• Chinesemusic For Your Church Services
• Chinese Music For Your Church Services Catholic
• Chinese Music For Your Church Services Near Me

1. Hillsong worship at your church Dear friends, Through the uncertainty of the current times, one thing has been made clear – that Jesus and his presence surpasses all.
2. City Harvest Chinese Service came about as a result of Pastor Kong and Sun’s vision to build a “Church Without Walls”. There was an evident need to serve the Mandarin-speaking in our society, and from just a handful of members meeting as a cell group, this vibrant ministry rapidly increased, leading to the start of our very first Chinese.

This can also be recorded and uploaded to social media or sent out to a church email list. Partnering with churches in your area. If you don’t have the capability to stream your worship services, consider partnering with another local congregation that offers that capability.

Should Your Church Move to Virtual-Only Services?

I have been a pastor since 1984. In all these years, I have never seen anything like the disruption the coronavirus pandemic has brought to the church.

Some churches have closed in-person services, while others have resisted governmental efforts to close theirs. Some have met in person with strict safety protocols while offering their services online as well. And restrictions on indoor religious services continue to be litigated.

Now we are seeing the worst surge since the pandemic began as officials predict that the “darkest days of the pandemic” are ahead. One article warns, “It is hard to overstate the severity of the national trajectory.” Dr. Anthony Fauci urged Americans yesterday to stay home and forego travel during the Christmas holidays during “this unprecedented challenging time.”

All this as COVID-19 vaccines start to become available. This juxtaposition between virus and vaccine is causing many pastors and churches to wonder whether to offer in-person worship or virtual-only services until trends improve and/or vaccines are available to everyone. This is a question I have been asked repeatedly as well.

Let’s explore this issue in light of recent events and biblical wisdom. We have discussed some of what follows over the months of the pandemic, but I hope today’s article will help your church as you make decisions in these challenging days.

Three biblical factors to consider

Paul prayed for Christians in Thessalonica, “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

This is not Greek tripart anthropology in which spirit, soul, and body are separate entities. In biblical anthropology, it is not that we have a spirit, soul, and body, but that we are spirit, soul, and body as different dimensions of our holistic person. As famed New Testament scholar F. F. Bruce notes, “This is another way of expressing the desire for their complete sanctification.”

However, just as “father,” “son,” and “husband” describe different aspects of my experience, Paul’s terms signify different aspects of our lives. Let’s apply them to the question before us today.

First, spirit (“pneuma” in the Greek) points to our spiritual lives and God’s call to worship him.

The psalmist declared, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!” (Psalm 95:6). We are exhorted, “Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do” (Hebrews 10:25 NLT). There was a physical and corporate dimension to such worship in the New Testament era, so that Paul could encourage his readers to “greet one another with a holy kiss” (2 Corinthians 13:12).

On the other hand, churches did not own buildings for several centuries. We know that “the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands” (Acts 7:48; cf. 2 Chronicles 2:6). And corporate worship is impossible or severely persecuted today in parts of the Muslim world and in countries such as North Korea.

Second, soul (“psyche” in the Greek) points to our relational lives.

Here we find another balance. On one hand, God made us as relational beings. He said of Adam and of us, “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Doctors note that “touch starvation” during the pandemic “increases stress, depression, and anxiety, triggering a cascade of negative physiological effects.”

On the other hand, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). I recently quoted three evangelical ethicists who wrote, “It is not possible to properly love a person and to act unnecessarily to jeopardize their health.” Worship services can be especially hazardous to the elderly and other at-risk persons. We also know that singing and preaching spread the virus much more than most other activities.

Third, body (“soma” in the Greek) points to our physical lives.

Several well-known physical factors are relevant as we determine whether to offer in-person worship services during this surge in the pandemic:

• Will attenders wear masks into, during, and after services?
• Can/will they maintain proper social distancing while on the church campus and in services?
• Will they practice proper hand hygiene?
• Is the worship facility ventilated safely?
• Will activities that especially “shed” the virus (such as public singing) be practiced?
• Will at-risk individuals be present?
• Can/will the facilities be properly cleaned before and after services?

Our bodies are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). We are to steward them and all other resources well to the glory of God.

'These promises include your name'

As you and your church family face the worst part of the worst pandemic in living memory, know this: your Savior is with you and for you.

In Christ and Calamity: Grace and Gratitude in the Darkest Valley, Lutheran minister Harold L. Senkbeil writes: “When calamity strikes, you can count on God—not because you feel close to him, but because he remains close to you.” He encourages us, “In life’s tight spots, focus not on your faith, but on God’s faithfulness. Look not at your promises to him, but his loving promises to you in his Son. Rest assured, those promises include your name.”

In fact, he invites us to see our afflictions as our “personal link to Jesus.” Since our Savior is holding us in his hand (John 10:28) and interceding for us right now (Romans 8:34), he feels the pain we feel. Our challenges link us to him in an intimate and transforming way.

Thomas Ken (1637–1711) wrote the “Doxology,” perhaps the world’s best-known hymn.

Senkbeil quotes these lines, also written by the famous bishop:

Teach me to live that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, so that I may
Rise glorious at the judgment day.

Will you make his liberating prayer yours today?

NOTE: I wrote a blog yesterday for A Pastor’s View offering encouragement to pastors in these discouraging times. I also recorded two videos with Pastor Mark Turman focusing on practical aspects of the pandemic for churches. I invite you to read or view them today.

Publication date: December 18, 2020

Photo courtesy: ©SparrowStock

For more from the Denison Forum, please visit www.denisonforum.org.

The Daily Article Podcast is Here!

As the dead of winter sets in, temperatures plummet, and periods of darkness get longer, the outside world has become a scary place to be.

If you’re reading this article from Gotham City or the future Detroit imagined in Robocop, the protection of a thick comforter, pajama pants, and half-a-dozen memory foam pillows probably sounds like an awfully enticing alternative to going outdoors.

Also, if you’re a resident of one of those cities, please email me immediately. I have a lot of questions for you about time travel. But for now, let’s get back on track.

Technological advancements have already brought the video arcade, movie theater, and library into our homes, so why not add church sermons to the list?

Church live streaming is not only a matter of convenience for members of your congregation, but it could be the only option for those who are unable to attend due to age, distance, or disability.

Luckily, church live streaming tools have become more and more user-friendly in recent years and with this guide, even if you’re a beginner, you’ll be able to broadcast your sermons live online in no time.

Read on to find out how.

What is live streaming?

You probably already have a working knowledge of live streaming but, quite simply, live streaming means using a camera to record and broadcast an event in real-time online.

So why live stream your church services? There is a limit to how many people can physically fit in your place of worship, but that finite number can be multiplied exponentially through live streaming.

Superbowl XLIX in Phoenix was attended by 70,000 people, but the game was viewed by more than 120 million. That may be an extreme example, but it illustrates the power of broadcasting, and you can use that power to share your message without physical limitations.

Chinesemusic For Your Church Services

Additionally, you can make sure your sermon reaches those who, due to illness, disability, or distance, wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend.

Here is a brief story to bring the point closer to home.

Every winter, my parent’s parish performs a Christmas concert. Because of a recent operation, my father was unable to attend in person. But he was able to experience the concert from home via live stream, offering our family a measure of joy and solace during the holidays.

Getting started

Think you’re ready to roll? Hold your horses, Kubrick!

Before you run off with half-baked notions of mise-en-scène and The Kuleshov Effect, you’ll need to make sure that you have a few essentials:

• A camera. This could be anything from a smartphone or laptop, all the way up to a professional camcorder. It largely depends on your budget and the size of your audience, but you’ll need something that can digitally record images and sounds. More on this later.

• Decent lighting. Candle light and shadows can be great for establishing a consecrated atmosphere, but not so much for lighting a set. A basic rule of thumb is “the more light, the better,” but if you’re ready for a more in-depth look, check out DaCast’s Cheap Lighting for Video guide.

• A live streaming service. This step is the difference between an audience of a few dozen and potentially millions (if you have enough puppies and babies on camera, that is). Think of this service as the video equivalent of the website that turns your church’s physical newsletter into a page online. Below we’ll get into some specific live streaming platform options.

Free options

Now that you know what live streaming is, why you should take advantage of it, and how to get started, let’s look at a few free, reliable options to try out. I chose the below popular services because they are completely free and require minimal setup and equipment for small churches.

YouTube Live

When people think of online video, they think of YouTube. So it makes sense that YouTube provides a free live streaming tool. Formerly known as Google Hangouts On Air, the service made the move to YouTube Live in September of 2016.

YouTube Live

YouTube Live offers advanced features like highlight reels, live chat, and multiple camera support. But if you’re just looking for a familiar name with an ever-expanding user base, YouTube Live is a solid choice. To get started, check out YouTube’s live streaming guide here.

Facebook Livestream

If your church already has a strong Facebook following, it makes a lot of sense to simplify the process of live streaming by broadcasting there.

