One Host or Two? Understanding the Role of the On-Camera Communicator in Church Online

Years ago, when I was given the opportunity to be the Church Online Pastor, I had an option - I could either say yes or no. I weighed my options, thought about it, and ultimately said yes. This was a step we took as a family after a lot of prayer and counsel.

When the pandemic hit, churches worldwide had to shut their doors, and everyone had to shift online. Suddenly, online ministry became a priority for all churches - not just the ones that had previously focused on it. In many cases, churches had to appoint someone from their team to lead the way. This led to people stepping into roles such as online pastors, coordinators, hosts, or on-camera presenters. Some people wore many hats to make things work and church online was one more thing they did. Churches didn’t necessarily have an option - they were pushed into it.

As we looked around, we saw that many churches were following a similar playbook. It was like a global case of groupthink. People were looking to others for inspiration, and as a result, things began to feel a bit same-ish. (Read more of my thoughts on here - Breaking Through Comfort Zones in Ministry Innovation)

The Question

A question that I often get asked when it comes to Church Online Services and people on camera is this - Should we have 1 host or 2 on camera? And the answer I always give is this - it depends.

As a Campus Pastor, some of the most valuable lessons I learned was from Pastor Craig Groeschel when it came to communication. He taught us that when we were on stage or on-camera, we weren't just there to make announcements or share information - we were there to lead. And I'm so grateful for that vision because it could have been easy to fall into a scarcity mindset. At our church, Campus Pastors had the least amount of time in service compared to the teaching and worship pastors. We only had 3-5 minutes to make an impact.

But Pastor Craig’s wisdom helped us see things differently. It wasn't about the amount of time we had - it was about how we used that time to lead and inspire our congregation. We were there to connect with people, encourage them, and point them toward God's love and grace.

And you know what? Those few minutes ended up being some of the most powerful and memorable moments in our services. We were able to make a real impact, not just share information. It just goes to show that sometimes, it's not about the quantity of time you have, but the quality of what you do with it.

It’s More Than Hosting

As the Church Online Pastor or communicator, you need to remember that you are not just hosting a service or sharing some announcements, you are leading. It’s a powerful spiritual moment. If you currently have someone that is “just a host,” I would encourage you to rethink your approach to what you are doing. The role of the person on camera is to invite people into this holy moment with God. 

You are already having to fight through the reality that this service is probably on someone’s mobile phone or laptop. They could be on a train to work or watching this video cause someone sent them a link. We only have a few seconds to capture their attention and it’s going to take way more than letting people know about an announcement you need to share that’s probably only relevant to the in-person audience. I hope you hear the urgency in my words - this is an important moment in your service. 

What’s the Magic Number?

When it comes to the number of people you have hosting online, I always encourage leaders to think through what they are trying to accomplish during that time. 

• Maybe you are trying to create a fun, high-energy moment.
• Maybe you are talking about a mission partner and what to share details about them.
• Maybe you are leading people who just gave their life to Christ.
• Maybe you are inviting people into a time of prayer.
• Maybe you are talking about the importance of serving at your church.
• Maybe you are trying to make your big church feel small.
• Maybe you are trying to make your small church feel big.
• Maybe you are wanting every week to feel like an adventure.

In order to do any of what I’ve mentioned, it’s going to require you to be intentional. As Maya Angelou famously said, people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. That's why it's essential to consider the outcome you want to achieve and work towards it through the right approach. When you are intentional about your approach, you can create powerful moments that will have a lasting impact on your audience.

Location Location Location

When you are considering filming your content, it's important to take into account the location because where you choose to film can have a significant impact on how your audience perceives and feels about the moment you are presenting. The environment in which the filming takes place can contribute to the mood, ambiance, and tone of the message, and can ultimately affect the level of engagement and connection your audience has with your content. Therefore, carefully considering the location, lighting, and other visual elements that will enhance the message and evoke the desired emotional response is an essential part of creating a meaningful and impactful experience for your viewers.

If you are on stage, people will feel a certain way.

If you are in your church lobby, people will feel a certain way.

If you are outside, people will feel a certain way.

If you are in a studio, people will feel a certain way. 

Most Pastors who are leading in-person audiences are limited to the building they are in, the stage they are on, and potentially a couple of screens they have in their auditorium. Every week, it’s the same location for them. However, for Church Online, we are not limited by a single location, so why do that to yourself?

Imagine Easter weekend, and you are filming in Israel, in front of the empty tomb. 

Wow! What a powerful moment it could be. That’s going to create a moment that is going to be very hard to replicate standing in the lobby of your church. Obviously, your budget will play a role in determining what you can and cannot do but I wanted to give you that example to just force you to think differently about the opportunity you have in front of you. (I’m also sharing it cause it was one of my dreams to do that but the timing never worked out. So if you can pull it off, go for it!)

I hope this has been helpful to you. I’d love to hear what you are doing at your church. What have you tried that’s worked and what hasn’t? Let’s grab a call and talk about it. I am always looking to learn how others have leveraged this opportunity at their church.