Why Your Church Service Needs A Host

[@yoelbrito]

I am a pastor of a small church and I have been using all your advice. I want to serve God and His people with excellence. Thank You 🙏🏻

[@prochurchtools]

yoel brito Great to have you in Pro Church Nation!

[@dibackdraft]

I loved this, it really confirmed what I have been bringing forward to our team and my Lead Pastor regarding transitions and being mindful of stage time.

[@prochurchtools]

Dan H So glad to hear it 👊

[@MichelleOsorio]

I’m here watching you speak now standing in front of your social blade score. You’ve given me such invaluable advice on music consulting. THANK YOU! 🙏🏼

[@prochurchtools]

Michelle Osorio Dare to Dreamer Means the world! Thank you so much!

[@roscoejones303]

I remember one time I was at Texas Roadhouse and they changed the first impression engagement to where they said "How was your last visit with us?" And that would prompt someone to either say "Great!" or "This is our first time!" Which that would be better modified for a greeter position, but still very effective!

[@prochurchtools]

Ross Montgomery Red Robin knows what’s up. That’s a great line.

[@charlespatt]

We use the term MC (emcee, or Master of Ceremonies) for the same thing. The idea I try to get into their heads is that the MC (or host) is NOT just the announcement giver. I like the term Master of Ceremonies because the MC needs to be the master over everything that is going on. From getting people into their seats on time, to making sure all the presenters (and band) are ready to go on time, to keeping the flow going through to the end. All the things you said. Host is also a very good term for it. I also recommend that they consider that even if we don't have "newcomers", we always have "guests"- they could be visitors, regular attendees, or (and this is important) members who have not come for a quite while and may feel out of place or a bit like a stranger. The host can help make sure they feel welcome.

[@sue_wachira]

This is so relatable. Thank you

[@markforrest881]

As a senior pastor I want to say thank you for the information you have shared. I have been implementing a number of your ideals from other videos and it has been a blessing. It has not been easy transitioning from archaic Modus operandi to modern day communication, but I am grateful for information (such as this) to assist churches in operating in the 21st century.

[@prochurchtools]

Mark F Keep pushing forward, Mark! You got this. 👊

[@TheCOPBelfast]

Amazing video. May I ask if you could share the script for the bit you did at the end for us, please. I mean the bit you recommended we could copy and use. Thank you

[@portlandmhchurch399]

We switched over to this about 1 1/2 years ago. Total game changer. As associate pastor I have many responsibilities throughout the week but on Sunday mornings my job description is “Sunday morning experience“. I coordinate with the worship pastor and the senior pastor to create fluid transitions out of worship into new person greeting, announcements, and giving, and then transition to the message. It has transformed our service from a clunky piecemeal order to a fluid connected experience 👍

[@prochurchtools]

Portland MH Church BOOM 💯

[@prochurchtools]

Portland MH Church BOOM 💯

[@soniaavelar1430]

Thank you, you're wisdom and videos are awesome and a blessing!

[@lukemwills]

It's almost like non-liturgical churches are finally realizing they really have no idea what they're actually doing. The church has used a "host" for nearly 2000 years, except it's called a presider. The presider is the worship leader for the whole service (I'm confused when the music leader began to be called a worship leader--everything that happens in the service should be worship). The presider welcomes the people, leads the prayers and the entire liturgy, is often also the preacher (though not necessarily), presides at Holy Communion, and gives the closing blessing. If you don't divorce yourself from the traditions the church has inherited, then you don't have to make up things as you go. And best of all, the liturgy engages worshippers and flows beautifully--no awkward transition periods.

[@IzingaI]

That’s cool and all but you talk about it as if how a liturgical church conducts a service is written out in the Bible… It’s all just methods to gather the people of God in worship.

[@waynewrz]

Shofar, so good.

[@treazorpandwe]

This was so helpful, thank you.

[@gabrielcentino4001]

Always an awesome video! Youve helped me alot in our church here in the Philippines. Regards from Hope of the City Church!

