The ChurchGear Podcast

If you are currently working in ministry, how do you actually negotiate for better pay?

We're joined by Johnny Ragin, the founder of the massively popular Worship Sound Guy platform. We dive deep into the taboo topic of church finances, discussing Johnny's starting church tech salary, and debate if churches have to consider touring/corporate AVL jobs when they look at the market rate for church techs salaries.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Toby’s Gear Flipping Origin Story

7:00 Johnny Ragin (Worship Sound Guy) Joins the Podcast!

11:00 The Reality of Starting Salaries in Church Tech

20:10 Who Actually Sets the Market Rate for Church Tech Salaries?

27:00 Why the Role of Technical Director Has Gotten Significantly Harder

31:30 The Disconnect: Job Description Demands vs. Offered Salary

35:00 The Case for (and against) Hiring Highly Skilled, Part-Time Church Techs

40:00 Strategy: How to Ask for a Raise Without Getting a Promotion

46:30 Should You Bring Personal Life Circumstances into a Salary Negotiation?

55:00 Keep Sundays Running: Why Johnny Actually Left His Church Role

1:00:00 Church Tech Confessional: An AI Translation Disaster

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

What actually happens to your ministry job when your marriage falls apart? Will you be immediately fired, or will your leadership team walk alongside you?

In this incredibly vulnerable and necessary episode, we sit down with Justin Firesheets to tackle the taboo and deeply painful reality of navigating a divorce while serving on church staff. Justin opens up about his own personal journey, walking us through exactly how and when he approached his executive leadership team.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: The Difficulty of Marriage

5:15 Justin Firesheets Joins the Podcast!

9:45 Navigating a Divorce While on Church Staff

12:00 How to Talk to Executive Leadership About a Coming Divorce

24:15 How Long Should You Wait Before Disclosing It to Leadership?

25:30 Did the Church Have an Official Policy on Staff Divorce?

29:25 The Fear of Losing Your Ministry Job During a Personal Crisis

43:15 The Debate: Should Divorce Policies Differ Depending on Your Church Role?

47:15 Justin’s Advice: When to Bring Leadership in to Help

57:50 Church Tech Confessional

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

What happens when the production team at one of the largest mega-churches in the country experiences a complete Sunday morning meltdown? And more importantly, how do you face your executive leadership the next day?

In this incredibly vulnerable episode, we are joined by Live Production Lead Mike Smith and Director of Media Bryan Bailey from the massive Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Mike pulls back the curtain to share the absolute worst Sunday of his entire church production career, walking us through the terrifying reality of the failure and advice on handling leadership conversations that follow these moments.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Toby and Blake’s Vehicle Disasters

5:30 Mike Smith & Bryan Bailey (Prestonwood Baptist Church) Join the Podcast

11:15 The Worst Sunday of Mike Smith’s Church Production Career

22:10 Navigating the Monday Meeting: The Conversation with Leadership

30:00 The Big Debate: Has Modern Church Production Gotten Too Fancy?

37:50 The Mental Game: How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Bad Sunday?

41:40 Practical Advice to Prevent Massive Church Tech Mistakes

47:30 Keep Sundays Running

52:00 Church Tech Confessional

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Are we outsourcing too many of our actual thoughts to Artificial Intelligence? And more importantly, is AI going to eventually replace the need for human volunteers in the tech booth?

In this episode, we are joined by Jake Gosselin, founder of Churchfront, to tackle the most highly debated topic in modern ministry: Artificial Intelligence. Jake shares his personal journey into live production before diving deep into exactly how AI is currently being integrated into the church tech space.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Are We Outsourcing Too Many Thoughts to AI?

5:00 Jake Gosselin’s Journey into Church Tech (Churchfront)

16:00 How AI is Actually Being Integrated into Church Production

19:15 Can AI Fill the Gap for Understaffed Tech Ministries?

22:50 The Big Debate: Will AI Replace Church Tech Volunteers?

29:15 How to Start Integrating AI into Your Workflow Today

35:00 Will AI Kill Us All Terminator Style?

37:30 Church Tech Disaster Stories

42:45 Keep Sundays Running

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How does one of the largest churches in America handle their Sunday morning production, and more importantly, how do they recruit and train enough volunteers to make it happen?

