Not sure if it’s right for your audience? Click here to watch all five minutes of these clever church signs. If you really like this one, don’t miss our first one!

If you caught Christmas in 50 Words, this is a similar premise, but an entirely different video. The original poem by Dana Livesay has been used time and time again in sermons, etc. and we were so pleased to have permission from him to use it in this video.

This unique video covers God’s story from Genesis to Revelation. As big believers in the power of story, we love how 50 little words can cause you to look at the Bible in a  new way. We think it’s a great conversation starter for your service. Maybe it will help jump start a message on the Bible – the power of God’s word, how to study it, the importance of spending time in Scripture. Or, maybe it is a subtle reminder to your audience that Jesus cares about their story as much as he cared for those in the Bible. We have no doubt you’ll find it a great resource! Let us know how you’re using it.

As you may or may not know, the past 12 months have been a very interesting time for RT Creative Group, our parent company. Last March, we made the decision to sell WorshipHouse Media. Since then, we’ve been talking about where we could make the most impact for the Church.

Enter Graceway Media.

Graceway Media, formerly PowerPoint Sermons, is a company that we have long admired for its ability to create beautiful title graphics, motion loops, and still backgrounds. Its offices are just a few minutes away from us, which has allowed us to foster a relationship with its owners and a few employees.

Recently, we were talking with Jon and Josh Bailey, the founders of Graceway, and we realized that they might be interested in letting Graceway go so that it could partner up with a new company. When we showed interest in adding their company to RT Creative Group, the Baileys were excited about the prospect of our team taking the reins.

From there, everything has happened pretty quickly. And today, RT Creative Group is  excited to introduce you to the newest member of our family, Graceway Media. As I mentioned earlier, Graceway does a fantastic job creating title graphics that can be used for sermon series, individual lessons, church announcements, and more. They don’t just have a couple of options, but rather they have thousands of resources and are constantly adding new material every day. The Graceway website has a powerful search function that allows you to immediately search by Bible verse or topic so that you can find the graphic that works best for you. Graceway also has a wide array of still backgrounds and motion loops that you can use to create your own graphics for sermons, notes, announcements, lyrics, etc.

Graceway can also print banners for your church from any of its graphics files. Whether you want to have banners announcing the next sermon series or an upcoming church picnic, Graceway can help you find the graphic you’re looking for as well as a banner that can be customized to include your church’s logo, time and date, and other pertinent information.

Please check out Graceway’s website and let us know how we can serve you. Should you need any help, we have people ready to take your calls and questions. Graceway has been helping churches since 2006, and starting today we are privileged to carry the torch.

Here’s a picture from Friday (Feb 3) the day of closing:

We know that you are working hard to create cohesive looks to your service. These Theme Packs are the answer! They include:

-A 5-minute Countdown

-A Welcome Title (loop and still)

-A coordinating background (loop and still)

-A Close Title (loop and still)

We’re releasing four new looks and you’re sure to find one that fits your service style. If you need a little more we have plenty of options. Check out our add-ons:

-Photoshop File

-After Effects File

-Multi-screen Loop

-Multi-screen Still

Each product is available individually as well.

Still not enough? If you need a little customization, just click here.

Tell us what you think about the theme packs!

I’m writing this the same day we (Igniter Media) released our 100th mini movie. It’s been a journey of more than eight years that started with Rob Thomas creating “Are You Amazed?” under the name Vertical Sky Productions and has currently culminated with Igniter Media being a 10-person company that is as dedicated as ever to creating media that declares God’s truths.

As you can imagine, over the years we’ve learned so much about God, ourselves, media, and the Church. These lessons have pushed us in what we create, why we create, and how we create. So without further ado, here are those lessons (give or take a few missing ones) in no particular order:

• Visual media is powerful.
• God is creative. And we are made in his image.
• Excellence should be the minimum standard.
• You can’t please everyone.
• The best videos are the ones you can’t help but make.
• Encouragement from our audience is a powerful motivator.
• Sometimes the best ideas come while you’re showering.
• Making a great video requires a great team with a great variety of gifts.
• Cody McCasland is a special kid.
• Our visuals must serve the message … not the other way around.

• Mediums keep changing …
• … but the Message never changes.
• We have some of the best jobs in the world.
• God is THE Storyteller …
• … and He writes some amazing stories.
• Sometimes Chachi forgets to wear the right wig.
• Sometimes Chachi forgets to wear his teeth (skip ahead to 1:10).
• Kids are cute. (Okay, maybe we already knew that.)
• Gary Smalley does a ‘killer’ Robot (skip ahead to 3:32).
• God uses everyone’s offerings in ways we could never imagine.

• Churches aren’t comfortable showing potty humor in their services.
• The ideal length of a mini movie keeps getting shorter and shorter.
• Story moves people in a way sermons can’t …
• … and, yes, sermons challenge people in a way story can’t.
• Not everything needs to finish with a nice, beautiful bow.
• It is possible to create a mini movie from scratch in one long night (just ask Rob).
• We can make Oprah cry …
• … and Celine Dion too. (She was Oprah’s guest the day they showed “99 Balloons.”)
• Some of our best work occurs just past midnight.
• Mini movies can paint a fresh picture of a timeless story.