[@igbinosakaykingsley9358]

Love this video

[@michaela4855]

I have to do MC tomorrow pray for me

[@waynewrz]

Great thoughts. We've been talking about this a bit with our staff. We have people doing the announcements, but I would love to see a few people trained well to handle welcome/announcements/guest acknowledgment/benediction. I think that would help people feel comfortable in your worship gathering.

[@jaynichols8312]

Where can I find some examples of a host in a service? links please

[@digitalvaldosta]

Loving the new set and intro. 👍

[@prochurchtools]

Josh Thank you, Josh! 🙏

[@jcdo4u2]

I like it too but it looks like Alex may get a sore neck looking at camera and then keeping his eyes on Brady. Maybe you should switch sides? Lol

[@mattf335]

How do you keep the host from “preaching”? We have tried this for opening & announcements after worship, & after each person gets comfortable doin it they start taking too much liberty & going “off script”.

[@prochurchtools]

Hey Matt - great question! It really comes down to setting expectations around what a host's role in the service. When you're training your hosts, or getting them started, take the time to explain the structure you want hosts to follow, how you view the role of a host, and be sure to provide feedback when they do really well so they know what types of content etc. that you're hoping to see. 😊

[@Ambientes]

Put them In check

[@irisquizhpi1253]

Great content! A few questions? 1. Do you recommend the host doing it before service starts, middle of transition for preaching or end?? Our announcements are always at the end because our Pastor tends to do a small “worship” before he transitions to his preaching. 2. Do you recommend a host who has a good personality or through the time eventually will become comfortable enough to do it? 3. Content in the announcement. Ours tend to be a “bit” long and I feel that our church doesn’t really engage with them probably cause they get distracted lol but would would be come good tips for that? Thank you again, I been very bless to watch all your videos! Super helpful!

[@DianaGladney]

Love this!

[@prochurchtools]

Diana Gladney - EntreWoman TV You’re the best, Diana!

[@JosephTheDreamer]

The thumbnail though 😂 ITS A NEW CARRRR

[@prochurchtools]

Joseph The Dreamer 😎

[@Ambientes]

Would it be the same recommendations for Mexican churches?

[@prochurchtools]

I don't have any personal experience with church ministry in Mexico, but general good communication practices should apply almost world wide. Just be sure to tweak specifics to your own church context. 😊

[@TheThortoy]

Could you let me know the model of your mic stand? It really hard to find it like that.

[@prochurchtools]

That is a great question! We ordered them awhile ago, so I can't remember the make/model, but we ordered them from Amazon. :)

[@jonathancrocker3579]

It’s a Shure SM7B. They are basically a fancy sm57 but better and control proximity effect so you won’t hear a strong low frequency when the speaker/singer gets too close to the mic. Great for podcasts and interviews where people aren’t used to using microphone and may have bad technique.

[@TheThortoy]

@@jonathancrocker3579 I mean the mic stand

[@jonathancrocker3579]

@@TheThortoy oh lol, sorry. Yeah, that’s a pretty cool stand.

[@MyHeroMYLIFE]

Would this be a volunteer or paid staff position?

[@prochurchtools]

Great question! In all of the churches we've currently found ourselves attending, the host has always been a volunteer position. 😊

[@MyHeroMYLIFE]

Pro Church Tools with Brady Shearer If it was paid, what would be some ideal responsibilities to add to such a job?

[@russellvillechurchofchrist3070]

Well Hey there Brady! Where are you the church host for?

[@prochurchtools]

Central Community Church in St. Catharines. :)

[@miri9646]

Some African Americans church called this the master of ceremony/ mistress

[@Dkimbrough83]

Simpler is better. We are making things so complicated we are losing our focus

[@TheNtizda]

Guitars are not a upgrade to drums :|

[@practicalworship]

Ntizda Can confirm! 😂

[@Ambientes]

I actually hate being acknowledged when I visit a church for the first time! I avoid visiting churches because of that

[@jayhill1242]

Nah you avoid going to church because you don’t want to go. A person can find a plethora of reasons not to do something they don’t want to do.

[@Dkimbrough83]

Simpler is better. We are making things so complicated we are losing our focus