Again, as with infrastructure and screens, this is usually an afterthought. No big deal, someone's donating their old computer or you already have a VCR/DVD player you can use... Or maybe you've recently seen the TV commercial where you can get a brand new computer for only $299! If you are only planning on checking emails or doing word processing with your computer that may be fine; but in order to display high end graphics and video, plus store everything your ministry does and display it quickly, you need a computer that is designed for this type of professional application.

As for your VCR/DVD player and cameras, a good rule of thumb is to stick with professional grade products. Don't spend the church's money on something low quality from a retail store - invest that money in quality pieces. Yes you can go consumer and yes it will work, but those products are not designed for a professional application. As a result you will experience things that will be a big distraction during worship.

8. Know Your Budget:

There are hundreds of ways to do things, hundreds of products to choose from and pros and cons inherent with each, so for direction and a starting point we always ask the church for a budget to work with. On the other hand, the church is thinking, "Well, I don't know what this stuff costs, that's why I called you," and so they either say they don't have a budget or they give us a random number that isn't necessarily realistic. A reputable dealer is not asking for a budget so they can spend every cent you have; they need to know what they're working with in order to put together the best system for your church. It takes serious creativity and hard work to design a great media system on a limited budget. We can provide a big picture design and then work with you to implement it in phases.

So, to sum it all up, there are no right answers or simple solutions. Get your leadership team involved in the planning of your system - not necessarily what equipment you want, but start with what you want it to do and then prioritize that list. Know what's important in the short term and long term. Remember that when designing a system, flexibility always equals money, so everyone needs to be on the same page. Clear communication is the key to achieving your multimedia ministry goals.

For more information on any of these topics, please contact Fowler at 405.321.8122 or toll free at 1.800.729.0163.