In this episode, we are joined by Griffin McCravy, the Broadcast Lighting Director at Church of the Highlands. After kicking things off with some amazing stories about growing up with Dolly Parton, Griffin shares his personal journey into live production. We then pull back the curtain on the massive AVL operation at Church of the Highlands.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Losing Dolly Parton

4:00 Griffin’s Experience Growing Up with Dolly Parton

13:20 Griffin’s Journey into Becoming a Lighting Director

20:00 Behind the Scenes: Production at Church of the Highlands

24:45 How to Find Great Church Tech Volunteers

28:00 Strategies for Training Tech Volunteers Well

35:00 Lighting Design at Church of the Highlands

43:00 ChurchGear Disaster Story with Highlands

47:15 Church Tech Disaster: Christmas Joy

49:20 Live Production Disaster: When the Lighting Guy Does Audio

52:15 Keep Sundays Running: Don’t Let It Become Normal

55:55 Church Tech Confessional

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Does running production for a massive, multi-site mega-church mean you need to buy every single piece of gear on the market? And when it comes to Sunday morning audio, can you actually trust a volunteer to mix Front of House?

In this episode, we are joined by Dwight Theaker of Austin Stone Community Church. We dive deep into the specific logistics of broadcasting across multiple locations and break down exactly what AVL gear Austin Stone prioritizes. Dwight shares the surprising revelation that their production team actively chooses to use less gear than the average church, and explains the massive benefits of that streamlined philosophy.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Toby Lost a Job & Chris Tomlin Stories

5:00 Dwight Theaker (Austin Stone Community Church) Joins

10:00 Gear Talk: What is Austin Stone Church Actually Using?

14:00 The Logistics of Broadcasting Across Multiple Campuses

15:45 Comparing Gear Priorities: 12Stone vs. Austin Stone

18:00 Why Austin Stone Uses Less Gear Than the Average Church

22:00 The Big Debate: Should Your Church Buy a d&b Soundscape Rig?

25:00 Can You Actually Trust Volunteers to Mix FOH Audio?

32:15 Church Tech Disaster Story

35:30 Keep Sundays Running

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Are mega-churches actually more creative, or do they just have bigger budgets? And when it comes to your online service, should you really be livestreaming your worship set, or just the preaching?

In this episode, we are joined by Brady Shearer, founder of Pro Church Tools, to tackle some of the most debated topics in church communications and media. We dive into the unrealistic expectations that mega-churches set for local congregations, and try to identify the single biggest issue facing the church today.

In this episode you'll hear:

• 0:00 Intro: Toby Is Obsessed With AI
• 5:15 Brady Shearer (Pro Church Tools) Joins the Podcast!
• 11:00 How Mega-Churches Set Unrealistic Expectations for Everyone Else
• 15:40 Are Mega-Churches Actually More Creative?
• 21:00 Identifying the Biggest Issue in the Church Today
• 24:30 The Livestream Debate: Should You Stream Worship or Just the Sermon?
• 32:30 Hot Take: Why Your Church Needs Fewer Announcements
• 39:00 The Absolute Best Way to Recruit Church Tech Volunteers
• 44:00 Church Tech Disaster Stories
• 49:00 Keep Sundays Running: If It Works, Do It Again
• 51:00 The Most Common Mistakes Churches Make During Announcements

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Are modern church services finally moving away from dark, concert-style rooms and shifting back toward brighter environments? And if you are a lighting director, how do you make the jump from the MA2 console to the MA3?

In this episode, we are joined by freelance AVL production expert Aria Hailey. Aria shares her journey into live production and discusses the reality of freelancing in the current industry. We explore a massive trend happening right now: why so many highly skilled audio and lighting techs are actually leaving the touring world to take full-time church tech jobs.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: How Much Trouble Will Toby Get Into in Vegas?

4:45 Aria Hailey’s Journey Into AVL Production

9:15 The Highs and Lows of Freelancing in Live AVL

13:00 Overcoming "Blue Dot Syndrome" in Live Production

15:15 The Trend: Are Techs Leaving Tours for Church Jobs?

20:00 Designing Church Lighting for the Congregation (Not Your Ego)

23:00 Lighting Trends: Are We Shifting Back to Brighter Church Services?

