In the year 1900, it was understood by scientists that it would take about another 100 years for human knowledge to double. By 1945, that number was down to 25 years.
And now, thanks to the internet, which provides immediate access to unlimited amounts of information, researchers claim that human knowledge has the ability to double every 12 hours.
It’s amazing what has been accomplished in not only the last century, but even within the last decade. And in the church world, just think about how drastically different things are now vs. even five years ago.
… by using region-of-interest (ROI) features, one can now create a multi-camera video shoot out of a single high-resolution camera image.
So what could the next decade look like?
What about a continued expansion in the practical application of 4k (and even 6k or 8k video)? As storage gets cheaper, it becomes more plausible to keep high-resolution, high-bitrate content, and by using region-of-interest (ROI) features, one can now create a multi-camera video shoot out of a single high-resolution camera image.
Maybe the idea of a metaverse/virtual church experience goes from bleeding edge to standard practice.
Instead of just having an online service to watch, it may become more ubiquitous and cost-effective to create fully immersive experiences for people to engage with in order to feel “present” and build community with others.
Perhaps this means we could even start streaming using 360-degree cameras so people really feel like they’re in a worship venue, and they can choose which part of the room (and, thus, which camera) they want to “sit” in, so they have the view of the room that suits their preference.
From my own home, I could have an immersive, 7.1, surround sound-type experience to feel enveloped by the sound of the room, not just with the stereo mix, but also with crowd mics that help me feel the response from other churchgoers near me.
If in-ear monitoring platforms can now create spatial audio, who’s to say that doesn’t become commonplace for an online experience also? From my own home, I could have an immersive, 7.1, surround sound-type experience to feel enveloped by the sound of the room, not just with the stereo mix, but also with crowd mics that help me feel the response from other churchgoers near me.
And while I’m at it, maybe I can further customize my experience by choosing between alternate broadcast feeds, like networks have started to do with major sporting events. Maybe I can choose to stream the ISO feed of a certain camera, or select a custom audio mix that has more vocals and less flute or harpsichord or whatever instrument I prefer to ignore.
Want people to get excited about missions and outreach? Have them come by a booth in the lobby where they can put on a VR headset and experience for themselves what it’s like to be at that overseas orphanage or help with disaster relief.
Maybe we even start using ideas like this to promote events or experiences we want the congregation to engage with. Want people to get excited about missions and outreach? Have them come by a booth in the lobby where they can put on a VR headset and experience for themselves what it’s like to be at that overseas orphanage or help with disaster relief. It’s like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book series in church!
We’ll be able to control more equipment through interfaces on a phone or tablet, send higher-quality streaming images over a network faster and cheaper, and get our hands on even more technology that previously had only been accessible by production houses and professional broadcast teams.
It’s almost unfathomable to consider where things could go.
And while it’s exciting to think and dream about that world, to what extent should we allow ourselves to “go there”?
Yes, there’s wisdom in planning for the future and increasing our own personal knowledge base, so we’re always ready to adjust to changes in vision.
But in Psalm 90, Moses prays that the Lord would “teach us to number our days” which, in turn, allows us to approach every day with the right perspective.
We can’t be so excited about looking ahead to what’s next that we overlook the opportunities already at hand and fail to make the best out of the time and resources we’ve already been given.
And while it’s exciting to think and dream about that world, to what extent should we allow ourselves to “go there”?
New opportunities really can’t bring much value if we don’t already know how to maximize our current situation.
What can I do with what’s already at my disposal? How can I learn my current equipment better? How can I improve my craft to make sure that I’m working with excellence during the season I’m in?
Ultimately, it all comes down to stewardship. If I’m doing a good job managing the time, teams, and resources I’ve already been blessed with, it’s easier for the Lord to bless me with expanded influence.
Time is something I’ll never get back. So regardless of the tomorrow I’m dreaming about, what am I doing with my today?
In his book “Today Matters,” noted author and speaker John Maxwell points out that the best time to plant an oak tree was 50 years ago. The second best time is today. I can’t go back and change things from the past, but I can make a conscious decision today to take steps that will improve my future.
By understanding that today matters, I know that every small, deliberate, intentional step I take now is going to pay dividends down the road. But I’ll never get to the end of the process if I don’t start doing small things today.
Looking ahead is important. But living in the moment is what determines the future I’ll ultimately be moving towards.
It’s not just about what’s coming next; it starts with what’s happening now.
Justin Firesheets will be presenting "Structured Creativity: How Implementing the Right Organizational Systems Can Unlock Creative Freedom" July 25-27 at Capture Summit 2022 in metro Atlanta.