• Cameras overheat.
• Robert McKee’s STORY seminar is amazing and exhausting.
• Try as we might, we can’t help but have a few tpyos.
• Animal print tights aren’t flattering for anyone, including Rob.
• Physical DVDs are on the decline — so says our storage closet.
• Apparently nothing we do will ever top one of our first videos.
• The Panasonic HVX-200 is the best video camera. Whoops, I meant the RED. No, I really mean the Canon 7D.
• Working extremely hard on a video and then seeing a great response is an incredibly satisfying feeling.
• Ideas are cheap. Execution is not.
• It’s a beautiful thing when the visuals complement the music which complements the message.

• Details are, at times, excruciating.
• Always keep both your message and your audience in mind.
• Your first draft doesn’t have to be perfect — just get the clay on the table.
• The best mini movies come from a place of personal struggle or conviction.
• Carefully consider each creative decision so you won’t doubt yourself when someone says, “It’s too _____” or “Why did you _____?”
• There can be a fine line between something cheap and something great.
• Secretly, we feel somewhat forced to create so much seasonal media …
• …but it’s what churches like to use, so we want to provide the content.
• Sometimes we have to make a video just so the idea will leave us alone.
• We’re pretty sure we have another 100 videos in us.

After Christmas

After Christmas has passed and the holiday traditions, stress and fun fade away, what happens next? Use this sermon starter to get the conversation going and share about Christ’s timeless message.

One Small Step

This video is a reminder that any progress is good and that the hardest journeys are fulfilled by taking one small step at a time.

Regrets

We allow ourselves to be burdened by our pain, scars and shame forgetting that Christ came to set us free.

The majority of our international audience is English speaking…but that other sort of English…you know, with the ou’s and such. So, we have been working to add in an alternative version with purchase. The alternative version changes spelling as well as strictly American references.

After checking out, you’ll find both the original and international versions in your My Media. For instance, if you live in England, Australia, English-speaking Canada, and anywhere else that spells Savior…Saviour, this Christmas you could choose from:

We Are Here (Christmas)

Social Network Christmas

We also have Regrets – perfect for your New Year’s service.

Spanish speaking? We have those too! Click here to see all that we have to offer.

We love getting to share these types of projects and there were lots of moving parts to this one.

-The script: We asked Dana Livesay, an English teacher and poet from New Zealand to write the poem “Christmas Story In 50 Words” after we read and loved his poem, “The Bible In 50 Words.”

-The music: As Steve started editing, he felt that Brian Wurzell and TJ Hill had already written the perfect track. It’s called “Solace” from the album, Grace Ocean.

-The place: Creekwood United Methodist Church in Fairview, TX allowed us to use their live nativity. It was an amazing location and it turned out so beautiful. Thanks also to FBC Allen for the costumes!

-The baby: Kat French, former RT Creative Group intern, was so kind to allow sweet little Elias to play baby Jesus for a day. If you look close enough in the video you can also see Kat and her hubby as Mary and Joseph.

-The cow: Trent’s buddy Chris Kelly provided Molly Flop the cow and she did a great job.

-The video: Dan Baumgartner provided the Steadicam. Little known fact-he’s the only Steadicam operator in Texas that shoots from a Segway.

Projects like these keep things interesting! Thanks to everyone involved.

This mini-movie is a great resource for your Christmas service video needs. We hope you like it!

A Social Network Christmas
This video is an artistic take on how the story of the nativity might have read had a social network existed at the time of Jesus’s birth.

Retooning the Nativity
As time has passed, in efforts to relay the story to others, man has perhaps taken some creative license with the events of the Nativity.This funny video is great for all audiences.

Johnny and Chachi’s Christmas Medley
In this hilarious musical medley, Johnny and Chachi attempt to spread some jam-packed Christmas cheer by singing 25 popular Christmas songs in under two minutes.

We Are Here (Christmas)
This call to worship reminds your audience, amidst the usual holiday traditions and madness, to slow down and reflect upon the wonderful gift of Christ’s birth.

The Paradox of Christmas
A long time ago, one silent night loudly proclaimed God’s love for us. He gave up what He had so that we might receive what we need.

Jesus and Santa
Lately, it seems like some of us have been confusing Jesus with Santa. Let us remember that one of them comes to give us what we think we want; the other came to give us what we need.

A Christmas Moment
The Christmas season is filled with gifts, decorations, songs, family, and traditions, but what is the true meaning of Christmas? Darrell doesn’t like the answers he gets at a local college campus.

A Child Is Born
This video tells the Christmas story in a way that captures the joy, wonder, and awe surrounding the birth of Jesus. This vignette reminds us of how God entered this world and why He did.

All Ye Faithful

Though thousands of years have passed, the message still remains the same: come. Come and behold Christ Jesus. Come and experience His grace. Come and adore Him.

Still need another option? Look for a newsletter tomorrow as we release a NEW video just in time for Christmas!

Photoshop and After Effects file are new for Igniter Media and we think you’ll love them. They provide you with lots of flexibility and the ability to customize media for your services, etc. Since these are new for us, we wanted to share a little more information on how you can use them.

You can:

-use these in your service slides and announcements

-create promotional material

-use material created with this file on your website

-create your own original media using this file (keep in mind the original work is still restricted by the “you can not” section below)

You can not:

-resell or distribute the files in any way

-copy or share the file

-use the file to create content that could be considered obscene, immoral, or defamatory or libelous in nature

For more details, consult our Terms and Conditions.