With the circuit breaker ended and phase 1 of return to normal begins, it has become likely that more people than ever before will be working from home(WFH). Thus I thought a short video about what WFH for a Christian can look like would be important since this will likely be the new normal. Thus I first posted this video on IGTV and embedded it here in my blog. I hope you find it helpful and share it with others. Thank you.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CAHjS0kHKvp/?igshid=8242gs3angxs
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CAB1w6anQJR/?igshid=14jbdebmjnojd
As I said in my last post, the “circuit breaker” stay home stay safe season has compelled me to learn the skill of self-recording using my smartphone, of talking to an empty room, of editing and using igtv, the relatively new video platform of Instagram, which allows a maximum of 10 mins per video for ordinary members. The above is the first of a series on Working From Home. It relates my experience of W.F.H.
There was no choice. I had to learn fast how to record my sermons.
First, I had to buy the wireless mic, and the adapter cable for the phone. Then I had to recorded my Sunday sermons with my wife’s help and the media team leader’s advice via whatsapp video calls.
My Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is proving to be an asset. Its video is top quality for 5 minutes and 10 minutes for the best settings. But even the third best setting is sufficient to give more than 45 minutes of good quality video for the Sunday online service via YouTube.
It felt stressful to do this. Lots of unknown areas. Lots of experimenting and going back and forth with Zephaniah. Stressful also to talk in front of a phone camera and an empty hall. Had to rehearse the script. Had to remember the main points and ideas. It all adds to the stress.
It was strangely satisfying to see myself on screen. I used to hate to watch videos of myself preaching. Interestingly, it was not as painful this time round watching myself on TV preach to myself in the living room. I am becoming comfortable with the way I appear on video, and I feel immense satisfaction that it was recorded using a Note 9, and desk tripod, and wireless mic.
Of course the media team did a lot of editing. That is something I hope to learn in the near future.
The pandemic has forced this on me and my staff. They too are learning to record their own sermons and sending them to the editing team.
The members are beneficiaries. Shorter, sharper, clearer sermons, and therefore services, every Sunday.