In this special video, entitled, “Don’t Quit Your Day Job,” Mike and Van come to a terrible realization: We are not on-air personalities. Enjoy…

Well, we had hoped to be bringing you WFX coverage while the show was still going on, but it didn’t work out that way. Never fear, however, we shot plenty of footage and over the next week or so we’ll be getting it all posted. While there weren’t a ton of new announcements, we did see some pretty great stuff. In this post, we’ll show you the new DPA D:fine headset. In future posts, we’ll show you ways to move all manner of video signals all over your facility through category cable; one of the best ways to migrate from SD to HD IMAG; give you a glimpse at the new Shure Axient system; we’ll give you a complete rundown of the new ProPresenter 5 and introduce you to a new and fantastic alternative to the Aviom system (and no, it’s not the M-48!). READ MORE!

“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 NLT

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17 NLT

If you are a Tech Director, you probably know that it is one of the most rewarding places to serve in the church. It can also be one of the most thankless, misunderstood, and stressful jobs in the church. Most of all, it can be incredibly lonely. I can’t tell you how many conversations I have had about feeling like “a man (or woman) in the wilderness”. The Church TD is often the most misunderstood person on the staff.

Most TD’s are hired for their technical skill, but then are also expected to be skilled at so many other things. On a recent Church Tech Weekly podcast Dennis Choy, TD at North Coast Church in Vista, CA, summed it up best, “We have to be skilled, but we also have to be able to build a team, but we also have to lead a team, and we have to be a “pastor”, there are so many different aspects of it.” Many TD’s are not prepared for the many aspects of the position, that has really only been around for the last ten years.

So where does a lonely, stressed out, misunderstood TD go these days to keep from being crazy? Enter Church Technical Leaders Network. Formed by Bill Swaringim and team from two existing organizations, Church Tech Directors Round Table (started in 2009) and Church Technical Artist Network (started in 2010), CTL is a real community just for the Church TD or Tech Leader.

“As Bill watched these two resources grow and develop, and after CTDRT had hosted over 20 local / regional roundtable events he realized that God’s plan for these communities was bigger than his vision. Bill invited Dennis Choy and Jeff VanderGiessen to join him in leading these communities so to better serve the members of CTDRT and CTANonline. Together they have invested many hours of praying and planning, structuring for the future of church technical leaders and artists.” From CTL’s mission & vision statement.

CTL is an online community that is powered by the On The City technology. A hybrid Facebook/ Twitter/ Google + meets message board and forums to create a place custom made for the church TD and Tech to get answers and most of all, community. As of this original post date, CTL boast 900 plus members and counting.

One of the great features of the CTL community is the Groups section. Users can pick from the major disciplines of church tech; Audio, Video, Lighting, etc. or start their own.

There is also a Calendar section showing regional meet-ups, industry trade shows and events, as well as a Marketplace to buy and sell equipment.

There is so much to the new CTL community and the potential for growth and change as the job of the church TD and Tech Leader changes, it will be exciting to see how God uses it to grow, strengthen, and bless all of us who serve the church through tech.

Bottom line: If you are a church TD or Tech Leader, JOIN CHURCH TECHNICAL LEADERS! Get involved, get in the game, and stop feeling like you are alone. You are not.