On November 23, 2025—just one week after officially joining the church—I found myself stepping into a brand-new role. I had originally expected to help with some web-related projects, but it quickly became clear that the tech booth needed extra hands for the Sunday service.
It was a fast-paced, “all hands on deck” introduction to a different side of ministry. Fortunately, my background in digital spaces gave me a head start. I was already familiar with OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) from streaming games and managing complex cockpit views in flight simulators, so the workflow for camera angles and hymn lyrics felt intuitive right away.
The Learning Curve
One of the volunteers walked me through the centerpiece of the booth: the StudioLive 32SX. As a 32-channel mixer, it felt worlds apart from the tiny Behringer Eurorack I bought back in 2006 for podcasting. Here, every microphone was mapped and labeled, requiring a level of focus and real-time adjustment I hadn’t anticipated.
During the children’s practice, I got my first taste of live mixing. I adjusted levels as each child stepped up to the mic—balancing the voices of the shy speakers with those who tended to drift away from the microphone. I also had to learn the “pastoral rhythm,” keeping an eye on Pastor Williams as he switched microphones to talk with the kids, ensuring his voice remained clear without overpowering the congregation during the hymns.
A Job for a Techie
It was a lively, rewarding experience that turned my technical hobbies into a meaningful way to contribute to the morning’s worship. During the service, Pastor Williams shared a warm note of thanks for the new recruit in the back:
“I have another offer of thanks. Lewie Moten, who just joined our church last week. I gave him a job immediately because I knew that he was a techie and he’s on Facebook. He’s a web designer. So I gave him a job to help us at our tech place back here. So Lewie’s helping us help Dylan, Brenda, and Logan out today. So thank you. Thank you. Amen.”
Pastor Michael Williams
Tech as Service
Serving in the tech booth reminded me that every part of a church community matters. While some lead from the pulpit, others serve by ensuring the message reaches every ear in the room and every viewer online.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to jump right in and help Dylan, Brenda, and Logan. It turns out that all those hours spent tweaking flight simulator settings were preparing me for a different kind of “flight” altogether—helping our Sunday service soar.
