Okay, none of us have Franco Dragone's budget for live events. But I know what's it like to produce creativity on a shoe-string budget. The answer is NOT using your favorite [insert favorite mega-church]'s left-over sermon graphics. In fact, that's the antithesis of creativity.
The answer is to look around at your environment. Identify its unique characteristics; determine what resources are available; and figure out how you can use them in a creative way.
Specialists in Your Church
What occupations are represented in your congregation? I once had a master craftsman who made cabinets for a living construct a stage with a "trap door" for some special effects in a Christmas program.Architectural Opportunities
What unique characteristics of your physical environment create opportunities? Are their microphone holes in your choir loft? What else can you hang from there? If you have a balcony, think about it as an extended stage, rather than just a high-level seating area.Play with the Technology
What can you do with the limited technology you have? Turn the lights out and play with the lighting and your video projector. Spin them, rotate them, shoot them onto the ceiling. Spend a day just experimenting with all of your technology - regardless of how limited it is.
Our church uses 252 Basics for the Children's Ministry teaching. This month's virtue is:
Resourcefulness - using what you have to get the job done.
Sounds appropriate.
Posted by: daniel d | January 05, 2009 at 11:03 AM
I don't think creativity is bound my money - I think it is defined by time. Creativity is one thing in leadership that demands time to make it work. Brainstorming, Collaboration, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation are in the "important but not urgent" arena and take much intentionality to pull off. Unfortunately, most leaders in ministry do not have a job description that encourages creativity. That is why resources like "left-over sermon graphics" are so helpful to many pastors/leaders who are the do-everything people on their staff (or they ARE the staff lol). Someone has already invested the time into it.
Posted by: Curt | January 06, 2009 at 05:21 PM
Love this post. Right up my alley. Used to be a part of a creative team at a church in Dover Ohio and stage design rocks and having a small budget made it even more of a cool thing. Met the most awesome people who used their (not normally tapped into) gifts who just blew me away and everyone who saw what they did, gave it up for God and it was so great. Miss it! Well this post just hit at the heart of that ministry for me. Thanks
Tina Lawver
Posted by: tlawver2000@aol.com | January 07, 2009 at 05:16 PM
Sometimes its the left-overs, as you put it, that give you the time to focus on what you do best. Great post, I just don't think it has to be one or the other.
Posted by: Jason | January 07, 2009 at 06:08 PM
I WAS IN THAT TRAP DOOR!!!! :) :) :) :) :)
Posted by: jenn schreck | January 11, 2009 at 10:13 AM
sometimes limited technology helps us to be more creative. i still love working in imovie HD 06 with its many constraints.... i love creating workarounds.
Posted by: evan blackerby | January 11, 2009 at 10:42 PM
You are right, it doesn't have to be one or the other. If God is truly transforming us as leaders, the creativity should be evident and coming out of our pores.
Posted by: Curt | January 13, 2009 at 04:21 PM