Budgets are interesting things. On the one hand they offer protection and allow you a framework to live within your means. On the other hand, they sometimes restrict you from being able to buy the things you need or want. They are certainly necessary to keep things above board, and you will do well to have a budget and follow it.

I think it is worthwhile to make a mention here about stewardship. I know, I know, I touched on this last month too, but that is only because it is very important. Stewardship is a word that we hear a lot in the church world. I find that it is misunderstood by some to mean “spend as little money as possible”. Being cheap isn’t being a good steward. For instance, if there is a need for a home for a family in your community whose house burned down, providing them with a pup tent and feeling content is not exactly good stewardship if you have the means to provide them with materials to build a new house. Just as James says in James 2:15-16

“If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of
daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be
warmed and filled,’ yet you do not give them what is
necessary for their body, what use is that?”

The concept of stewardship actually draws heavily on wisdom. To exhibit true stewardship is to use the resources at your disposal in the wisest way possible. In other words, take your time and make sure you are purchasing something that will meet or exceed your needs and will last a long time while remaining within your budget.
You may ask how that is possible if your budget is very small. It isn’t easy and sometimes it takes a very long time, but it is doable. The first thing you should do is put together a long-term plan. Where do you see your ministry in 2 years? 5 years? 10 years? What is the plan to see your ministry grow and what kind of growth can you expect? Once you have discussed this and put together a plan with your core group then it is time to start discussing the dreaded budget.

When putting together a budget it is a good idea to start by determining what is critical, what would be good to have, and what is more of a want than a need. Critical items may vary depending on what you are working to accomplish, but for the purposes of this article I am going to focus on technology that is used in your worship services.

Much of the tech that is critical will depend on your style of worship, the size of your congregation, and where you are gathering for worship services. If, for instance, your worship service consists primarily of spoken word and music is mostly congregational accompanied by piano and organ then your sound system needs will be very different from the church that has a full band or even an orchestra. If your church is of the portable variety and you set up and tear down every week in the elementary school cafeteria then your tech needs will be quite different from those of a church that meets in a permanent facility.

A few things that every system will likely need these days are microphones and loudspeakers, projectors and screens (or some kind of video displays), a presentation computer, and at least one camera. Along with these come all sorts of accessories such as cables galore, direct boxes, stands, interfaces, and various and sundry connectors. The real trick is deciding what the appropriate versions of each of these are and how you will fit them into your budget.

A good way to approach this part is to get to know a good, local AV integrator and let them get to work choosing what you really need to meet the needs of your congregation. They can then give you options and discuss them with you and your team.

This is where the critical/good to have/want decisions come into play. If you are just beginning a new ministry a one-time fundraiser may be in order to help provide the resources necessary to get started. However, if you are an established ministry then planning ahead for these needs is critical.

No system is going to last forever and planning some room into your budget for emergencies will pay huge dividends in the long run. Planning is the key.

One thing to avoid is the urge to purchase something that is very inexpensive just to have one or even to replace something else that has failed. As a general rule, and this may come as a shock to you, you get what you pay for! There are certainly exceptions, but going for the cheapest option tends to lead to replacing that piece of gear multiple times and ultimately costing you more money. My recommendation is to be patient, wait, and save your money so that you can purchase a quality piece of equipment that will meet your needs well and last a long time.

So, what if a critical piece of equipment fails and you don’t have the resources to replace it? Again, this is a good time to have a relationship with a local integrator. They may know where you can source a used piece that will get you through until you can afford to replace with new or they may know of financing options that would fit into your budget. Also, never forget there are other ministries in your town, and you are not in competition. You are all working toward the same goal. Don’t be afraid to ask if other ministries in your area can help you get through and be generous if you are asked. Afterall, if one life is changed through your generosity then it is well worth the sacrifice.

The bottom line is technology is expensive. It is not at all shameful to start small and grow. Most of us do! Take your time, make a plan, pray it through, and then act on it and just see what God will do!

I want to invite you to join me at CFX2024 for an opportunity to see lots of new tech and meet some of the folks who are bringing it into being and making good use of it. I, along with my business partner Jeremy Alison, will be making a presentation on this very subject and would truly enjoy getting to know you and helping with any of your ministry needs. Check out the conference at www.churchfacilitiesexpo.com and PressOn at www.PressOnCon.com .