The use of video backgrounds behind projected worship lyrics or scriptures can add an incredibly powerful dimension to your worship service. Since the use of these backgrounds is a fairly recent development, let's look at some of the most frequently asked questions concerning them.

Do video backgrounds work in Microsoft Powerpoint? Basically, no. Powerpoint will play certain types of video files, and even has the ability to loop them. However, the program does not allow you to overlay text onto moving video. The closest you can get when using Powerpoint is to split the screen - for example, using the top two-thirds of the screen for video and the bottom third with text on a black bar. There is also a plug-in for Powerpoint that goes for around $150 that will allow you to use moving backgrounds.

What software packages allow you to make use of video backgrounds? There are a number of church-related software packages on the market that allow you to use video backgrounds. Among the more popular are: MediaShout, EasyWorship, Song Show Plus, Presentation Manager, SongBase, and Prologue Sunday Plus. Most of these programs are similarly priced and have trial versions available.

What computer specifications do I need to be able to use video backgrounds? The computer specs you need are dependent upon the presentation software that you use. Generally speaking, you will need: a hard drive (7200rpm) with plenty of storage capacity, a processor speed of 1ghz or better, and as much RAM as possible (128mb or better). Also, most software packages with this feature utilize a dual monitor system, so you will need either two video cards, or a single powerful video card with dual monitor capability.

What is the advantage of a 'seamless loop' over an ordinary video clip? The ability of a clip to loop seamlessly is very important in worship presentations. When a clip loops seamlessly, you do not notice when you reach the end of the clip and it restarts. When a clip does not loop, you notice an obvious glitch in the video when the file restarts, and this can be a distraction (instead of worshiping, some in the congregation will be wondering 'What just happened with that video?').

What is the most effective way to make use of video backgrounds? The answer to this question is totally dependent on the worship style of your church. The backgrounds that you choose should reflect the personality of your church and flow smoothly with the other elements of your worship. Some churches use a single background for their entire worship service. Typically, a church will assign a different video background to each song, and most software packages are designed with this in mind. You can add to the effectiveness of the presentation by trying to coordinate the background with the content of the song. For instance, if you are singing 'Did You Feel the Mountains Tremble?', you might choose a majestic mountain scene for your background.

One further thought: new advances in some software packages will soon allow you to use multiple video backgrounds within the same song. Obviously, this will increase the skill level required of the technician, but also will present some interesting possibilities for increasing the effectiveness of the presentation.