The Church Sound Podcast with Prentiss L. Thompson

One Vision, One Service | Part 3 | Leading With Compassion

In Part 3 of the One Vision, One Service Christmas series, Prentiss L. Thompson brings the focus to one of the most powerful—and most needed—leadership qualities during the holiday season: compassionate leadership. Christmas ministry is beautiful, but it’s also demanding. Volunteers are stretched, staff are balancing heavy workloads, and emotions run high as the season amplifies both joy and personal challenges. In this episode, Prentiss breaks down what it truly means to lead not just with strategy and excellence, but with heart. He explores how compassionate leadership creates healthier teams, smoother services, and a stronger sense of unity across the entire ministry. From understanding team fatigue to managing expectations and communicating with clarity, Prentiss emphasizes the difference between pushing people and pastoring people. Listeners will learn: * How compassionate leadership strengthens trust and collaboration * Why emotional awareness is vital for Christmas service preparation * Ways to support volunteers and staff who may be overwhelmed or grieving * How to balance excellence with empathy * Practical steps leaders can take to cultivate a caring, resilient team culture With storytelling, wisdom, and real ministry experience, this episode challenges leaders to slow down, see their people, and lead in a way that reflects the heart of Christ—especially in the busiest season of the year. If your church wants to serve with unity, grace, and intentional care this Christmas, Part 3 of the series is a must-listen. Invisible Media Websites https://churchsoundpodcast.com/ [https://churchsoundpodcast.com/] http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/ [http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/] MERCH https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/ [https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/] Social Media https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/ [https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/] https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast]

One Vision, One Service | Part 2 | Building the Christmas Dream Team

In Part Two of the One Vision One Service Christmas series, Prentiss L. Thompson dives deeper into what it truly takes to build a unified, high-performing ministry team during the most emotionally and operationally demanding season of the year. Christmas is often the church’s Super Bowl—yet behind the lights, rehearsals, and joyful celebration, many staff and volunteers are quietly carrying real-life weight. This episode explores the heart-level truth that excellence in ministry isn’t only about production—it’s about people. Prentiss breaks down the shared responsibility of volunteers, staff, and leadership to support the whole house with one mission and one spirit. He highlights how every department—from media and worship to hospitality, operations, and children’s church—contributes to creating a seamless, Spirit-led Christmas experience. But he also exposes the real pressures: the burnout, the miscommunication, the last-minute pivots, and the gap between expectation and preparation that can make or break a service. And this time, he brings in a perspective too often overlooked during the holidays: Caring for Staff With Difficult Holiday Memories While Christmas is a season of joy for many, it can be deeply painful for others—especially those who must serve publicly while wrestling privately with loss, grief, trauma, or unresolved family dynamics. Prentiss speaks to the reality that some team members are showing up while grieving a parent, navigating strained relationships, or simply struggling with the emotional weight that the holiday season can trigger. He gives practical guidance for leaders on how to create safe space, offer compassion, avoid assumptions, and build a culture where emotional well-being matters as much as technical excellence. He challenges churches to check in on their people—not just their positions—and to remember that ministry is at its best when the team feels seen, supported, and genuinely cared for. Through honest storytelling, seasoned insight, and his signature blend of humor and heart, Prentiss offers a roadmap for building the true Christmas Dream Team—one that is unified, emotionally aware, and rooted in love, service, and the true meaning of the season. If your church wants to walk into Christmas aligned, healthy, and equipped to serve with excellence and empathy, this episode is essential listening. Invisible Media Websites https://churchsoundpodcast.com/ [https://churchsoundpodcast.com/] http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/ [http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/] MERCH https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/ [https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/] Social Media https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/ [https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/] https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast]

One Vision, One Service | Part one | How Every Department Works Together for Christmas

