Reading: Acts 13:44
Sunday morning comes. As my friend George Agadis, the pastor is "on the big stage." He has labored long in the vineyard of his study prayerfully wrestling with a text, creating an outline, putting words to paper (and in my case, images to powerpoint), sweating, praying, sometimes rewriting on Saturday night. He has the responsibility to deliver the Word of God to the People of God (and anyone else who finds their way into the sanctuary at the appointed hour.)
The pastor gets up to speak. Every eye turns towards him, every ear is attuned to hear him (we hope that's the case). It's time to speak.
Except that you can barely hear his voice.
Or his voice booms out like a stadium full of roaring Penn State fans.
Or there is a powerful feedback that causes people to cover their ears in pain.
I have often said "the devil is in the electronics" and all of the above can reinforce that feeling.
In those moments, every pastor has a best friend (or a worst enemy). It is his sound tech.
The sound tech is often a quiet person sitting unnoticed in his corner, cubby hole, or cage. If you are fortunate, he knows electronics and loves Jesus. He may not speak to anyone except the pastor on Sunday. He rarely takes a microphone to share his faith or prayer concern. He is too busy making sure the darn thing works. He keeps his eyes fixed on the preacher and his ears alert to any disturbance of the Force. It's probably hard to keep his attention on Jesus. He's too busy, at times, making sure others don't lose their connection.
Yet the sound man is an essential part of worship and proclamation in the modern church. I am blessed with two excellent sound men - Vince and Tim. They have two backups-Mike and Keith and together they make sure that the Message God has given me is proclaimed and heard by those who need a Word from the Lord.
I thank God for these servants of the kingdom. I could do it without them -- but most of you would only see me do it, not hear me do it.
(C) 2010 by Stephen Dunn
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