Andy Rowell

Church Leadership Conversations

  • How to Find Free Legal Photos and Images

    There is an outstanding article at Christianity Today’s FaithVisuals.com entitled:

    The Copyright Blues
    How to make sure your church isn’t in the wrong when it comes to copyright
    by Willow Creek Community Church – DuPage Campus Producer/Programming Director Greg Wallace

    Hat Tip (H/T) to Taylor communication professor Kathy Bruner for forwarding me the article. 

    Wallace warns us against using photos that aren’t ours to use.  Why?  Because photographers get paid for these photos and if you use them without paying, you are stealing.  Ouch.  But you knew that already . . . but just chose to ignore it. 

    In fairness to you (and me) some photographers have the philosophy that any publicity they get is good for them.  Others are even more gracious (or stupid financially) and "just want their photos to be used for the glory of God."  So what do you do? 

    Well, there are at least four things you can do.  I will give you examples of how I have done this.  See Wallace’s article for many more practical hints of free ways to do things!  It is very helpful.       

    1. You can use some free photo sites like Stock.XCHNG.  See the energetic discussion at Church Marketing Sucks to a post called Stock Photography Sucks.  Most people commenting think stock photography is the way to go.  
    2. You can buy CD’s with photos like Emergent/YS Worship Image Gallery of 700 Images from 2003. 
    3. You can take your own photos.  I posted one on Taylor University’s Wikipedia page.  (At Wikipedia, you have to have taken it yourself or it has to be proven to be in the public domain for it to be posted).  You can also do your own art!
    4. You can ask permission.  I have done this with Taylor University photographer Jim Garringer.  Check out his photos of the great social justice leader John Perkins from last month at Jim’s site.  You may win some friends.  The artist may think, "Finally someone appreciates me!" and you do! 

    I know you didn’t want to be reminded that using all of those photos was illegal.  But make the positive decision to: check out some legal free options, take some photos yourself, hug your favorite photographer, learn PhotoShop or some other artistic thing, and open your wallet.  The results? Artists will get a little richer.  You’ll still get great creative stuff.  And you will model for others the right way to do this kind of thing.   

    The answer to your question is "Yes, I do need to look through my blog and see if there are illegal photos." 

    Grace and peace to you (and me).

    Other related subjects:

    I have written about video clip usage at Guidelines for Using Movie Clips in a Sermon and How to find movie clips to use in your sermon

    I have written about finding song lyrics and music at CCLI’s SongSelect – Why Every Church Should Pay $179 and Get It

  • Youth and Children’s Ministry Positions Open

    My friend Rob Rienow, Family Pastor at Wheaton Bible Church in Wheaton, IL, has asked me to spread the world about some positions that they have open in youth and children's ministry.  They are particularly looking for people who are interested in a home centered approach to youth and children's ministry.  He has invited me to post his letter on the blog. 

    Rob is an outstanding leader, supervisor and speaker.  He has been at Wheaton Bible for fifteen years.  You can learn more about him and his philosophy at his Visionary Parenting site or by listening to WBC sermons.   

    Wheaton Bible Church is the church where I grew up and my mom still attends there.  It has about 2200 people in attendance.  They are currently building a new facility.

    I have posted previously about How to Search for a Christian Ministry Position

    Wbchomeheader

    Letter from Rob Rienow

    Dear friends,

    I wanted you to know that Wheaton Bible Church is currently looking three major positions in our Children's and Youth Ministries. I thought that you might be able to help!

    We are committed to finding people who are already familiar with and committed to a theology of ministry that puts parents first in the discipleship process. We need people who believe their primary job as youth and children's ministers is to inspire and equip families become centers. Ben Freudenberg calls this "home centered, church supported" discipleship. That is what we are after as we move into the future at Wheaton Bible Church.

    Here are the three positions that we are looking for right now:

    1. Elementary Director – serving on the larger Childrens and Family team, supporting the parents of our elementary school kids – 400 kids with their families.
    2. High School Pastor – serving on the larger Student and Family team, supporting the parents of our high schoolers – 350 students with their families.
    3. Girls Discipleship Director – serving on the larger Student and Family team, supporting the parents of our teen (both hs and jr) girls – 225 girls with their families.

    If you are interested in any additional information about these positions, or you know potential candidates that you can send my way, I would be grateful for your help. Feel free to email me back, or direct potential candidates to email me their resume at rrienow@wheatonbible.org

    God's Love,

    Rob Rienow
    Family Pastor
    Wheaton Bible Church
    www.wheatonbible.org
    www.visionaryparenting.com

  • James Cameron says he has found Jesus’ family tomb

    A new documentary by James Cameron (director of Titanic) entitled The Lost Family Tomb of Jesus says that Jesus and his family’s tomb has been found.  He is showing off Jesus’ tomb today! See the Time Magazine article: Titanic Claim: Jesus Still Dead

    For a solid response, see Asbury’s Ben Witherington’s initial take at THE JESUS TOMB? ‘TITANIC’ TALPIOT TOMB THEORY SUNK FROM THE START.  Basically he says that there were lots of Jesus’s and Mary’s in the first century and that we have had this tomb since 1980.  There are some good scholars involved with this but Witherington thinks they have fallen for the publicity instead of relying on the peer-review process. 

    In the comments, Witherington argues with one of the scholars James Tabor who is part of the project.  Tabor has blogged about it at Some Initial Thoughts on the Talpiot Tomb.    

    Other New Testament scholars who will be good to watch on this include:

    Dallas’s Darrell Bock: Hollywood Hype: The Oscars and Jesus’ Family Tomb, What Do They Share?

    Duke’s Mark Goodacre who has an inital take entitled: "The Tomb That Dare not speak its name" and another "Jesus’ family tomb": how blogging helps

    North Park’s Scot McKnight’s Was Jesus Married? One More Time