Video Use Cases for Churches and Other Houses of Worship

Stemming the tide of attribution, and subsequent decreases in donations, can often feel like an uphill battle. Just ask Orlando Grace Church pastors Jim Davis and Michael Graham who identified this troubling trend in their local community such that they were motivated to commission a study to determine the root cause.

In doing so, they collaborated with political scientists Ryan Burge of Eastern Illinois University and Paul Djupe of Denison University. Their research uncovered that a significant percentage of “dechurched” Americans across a range of Christian traditions cited inconvenience, distance, and competing priorities as reasons why they no longer attended services.

These conclusions were hardly shocking when measured against a 2022 Pew Research Report on declining rates of Christianity. Pew Research highlighted that religious decline was more noticeable in less openly devout areas, implying that “individuals adjust to their religious surroundings and/or gravitate towards like-minded groups.” This suggests an increased need for faith-based groups to facilitate connections with those who relocate from their communities.

The takeaway? Maintaining these ties could be crucial for religious organizations to retain their members and influence – and one of the best ways to tie disparate communities together in the modern era is digital. But how exactly are churches and other houses of worship using digital tools to strengthen and expand their congregations? Let’s explore some key video use cases for churches or other houses of worship.

 

Live Streaming Services

Live streaming services should be the foundation of your video strategy. It’s a simple way to reach a wider audience, including those who can’t attend in person due to practical or physical limitations and potential new members from around the globe. This approach helps maintain and grow your community by making worship more accessible and expanding your reach.

Another advantage of live streaming is the ability to create content for future use. Recorded live streams can be repurposed into shorter clips, highlights, or educational materials, extending the life and impact of a single service. A steady flow of content such as this will improve web traffic and increase social media engagement, further expanding your visibility in the digital space.

 

Tips for Live Streaming Services:

• Use quality recording equipment
• Record live streams for on-demand viewing
• Post recordings promptly
• Promote services on social media and your website
• Create anticipation for future events

 

Other Live and VOD Events

Many houses of worship have more to stream than just their sermons. Everything from private weddings to public holiday performances can be shared with small or large audiences. The recorded content can then be edited into highlight reels and other promotional videos to encourage engagement and donations. This approach combines live and on-demand streaming to leverage the immediacy of live events while creating evergreen content for continued use.

The benefits of this strategy are multifaceted. Not only does it boost digital engagement, but it can also promote in-person attendance of various events by showcasing them and generating interest. This is especially valuable for certain events like markets and fundraisers that benefit greatly from a physically present audience.

 

Tips for Repurposing Live Content:

• Record live streams for later viewing
• Use recorded content to create curated video assets
• Add relevant metadata and keywords for SEO
• Make videos easily searchable on your site
• Share highlights on social media to grow audience
• Include clear calls to action

 

Promotional Videos for Church Campaigns

If your previous church capital campaign didn’t gain much traction despite extensive written and graphical content, then consider using well-crafted videos to engage audiences and encourage donations. Many campaigns focus on specific events or causes. Promotional videos can highlight these causes in a visually and emotionally compelling way. These videos can be hosted on websites or shared on social media as part of digital marketing efforts.

Such videos can inspire donations, participation, and interest in the broader faith-based community. They can be in-depth stories, highlight reels of volunteer efforts, or simple appeals from leadership.

 

Tips for Creating and Sharing Promotional Videos:

• Choose imagery and music that align with your message
• Include interviews or soundbites from key individuals
• Feature videos prominently on your website and social media
• Use authentic footage from causes and community members
• Clearly ask for donations and provide easy ways to give

 

Devotionals and Guided Meditations

Supplementary videos such as these help enrich spiritual experiences beyond weekly services. Having valuable content that is not purely promotional can boost community engagement and growth, as more people will be drawn to your offerings. Regular daily visits to your website caused by regularly useful content will also improve website SEO.

This is one place where video-on-demand (VOD) really shines. Offer your visitors a library of content that they can access at their own convenience. Utilize VOD monetization models to raise funds for your other initiatives.

 

Tips for Creating and Tracking Devotionals and Meditations:

• Use accurate labels for easy navigation
• Organize content for better discoverability
• Use analytics to identify popular videos
• Post regularly on a set schedule
• Pair videos with email newsletters for updates

 

Workshops and Other Educational Content

Online faith-based communities can connect you with like-minded individuals or expose you to diverse perspectives through discussions and educational workshops, both live and on-demand.

Live workshops and study sessions combine the benefits of immediacy with interactivity, inspiring involvement and engagement. This format can be particularly valuable for those in remote areas who might otherwise lack access to such resources. These sessions can vary in length and size, from intimate group discussions to larger seminars, but they always offer an engaging experience that encourages active participation.

 

Tips for Hosting and Promoting Educational Content:

• Organize content for easy discovery
• Use analytics to identify popular videos
• Post regularly on a set schedule
• Cover diverse topics for broader appeal
• Combine visuals with speaker presentations
• Encourage discussion and feedback
• Include calls-to-action for continued learning

 

Community Stories and Testimonials

Showcase your community’s impact through video testimonials. This helps your community members feel valued while also demonstrating your own commitment to action. Do this by either appealing to community members to tell their own stories or to weigh in on their experiences participating in a faith-sponsored event.

 

Tips for Gathering and Promoting Community Stories:

• Keep videos simple and authentic
• Interview subjects to highlight broader themes
• Encourage sharing on personal social channels
• Include diverse perspectives
• Offer open-ended prompts for specific themes
• Make story submission easy with forms or custom hashtags

 

What Now? Choosing the Right Platform Provider

Already convinced that some of these video use cases for churches would help you better serve (and expand) your community? Looking down the road at what it might take to cap build a video streaming strategy might seem overwhelming, but it’s entirely manageable with the right video streaming platform provider. That said, not all providers offer the same tools, reliability, scalability, and support.

Start your research by exploring what to look for in a strong video platform provider.