Streaming prayer or worship is an easy and great way to reach people. The stream can be seen live or afterwards. In this post, you will learn how easy and inexpensive it is to get started with Facebook and YouTube live streaming services. These videos can even be downloaded by church members for other members to watch even without internet connection. YouTube downloads are possible via YouTube to MP4 services like ClipConverter.

Facebook and YouTube Live Streaming – Simple and Inexpensive

Thanks to modern smartphones, setting up a live stream over the Internet has become both easy and inexpensive. All you need is a smartphone, a tripod (or some other way of attaching the camera) and a Facebook profile, click on “Live” in the Facebook app and you can start right away. You can embed such a live stream directly on your website and distribute it via a newsletter.

Facebook is the easiest way to go live for most people. If you want to stream via YouTube, you need a computer or laptop with a good webcam, because YouTube only allows streaming from a smartphone if you have 1,000 subscribers on your YouTube channel. A good webcam should deliver at least 720p recording quality. A live stream on YouTube can also be integrated into Church websites using the so-called embed code that every YouTube video has. (The code for copying can be found under the point “Share” or “Share” -> “Embed” under each YouTube video.)

If you want more quality, you can achieve a lot with better sound. An external USB microphone is strongly recommended when streaming via a laptop or computer. Better sound quality can even compensate for poorer picture quality when watching. For church services that you record with digital cameras or camcorders, we recommend YouTube as the upload platform. If you record several perspectives and want to cut them together later, this means a lot more effort for a live stream. With free software such as OBS , it is also possible to change the camera perspective live. You can of course embed finished YouTube videos on websites as described above.

Promote your livestream

The advantage of the live stream is, of course, that everyone can watch it regardless of their location using their smartphone, tablet or computer, creating a sense of community. If you’re using the live chat that Facebook and YouTube offer at the same time, it helps to have someone else with you to respond to comments. Please also remember that the live stream will automatically continue to be available afterwards! In this way, more people can see the devotion or the service even after the appointment.

Draw attention to your live appointment via newsletter and SMS. We recommend that you announce the date on the website as early as possible, send an announcement 4 to 5 days in advance via newsletter and remind you by SMS on the day of the live stream, approximately 1 to 2 hours in advance.

Other Alternatives To Live Streaming

Church services, devotions and spiritual impulses can be brought online in a variety of ways. If you don’t want the whole live stream, WhatsApp devotions, Instagram prayers and many other variants are also possible. In the Corona crisis, many churches are online. Even if people stay at home to avoid the spread of the new corona virus, church can be with you.