Video Ministry: Using Media in Worship without Going Hollywood

Purpose…Values…Culture…Vision…Excellence…Meaning…

Media in worship is part of the life of many churches striving to serve Christ in this time and place. Through personal experience, real-life illustrations, and techniques tested in the local church, Video Ministry offers practical tools and foundational principles for starting or growing a media ministry. Focusing on the powerful ways God can use media to deepen people’s faith, Video Ministry encourages and offers real help to the thousands of people who serve by creating video, graphics, and other media for worship.

View the introduction to the DVD now...click here

"Connie Stella has built one of the leading video ministries from the ground up. Her insights, principles, and practical hands-on ideas are invaluable. This book is a must read for any church currently using video, or hoping to start a media ministry."
Adam Hamilton―Senior Pastor and author of Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic

"A prophetic voice for the church today, Connie Stella helps us ask the right questions as we look at our ministry and desire its growth. Her insights are like Lasik surgery for visual arts eyes. Whether you have a full-scale broadcast ministry or are just starting out, Video Ministry offers real-world principles that will catapult your ministry to the next level!"
Marty O’Connor―International Technical Director, Willow Creek Association

System Requirements:
The DVD is compatible with most DVD set top players and PC DVD-ROM players.

Constance (Connie) Stella is Director of Saving Grace Productions at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.

Constance E. Stella Bio

• Charter member, Church of the Resurrection
• Founder, Saving Grace Productions, January 1998
• Life-long United Methodist
• Studied writing, film and television production at Cambridge University
• Interned at BBC-TV London; graduate of Stephens College, Columbia, MO, with B.S. in Film & Political Science
• TV news producer at NBC stations in Detroit and Kansas City
• Produced video projects for Church of the Resurrection as volunteer for 7 years before joining church staff to launch Saving Grace Productions
• Serves on National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) national Committee on Church Media
• Leads workshops & seminars on Video in Worship, Technical & Creative Team Development, Media Ministry Leadership; visits medium-large churches nationwide each year
• Married to Reid, an advertising creative director
• Mother of 3 young teenagers

History of Saving Grace Productions

Saving Grace Productions is the media ministry of Church of the Resurrection; SGP has a very broad scope and produces both new media and live productions.

Scope of Work & Resources

• Produce award-winning new media for main weekend worship
• 5 services, average worship attendance of 7,000 – 8,000 per weekend
• 5 cameras, Producer’s ‘skybox’ in house, separate FOH booth
• Back of house―Control Room, ENG room, studio, audio control room, voice-over booth, conference room, 2 edit suites, and offices
• Produce new media, predominantly video illustrations, for sermons
• Produce all types of new media―graphics, audio pieces, videos―for worship, often collaborating with music department
• Produce Capital Campaign & Stewardship Campaign projects, helping to raise approximately $75 Million in 12 years
• Produce all technical aspects of main weekend worship, including graphics, 5 cameras, audio, theatrical lighting
• Produce media on DVD, CD, VHS, Audiotape―sermons, small group video-based curriculum, etc.
• Produce weekly worship & programming events for COR’s other ministries―Singles, Students, Adult Discipleship
• Provide technical facilitation of audio-video & other media systems for COR campus facilities
• Produce special projects: special worship events, concerts, special video projects for COR ministries, and video projects for other churches and church organizations

History & Staffing

• Founded in January 1998
• Began with one part-time staff, no volunteers
• Began 2^nd year with one full-time & one 10-hour-per-week staff and 10 –15 volunteers
• Currently: 10 staff positions and 175 volunteers