Todd Wagner is the Lead Pastor of Watermark Community Church here in Dallas, hosting the Echo Conference. Session Two zeroed in on our absolute need to do what we do using media with excellence in church communications … but not for excellence’s sake alone. Here are my notes from Todd’s talk:

• People don’t think in “words,” they think in images.
• Quoting an author, he said, “The most powerful force in the making of history … is metaphor.”
• The power of ’story’ changes people
• Entertain (defined): To hold someone’s attention. Using that definition, we are to indeed entertain people. Amusement (defined): Action without thought. We are not to amuse people.
• Create media, not just to honor God, but to move people toward God.
• Peer-to-peer advertising (a.k.a. word-of-mouth) is the most sought-after form of advertising for a successful campaign. This is something the Church has known all along …
• Search and listen for the ‘proverbial sentence’ to communicate a single message
• You have been given gifts. “You HAVE to do this!”
• From Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men …” and 1 Peter 3:15-16, “You must BE this.” Live your own life in such a way that reflects His glory.
• “You must not do this alone.” Seek out mentors in your life to spur you on to excellence.

Following the general session were back-to-back breakouts. I attended Brad Zimmerman’s “Creativity on a Budget” and obtained the list of all lists of FREE resources and tutorials websites.

From there, Gary Molander of Floodgate Productions presented “Media as a Teaching Tool.” Another great chance to get an insider’s take on video vignettes and their effective use.