Comments on: Is It Time for Churches to Stop Live Streaming Services?

By: Ginny

Ginny — Sun, 17 Oct 2021 20:15:12 +0000

While our little country church has never offered live streaming services, our pastor (who is in his 80s) is adamantly opposed to considering the option! I can certainly appreciate both sides of this debate, and while I understand the concerns for those who have “gotten a little too comfy” in their jammies, the opportunity to better serve the home-bound in our community wins my vote. Making a greater effort to reach out to the community at large is more critical now than ever. I say, keep the “stream” flowing but ramp up the imagination and seek new and creative ways to inspire enthusiasm for in-person attendance at every opportunity. TaDah! That’s my opinion!

By: Paul Steinbrueck

Paul Steinbrueck — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 14:31:43 +0000

In reply to Jean Peavler. Thanks Jean! I appreciate your perspective!

By: Paul Steinbrueck

Paul Steinbrueck — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 14:28:20 +0000

In reply to Sondra Howe. Sondra, thanks for sharing your perspective!

By: Jean Peavler

Jean Peavler — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 21:38:38 +0000

My church is small with an older congregation, and we don’t have anyone to volunteer to work video equipment, so we have not been live streaming. We do have audio on CDs which we distribute to shut-ins, and I edit the audio files to enhance the quality and put the sermons on our website. (This is nothing new; we have been doing this for many years.) I wish we would advance to video – either live-streamed or just recorded and added later – but our people just aren’t ready to put in any effort toward it yet.

My personal views on the churches which do the streaming is that it’s a good thing. I do share the concern that some people are lazy and have just become comfortable watching the services from their couch. However, I wonder if these people would actually come back to the services if they could no longer watch the video or if they would just skip church all together. I suspect many would do the latter. It’s better that people watch from their couch than for them to not watch or listen at all. Plus, as was mentioned, this is very helpful for people who cannot attend because of illness, quarantine, being a caregiver, or other reasons. If pastors think they have members who are watching online who should now be back to the in-person services, they need to preach a tough message emphasizing how the Bible says in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” and talk about the benefits of being connected to a church family. Sure, tough messages run the risk of “offending” somebody, but it’s a pastor and preacher’s job to tell people what they NEED to hear rather than just what they WANT to hear.

By: Sondra Howe

Sondra Howe — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 18:58:42 +0000

Yes, yes, yes, we will continue to live stream as well as offer on-line giving. There is really no substitute for the in-person gathering of the local church. However, you are absolutely right about the sick, shut-ins, those out-of-town and others looking for a church.

When my husband and I were looking for a church we listened on-line first. Now that he is a pastor again (came out of retirement), we totally understand.