What Is Tech Ministry?

There are many answers to the question above and there is probably not a single right answer.  In my mind, tech ministry is pretty much anything technical in the church, computers, A/V/L, printers, projectors, etc.  That is actually the responsibility I have been given by the leadership of my church, anything tech related goes through me. 

But lately I’m realizing that’s not what is important at all.  True, technology should be the ultimate goal of what the tech team accomplishes but I’m beginning to learn that tech is not really as important as you might think.

I tend to be the one that feels like I can do it best, it doesn’t matter what it is, if it needs to get done, I would rather do it myself.  I spent 2 years at a different church being responsible for tech and did it all on my own.  That gig went south quickly, due to things beyond my control, and it took me a good year and a half to get back in the game.  Understandably, I was reluctant, yet at the same time, I knew that’s where I was supposed to be. I initially went into it just helping out, I just wanted to be a part of something, not expecting to be the one in charge of it all and it wasn’t long before God opened the doors. 

On one hand, I’ve done this before, but on the other hand, it’s a whole new game and I have a whole new perspective.  The egotistical side of me screams

I know I can do this, get out of my way!

But another, more rational part of me knows there is a better way.  Therefore, I have taken a different approach and probably different than what the leadership of my church expected as well. 

For one thing, tech in my church has never been taken seriously.  It has been pieced together by about a million different people who had the best intentions but a narrow focus and a short attention span. So, I have been charged to take tech up a notch or too.   I can do that, however, I don’t want to fly solo anymore.  So, I have begun building a team of people and encouraging people to take ownership of specific areas.  Ultimately, I want to do less hands on work and more leading people, designing systems and casting vision.

The first time I helped out in the sound booth was exactly one year ago today, sort of.  I started the week before Easter.  I remember that because I was  basically told ‘Thanks for helping this time but next week is way too important for some newbie.’  I understand though, I didn’t have a clue what was going on back there, as far as their equipment and setup.  So, I laid low on Easter Sunday, but I’ve been in there ever since. 

It’s probably been about 6 months since I have officially been in charge of things and in that time, I have brought several new people on board and have begun to form an interesting, diverse team. 

The fascinating thing to me is watching and listening as people get involved.  More than once, after joining the team, someone has told me that they never knew but this is where they need to serve.  That amazes me and it also hits close to home.  I was part of a church many years ago where I served in many different ways but never in a way that seemed to be where my heart was.  Not surprisingly, I burned out.

One day, the sound guy at church told me he would love to teach me how to run sound.  Believe it or not, after getting in there I said, I never knew but this is where I need to serve.  Seriously.

So, when I hear someone say that today, it makes total sense, I get that.  I’m realizing that my role in leading this team needs to focus less on what tasks can we check off of our list and more on providing opportunities for people to serve and point them in the direction they need to go.

People are blessed by this tech ministry, blessed by serving on the team and also people in the church and our community are blessed as a result of the people serving on the team.  I am blessed more than I can express because I get to watch God touch people’s lives through a bunch of geeks with a heart for ministry.

Go God!