Do you want to start a video ministry for your church? Using a video during Sunday service is a great way to get your message across to members. Starting a video ministry can be hard if you don’t know where to start. When thinking about this, a good place to start would be these three areas.

• Budget for equipment
• Get a good volunteer base
• Be creative

Budget for equipment. One of the first things you need is to decide on a budget for your equipment. Equipment today doesn’t come cheap, but with some research you can get some great deals. With all the equipment available, you need to focus on two major purchases, the camera and the editing system. Finding the right camera is key because it sets the tone for the overall quality of your ministry. When looking for a camera, keep in mind that the latest technology is High Definition. Cameras can run tens of thousands of dollars, but a great affordable camera like the HD Panasonic AG-HMC70 only runs $2,500. The next major purchase is the editing system. Recently, video editing has gone digital, making it less expensive for people to purchase an editing system. Basically, all you need is the editing software and a computer that can support it. Currently Apple Mac computers are the best for this. A Macbook Pro computer with Final Cut Pro editing software will run around $3,500 but will be worth the investment. If you are not familiar with Mac computers, don’t worry because there are good solutions for your PC. When it comes to video editing software for the PC, there are several options that differ in price. Adobe Premiere Pro costs around $800 while the Pinnacle Studio 12 cost around $130. While each one has great video editing capabilities, the more expensive products tend to offer better quality videos. The thing to remember with this whole process is to address your needs. Once you discover that, finding the right equipment will be easy.

Get a good volunteer base. When starting any new ministry, you will need a good volunteer base in order to be successful. Volunteers are key because when you make a video there is always a need for crew members to help the director. Just having one or two people helping you out with editing, shooting, or just setting up the equipment will be a big help. Look for younger members in your church or members that might be more tech savvy and express your desire to start this new ministry. This might take some time but in the long run, these volunteers will make your ministry successful.

Be creative. When making a video, the goal is to get your message across in a creative way. This might be through a funny announcer or through just plain text. This can be exciting because the possibilities are endless. Watching a video should make people want to respond in a certain way. If your message has more of a serious tone then your video should have more of a serious look and feel to it. If you have a desire to start a video ministry, most likely you have a desire to express your creativity. Use this to your advantage as you create your video. But keep in mind your message. If you can utilize your creativity to bring across the proper tone of your message, you will be well on your way to having a successful video ministry.

Starting a video ministry can take some time and involves lots of planning. Once you start the process and let your creativity flow, the demand for more videos will soon be around the corner. Taking the first few steps may seem difficult at times, but don’t get discouraged because sooner or later you will see your hard work pay off.

If you need help starting a video ministry or would like more information, please contact Matt Ramsey in the Office of Information and Communication at 501.376.4791, ext. 5158 or by email,  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Matt Ramsey serves in the area of Information and Communications for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Matt loves watching movies and playing sports in his spare time. He and his wife Jessica live in Maumelle, Arkansas.