If your ministry or parish is considering upgrading or building out a new audio, video and lighting (AVL) system for the church, you may be wondering what the first step in this process is. Every aspect of your place of worship should be catered to the members of your church, allowing them to gather together and enjoy an uplifting experience through scripture. AVL integration systems can enhance this spiritual experience. When the time comes to contact an AVL team, be mindful of your current and future plans.
Many churches make one or both of the following mistakes when deciding to implement an AVL system into their worship services:
Life moves fast. It’s completely understandable that a church may not sit down to seriously consider their growing AVL needs for years, especially churches that host worship many times a week or those which are highly active in the local community. Due to time or financial limitations, a church may continue moving AVL discussions to the following year. What they may not realize is that while their worship services are growing, their need for AVL is growing too.
AVL integration can do wonders for worship and other services within the church when it is implemented properly. However, some church teams may not realize how important an AVL system is. Whether they’re designing a new system or upgrading an existing one, the audio, video and lighting component of your services can enhance the experience and deliver your message in a more impactful way.
Thankfully, even if your church has tabled the discussion for years and is just now taking the steps to new AVL integration, an experienced and talented AVL team can integrate audio, video and lighting into your center of worship and provide an inspiring experience for your parishioners. As we’ve helped clients throughout a spectrum of industries accomplish their AVL goals, Illuminated Integration understands that every AVL project is unique.
That’s why we’ve created a how-to blog to give you an overview of the AVL process and a downloadable kickstart guide to walk you through the in-depth details for choosing the right AVL partner for your church.
The process for a new church AVL project is an exciting undertaking that will light up your ministry in more ways than one. The thought of enhancing your worship experience can be uplifting, and an AVL system opens up worlds of potential for other possible events or services you may want to host within the church. If you and your ministry are ready to renovate your worship area, you may believe that now is the right time to bring in an AVL team.
It’s likely that your worship facility falls under one of two categories:
AVL integration is becoming more and more popular within worship centers as ministry leaders discover how well an AVL system enhances each service. It redefines the experience without compromising the message. It engages men and women of all ages without distracting them from their prayer. An AVL system is a great way to elevate your service with equal amounts of reverence and entertainment.
You already know how much of a difference an AVL system makes in your worship services. The combination of colorful lights, echoing sound and crisp media have transformed the way your congregation gathers to give praise. Your old AVL system may have been a perfect solution at the time, but now your church is in need of an upgrade.
Other reasons may factor into your decision to commit to this plan. Because of the structural component to integrating an AVL system into the facility, many churches may choose to build or upgrade their system at the time when the building itself is due for renovations. Bringing in an AVL team before this construction begins allows them to assess your needs and integrate the system into the new construction plans. The beginning and ends of the year may open up the financial opportunities required to accomplish this goal.
Whether you’re upgrading your existing AVL system or you’re designing a new one from scratch, it’s essential to bring in the AVL team at the right time. If your facility has a construction project planned out, make sure you bring in the AVL team before its completion so that it does not create excess challenges or expenses. Most importantly, don’t reach out to an AVL specialist until you’ve gathered all of your information and have a project plan in place.
Although you may believe that now is the right time to bring in an AVL team and learn how to start a sanctuary renovation, you need to first make sure you’re fully prepared to begin this project. The process for a new church AVL project can be a significant technical undertaking which can become complicated or delayed if a proper plan isn’t put in place. Before this process begins, you’ll need to gather all of the information these AVL companies will need to know.
There are a lot of talking points you’ll want to discuss during your AVL consultations. Your church is a place of love, friendship and refuge for many, and it’s understandable that you’ll have plenty of questions for each company. Though you’ll be able to address these thoughts during the interview — and many of your questions will likely be answered during each company’s introductory presentation — you should have the answers to three vital questions before you sit down with an AVL specialist:
The answer to this question is a definition of your ministry’s values and beliefs.
A church is more than a place — it is a people. It is the embodiment of the love, devotion and strength a community shares. Though every church acts as the heart of a congregation, each place of worship is unique in its own special way. The heritage and history, the parish and parishioners and the cultures and customs of each ministry influence its values and beliefs. When you clearly define your church’s values and beliefs, an AVL company will be able to reflect those features in their design.
Look into your present and future structural limitations.
An AVL company can turn your vision into a reality, however, it’s essential that you first create a vision that is practical and realistic for your current setting. Some churches are old, historical buildings that cannot accommodate certain renovations. Other centers for worship are newer and may already have certain structural elements in place that could help you achieve your dream. Find out all you can about the physical building and discover your structural limitations. This allows you to be realistic about your expectations for an AVL design-build.
Assess the finances available to complete your AVL vision.
The budget for your AVL design is obviously an important factor, however, some churches may only focus on how much they have to spend. With any budget, you should also consider how much you’ll need to sustain the project after installation and how much you’ll potentially save in the long-term if you make certain adjustments. For instance, some AVL companies will provide complementary ongoing support to their AVL systems while others may require periodic software updates or hardware upgrades that require additional costs.
Along with setting a budget, you need to make sure you stay on budget throughout the process. AVL companies can work wonders with any budget, however, you may be tempted to exceed your budget to add on additional components or features that you didn’t originally plan for. This can create other problems further along the process. Abiding by a set budget minimizes risks and allows you to responsibly manage the church’s funds.
Though these questions are few, it is critical that you can confidently provide answers for each one. Knowing the church’s values, the building’s capabilities and your dedicated budget will help you responsibly manage this process. However, churches embarking on their very first AVL build may not know these answers. Thankfully, many AVL companies have experience implementing AVL systems in other centers for worship. These experts can help you identify the answers to these questions and how those answers will impact the final AVL design.
Still not sure what to do next? Choosing the right AVL company is the foundational step to your project that can make or break your project. Our experts have written a free, downloadable kickstart guide to help you assess options for vendors and build a team within your church to oversee the process.
Choosing the right AVL company for your church project is critical to its success. The design experts at Illuminated Integration realize how important this decision is and want to assure our customers that your unique vision can be achieved. We believe in creating not just a system, but an immersive experience. Our team is ready to build a design that is versatile, seamless and integrated into your worship services with ease. There are three key reasons why ministries rely on Illuminated Integration for their church AVL build:
A worship area is more than a room — it’s a space for followers to unite as one congregation and grow together through scripture. We will embrace your vision and design a one-of-a-kind audio, video and lighting solution that captures your ministry’s values and showcases the heart of your church. Each of our designs is as unique as those that create your congregation and is catered to your specific needs.
To achieve an original design, we need an organic solution that meets your AVL desires. Our entire church AVL process, from the first creative drafts to the successful implementation of the system, progresses step by step with your involvement. Our team of consultants will work side by side with you to ensure that every decision helps bring your vision to life.
You’ve got a ministry to grow. Between your worship responsibilities, community engagements and the routine checklist of tasks that need your attention, the last worry on your mind should be your AVL system. We’re pleased to provide continuous support to all of our clients. Whether your AVL system is a day old or a decade old, we’ll be there to answer all of your questions, offer our advice and examine your system long after installation.
At Illuminated Integration, we’re dedicated to redefining the AVL experience. We believe that your church audio, video and lighting system should be designed with one goal in mind — to create a unified experience for your congregation’s worship service. We’ve installed thousands of lighting fixtures alongside hundreds of video displays and speakers to achieve unique designs that meet the exact needs of our clients. Let’s work together to enhance the worship experience and strengthen your church. Contact Illuminated Integration today to schedule a consultation with our team of designers.
