How to use a phone as a camera in the service, with a newsroom look

Showing whoever is preaching or singing on the big screen brings the whole congregation closer, especially in long sanctuaries or rooms with pillars. And on the livestream, seeing people instead of only slides makes those at home feel part of the service.

• People far from the pulpit can see faces and gestures.
• The livestream shows the church, not just text.
• A baptism, a child dedication or a testimony can be seen up close.

• A phone with a camera and battery (ideally plugged into a charger).
• A simple holder or tripod so the picture doesn't shake.
• The phone and the projector computer on the same church Wi-Fi.
• The service program open live in AdoraSync (Pro or Church plans).

1. 1In the live panel, tap the camera button to open the Camera menu.
2. 2Scan the QR code with the phone that will film.
3. 3Type a name such as Pulpit, allow camera access and tap Start streaming.
4. 4In the Camera menu you'll see its live video. With that camera's button you show it alone, full screen.

A full-screen camera covers the lyrics, and full-screen lyrics hide the people. Television solves this by combining: the camera large, the text in a box and a lower third at the bottom. You can do the same in the service.

1. 1Under Layout, choose how many boxes you want: two side by side, a main one with another next to it, a small box in the corner, three or four.
2. 2Choose what goes in each box: a camera or the Current slide, which is the lyrics or verse on air.
3. 3Type the headline, for example the name of the service or of the preacher. The lower third turns on by itself as you type.
4. 4Under Template, choose the style: Studio, Newsroom, Elegant or Minimal, and tap Put on air.

Templates use your church's main color and logo, so the screen looks like yours and not generic. While on air, whatever you change goes out instantly: there's nothing to confirm again.

The same link works on a computer. If you have a webcam, a USB camera or a professional camera connected through an HDMI capture card, open the link on that computer and pick it in Camera on this device. That way you can mix the phone in the balcony with the main camera of the sanctuary.

• Hold the phone horizontally: the picture fills the screen better.
• Look for light in front of the preacher, not behind.
• Use Auto quality: it lowers itself if the network can't keep up and the video doesn't freeze.
• Test everything before the service starts, with the projector on.

• Phone in hand. Any movement shows up big; use a holder.
• Mobile data. The video goes over the church network; on data it may cut out.
• Phone screen turned off. Keep the camera page open while streaming.