Born out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, our Church, like many others, was faced with the requirement of closing our doors for the first time in history.  Our government made the decision, for public health, to close all meeting places.  Seeing it coming, within 24 hours, we purchased the minimum equipment and broadcast (live-streamed) our first audio and video Sunday Service.  That was on March 15, 2020.  With not much more than a wish and a promise, we successfully streamed our first service.  The following week, the government closed all Churches to all activities.

With a strong need to “stay connected,” under the direction of Reverend Susan Scranton, we began taping our services over the week, in actual pieces, and on Thursday, the pieces were edited together and then published on YouTube as a Sunday service.  It was not until May 23, 2021, some 62 weeks later, did we returned to full service in our Church.  And by then, we had learned the lesson that this outreach nourished those who could not attend.  All the equipment was originally privately owned and donated weekly to GEC.  Our special thanks are extended to Wayne Kawamoto, one of our original volunteers and the founder of the program.  In the early days with wires and cords everywhere, we were able to get our message out to our Grace Family.

Today, we have a permanent installation of cameras, computers, and advanced sound systems, all managed out of sight at a workstation in the back of the Church.  This all-volunteer group has drawn on the Youth of the Church, whose interest in technology is advanced and their steady hands control the camera joysticks with ease.   Each week, there is a Stream Team group responsible for directing, managing, and producing the sights and sounds of our 10 A.M. service.  We have expanded to the point that we live stream from anywhere on our campus and create that special moment for special services such as funerals, weddings, baptismal, and confirmations.  These events are streamed over our YouTube channel around the world, often with hundreds of visitors and family who cannot attend in person.

Sounds interesting, it is fun.  Join us.  You need not have any background; we provide the training.  We manage the Church Sound System and all video feeds that go out to our YouTube Channel.  We would love to share it with you, so come visit the Stream Team on Sundays in the back of the main Church.