IN THE beginning was the 'Word' and the word needs to be heard. This seems to be the guiding factor behind the decision of a number of churches to spend huge sums of money to upgrade their audio equipment.The argument given by every church approached is that the 'word' is an invaluable and inseparable part of the service.
Reverend Al Miller explains, "In church the sound is important. All that you do is sound. People come to hear." Miller also argues that excellence should guide everything in relation to God.
However, this decision is not a cheap one and is something that is not possible in a world where the right microphone can cost over US$400 ($17,800). Even in recognition of this, many churches are still attempting to improve what they argue is an essential service.
One pastor (who preferred not to be identified) argued that he believed that finance should not be a deterrent, because God deserves the best of everything. "What is better than spending your money on glorifying God?" he argued. "I'm living for God and He's been extremely good, and I want to serve him as best I can," says the pastor.
His church is one of those which have made such an investment, having recently spent US$9,000 ($400,500) on equipment. The equipment was bought to facilitate street services. The pastor explains that the investment is necessary because the church engages in many community services, moving through several areas.
Ghastly inadequate
Reverend Cowan of Meadowbrook United points out that the sound system in his church is 'ghastly inadequate'. He explains the importance of changing this situation. "What we do is speak, and it is by hearing that people are able to respond," he says. Reverend Cowan goes on to explain that poor audio quality will cause discomfort and be a distraction. He argues however that churches simply need to make sure that they do not overspend.
The decisions to upgrade are not made unilaterally. All the churches The Sunday Gleaner spoke with stated that they have a committee which is responsible for deciding what gets done.
Richard Aikman, the sound engineer for Family Church on the Rock, argues that it is important that sermons be intelligible. While Aikman is a freelance production engineer, he works with the church because he is a member. "It (the sound) is one of the highest priority, in terms of making an investment," he argues. He explains, "It doesn't make any sense he (the pastor) is up there shouting his head off and they (the congregation) can't hear him."
The Meadowbrook United Church is at present considering an upgrade of their audio equipment. Pastor Cowan reveals that so far, they have budgeted $20,000 for getting an assessment of what needs to be done. This does not include any equipment, he points out.
Kirk Battick, the advisor to the committee of Meadowbrook United, points out that what an upgrade will cost is related to both the church's present needs and their future needs. He points out that a church has to consider whether they have a choir, a band, and other considerations. He argues that deciding on sound equipment is much more complex than simply 'putting a microphone on the stand'. Churches need the right equipment to match their needs. Churches therefore need to make a proper assessment, Battick explains, because they do not want to find themselves with an inadequate system just a few years after making an investment.
Princess Lawes, the communications director of the West Indies Union of the Seventh-Day Adventist Churches, advocates this decision. She explains that the union encourages churches to have good equipment, and to get professional advice when they acquire the same. Even so, she recognises that the systems will vary according to what the church can afford.
The dollar value of this investment is hard to give even a 'guesstimate' of, Battick explains. He points out that while a basic public address system can cost as low as $25,000, the cost of a more complex system has no ceiling. Richard Aikman of the Family Church on the Rock agrees with this assessment. He points out that as one is consistently trying to refine the system, there is always something else that can be done.
Family Church on the Rock claims to have the best audio system of any church in the Caribbean. Aikman offered a 'guesstimate' of easily over US$40,000 ($1,780,000) as the cost of the system. He says, however, that it is an investment that is well worth it.
The system at Family Church on the Rock is comprised of four self-powered Meyer speakers supplemented by four sub-woofers. Aikman explains that self-powered speakers are more expensive, but they are a better investment. He notes that with this kind of speaker, the processing and amplification is not done separately, which makes it more efficient and easier to manage.
"Even if you don't have somebody who is qualified to operate the system, 'Brother John' can just come in and plug it in and you are ready to go," he says to explain how simple the system is.
The church's system also uses a large format console and several monitors. All these are aligned by computers. Aikman points out that all this is necessary to provide different mixes for the different persons who occupy the stage at any time.
Why would all this expense be necessary, however? Even when one accepts that it is important that the congregation receive an intelligible sermon, why does the drummer need to be able to hear himself? Aikman explains that ultimately, it all goes back to the congregation. He points out that when the performers can hear themselves, they can give a better performance.
Bethel Baptist church brings a different perspective. Rather than simply having an engineer, etc. the church has a communications ministry. This ministry is responsible for sermon support and other things, and works with the slogan 'Audio worthy of worship'. Patrick Smith of Bethel Baptist is in charge of the audio system at that church. He explains that his mission is to make sure that everyone who enters the church will hear the sermon correctly.
When The Sunday Gleaner visited Bethel, they were in the process of testing their new addition to their communications ministry, giving video support in addition to audio. Smith explains how the system works. He notes that the group which operates the system is made up of 20 persons, none of whom are over 23 years old and the youngest being 12 years old and the church is providing on-the-job training. Mr. Smith points out that he also provides training for the members of other churches so that they can operate their own systems.
During the three sermons Bethel has on Sundays, the audio group monitors each, paying attention to the different microphones and keeping in touch with each other. They work from a small booth at the back of the church (a recent addition), so that they can do what they need to without disturbing the rest of the church. From there they can see everything that is happening.
Smith encourages the use of technology, to make the sermon a better experience. He describes God as a 'multimedia God' who spoke through various media, including tablets and a burning bush. He notes that they are simply using technology to make worship more effective. He points out that the improved quality increases the congregation's retention, as well as their ability to apply what they have learnt.
Like Bethel, Meadowbrook hopes to acquire a booth at the back of their church. Battick points out that from where they currently operate, they cannot see what is happening on the stage, and so need to wait until someone comes to the microphone before they can know what is happening. As a result, if the microphone is not working, it is harder for them to know what is happening. However, as Battick futher explains, in order for that to happen the church will need to be expanded. The additional costs that this will generate does not make this an easy decision.
Even though Bethel's system has greatly improved, it is one of those churches which is hampered by what they can afford. "My ideal would be to put in a bigger better system, but we can't afford it," Smith explains. As a result they have simply been working with what they can afford.
What they have been able to do, however, is change the way the speakers are positioned and get recording equipment among other things. At present, all sermons are taped and then duplicated, so they can be distributed if necessary.
Smith explains that the decision to spend money on sound equipment is something of a tricky one, even though it is necessary. His reason is simple, "It's not one of those things you feel good spending money on," he explains. "You can feel good spending money on AIDS victims, but not on equipment."