28:15 How to Train the Next Generation of Church Lighting Techs

33:00 Console Talk: The Biggest Differences Between MA2 vs. MA3

35:30 Tech Disaster Story: "Hey, There is Smoke Behind Me!"

40:00 Keep Sundays Running: The Power of Snacks

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

What is it like to transition from playing arenas with a legendary Christian rock band to running Sunday morning production for a massive multi-site congregation?

In this incredible episode, we are joined by Ronny Cates, former bassist for the iconic band Petra and current production leader at 12Stone Church. Ronny shares amazing behind-the-scenes stories of what Petra's massive concerts and touring gear looked like in their prime, and tackles the heavy debate of whether or not modern Christian music has officially stalled out.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: The Live Event "Blue Dot" Trend

4:45 Ronny Cates (12Stone Church / Petra) Joins

9:20 How Ronny Ended Up in the Legendary Rock Band Petra

13:00 Behind the Scenes: Petra Concerts & Touring Gear

16:00 The Big Debate: Has Christian Music Stalled Out?

22:00 Stop Copying Other Churches' Audio Mixes

28:30 Mixing for Your Congregation (Not Your Personal Preference)

37:00 Transitioning from Arena Tours to Church Tech

40:00 Inside the Production Culture at 12Stone Church

41:30 Church Tech Disaster: Double Checks and Backups

45:00 Keep Sundays Running

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How do you manage the massive logistical nightmare of running production for a 3,000-seat auditorium? And more importantly, how do you pull off a center-stage "Worship in the Round" setup without completely ruining your audio and lighting?

In this episode, we are joined by Debbie Uecker-Keough from Water of Life Church to talk about high-level church production at scale. We chat about the gear challenges and visual challenges of designing a service "in the round," and debate whether it is actually crazy to buy permanent AVL gear for those types of center-stage setups.

In this episode you'll hear:

• 0:00 Intro: Toby’s Iron Gut
• 6:25 Debbie Uecker-Keough (Water of Life Church) Joins
• 8:00 Debbie’s Start in Church Production
• 10:40 The Unique Challenges of a 3,000-Seat Auditorium
• 13:00 The Logistics of Doing "Worship in the Round"
• 17:45 Is It Crazy to Buy Permanent Gear for In-the-Round Setups?
• 20:30 Training Church Tech Volunteers at Scale
• 26:45 Gear Talk: Is Debbie on AVID’s Payroll?
• 33:30 Navigating Church Production as a Female Leader
• 35:45 Church Tech Disaster: LED Wall Dilemmas & Planning to Fail
• 46:00 Keep Sundays Running

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

What happens when a simple lack of communication leads to a complete Sunday service meltdown? And more importantly, how do you fix it before it happens again?

In this episode, we sit down with Marc Millan, an experienced executive pastor and ministry leader, to tackle the vital role of communication between church leadership and the tech booth. We break down the early warning signs of a communication breakdown and establish exactly who should be responsible for managing the Sunday service flow.

Link to ServiceCrew resources.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Marc Millan’s Background & Ministry Journey

4:45 When a Communication Breakdown Causes a Sunday Meltdown

12:00 Early Warning Signs of a Tech Team Communication Failure

20:00 Key Sunday Service Details You Must Know Ahead of Time

22:45 Who Is Actually Responsible for the Sunday Service Flow?

27:30 How to Debrief a Sunday Failure Without Finger-Pointing

34:15 Is It Possible to Communicate Too Far in Advance?

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How do you actually get your Executive Pastor to say "Yes" to new church tech gear? And on the flip side, what does your leadership team wish you understood about the church's finances?

In this highly practical episode, we are joined by Pete Rodriguez, who shares his incredible journey of leaving his career during the Wall Street financial crisis to becoming an Executive Pastor. Pete brings his high-level financial expertise into the church tech world, breaking down exactly how to weigh a "want" versus a "need" when planning your AVL budget.

ServiceCrew Resources Link

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Pete Rodriguez Joins the Podcast!

1:00 From the Wall Street Financial Crisis to Executive Pastor

8:45 Budgeting: Weighing a "Want" vs. a "Need" in Church Tech

11:45 Knowing When Your Church Should Actually Spend Money

17:00 How to Pitch the Tech Gear Lifecycle to Your Executive Pastor

21:30 Is It Time for a Budget Band-Aid or a Full Upgrade?

