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By Carlos Whittaker
On August 26th, 2007 I was standing on a stage in Riverside, CA. My arms were raised while perspiration was dripping down my face. The guitar that was hanging around my neck was severely out of tune and my ears were ringing from a horrible monitor mix. A basketball hoop hung over my head. The gymnasium was an audio engineer’s nightmare and my band was an ragtag group of amateurs. A UPS driver. A car salesman. A seventh grade teacher. A Starbucks Barista. We were hitting sour notes all over the place. Yet this was quite possibly the greatest moment of musical worship I had ever experienced.
Twenty-four hours later I walked into the most expensive church building I had ever been in. I would soon be leading worship in one of the most technologically advanced worship centers in the US. I was blown away by the intelligent lighting system, ProTools console, and neverending rows of chairs. 3,018 to be exact.
Only professional musicians played on that stage and I was far from that. But this would be my new church. I almost felt guilty.
Almost.
Oh, how things can change in twenty-four hours. Yet underneath all the ProLightXtravaganza and basketball hoops there is a core of commonalities between the two venues – and lots of lessons both environments can learn from each other. Here are a few.
What the Megachurch Can Learn from Church in a Gym
1. Worship in the Fluorescent. We are making a mistake by ALWAYS having programmed lights, videos, and loops. These are all great things that can aid in bringing people into His presence, but they are not necessary. What happens when we keep listening to the same CD over and over again. We eventually stop hearing the beauty in it and we replace it with something new. New in your world may be all the house lights on. I know. This is close to blasphemy in some of your heads. Trust me - if they can worship in the fluorescent, they can worship anywhere.
2. If you build it, they will come. There is something to be said about having to build an entire church auditorium in one hour. When people sit in seats that they carried-in and look at screens that were hung that morning, there is ownership involved. Church does not happen without them. And the worshippers OWN it. Give your people something to own on Sundays. Your worship will accelerate. I promise.
3. Shift Happens. Changing things on a Sunday morning may seem like a disaster waiting to happen. But sometimes it is OK to adjust things as the morning progresses. I agree that God can move just as much in preparation as inspiration. Yet sometimes the greatest times of worship are when the generator blows in the middle of the song and all you hear are hundreds of voices getting louder because now THEY are the instruments. And you can't program that.
What the Church in a Gym Can Learn from the Megachurch
1. Small does not equal suck. Your people come to your church because they are in love with how Jesus Christ is shaping their lives through your ministry. Don't go half way. Strive for excellence in every facet of what you do, from band rehearsals to Sunday programming. Even a small shift in attention to detail can create a much better worship experience.
2. Bono has nothing on Mrs. Smith. Your volunteers are rock stars. Treat them that way. Shower them with praise and even go the extra mile by creating a space for them on Sundays to unwind and relax. A green room of sorts. It may be one more thing that you have to set up but they will feel the love when they get a room with Green M&Ms and a Wii while everyone else waits in a twenty-minute line for bad coffee.
3. Sally the bongo player. Look. Just because they can does not mean they should. I am a believer in doing a few things excellently rather than lots of things poorly. If you have a great worship leader and a bad drummer, have acoustic Sundays until you get a better drummer. Don't be scared to strip things down until you can pull things off excellently. Your people will thank you for it.
So there you go. I love the nine years I spent in a gym. I love the building God has given my community to worship in now. Both environments should celebrate where God has them while looking to each other for a shove in the right direction.
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This is a great article Carlos ... thanks so much for sharing. I think it’s definitely true.
I also agree about the treatment of the musicians, volunteers, etc ... a “green room” of sorts is a great blessing to them. At the same time, we’ve noticed there can be an unhealthy “disconnect” if the artists/band/musicians retreat to this space all the time. Recently, we’ve been encouraging our folks to go to the green room, have some snacks, etc., but then to get out in between services and hang out in the atrium, approach the people, and let them approach you. They want to connect - ask questions about the songs, ask questions about your instruments, etc., and this being accessible is a great way to connect with them on a more personal level.
For the Kingdom,
Fred
Comment by fmckinnon - Jun 23, 2008 @ 05:45 PM
Ha! Should’ve known my ‘boss’ would’ve already commented on this before I got to it! Indeed, a great article.
Comment by SaintLewis - Jul 10, 2008 @ 04:00 PM
I attend Port City Community Church located on the coast of North Carolina. I enjoyed reading this because PC3 church has been meeting at many places (schools, theaters, college campus, etc.) for 9 years. This Sunday, July 20th, will be our first official service in the “new” building! The 1,500 seats in the auditorium is an amazing site to see...not to mention the “green rooms’ for ALL us volunteers, the lights, the spaces for the kids...and the effort seen to help others walk with God! This is God’s megachurch and I am excited to see what He is going to do...it is amazing to see what He has done in only 9 years!
Comment by freasy831 - Jul 17, 2008 @ 12:47 AM
You are so right small does not equal suck, megachurches and gyms both have amazing elements that add to the wroship experience.
It’s awesome how God can move with 5 people around a campfire the same way he does in an auditorium with 3,000 people.
Some of the most amazing worship I have experienced was at a next-gen group at Crossroads Church in Cornora California called Generate. It was amazing that amidst the lights and hundreds of people it is the most intimate real experience. The people have their arms outstretched screaming cries to the Lord, this is the first large church I have been to where it is not a concert but a time to connect with God and fall to his feet in worship.
http://www.generatelife.com/
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