Driving onto the campus of Idlewild Baptist Church just north of Tampa is an amazing sight. What an expansive set of buildings. What an amazing opportunity for ministry to people. Well, yes, the congregation. But I’m thinking more about the potential for ministry to those involved in technical support.

At the helm of all things technical is my friend, Jimmy Moore, Media Minister for Idlewild Baptist. Jimmy has a genuine pastor’s heart and a gift for keeping an even keel under fire, both pivotal characteristics for leading a large technical staff and over 100 volunteers.

And since tech support staff and volunteers are people too – no, really, they are – I wanted to know more about what it takes to keep such a ministry running. I’ve been around churches of all sizes for a lot of years, and I can tell you from firsthand experience that there can be a tremendous amount of stress involved in serving the technical support needs of a large pastoral staff and congregation. So in the midst of all that potential chaos, how does a church like this minister to their tech staff and volunteers?

Things in your church might be different. You might not have a lot of volunteers. In fact, you may be the entire tech ministry. Whatever your situation, I deeply encourage you to wrap the following conversation around you, poke at it from every angle and see what ideas and nuggets of wisdom you can apply to your own ministry.

[CT] Give us a description of your church, and your role on the pastoral staff serving as the Media Minister.

[JM] Idlewild has a membership of around 10,000 and weekly worship attendance of around 6,500. IBC is 73 years old with an awesome history of growth. I joined the Pastoral Staff of the church in January 2001 as Minister - Technical Ministries. At that time the Technical Ministries of the church was part of the Music Ministry (Family Worship Department). In those days it was just me with an incredible group of volunteers and I shared a Ministry Assistant with the Minister - Instrumental Music. At that time I was responsible for A/V/L. I am still responsible for those things and it has grown to being responsible for anything technical (including IT, copiers, telephony, etc.)

[CT] What path did God lead you on to become a Media Minister?

[JM] I was saved and subsequently baptized at 14. I sensed God calling me to full-time ministry at 17. I was very involved in the music ministry of my home church (not much happening technologically at that smaller church in those days). Studied music in college and began fulltime as Minister of Music of a church in 1982. Very quickly after beginning in that ministry I really felt that God had something different in store for me (Technical Ministry) and I began to do all that I could to prepare myself. I was faithful to the ministry that God had placed me in, and truthfully, being on that side of the microphone for so long was some of the best preparation for what I am doing today. God opened the door for me to change my ministry role in 1995 by allowing me to be Minister of Media at FBC Ocala for 5.5 years. What a great time in the life of that church and in my life. I had great freedom to experiment with many concepts and tools of the trade. It was wonderful preparation for my role here at Idlewild where we have been serving since January of 2001.

[CT] How many people are on your full time staff, and what roles do they serve?

[JM] Full-Time

Minister - Technical Ministries (in this role I am responsible for all things technical at Idlewild, except perhaps the Organ).

Director - IT (responsible for all computers, copiers, telephony)

Director - Media Services (responsible for all video on campus, and all production lighting)

Assistant Director - Technical Services (responsible for all audio, stage management, technical inventory management, small things like TV Carts)

Ministry Assistant - (Receptionist, Technical Ministry admin support, database management)

Ministry Assistant - (Copy Center manager, mail room oversight, admin support for Duplication/Distribution Services)

[JM] Part-Time

Chief Engineer - Responsible internally for systems designs, (designed all of the OFOI portion of our systems) ultimately responsible for evaluating all things broken.

AVL Technicians - This program has two pieces, first it is two “pools” of man-hours (one for Media Services the other for Technical Services) and second it is a group of individuals within the church which have shown a significant interest in Technical Ministries with some ability to accomplish the respective tasks that we might toss their way. Presently there are 13 AVL Techs on staff. This number grows and shrinks pretty often.

[CT] How many tech volunteers are involved in your ministry, and how do they serve? For example, do you have volunteers mixing FOH on Sunday mornings, or is that a staff position?

