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VJ (n.) :: (aka. Visual Jockey) :: One who curates and projects a wide range of still and moving imagery in order to facilitate an environment and proclaim a message.
worshipVJ.com is more than a blog, it’s a community. It’s a place to connect with other VJs, lead worshipers, creatives, and anyone on the visual worship journey. Here, the focus isn’t as much on “what-to-do” but more on “why“…hopefully along the way, we’ll all figure out “how” to do what we do more effectively. Our conversations are dedicated not only to the tools available, but also to real stories, application, theory, & maybe even a little theology! We firmly believe that there is power in the “visual”…that art can reveal scriptural truth. It’s a radical way of thinking these days, but it’s an old way, too…one that dates back to the early Church & beyond.
The Old Testament is filled with visual narratives. And when Jesus stepped on the scene, He took visual storytelling to a whole new level. Centuries later, the Church became known as one of the most creative forces on the planet. Still to this day, the church architects & artists of old are considered to be the best around. Everything was an original idea! Then something happened, and the visual layer of worship was stripped out of the Church. A more text-driven, informational & linear approach to the Word of God was taken. Though needed at the time, it eventually led to the limiting of worship services to songs & a sermon.
As we, the Church, progressed into the Digital Age of Computers, screens were added to support text-based information. Now our announcements, song lyrics, & sermon outlines were projected for all to see, and the printing budget went way down! And somewhere along the way, made possible by animated effects, backgrounds & fonts, we started decorating our text & applying “artistic value” to our information.
PowerPoint quickly became a headache but worship presentation softwares saved the day! Then videos-for-worship began popping up all over the place…mini-movies, countdowns, motion backgrounds…you name it! The “artistic value in our text-driven services” never looked so good. Pastors saw value in this, and the role of ”media” was established.
And that leads us to today. Some churches have a large staff of full-time gurus, and some are barely getting by with that one volunteer who knows the presentation software. Media has a place in the budget (if you’re lucky), and the rat race of having the “latest & greatest” is in full-speed. Technology and those who know it well have finally found a home in the Church.
So what’s the point? Problem solved? NO!
Is there more to proclaim during “The Wonderful Cross” than a pretty loop with swirling dots? Do we even need motion backgrounds in the first place? Is the only requirement for media techs the ability to push some buttons? We believe there are ways to guide our congregations deeper in worship!
In the midst of worship, we should encounter the splendor, awe, majesty, creativity & mystery of our God; and technology has the capacity to play a huge role in leading this. It can be facilitated in both big, epic & well-produced proportions, as well as stripped-down, simplistic & intimate moments. But who is wielding this technology in such a way that worship takes place and not entertainment?
Enter, the “worshipVJ”, a new wineskin for an old & forgotten role in the Church. A role that might be better understood as the visual worship leader. And it’s just part of a bigger shift taking place.
We, as the Church, have such an opportunity before us! Through the creativity placed inside us along with the amazing technology at our fingertips, we can use visual media (filtered through the Word of God) to proclaim Who He is, what He’s done, and what He’s yet to do. Art can actually facilitate a revelation from God, and it can reflect our response to Him! And by curating and projecting visuals, we can guide people to connect with Jesus, with each other, and with the hurting world both inside & outside the four walls of the church building. This is “visual worship”!
But it’s not just about being image & tech savvy either. What about the relationship aspect? So many church leaders & creatives have strained relationships with their bosses…i mean, pastors. Chances are, there’s at least one person on every church staff that “gets it”…but there is a frustration and challenge in getting others on-board. For many, there is a massive relational gap between pastors & their creative/tech team. Both are very misunderstood.
And that’s what worshipVJ.com is all about: encouraging relationship and providing creative yet practical (& affordable) resources while bringing awareness to the re-emerging movement of visual worship in the global Church…a big mountain to climb, but that’s why it’s called a “journey”! And we’re just getting started.
As children of the God of the Universe, we should be the ones setting the standard for creativity in the public places! Everything we see around us in creation, in the uniqueness of every person… is a reflection of the incredible artistry of our God! Why would we not seek to honor this in our worship gatherings? Everything that we do should reflect the truth of the Word of God!
Our passion is to project as clearly and loudly as we can that God is exactly who He says He is! Our purpose is to worship Him with all that is in us! Perhaps in doing this, people will catch a glimpse of Him. Whether in life or on a screen, projecting God’s visual story is an invitation to us all. Will you join us?
