Nebraska Synod ELCA

On most Sundays in Kimball, Nebraska, about 25 to 30 people gather at First English Lutheran Church. Many have gray hair and long history in the congregation. By every conventional metric, they’re “small.” But when it comes to using technology to expand ministry, they’re anything but.

“We’re problem solvers,” says volunteer tech lead Janet Bashaw. “We’re flexible, open to new things, and we refused to let distance or health keep people from worship.”

The spark (and the shove)

Before the pandemic, First English wanted large screens so people could lift their heads from hymnals and participate together. Then COVID hit. Enter Craig Brower of Sidney, a consultant who designs AV and streaming systems for churches and businesses. With Janet and a couple of dedicated volunteers, they ran cable, upgraded equipment, and pushed their first livestreams to the internet.

“It was costly and it was a mountain,” Janet says, “but we knew our shut-ins and scattered families needed us online to stay alive as a church.”

From survival to strategy

When a severe storm later fried computers, printers, and major sections of the AV system, the team made a bold decision: rebuild—but better.

They moved to AV over IP, added two cameras, and installed a Roland production switcher controlled inside an integrated system. Today, one iPad runs the camera, audio mixer, and streaming; a second iPad runs EasyWorship for on-screen liturgy and lyrics. The AV network feeds not only the sanctuary displays but TVs in the basement, a classroom, the choir loft, and an overflow area.

Operators range from age 9 to 78. “People can sit in the pews and serve,” Janet smiles. “No one is stuck in a back closet.”

Ministry that reaches beyond Main Street

The livestream goes to Facebook, YouTube, and the church website, live or on-demand. Attendance in the room remains 25–30, but digital engagement regularly grows from a dozen live viewers to 30+ by Sunday afternoon and often 50–75 views by midweek—and not just from Kimball.

Former members now living elsewhere tune in. Travelers on I-80 who discover the stream sometimes walk through the doors the next week. Residents at Vista Villa, a local senior living community, watch in pajamas or later that day. Family members out of state check the stream to see whether Grandpa made it to church; Janet even pans the camera across the pews so loved ones can glimpse a familiar face.

“We realized evangelism might look different for us,” Janet says. “Online church became our new front porch.”

Innovation in the everyday

• Remote teamwork: A “snowbird” member spends winters in Arizona but continues creating bulletins and EasyWorship files from afar, sharing duties with a local volunteer, thanks to a static IP and remote access.

• Resilient music: Years ago, anticipating gaps in live accompaniment, the church purchased a Clavinova and built a library of hymns on USB. Now, when needed, volunteers plug in the “stick” and the congregation sings with confidence.

• Practical power fixes: After the storm damage, Craig helped the church address power quality—the invisible culprit that can intermittently break gear—by testing upstream transformers and stabilizing the system.

• Simple digital habits: Members who use Facebook are encouraged to “check in” on Sunday, quietly spreading the word to friends and neighbors.

• Kid-to-elder pipeline: The church offers quick, informal tech tutorials right in the pews—“Get your phones out; go to this link”—so everyone can participate.

What it took (and what it didn’t)

There was no grant. The congregation reallocated funds (they haven’t had a full-time pastor for a while) and gave sacrificially. They also gave permission—to experiment, to learn, to fail forward.

“First, get an understanding council,” Craig advises. “Decide on a direction, be flexible as you learn, have the faith to do it, and see what opportunities come.”

A small church with a big footprint

First English Lutheran remains a close-knit rural congregation. Yet their worship now gathers local elders, traveling families, former members across state lines, and curious neighbors—all in one sacred space, both physical and digital.

“We didn’t know the mountain we were going to climb,” Janet says, “but we kept climbing. And there’s still more we can do.”

Curious about the tech approach or where to start for your congregation? Reach out to the Nebraska Synod communications team and we’ll connect you with Janet and Craig for practical, church-tested wisdom.