The South England Conference (SEC) Area 3 Communication and Media Training Day took place at Southampton Seventh-day Adventist Church on Sunday, 23 June 2024. Attendees from the Hampshire and Dorset regions participated in three workshops and engaged in networking opportunities. Organised by the SEC Communication and Media Department, this was the first local area event, aimed at those who have difficulty travelling to the larger SEC-wide training at Stanborough Park Church, Watford.
Southampton pastor Božidar Prgonjić welcomed the attendees and began the event with a prayer. SEC Communication and Media Director Dr. Sorin Petrof opened the training by underscoring the importance of effective communication and media skills in "spreading the church’s message and enhancing community engagement". Petrof also highlighted SEC communication platforms, including the SEC Newsletter and the recently released SEC Communications WhatsApp Channel. He then introduced the workshop presenters: his team members Stefan Stanciu, Andraé Johnson, and Don Roberts, along with guest presenter Area 1 Coordinator, Pastor Florin Orasanu.
The first workshop, "Virtual Meetings: Navigating the Opportunities & Challenges of Zoom," was conducted by Don Roberts. In this session, Roberts emphasised the ongoing role of the video conferencing platform Zoom in church services and meetings. He provided attendees with strategies to manage and participate in virtual and hybrid meetings successfully, with a focus on Zoom security. Other topics included addressing common issues related to video and audio, presentation screen sharing, and utilising new features to enhance engagement.
The second workshop, "Capture the Moment: Mastering Event Photography with Your Smartphone," was led by photography enthusiast Pastor Florin Orasanu. This session provided participants with valuable techniques to take professional-quality photos using their smartphones. Orasanu focused on critical aspects such as composition, lighting, and capturing the essence of events. Attendees learned how to maximise their smartphone cameras' capabilities, enabling them to produce high-quality images for various church events and personal projects.
The third workshop, "Enhancing Worship Experience and Streaming: Audio and Video Techniques for Church Services," was co-led by Andraé Johnson and Stefan Stanciu. Their session covered the essentials of sound engineering and video production. Johnson shared his expertise on improving audio quality in worship services, emphasising the importance of clear and balanced sound. Stanciu provided insights into configuring video kits for high-quality live streaming, demonstrating how to set up and operate equipment to achieve professional results. Together, they offered practical tips and solutions to common challenges faced during live streaming and audio management in church settings.
During each workshop, the presenters fielded questions from attendees and were thanked for their expertise and practical insights. Following the workshops, attendees took the opportunity to speak with the presenters over lunch for further discussion and networking.
The Area 3 Communication & Media Training Day sets the stage for future regional training events aimed at empowering churches and their members with the tools they need to thrive in the evolving landscape of media and communication. The next event is already scheduled for 8 September 2024 in Area 8, covering the regions of Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
