Using Live-streaming in Churches.

Live streaming means using a camera to record and broadcast an event in real-time online. 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.

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. it illustrates the power of broadcasting, and you can use that power to share your message without physical limitations.

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

For you to Get started, 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.

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,then you must need a full lighting set.

A live streaming service. This step is the difference between an audience of a few dozen and potentially millions. 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. 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 Live-stream

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.

Check out this guide by Nathan Creitz on How To UseFacebook Live To Stream Your Church Services.

Conclusion

Live streaming isn’t necessary, or even recommended, for many churches. 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 into live streaming, a new way to spread the Word has been unleashed. Goodluck.