26:00 Strategy: How to Stagger Your Gear Replacement Costs

37:30 The Instant "Yes" and "No" for Church Tech Purchases

44:00 Advice Pete Would Give to His Past Self as an XP

45:00 What Every Executive Pastor Wishes Their Tech Director Knew

47:00 What Every Tech Director Wishes Their XP Knew

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

Get your ServiceCrew resources here!

What happens to your Sunday service when your most critical technical volunteer gets sick, goes on vacation, or moves away? If your church production relies entirely on one or two people, you are one person away from a total disaster.

In this episode, we tackle the danger of having a "single point of failure" in your tech booth. We break down the crucial importance of cross-training your church tech volunteers so that your audio, video, and lighting positions are never dependent on just one person.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Meet Our Guest & Guest Host

7:00 What Happens When Your Lead Techs Miss a Sunday?

14:00 The Crucial Importance of Cross-Training Volunteers

22:00 Documentation: Building a Church Tech Knowledge Base

33:00 Is Building a Massive Volunteer Bench Actually Realistic?

40:40 How to Communicate Your Need for Volunteers to Leadership

43:30 The Danger of Depending on Just One Tech Volunteer

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How do you define "excellence" in a church tech ministry? And when a volunteer consistently falls short of that standard, how do you actually "fire" them and find a new ministry that better suits them?

In this episode, we are joined by church production veteran David Leuschner to tackle the hardest leadership conversations in ministry. We discuss the biblical definition of excellence, debate whether there should be different standards for the on-stage worship team versus the behind-the-scenes production techs, and answer the uncomfortable question: how many errors are your volunteers actually allowed to make?

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: The HouseRight Event & Toby’s Lack of Taste

4:30 David Leuschner (Digital Great Commission Ministries) Joins

8:15 Defining True "Excellence" in Church Production

14:45 How to Train Your Volunteers for Excellence

21:00 The Debate: On-Stage vs. Behind-the-Scenes Volunteer Standards

26:00 What Does the Bible Actually Say About Excellence?

28:45 The Budget Debate: Is It Okay to Spend a Fortune on AVL Gear?

30:30 Grace vs. Standard: How Many Errors Are Volunteers Allowed?

35:00 The Hardest Conversation: How to Fire a Tech Volunteer

41:45 Keep Sundays Running: Focus on Transitions

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

What is it actually like to run Sunday morning production when global superstar Carrie Underwood is on your worship team? And more importantly, how do you sustain the intense pace of church tech without completely burning out?

In this episode, we are joined by Shaun Miller of Rolling Hills Church (Franklin, TN). After Toby recaps his recent trip to an L-Acoustics event, Shaun shares his experiences balancing a healthy marriage with the chaotic touring lifestyle. We then dive into the unique culture at Rolling Hills, breaking down their specific church tech setup and what it is like to mix a service with a celebrity on the stage.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Toby’s Trip to the L-Acoustics Event

6:40 Shaun Miller (Rolling Hills Church) Joins

11:15 Balancing Marriage and the Touring Lifestyle

19:00 What It's Like Having Carrie Underwood on Your Worship Team

22:15 Behind the Scenes: The Rolling Hills Tech Setup

29:00 Avoiding Burnout: How to Identify It Before It’s Too Late

47:45 Did Shaun Actually Like Toby’s Book?

58:00 Tech Disaster Story: "I Swear We Sent You the Videos!"

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How do you manage the audio and production logistics for a massive, Broadway-level biblical stage production? And how exactly do you engineer a giant LED wall to completely disappear in under 15 seconds?

In this episode, we are joined by Tim Zeager to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Sight & Sound Theatres(Branson, MO).

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Toby Discovers Theater in Branson, Missouri

5:15 Tim Zeager (Sight & Sound Theatres) Joins

10:45 The Story Behind Sight & Sound Ministries

21:45 Behind the Scenes: The Monitor Setup at Sight & Sound

25:00 Engineering: Making a Massive LED Wall Disappear in 15 Seconds

29:00 Gear Talk: The PA System Powering Sight & Sound

35:45 Lessons From Tim’s Time in the Studio

39:00 Live Production Disaster: Mixing From the Basement

43:00 Keep Sundays Running: Preparation is Key

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

In this episode, we are joined by Dave Bookhout from Grace Family Church to tackle some of the biggest debates in church tech.

