Here’s some reasons why churches are portable:
1. It makes us immediately different from every other church.
2. We use a lot of lights in our adult service. However many lights you think you need, double it. We use a lot, and we still need more. Movie theaters are very dark.
3. We set up an info table and a resource table in the lobby. We use an iPod and a big speaker dock thing to play music in the lobby.
Gary Lamb had a post dedicated to why they are portable. Here’s his list:
- It is our vision - From day ONE at RSC we have done set design, creative elements, props, etc. Our vision has always been to create relevant and creative environments where unchurched people could connect. Vision fuels everything we do. Our volunteers understand our vision and because they understand it and buy into it, the do whatever it takes to make it happen.
- We have done it from day one - Honestly, it is in our DNA. The people of RSC literally don’t know there is another way to do it. We have done this stuff from the start and our people expect it. They know every series will have a totally different set design. I remember our first set cost us $100 but it set the standard at we would spend money on set design and creative elements.
- We REFUSE to allow portability to be an excuse - I have been in portable churches for 8 years. I KNOW what can be done in a portable setting. Bands, Plays, Shows, etc. all set up in portable settings nightly. If they can do it, then I have always thought we could do it. It takes more work but it can be done.
- We found a perfect person to lead stage design - Amy Young is on our staff over programming. She had NO experience when we moved her into that role during our third series as a church. However she understands our vision and probably as much as anyone on staff she buys into it. She is THE best around. Without a leader we couldn’t do it.
- We have put a team together - I literally had NO idea what our Easter set was going to look like. I give the overall vision for the series and this team makes it happen and they do it in BIG ways.
- We work ahead - We are planned out through September. This gives our team enough time to think, dream, and build the things that are needed. Most of you can’t do creative set design because you aren’t planned ahead far enough.
- We spend money - It takes money to do the things we do and we have budgeted that money. However our team does things way cheap as well. We recently did an entire stage design for $35. It looked awesome.
- We have staples - We have some big items that we have bought like projectors, lights, trussing, etc. that we can pull out at any time and do awesome things with them. They aren’t used every week but it is nice to know they are in the warehouse if we need them.
- We train our people - We have sent them to meet with some GREAT churches who are doing GREAT things in these areas.
- We Research - Amy knows vendors for EVERYTHING under the sun. She has done her homework and knows who to turn to when we need something.
- We dream BIG- Most of what you see is only a fraction of what we dreamed. We dream big in the area of creativity.
- Life Change - We do so much set design because it is an element in seeing lives changed. It starts the work of tearing down walls before we start the service and that makes it happen.
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