Michael Cheuk, CBFVA’s Moderator, has produced a resource for churches:
A QUICK GUIDE of (mostly free) ONLINE TOOLS to DO CHURCH DURING THE PANDEMIC
LIVESTREAM SERVICES
How to Live Stream Your Services for Free
https://www.switcherstudio.com/blog/how-to-livestream-your-church-service-for-free
FACEBOOK LIVE
Local Church Guide to Live Stream on Facebook
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EycdbaiFuio
Official Facebook Live webpage
ONLINE MEETINGS
Zoom online video meetings – free version
What We Like
- Up to 100 participants (even on the free plan).
- Whiteboarding and screen sharing available.
- Recording capabilities available.
What We Don’t Like
- Free service limits calls to 40 minutes.
- Some of the more useful features are hidden behind a paywall.
Zoom, like many of the other options here, is a web conferencing tool that offers free and paid plans. The free account with Zoom has some pretty robust features, including conferences that allow up to 100 participants, unlimited one-on-one conferences, video and audio conferencing, and group collaboration features such as whiteboarding and screen sharing.
The one pitfall with Zoom is that conferences with multiple participants are limited to 40 minutes. Paid services allow unlimited call durations, hundreds of meeting participants, cloud storage space for recording calls, admin dashboards, custom emails and URLs, and company branding.
PODCASTS
Agape Podcasts – https://www.agapepodcasts.com/
Brad Stephens works with congregations to take their audio recordings of sermons, devotionals, Bible studies, etc., and turn them into a more polished podcast. Reach out directly to Brad Stephens at info@agapepodcasts.com and (540) 384-0223, and tell him that you’re a CBFVA church and Michael Cheuk recommended Agape Podcasts. Brad will offer free consulting sessions about how to start your own church podcast, whether or not you decide to use his services.
EQUIPMENT –
Tabletop Phone Tripod for smartphone – ~ $18.00
UBeesize Portable and Adjustable Camera Stand Holder with Wireless Remote and Universal Clip
Full Tripod for smartphone – ~$23.00
https://www.amazon.com/UBeesize-Extendable-Bluetooth-Aluminum-Lightweight/dp/B07NWC3L95/
Microphones –
plugs into your smartphone (that still has a 3.5-mm audio phone jack)
Lavalier mics – ~$27.00
https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Omnidirectional-Recording-Conference/dp/B01AG56HYQ/
Boom mics – ~$60.00
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015R0IQGW/
Unfortunately, most lavalier microphones on Amazon aren’t going to be delivered until sometime in April…