Lately, there has been a rise in the live streaming of services on the internet, thus giving churches a new avenue to serve their purpose. COVID-19, outdoor constraints, or the aspirations of a more fluid Sunday service have all drawn churches into the digital platform to connect with their congregations.
In this article, 30 popular online church services are listed, and the significance and advantages of online worship are discussed, in addition to the measures that should be followed for an efficient and lively online church service and the materials and preparations required by the attendees.
30 Outstanding Live Streaming Churches
- Elevation Church – Charlotte, NC
- Hillsong Church – Global
- Life Church – Edmond, OK
- Saddleback Church – Lake Forest, CA
- North Point Community Church – Alpharetta, GA
- Willow Creek Community Church – South Barrington, IL
- Gateway Church – Southlake, TX
- Transformation Church – Tulsa, OK
- Lakewood Church – Houston, TX
- The Potter’s House – Dallas, TX
- Bethel Church – Redding, CA
- Redeemer Presbyterian Church – New York, NY
- The Rock Church – San Diego, CA
- Crossroads Church – Cincinnati, OH
- Christ Fellowship Church – Palm Beach Gardens, FL
- Cornerstone Church – San Antonio, TX
- Mosaic Church – Los Angeles, CA
- NewSpring Church – Anderson, SC
- Mars Hill Bible Church – Grandville, MI
- Calvary Chapel – Costa Mesa, CA
- Church of the Highlands – Birmingham, AL
- Dream City Church – Phoenix, AZ
- City Church – Seattle, WA
- Seacoast Church – Mount Pleasant, SC
- Christ Church – Nashville, TN
- Trinity Church – Miami, FL
- Zoe Church – Los Angeles, CA
- C3 Church – Global
- Liquid Church – Parsippany, NJ
- Victory Church – Norcross, GA
Benefits of Online Church Services
1. Accessibility
Since online church services, participants can be from any part of the world hence; the geographical barrier is removed. This is very useful for several reasons mainly because of the challenges that one can face in attending the conventional physical church structures
2. Flexibility
Flexibility is a key advantage of online services because it means that services can be arranged at the most convenient time for clients and from anywhere. People in the congregation can stream services in real-time or even archive depending on their flexibility of time and region.
3. Inclusivity
Social networks can be sometimes even more accessible to disabled people who might have difficulties in attending church services. Besides, facilities offered by the internet include; language translation and subtitling in places of worship, which are important to non-Ghanaians and the physically challenged.
4. Community Building
In the context of online church services, elements such as live chat, discussion forums, and social media can be used to increase the level of interaction and facilitate the creation of a sense of togetherness. It provides an opportunity for congregants to find other like-minded people and share not only feelings but also encourage each other.
5. Resource Sharing
Churches can use online platforms to extend other resources like sermon notes, Bible studies, or devotions among others. This enhances the actual worship and offers parishioners resources to help them gain a better understanding of the faith.
How to Conduct an Online Church Service
Choose the Right Platform
Choosing the right platform is very important to the success of online church services. Some of the platforms include YouTube, Facebook Live, and Zoom and there are others specifically created for church streaming such as the Church Online Platform.
Here we need to take into account the capabilities of the chosen platform, its interface, and the technical capabilities of your and your congregation’s personnel.
Invest in Quality Equipment
A quality sound and vision system can be a major source of the quality of the overall view. Choose good cameras, mics, lights, and streaming software because they are primary in the stream. Check your internet connection to be sure that it is strong enough in order not to disconnect during the service.
Engage Your Audience
It is possible to extend the engagement of specific enterprises and their clients due to interactive sections. Engage participants through text chat, voice chat, and video chat, as well as through questions and answers and social media. Interview individuals or groups of the congregation, and create polls, surveys or feedback forms.
Create a Welcoming Atmosphere
Similar to answering the door for people attending a physical church, ensure that the atmosphere online is equally warm. Make sure there is a team on the ground ready to direct people/answer any questions during the service.
Plan and Prepare
Of importance, as noted earlier is the planning and preparation towards the implementation of the online services.
The sequence of events must be explained, shifts between one service and another must be practised, and all technical procedures should be tried out before a service is aired.
Make sure that everyone from the pastors to worship leaders to tech teams understands what is expected of them.
Provide Accessible Content
Organize your services in such a way that disabled individuals can have access through subtitles, sign language, and/or translations as well. Make sure that your work complies with standards for users with disabilities.
Encourage Community Interaction
Engage the viewers and allow them to connect before, during, and after the religious service. Establish new interaction avenues within congregants; this can be done in the form of social media groups, discussion forums, and small virtual group discussions.
Follow-up
Convey with the congregation via emails, social media and phone calls after the next service has been conducted. Offer extra material like summaries of sermons, lessons for facing the Holy Scripture, and even tracts that they could use to augment the following lesson.
Monitor and Improve
Ensure that you keep an eye on the effectiveness of your online services through analysis and from the customers’ feedback. It is advisable to use this information to implement changes and improve the conditions, dedicating yourself to the creation of comfortable conditions for the church congregation.
Stay Compliant
A very important aspect that must be observed in your services is copyright compliance, particularly in your incorporation of music and other forms of multimedia. Acquire the relevant permissions and licenses so as not to face law enforcement agencies.
Things Required for Going to an Online Service
Reliable Internet Connection
A good and stable internet connection is compulsory to avoid interruptions during the service. One may seek to opt for the wired Ethernet connection to avoid instabilities.
Device for Streaming
To access the service, you require a device through which you can stream the service, a computer, tablet, or smartphone, among others.
In addition, ensure your device whether it be a smartphone, tablet or computer has sufficient battery charge because streaming utilizes a considerable amount of battery charge as well as making sure the device has the right software for streaming.
Comfortable Seating
All that is necessary is to provide a comfortable environment concerning the viewing of the service. Select a seating position which enables you to be comfortable throughout the service.
Bible and Notepad
Always carry along a Bible; you will require it to read along during the scripture reading and take notes during prayers and the sermon. This in a way assists in attaining a deeper view or interaction with the content.
Headphones or Speakers
A good set of headphones or speakers can also help amplify the audio helping one hear the sermon, music and other segments of the service better.
Communion Elements
To further help you plan, if your church participates in a communion service, you should set up the appropriate elements earlier on (bread and wine/juice). Learn the church’s guidelines on communing at home by observing the following steps
Hence the Printed/digital service guide
Many churches give the order of worship or the program and other necessary information in a service guide or bulletin. Either take a hard copy or have them on your device readily available for a quick reference.
Quiet Environment
Make sure you do not have any disturbances around you, ideally, you should not make the call in the middle of a busy day. This will assist you to pay more attention and hence be more involved in the activities of the worship service.
Family Members or Friends
In case you are attending the service with family members or friends, make sure all members including your friends are prepared and abreast with how to carry out the service. This helps in the creation of a worship atmosphere either from home.
Interactive Tools
Prepare yourself to actively participate by using the real-time live chat, polls, and links for social media pages of the church inside the service.
Conclusion
The change towards online church services comes with many advantages, of which are relative ease of access, convenience and as well as fostering togetherness. This paper identifies guidelines drawn from the field and technologies available today that can enable churches to offer fulfilling and interesting online services to viewers across the world.
Regardless of the size and focus of your church, incorporating online services can be beneficial for reaching people in today’s world. It is for this reason that attendees can participate fully and enhance their spiritual welfare, with simple materials placed in good preparation from their homes.
