What about a Sabbath for Technical People?
I wonder how many church tech team members (staff and/or volunteers) don’t take a Sabbath --- ever. If you’re a “church slave”, as my friend (and former technical director) Anthony Coppedge sometimes calls church staff members, you may be slowly killing your own spiritual growth, as well as the creative and professional growth of your technical team.
Posted 08/31/2011
My last letter from the editor was written while on a plane to Hyderabad, India, with our church's high school youth group and worship band. While there, we split our time between vacation Bible school activities at two orphanages and several concerts that were held in cooperation with a local church, New Life Assembly of God in neighboring Secunderabad.
I was so impressed with the folks at New Life. Their musical and technical teams are truly world-class and their passion for the Gospel is most inspiring. Weekly attendance at the church is about 5,000, yet their auditorium seats only 500. How do they do it? Most people attend services watching LED screens at a neighboring amphitheater --- equipment that must be set up and struck each week.
The church has four technical staff members, and nearly 60 volunteers --- all of whom work all four services every Sunday.
As part of my personal devotions in India, I was reading in the book of Numbers on the importance of Sabbath. Our secular culture here in the U.S. doesn't place as much importance on Sabbath, nor even in many of our modern churches. Why is that? To some, the emphasis of the Sabbath topic in the Bible may be directed towards physical labor and/or secular occupations. Others may see the need for a Sabbath, or a break during the work-week, but don't see the need for the Sabbath to be on Sunday.
I was struck by the dedication and devotion of the tech staff at New Life in India. They may be the Levites of the church, and their service is their worship. Or they may observe the Sabbath in other ways or on other days.
But I wonder how many other church tech team members (staff and/or volunteers) don't take a Sabbath --- ever. The Old Testament says that death is the penalty for not observing the Sabbath. While that penalty may not be taken literally these days, it may have other similar consequences.
Business professionals and athletes agree that taking intentional, regularly scheduled breaks --- full-day breaks --- are vital to growing stronger and staying creative and innovative.
So, if you're a "church slave", as my friend (and former technical director) Anthony Coppedge sometimes calls church staff members, you may not be dragged outside the city and stoned to death, but you may be slowly killing your own spiritual growth, as well as the creative and professional growth of your technical team.
If you have comments, I'd enjoy your feedback. Feel free to leave a Reader Comment below.
Brian Blackmore is President and Editor-in-Chief at Production Media, Inc., publishers of Worship Facilities Magazine and Church Production Magazine. See http://www.worshipfacilities.com.
Reader Comments
ADD NEW COMMENTIt's really appreciable!!Good work Brian. website design boca raton
Posted by website design boca raton on 10/08/2011 report abuse
So true Brian. It is a shame the church, of all places, continues to treat their staff/volunteers with such disregard for their family and spiritual health. Your article leads to Joes article on PG24 which leads to unhealthy work places. Churches?
Posted by RFVideo on 10/07/2011 report abuse
Thanks for the comment Pastor Mike. I think burn-out is a big problem among technical people. It contributes to so many already difficult aspects of technical ministry --- lack of team work, bad attitudes etc.
Posted by Brian Blackmore on 09/07/2011 report abuse
Good word Brian! If you think about it, with the idea of a Sabbath, which is God's idea by the way, we get to rest 52 days per year. Not only is it very important to us spiritually, but physically as well. The Old Testament punishment for not observing the Sabbath was death - well if we don't rest our bodies at least once a week - imagine what could happen...
Posted by pastormike on 09/01/2011 report abuse