One Vision, One Service kicks off part one of a powerful three-part Christmas preparation series designed to help your ministry unite, sharpen, and execute with excellence during the biggest weekend of the year. In this foundational episode, Prentiss L. Thompson breaks down what it truly means for every department—Media, Worship, Pastoral, Hospitality, Logistics, and Production—to operate under one shared vision during the Christmas season.  Prentiss highlights why collaboration is not optional, especially during a high-impact service where thousands of moving parts must function as one body. He explores the communication gaps that often derail holiday services, the unspoken expectations that create unnecessary pressure, and the importance of shared planning, shared language, and shared purpose. You’ll hear real-world insight into aligning teams, establishing pre-Christmas workflows, and defining roles so everyone—from the lighting operator to the greeter—understands how their piece connects to the full worship experience. Prentiss’s signature storytelling brings clarity and encouragement as he shows how unity in preparation leads to unity in ministry. This episode sets the stage for what’s coming—deeper dives into leadership, execution, and team synergy as Christmas approaches. Whether your church is large, mid-sized, or just building its production team, this series will give you practical steps to create a Christmas service that is seamless, impactful, and rooted in excellence. Prepare your team. Align your vision. Let’s build together for the greatest weekend of the year. Invisible Media Websites https://churchsoundpodcast.com/ [https://churchsoundpodcast.com/] http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/ [http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/] MERCH https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/ [https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/] Social Media https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/ [https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/] https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast]

CSP Classic: Training a Media Team and Why | with John "Pastor G" Girton Jr.

In this powerful and insight-packed conversation, Multimedia Professional John “Pastor G” Girton Jr. joins host Prentiss L. Thompson to break down what truly makes training effective inside the modern church media ministry. Pastor G brings decades of hands-on experience in communications, multimedia, pastoral leadership, and community engagement — and he lays out why churches must go beyond information and start embracing application. Together, they explore the gap between knowing and doing, the challenges ministries face when volunteers aren’t equipped, and how intentional training can transform both the media team and the worship experience. Pastor G shares practical wisdom on turning knowledge into real-world skills, cultivating a learning culture, and empowering new leaders to grow with confidence and purpose. This episode is equal parts teaching, mentoring, and motivation — perfect for pastors, media directors, tech volunteers, and anyone working behind the scenes to advance excellence in ministry. Listen, learn, and take your ministry’s training culture to the next level. Invisible Media Websites https://churchsoundpodcast.com/ [https://churchsoundpodcast.com/] http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/ [http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/] MERCH https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/ [https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/] Social Media https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/ [https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/] https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast]

CSP Classic: How to FIX a Dysfunctional Church Media Team

Every church wants excellence on Sunday morning, but excellence becomes almost impossible when the media team behind the scenes is broken, burnt out, or battling silent dysfunctions. In this episode, Prentiss L. Thompson dives into the real issues many churches avoid talking about: the fractured communication, the unrealistic expectations, the lack of training, and the emotional strain that quietly tears media teams apart. Prentiss takes you behind the booth, behind the curtain, and behind the behaviors to uncover what’s actually causing the chaos—and how to rebuild a healthy, unified media ministry from the inside out. With years of hands-on experience in ministry tech, he brings real-world scenarios, spiritual insight, and practical solutions that can transform not just your team, but your entire worship environment. We explore how personalities clash when roles aren’t defined, how burnout grows when training is ignored, and how poor leadership—on either side of the booth—can sabotage the mission. But most importantly, we focus on solutions: how to restore trust, reestablish order, and rebuild a culture where people feel valued, heard, and spiritually aligned with the ministry they’re serving. If your team is struggling, frustrated, or constantly “putting out fires,” this episode will give you the roadmap to fix the dysfunction and get your ministry back to a place of excellence, joy, and unity. Because a healthy media team doesn’t just improve the sound—  it improves the entire atmosphere of worship.  Invisible Media Websites https://churchsoundpodcast.com/ [https://churchsoundpodcast.com/] http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/ [http://www.invisiblemediaconsulting.com/] MERCH https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/ [https://merch-dogs.creator-spring.com/] Social Media https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/ [https://www.instagram.com/churchaudiovideosolutions/] https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast [https://www.facebook.com/thechurchsoundpodcast]