We dive deep into the culture of the tech booth, discussing how to actively recruit church tech volunteers and answering the tough question of who should actually be allowed to serve on Sunday mornings.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Toby Claims God Tricked Him

4:30 Dave Bookhout (Grace Family Church) Joins

14:15 The Debate: Can Non-Christians Serve on the Tech Team?

23:15 Strategies for Recruiting Church Tech Volunteers

30:45 Gear Talk: Production Setup at Grace Family Church

33:45 Current Church Production Tech Trends to Watch

39:30 Should Your Church Actually Buy an LED Wall?

42:45 Church Tech Disaster: "Are You on Fire, or Am I?"

47:00 Keep Sundays Running

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

What exactly is "Church Hurt," and how do you heal when the very place meant to provide spiritual safety becomes the source of your deepest pain?

In this heavy but incredibly necessary episode, we are joined by creative leader Stephen Brewster. After kicking things off by discussing his journey in helping local churches write and produce their own original music, the conversation shifts to the painful reality of serving in ministry. Stephen opens up about his own personal experiences with church hurt and explains why we might need to reframe the conversation from "the church hurt me" to "broken people hurt me."

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro Antics

5:30 Stephen Brewster: Helping Churches Release Original Music

13:30 Defining "Church Hurt" in Modern Ministry

25:00 Stephen’s Personal Story of Church Hurt

33:00 Reframing the Pain: "Church Hurt" vs. "People Hurt Me"

41:00 Why You Still Need to Go Back to Church

54:00 How to Be a Solution to Toxic Church Culture

57:00 Thinking of Quitting Ministry? Start Here.

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

How does one of the most influential mega-churches in the country handle their production, and what makes their team culture so unique?

In this episode, we are joined by Bailey Binder of North Point Church. We dive into the personal journey of making the massive decision to move out of state for a new ministry role. Then, we pull back the curtain on North Point, breaking down what makes their church culture so wildly different, how their massive church tech setups are designed, and the exact strategies they use to manage their production volunteers.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Blake & Toby’s Lifetime Achievement Awards

4:45 Bailey Binder (North Point Church) Joins

11:00 Navigating a Move to an Out-of-State Church Role

15:30 What Makes North Point Church's Culture So Different?

25:30 Behind the Scenes: The North Point Church Tech Setup

28:15 How North Point Manages Production Volunteers

34:15 Church Tech Disaster Story

37:30 Keep Sundays Running: The Importance of Self-Care

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!

As a Technical Director, when was the last time you were actually able to take a Sunday off? If your church relies heavily on volunteers, stepping away from the tech booth can feel completely impossible.

We also tackle the massive, ongoing debate regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in church tech. Is it a helpful tool or a dangerous shortcut? Finally, we share a hilarious Church Tech Disaster story and wrap up with a crucial reminder: the only way to keep Sundays running long-term is by providing actual, genuine care for your team.

In this episode you'll hear:

0:00 Intro: Touring Atlanta Churches

6:30 Jeremy McKee Joins

12:45 Running a Volunteer-Heavy Production Ministry

28:00 Which Tech Workflows You Should Automate

34:15 The Big Question: Can a Tech Director Take a Sunday Off?

39:15 Should Your Church Be Using AI in Production?

42:30 Church Tech Disaster Story

45:45 Keep Sundays Running: Genuine Volunteer Care

Take our survey here and you'll get the full report emailed to you December 4th!

Check out HouseRight here for all the reasons we love them.

Get more money back in your budget and more space in your closet by selling us your used gear here.

Resources for your Church Tech Ministry

• Sell Us Gear: Does your church have used gear that you need to convert into new ministry dollars? We can make you an offer here.
• Buy Our Gear: Do you need some production gear but lack the budget to buy new gear? You can shop our gear store here.

Connect with us:

• Sales Bulletin: Get better deals than the public and get them earlier too here!
• Early Service: Get our best gear before it goes live on our site here.
• Instagram: Hangout with us on the gram here!
• Reviews: Leaving us a review on the podcast player you're listening to us on really helps the show. If you enjoyed this episode, you can say thank you with a review!