Facebook Live allows you to broadcast publicly or just to friends, and you can start a stream simply by tapping the “Go Live” button on your phone, tablet, or computer. After the broadcast, you can post the entire service to your church’s Facebook page and download the video for archival purposes, or to embed on your own church website.

Check out this guide by Nathan Creitz on How To Use Facebook Live To Stream Your Church Services. His story illustrates just how simple and quick it can be to implement live streaming.

YouNow

Targeted primarily at Millennials and teens, YouNow is not as widely known as the other two entries on this list, but its popularity is growing quickly. YouNow’s defining feature is its portability, and its ad-free business model. You can broadcast live from your Android, iPhone, or iPad using a free app. Think Snapchat for extended videos.

YouNow operates on a tip jar business model. Fans can tip their favorite YouNow personalities with online currency, and YouNow takes a percentage.

Periscope

Periscope is another no-frills streaming mobile app, and is an ideal option if most of your church communication is done via Twitter.

Periscope

Imagine how hip your church will seem when you invite parishioners to to view a live broadcast not with a convoluted email, but with a hashtag? Just don’t use the word “hip.”

For a deeper look at some of these tools, plus a few more, check out this comprehensive guide on our Event Management blog.

Paid options

There are a lot of great church management software packages out there, but live stream integration has not become a basic feature, yet. If you have a growing church and are ready to invest in a premium live streaming product, you should consider a paid service. Here are three of the most popular.

Livestream

Founded in 2007, Livestream is one of the oldest and largest live streaming services in the world. The company caters to everyone from large corporations to small businesses and individuals, with plans starting at $42 per month. Looking for products with similar features? These Livestream alternatives might be what you are looking for your church.

Devon Laird, a video producer at Preston Trail Community Church in Frisco, Texas, has been very happy with Livestream’s service.

“For live streaming we use Livestream. It’s really great and they have great customer support. We stream all of our weekend services with it,” he said in an email.

You can also check out Livestream’s Ultimate Guide to Livestreaming Events eBook.

DaCast

This San Francisco based company operates on the premise of “Streaming as a Service.” With plans starting at $19 a month, DaCast is an attractive option for smaller churches that aren’t ready to heavily invest in live streaming, but still want dedicated customer service and the reliability of an established company. If you are looking for similar live stream solutions for your church, these DaCast alternatives might provide what you are looking for.

DaCast

DaCast even has a blog post highlighting some of their competitors in the streaming space called 7 Best Live Streaming Services for Your Church. (Spoiler alert: DaCast earned the highest recommendation.)

UStream

IBM has thrown its hat into the live streaming ring by acquiring Ustream in January of 2016. With its lowest priced plan coming in at $99 per month, UStream is by far the most expensive service on this list.

However, they do offer a 30-day free trial, which is a good opportunity to demo a high-end live streaming package if you’re just looking to take a test drive.

Advanced tips and tricks

Now that you’ve got the basics down, here are a few pro tips to help you make sure you don’t come across as a newbie once you go live.

Choose the right equipment

For beginners at small churches a decent smartphone, tablet, or laptop with built-in video camera should suffice early on. But for larger churches with big congregations and a flexible budget, you’ll want to invest in a decent camera or two.

Breaking down all available camera options is a different story for a different day, and a different author, but Pro Church Tools has an excellent guide outlining The Best 5 Video Cameras For Your Church In 2016.

Spread the word through social media

If a church service is live streamed on the internet and there’s nobody around to hear it, did it make a sound?

Your parishioners can only follow your live stream if they know where to find it, so make sure to put in some work in the days leading up to the broadcast by sharing the vital info on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, your newsletter and website etc.

Include the online audience

You’ve selected the right streaming service, announced the live stream on social media, and set up the camera. You’re ready for action. But once your sermon begins, don’t forget that your audience now stretches outside the walls of your church building.

The (hopefully) smiling faces in front of you are still the top priority, but the occasional nod to the camera and acknowledgement of your friends in cyberspace can go a long way. Ideally, a few of those viewers will be impressed enough to leave their living room next week.

Conclusion

Live streaming isn’t necessary, or even recommended, for many churches.

Chinese Music For Your Church Services Catholic

But hopefully this guide has taken a bit of the fear factor out of broadcasting your church services online. With a variety of free tools, and the price of high-end technology constantly dipping, live streaming is a fun, new way to spread the Word.

Have you had successes or struggles with live streaming your sermons? Let us know in the comments below.

Chinese Music For Your Church Services Near Me

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