In case you don’t get the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Religion editor James Dowd did a terrific article on the ACTS Network. The segment is in today’s edition (January 29th) in the Faith and Values section.
You always wonder how a story might actually come across in a newspaper, and on a broadcast too, but I’m very pleased with James’ work. He captured the story about the ministry and how churches are using the videos. He also talked with several pastors who are using the videos to gauge reaction.
Kudos to James Dowd and thanks to David Waters who turned him onto the story. And more Kudos to Matthew Craig, the Appeal photographer who captured the photos and shared a laugh.
Here’s a funny story about the photo shoot. After the interview I had a shoot at a nearby church. James was going to meet me there and have the photographer, Matthew take some shots. Once I got to the church I realized I had left my camera battery back in my office on charge. Knowing how busy Matthew must be I hated to keep him there while I called my wife to bring me the battery.
So thinking I’d let him get his shots and go on to his next shoot, a took my camera and lights and started pretending to shoot video. Unable to power up the camera I pretended to be shooting pictures of the story on the spirituality of young people. I carried that camera throughout the church with Matthew taking photos of me doing it.
About 20 minutes later, Cameron brought me the battery and I went back upstairs. Talking to Matthew I learned he was not in a hurry and was going to stay to get more shots. So, I admitted it faking the video shoot. Once I turned the camera on (for real) I noticed that THE LENS CAP HAD BEEN ON WHILE I WAS FAKING THE SHOOT.
Matthew hadn’t noticed, but when he looked at some of the digital photos he had taken, there it was: professional videographer and journalist rolling video with the lens cap on.
Matthew later got his shots and we had a nice talk about how churches are using video and other things to make church more interesting and relevant.
Buy the newspaper, it’s only 50-cents, but if you’re outside the area here’s a link: