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Church Spotlight, continued...
How long have you been using visual graphics in your church service, and why did you start using visual imagery with your sermons?
I've been using graphics for about 4 years. As the Chinese proverb says, "One picture is worth a thousand words." I got started because I found that if you can find the right graphic to illustrate your point, it helps people hang on to the point you're making in your sermon. I just started learning PowerPoint, and in the beginning for a lot of my stuff I created my own backgrounds and pulled pictures off the web wherever I could. But often the pictures were really poor, or ancient. When I first started, my teenage kids called the pictures I was using "cheesy." Of course now that I'm using Oxygen it's a much more professional and finished look, it brings more life to the screen, making it much more believable. I like your product.
 What has been the response to using graphics with your sermons?
The response has been very positive. Just last week, for instance, I preached on Isaiah 59:2, a scripture which had a particularly subtle meaning. I found the Oxygen image "Rebellious," and it fit the passage so perfectly, just bringing out the meaning. I had lunch with a family after the service, and one of the people there remarked that the image helped them understand the passage better. That is a typical response.
How does Oxygen fit in with your sermon preparation?
I do my PowerPoint presentation last. I do all my research and then lay out my sermon outline, and after I've got that done I work to insert the graphics and text into a PowerPoint presentation. That works best for my preaching.  What is one Oxygen image that has been particularly powerful in your ministry setting?
I really like "Glorified." It is just a particularly striking image of Jesus, a very bright, moving depiction of Jesus.
Where are you headed with multimedia in your worship services?
Media is very important, and I see us continuing on with what we're doing. You don't want to overdo it, because it's about the message, not the graphics. I've occasionally used short film clips, especially from Sermon Spice. Of course, you can only use video clips once or twice, before people get bored with it. It needs to help enhance the presentation.
*Interview has been edited for length and clarity. |
Here are the results from last months survey when we asked, "What kind of motion clips have you used in your services over the last 6 months?"
Answer |
Results |
Nature Clips |
44% |
|
Video Clips |
44% |
|
Jumpbacks |
16% |
|
Textured Backgrounds |
47% |
|
Oxygen InMotion |
9% |
|
Haven't used motion yet |
34% |
|
March's Question
What media elements will you be using for Easter?
If you're having trouble with this survey, click here. |