[JM] We have approximately one hundred ten volunteers throughout technical ministries. They are the heart of our ministry!!! Volunteers perform every role in our ministry except specific leadership roles (e.g., Technical Director, Video Director, FOH Audio Mix position in Worship Center and a few others).

[CT] Idlewild Baptist is a large church with a very active calendar. How do you stay on top of the schedule to support the needs of all the various ministries that request your help? Do you ever say “No, we can’t meet that request.” ?

[JM] As a church we have employed the use of a scheduling tool (EventU). We live (and sometimes it seems that we die) by this tool. It even drives our “intelligent building” systems, meaning when someone schedules an event in EventU, after that event receives all of the appropriate approvals and becomes a real event, the software will pass this information along to the building management software which will in turn activate HVAC systems and lighting zones in the appropriate areas of the building at the right time in support of the event. As we receive information from EventU, we develop our event lists in the Technical Ministries office and then create schedules for staff and volunteers that will allow us to meet the requested need. Yes, there are times when we must say no. However, we try our best to accommodate all reasonable requests!! One of the best things that we have been able to initiate is a weekly meeting of “Service Providers”. This is the leadership of each office which supports events (Facilities, Food Service, Technical, Hospitability, etc.) It has become common place for those who are contemplating “significant events” to bring their concept to that meeting for discussion and eventual approval. It is at this level that an event can be postponed or even denied due to a lack of appropriate resources.

[CT] Describe your leadership style with your staff.

[JM] Perhaps that would be a better question for them!! I would like to think that I “shepherd” them. There are times when the shepherd must use his staff!! I think they would tell you that I have charted the course for the ministry that I believe has given us AND that I know where we are going and I know how I want to get there. Simultaneously I strongly desire a team spirit and wish to establish a healthy “open” atmosphere in which to work and grow and desire to have each of them participate vigorously in the process in order to achieve our ministry goals. I view my staff as God placed leaders, co-laboring to attain or goals.

[CT] How do you interact with tech volunteers?

[JM] As a pastor/leader. It is my deepest desire for my primary role with my volunteers to be a pastor for them. At the same time, they need a strong leader to guide and lead the ministry. I am honored when they allow me to rejoice with them over what God is doing in their lives AND when they include me as a prayer warrior when they are in the depths of pain and walking through turmoil.

[CT] How do you deal with a ministry volunteer that just doesn’t have the knowledge or talent to serve in a leading role, like at FOH, or at the lighting desk? Is involvement in your tech ministry a come one, come all approach, or are new recruits evaluated through various tests or exercises?

[JM] Have you been talking to someone? Just kidding. This has changed rather dramatically in the past 9 to 12 months. In an earlier life of the church, many would have described us as “come one come all”. That has changed (in some areas) because it had to. There are still areas of Technical Ministries where this works and an individual can get involved as a novice and grow (with much grace given). We have actually designed systems and made equipment purchase choices specifically to accommodate this need. There are other areas in the ministry where only a “certified” individual will work (and is placed by appointment only). We have had to walk through some hard times as “mis-placed” individuals came to realize this fact. While those were difficult times, I can report that in EVERY instance, God has done a mighty work!!! Some of those folks have found areas of ministry in the church that have been more rewarding to them than they thought possible (much more so than what they were involved in Technical Ministries). Others have found their true “niche” in Technical Ministries after being “displaced” from that role that they had thought was “made for them” and are now much more fulfilled!!! I must say that this is a delicate process and requires MUCH prayer.

[CT] Do new volunteers seem to be drawn to your ministry on a regular basis, or do you periodically post messages to the congregation asking for volunteers to serve in the tech ministry?

[JM] Yes ... beyond that response. We have a prayer ministry called Watchman on the Wall. In this ministry, each Pastor shares specific prayer concerns pertaining to his ministry (and personal life as appropriate). I will typically share in that forum when there is a specific need and much prayer will happen across the church body for such a thing. God is faithful and answers prayer!!! I have occasionally mentioned a need in our church promotional piece and this will also provide good results. When people are made aware of a need, they typically respond.

