants to do through His Church and spurred on to excel wherever God has planted you. You’ll be refreshed, encouraged, energized, and refocused. Bring your whole team to dream together, laugh together, and double down on the unique mission God has placed before you.

FILO Conference

Chicago, IL
May 11-12, 2021

Whether volunteer or staff, FILO aims to provide skill development, community and inspiration to help equip technical artists to become effective contributors to their local church. FILO is a combination of the FILO Conference, FILO Blog, FILO Podcast, and personalized FILO Coaching.

VOUS Conference

Miami, FL
June 17-20, 2021

So God came to us. So we could go into the world. Carrying the light into the night. To bring the broken home. If not you, then who? If not now, then when? Who are you waiting on? The charge has been set. The orders given. Go. And if we don’t go‍ no one else is coming.

Design Revival

Columbas, GA
August 27-28

Design Revival is a two-day conference in Columbus, GA that will equip, encourage, and train pastors, lay-leaders, volunteers, and church staff to raise the standard of design and media for the purpose of presenting the Gospel.

Attendees will be inspired in Main Sessions by creative and engaging speakers. The workshops will equip attendees with skills and techniques they can begin using in their church creative process immediately.

The Canvas Conference

We stand at a stalemate. In many ways, the church doesn’t want the creative and the creative doesn’t want the church. This is in part because the church doesn’t know what to do with creatives and creatives no longer see the church’s value.

Santa Ana, CA
August 30-31, 2021

Experience Conference

Orlando, FL
September 7-10, 2021

Scores of worship leaders from around the country and across denominational lines gather each year at Experience Conference, one of the largest worship conferences in America, to connect in community with one another, get equipped with key resources, and become empowered to see how God might use us to change the world.

Circles Conference

Richardson, TX
September 9-10, 2021

Circles Conference is a three-day design and development conference by Circles Co., bringing together designers and makers from around the globe. Learning from transformative thinkers and connecting with like-minded innovators, Circles provides a space where you’ll be challenged to push yourself in the creative process while drawing inspiration from those thriving in the industry.

That Church Conference

Atlanta, GA
May 4-5, 2021

That Church Conference is not the type of conference where you sit and listen, but instead, you do and practice. We do things a little differently than you might expect from a church conference. That’s because we want you to be different.

So many churches blend into the culture around them, without making any significant impact on it. The tools we provide equip churches to stand out, to make an impact, to not go unnoticed. And when that happens the church can reach more people.

Gateway Conference

Southlake, TX
September 26-28, 2020

The Gateway Conference desires to share practical wisdom for cultivating real growth by nurturing true and biblical health in the spiritual community of the local church. We want to share these principles because we desire to do everything in our power to build God’s kingdom through His local church.

Hillsong Creative Conference

Sydney, Australia
October 20-22, 2021

A 2 days / 3 nights gathering of the creatively gifted ones; the prophets and the poets; the artisans and the producers; humbly hosted by Hillsong Creative. Expressed through Co-Labs; innovative circles of thought leaders; small and large gatherings; Midnight Massive; friendships will be forged. Together telling the story of Jesus and making creativity the center of God’s Church today.

First Impressions Conference

Online
May 13-14, 2021

Unprecedented. The word has been used more in 2020 than any time in history. We are living in what historians will look back on as one of the most fascinating and important times of the Church’s history. We are gathering a diverse group of thinkers, communicators, speakers, authors, storytellers, pastors, guest services practitioners and pioneers to encourage us in a new season of innovation and creativity. Join us on this adventure of reaching and engaging with guests.

Faith Leads Tech Conference

A one-day, single-track conference bringing together followers of Jesus Christ centered on technology and innovation.

Whitehouse, TN
TBA

Easter is almost here, and churches all over the world are preparing for powerful worship services to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. One of the most important elements of every Easter service is the music.

To help make your life easier going into your Resurrection Day services, we’ve handpicked motion backgrounds that match perfectly with the top 10 most popular songs for this season. All of these motions are from our new April 2021 Monthly Pack.

1. Graves Into Gardens

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Strings
Artist: Elevation Worship

2. I Thank God

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Bits
Artist: Maverick City Music

3. Rattle

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Fire
Artist: Elevation Worship

4. Battle Belongs

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Peace
Artist: Phil Wickham

5. King of Kings

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Gold
Artist: Hillsong Worship

6. My Testimony

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Cross
Artist: Elevation Worship

7. Every Victory

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Ring
Artist: The Belonging Co

8. Glorious Day

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Fresh
Artist: Passion

9. Goodness of God

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Star
Artist: Bethel Music

10. He Lives

April 2021 CMG Pack | Art Alive Go
Artist: Church of the City

Ready To Try Them Out?

Easter is the perfect time to add a little extra creativity to your worship slides. Download this new pack of motion backgrounds to make it easy to have a great look.

Get These Backgrounds

The Easter season is such a unique time of the year for the Church. Studies show that more people are likely to fill your seats now than any other time of the year. Because of this, it’s common to see churches everywhere working diligently in preparation for the coming crowds at their Resurrection Day services.

As the big day approaches fast, we’ve prepared 6 last-minute ideas to take your Easter service to the next level. Don’t worry—they are quick and easy to pull off.

