http://TrinityDigitalMedia.com Paul Alan Clifford: How I became a church tech guy.
This is my story. This is how I became who I am. I hope it helps someone out there.
In November of 1982, I started my relationship with Jesus. This one decision influenced my life more than any other and started me on the path that led me to where I am today.
Since I was in third grade at the time, I didn’t think I could yet do anything to really help out with the church’s mission and God’s calling. So, I just slowly grew for the next few years.
In the summer of 1988, I went to youth camp. It was there that I heard God the most clearly I had up to that point. It was then that I knew He wanted me to spend the best hours of my day working for Him. I just didn’t know the details. There’s a reason. Almost nothing I do now had been invented yet.
I pursued this calling, fumbling in the dark for specifics, for the next several years until college. I realized that my initial thought, music, wasn’t for me, since I was below average in all the needed skills.
In college, I discovered philosophy and wondered if I should become a Christian philosopher. Ultimately, I ended up going to seminary.
At the time, my school, Asbury Seminary, was the most technologically advanced seminary in the country. With video production, distribution, and internet ability, I started learning about how to use these tools in ministry.
I eventually started going to a church, Quest Community Church, which valued these skills.
Once I graduated, I had trouble finding a job. Eventually, I worked at a national electronics chain, then briefly at a church in Virginia before coming back to work in television and eventually in tech support for a whole-house audio-video manufacturer.
When that company moved to California, I was given a generous severence package that I used to start TrinityDigitalMedia.com, llc. in February of 2011.
I’d started podcasting in 2005, but it wasn’t until I took over Tech Help for Churches, that I was given the opportunity to do streaming video.
That’s when my calling really rolled into focus. I was meant to start the world’s first Church Tech Network — ChurchTechCast.com.
For all this to happen, I had to overcome fears, insecurity, and trust that God wouldn’t let my family starve.
Even though it’s still tough, I love that I get to change eternity.
How about you? How has my story paralleled yours? What questions do you still have? Let me know in the comments below:
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About this show:
The ChurchTechCast.com ScreenCast show is a weekly screencast recorded live every Wednesday at 11a edt, 8a pdt, 3p utc on http://churchtechcast.com. Watch it live and join the chat then.
But, if you miss the live show, I’ll put up the edited show later (usually on the same day) right here.
This show started as a way for me to share the lessons I’ve learned in following my calling. Along the way, I added interviews with people who might be able to lend insight.
If you have a dream that you think you’re meant to accomplish, but don’t know where to start or have something holding you back, this show is for you.
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