Streaming into worship -- Area churches moving into new technologies

Area churches are utilizing new technologies By JACK PALMER palmer@crescent-news.com Published: May 3, 2013 12:00PM

Reaching people across town or across the world, churches in rural northwestern Ohio have expanded their ministry and outreach to live streaming worship services on the Internet. "We started about three months ago," said Doug Eis of Zion's Lutheran Church in Defiance. "We live stream our Saturday night and Sunday morning services every week. It's being watched by people out of state and even internationally. That's really been surprising since we haven't promoted it that much yet." Zion's volunteer technology team is comprised of Eis, Stormy Gutman, Dale Worline and Shaun Holley, the latter of whom runs the live streaming process every Saturday night. "Back in the 'old days' we took VCR tapes from our services to DCTV," said Eis. "We've substantially upgraded our technology with digital cameras over the years and began thinking about live streaming. It involved a few extra steps, but we had everything to accomplish it right here. We received a donation to acquire the software." The Defiance church is the first to live stream its worship services in the entire Northwestern Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), which is comprised of 164 congregations. "Our synod has been very supportive," said Eis. "I think more and more congregations will look at doing this over the next few months and years." Live streaming is something that is not new at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon, a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod congregation with the largest Protestant church membership in the six-county area. "We've been live streaming for about three years now," said Rev. Peter Marcis. "We live stream all three of our Sunday services (7:45. 9 and 11 a.m.), as well as our Wednesday night services during Advent and Lent." Marcis said the impetus behind starting live streaming came from Richard Snyder, a young parishioner who was a cadet at West Point.

"He really missed worship back home. So our technology specialist, Josh Miesner, began looking into a variety of possibilities. It has turned out very well and people are thrilled. Not only are they watching our services from various, but also in foreign countries in places such as Taiwan. Kudos to John for his expertise and time he has spent on this." Marcis said he view live streaming services as an opportunity to expand the ministry of the church. "I think we need to take advantage of the opportunity of new technologies. By doing so, we can reach more people where they are and spread the gospel message even more." Rev. Bill Mesaeh of Defiance Christian Church, which has been podcasting its Sunday sermons for the past four years, also sees the benefits of reaching new people through technology. He said about 350 people listen to the sermon podcast every month. "Live streaming is definitely something we have considered," he said. "But actual attendance at a church is still critical. People that don't come to church miss the fellowship and contact with others that is such an important part of the life of any Christian. You can't do that from a hotel room." Eis said that Zion's Lutheran will be hosting a free technology seminar for churches interested in live streaming on June 14 from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Online registration is available at: www.zionslutheranchurch.com/Media_Seminar.html. "People from churches of all denominations, independent churches and other faith communities are welcome," said Eis. "This seminar will be also streamed live and we will be taking questions via email from Internet viewers." For more information about the seminar, call the church office at 419-782-8781.