In a small room at the back of my shed, is a wooden, lounge room box settee. On there sits, as a reminder of nearly three decades of media ministry, a menagerie of old cameras including once I used as a 15 year old boy. My grandmother bought a Super 8 silent video camera for our family. I immediately fell in love with it, and over the years bought lots of little film reels and made lots of mini documentaries, with editing consisting of splicing and gluing the celluloid film. Those film reels are still stored in the back of the shed, containing many youthful memories.
Then, looking at all the other cameras there, is one of the first black and white web cams I used on Windows 98, a Connectix Quick Cam. It was this that I filmed numerous little shorts; unfortunately all but one are lost today. There are other cameras as well, including a Canon that I burnt out by overuse, a Panasonic VHS camera my dad found on a street-side collection, a handy cam, as well as the very first 2.5k BMD cinema camera. Other cameras I’ve regrettably given away over the years; however, in the intervening years we’ve progressively advanced to better cameras.
Fast forward from our first gospel film in 1997, now some 28 years later, I currently use three BMD cinema cameras: a 4K for livestreaming Sabbath worship services, and the G4 Micro Studio camera and a 6K for studio filming.
And this week, on behalf of the ministry vision that underscores our work at Messageweek Ministries, I took delivery of yet another BMD EF mount cinema camera, the PYXIS 6K which features a full-frame sensor. After much research and deliberation, it is being matched with a DZO 50mm 2.1 prime lens.
This will work well in our studio, as well as for on-location film work. Of course, this is a huge step of faith and commitment financially. To do this we must really believe in the work of media ministry – if only to lay the foundation for what fruits will assuredly eventuate. And yet, knowing from similar purchases in the past, it can take a bit of consternation and intentional effort to remediate the debt. But, with a multimedia savvy audience, we cannot sacrifice anything lesser than the highest quality film, the best audio, and most importantly, every word, expression and nuance as an authentic reflection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“A man can receive nothing except it be given from heaven,” so said John the Baptist, in recognising the role of his ministry some 2000 years ago. Thus, all we have to testify is actually “plagiarised” – given by the breath of God over thousands of years via faithful men and women. Their testimony of Jesus still speaks today.