[CT] Does your church provide opportunities for training the tech volunteers and staff? For example, does your church pay travel expenses for tech volunteers to attend ministry specific training events in technology?

[JM] On the surface the answer is yes we do offer the opportunity for continuing education. Taking this a bit deeper, what the church offers goes beyond (and the church frankly prefers that we go beyond) just “one off” events that are offered. We are encouraged (and I am presently working with my staff specifically on this) to develop and document our “life’s plan” if you will. The goal for this exercise is to understand where we are headed in our life (specifically our career path) and then to work on charting a course to get there. As we develop this plan and course of action, the church will then work with us to achieve those goals. It may go beyond just a one time training opportunity to some sort of formal degree program. We are encouraged to pursue God’s plan AND His best for our love’s.

[CT] Why do you think some ministries have a tough time recruiting volunteers, while others are filled to overflowing?

[JM] Perhaps many reasons, some positive, others not so positive. Perhaps it can sometimes be attributed to leadership. Perhaps lack of awareness of specific needs. There can be many reasons.

[CT] You’ve seen a lot of different technical ministries over the years. Is there a common thread among those that seem to work really well? Likewise, have you noticed a common thread to those ministries that are struggling or seem ineffective?

[JM] For those which are thriving, one common thread I’ve observed is that excellence breeds excellence and mediocrity breeds mediocrity and ultimately leads to non-existence. Everyone wants to be a winner and be a part of a winning team!!! A growing ministry will have visionary leadership that understands who they are as well as what the culture is that they are working within. They will understand that culture’s strengths and weaknesses and have a vision for leveraging the weaknesses in to strengths. If that leadership cannot see beyond itself and where it is “today”, it is doomed from the start.

[CT] Tell us about the Trust Bank concept that y’all have developed over time in your church staff. And does that same concept apply to how you work with your tech staff, and with your volunteers?

[JM] The “Trust Bank” is a term that I have used for years with my volunteers and now with my entire team to remind them of the most basic aspect of what makes us a success or failure in our ministry. While this term is true for all relationships, it is certainly true for Technical Ministries. In each action we take we either make a deposit in to or a withdrawal from the Trust Bank. As an example let’s use audio. Every time the Minister of Music steps up to the pulpit and speaks and his microphone is on before the very first word that he utters, a deposit is made. The brutal reality of the Trust Bank is one withdrawal (the microphone is not on until sometime after he begins speaking) is equal to MANY deposits!!! Isn’t this true in all of life? Without that foundational trust between parties, nothing can be truly “right”?

[CT] Please take a moment to share some encouragement with our readers, in particular the tech volunteers who invest their lives into the tech ministry of their local church.

[JM] As I mentioned earlier I started ministry on the “other side of the microphone.” I grew up in “small church” USA and have served in almost every size church available. Each size church has its own unique personality. It is therefore difficult to say one thing that fits all needs. On the other hand we all share one thing in common. We are all “disciples”. We are each growing in Christ (vertical relationship), growing in our walk with our brothers and sisters (horizontal relationships) and prayerfully sharing our testimony with others (growing the Kingdom). We can grow our respective ministries by making deposits in the trust bank and loving and nurturing those who are over AND under our leadership. There is a passage in Exodus which describes who I wish to be in my Technical Ministry.

The Amalekites Defeated

Exodus 17:8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”

10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

[JM] In this passage, I love the contribution that Aaron and Hur make!!! Were they the ones “out front”? No, in this story Moses was in that role. Were they God’s choice for that time? Yes they were!! Imagine their vantage point!! They saw the battle as Moses saw it, it was their job to attend to their leadership’s personal and professional needs. I can imagine that there may have been a time when one of them became immersed in the moment and Moses had to turn and quietly say “you’re hurting my arm”. What level of trust and intimacy was required to fill their role?

[JM] What sort of leader has God made you to be? One last passage, this time from Matthew: Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant.

Matthew 8:5 Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” 7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

[JM] After reading this passage my question for you is simple. What is there about your life, what are you doing that makes Jesus “marvel?”