Seven Dead Air Ideas for Church

Every church has that moment when something doesn't go as planned.

When there is an unexpected break in the flow. Something like dead air on the radio.

Perhaps the preacher is no where to be found, the worship pastor won't quit crying, technical difficulties, or maybe the rapture happened and it's just a little awkward.

This happened this week at our church.

I attend a video campus and we had some technical difficulties. Our youth pastor was in charge for the service and he handled it well, but it made me wonder what people would actually like to see during a dead air moment at church.

Here are seven things that we would love to see to fill the dead air:

1.) Bulletin Origami. I hate folding paper, but how sweet would it be if someone got up and had everyone folding crosses and doves?

2) Balloon Animals. Raid the children's ministry cabinet. Balloon art is the most under appreciated gift of the Holy Spirit. How so? What does the Holy Spirit do? He blows where he pleases.

3) Congregational Groove. It's not exactly a flash mob, but everyone loves a good dance routine. Start off with something slow like Father Abraham and depending on the frequency of these dead air moments advance to something more difficult like the Napoleon Dynamite dance routine.

4) Camp Songs. There's nothing like a little nostalgia. Grab an acoustic guitar and start leading some old Christian camp or Bible School songs. I would love to hear how the Grin Again Gang got gung ho about Jesus again. Those songs are catchy and will stay with the folks for a long time.

5) Minute to Win It. Some Tearjerker Churches have Kleenex boxes everywhere. Why not make up some competitions?

6) Peppermint Muting Class. This one should be done regardless. Churches need to teach the masses how to quietly open a peppermint. The key isn't to do it slowly. We still hear you and instead of hearing it for half a second, we hear it for thirty!

7) Telephone Game. Start a sentence on one side of church and have one person whisper it to another and see what it morphs into. Some churches call this their "Prayer Chain".   

What would you like to see during dead air moments?


You can connect with me on Twitter at @christiangravy.