1. Start Service With A Fresh Countdown Video

Countdown timers make it easy to let your congregation know that it’s time to find a seat as your service begins. This proves useful for your regulars and newcomers alike. Pro Tip: Choose a countdown video that matches all of your other worship visuals for the rest of the service.

See All Countdown Videos

2. Use A Creative Sermon Slide Design

A message from the Bible where your guests hear about Jesus rising from the dead is the most important part of an Easter service. Make a big impression with your screens by using a captivating sermon title graphic. A creative Resurrection Day graphic will take your presentation to the next level by making it easier for your audience to remember your message. Check out our full library of editable Easter templates to make it easy.

See All Easter Slide Templates

3. Serve Spring-Themed Treats

Having breakfast available before service is a great way to build community and have some fun in the lobby with your church family. For Easter, take it to the next level by serving some Spring-themed donuts or baked goods. It’s a sweet surprise for your faithful attenders and new guests alike. You could even add in lemonade or sweet tea. The cost for something like this is relatively small compared to the value that it adds to the day.

4. Play An Easter Mini-Movie

Easter is the perfect time to add a special element to your service that will give people something extra to remember. Using a mini-movie can really speak to the hearts of your audience. A video like this is a great way to communicate a message of what’s truly important about this day, and it will leave people talking about the service into their week.

See This Mini-Movie & More

5. Take A Easter-Themed Poll

Now is the perfect time to be more intentional with your church’s social media pages. Post poll questions, such as asking what their favorite Easter candy is. You’ll be amazed by how much conversation these types of posts generate. Then, take time during the welcome portion of your service or in the beginning of the sermon to reveal some of those answers. This is an exciting way to interact with your congregation and to have some fun. We’ve put together some Easter social graphics to help make this easier for you.See All Easter Social Graphics

6. Update Your Worship Backgrounds

Motion backgrounds are the perfect way to create a dynamic visual experience during your church’s worship songs. They bring creativity to an otherwise boring aspect of your service – plain text. For an Easter service, it’s best to have backgrounds that go with a Spring aesthetic and point to Christian symbols. Church Motion Graphics is your Easter background headquarters! We have many packs of matching motions to help you create a great look.

Ready to give your worship slides that special Easter look? Click below to see more of our new motion packs that are ready to make your church’s screens come alive.

See All Motion Packs

The CMG Media Browser is filled with thousands of stunning visuals for every area of your ministry, many of which are completely editable. You may be wondering how to figure out which fonts (typefaces) were used in a particular graphic. In this post, we’ll be sharing how you find the precise font that was used in a slide template, social graphic, or lower third. Options for using either Adobe Photoshop (paid) or Photopea (free) will be covered.

Using Adobe Photoshop ($)

If you have access to the paid software, Adobe Photoshop, follow these instructions:

1. First, it’s important to note that you will need access to our slide templates, social graphics, and lower thirds to begin this process. These are available with select CMG Subscriptions or through single purchase.

2. From the CMG Media Browser, select the slide template, social graphic, or lower third of your choice. All of these have editable text and an included layer identifying the font that was used.

3. From the version section of the window, choose the option with the Editable PSD file. Then, press the large download button.

4. Once your download is complete, it may come packaged as a ZIP file. If so, this will need to be unzipped using the software of your choosing depending on your OS.

5. You will see now see a PSD file that’s designed to work in Adobe Photoshop. Double click to open this PSD in Photoshop.

6. Once the file is open, look to your Layers panel (most likely in the bottom right corner of Photoshop). There, you will see a layer labeled “Fonts Used” that is currently turned off.

7. Click the small grey box on the left side of this layer to toggle the visibility of this hidden layer. An eye icon will appear, as well as a text box at the top of the graphic.

8. This “Fonts Used” layer will now provide both the name of the font that was used in this graphic, as well as a URL so that you can easily find it online for download.

9. The text that is shown in this “Fonts Used” layer is editable, so you can double-click to select the URLs. You can then copy and paste these directly into your internet browser.

Using Photopea Online Photo Editor (Free)

Photopea is a free online photo editor that will not cost anything to use for this task.

2. From the CMG Media Browser, select the slide template, social graphic, or lower third of your choice. All of these have editable text and an included layer identifying the font that was used.

3. From the version section of the window, choose the option with the Editable PSD file. Then, press the large download button.

4. Once your download is complete, it may come packaged as a ZIP file. If so, this will need to be unzipped using the software of your choosing depending on your OS.

5. You will see now see a PSD file that’s designed to work in Adobe Photoshop, but can also be opened in the free online photo editor, Photopea.

6. Navigate to Photopea.com in your internet browser. In the top right corner, click File. Then, choose Open. A window will pop up allowing you to locate and choose the PSD file that you just downloaded. Select this PSD and click Choose For Upload.

7. Once the file is open, look to your Layers panel in the bottom right corner of your screen. There, you will see a layer labeled “Fonts Used” that is currently turned off.

8. Click the greyed out eye icon on the left side of this layer to toggle the visibility of this hidden layer. An eye icon will appear, as well as a text box at the top of the graphic.

9. This “Fonts Used” layer will now provide both the name of the font that was used in this graphic, as well as a URL so that you can easily find it online for download.

10. The text that is shown in this “Fonts Used” layer is editable, so you can double-click to select the URLs. You can then copy and paste these directly into your internet browser.