Team Building and Team Work In Church Tech Teams.
Spiritual, Physical and Emotional undertones.
Introduction
When I think about tech teams in church ministry, what comes to mind first is how much they resemble people working in the shadows—quietly making everything possible. From light to sound, from visuals to livestreams, they help create and augment the atmosphere of worship.
Yet, like every other department in the church, they carry responsibilities that are just as valid and weighty. In many ways, they are the link that connects all the arms of the church together, while also helping the church reach out to the wider world.
But here’s the question: What really makes a tech team thrive—beyond skills, tools, or training?
Over time, I’ve come to realize that thriving teams aren’t built on technical know-how alone. Just like every other part of the church, they require a mix of different elements. At the heart of it are three: the spiritual, which directly impacts how effective the team is both inside and outside the church; the physical, which shows up in the tasks we see, the ways we bond, and how we function together; and the relational and emotional, which reveal themselves in how we relate, encourage, and value one another.
This isn’t about debating which is more important. In truth, they all work hand in hand. For a tech team to be strong and sustainable, it must be nurtured spiritually, supported physically, and held together through healthy relationships and emotional intelligence. That’s why I chose to write this article. Over the course of this month, I’ll be reflecting more on team building and teamwork—but here, let’s begin by exploring the spiritual, relational, and even physical undertones that shape our tech teams.
The Spiritual Undertone
Everything we do for God is first and foremost spiritual. It must be backed by spiritual motives. Scripture reminds us that we cannot serve God in the flesh—those who serve Him must do so by His Spirit.
That’s why the work of the tech team, though it may look “technical” on the surface, is in fact spiritual at its core. Beyond the sound checks and camera angles, God is dealing with our hearts through His Spirit, and it is the Spirit that enables us to do His will.
I once learned the hard way that God is not impressed by how savvy or skilled we are, but by the heart and posture we bring to His work. And the only way to cultivate that posture is through spiritual discipline—prayer, humility, and dependence on Him.
Now, spiritual discipline doesn’t replace technical know-how; both must go hand in hand. But something shifts when a team surrenders their work to God. Even in the small details—like the positioning of cameras or the stability of a streaming engine—when you commit these things into God’s hands, you’ll be amazed by how much He is willing to move in, through, and for you.
Without this spiritual health, everything becomes stale and dry. Teams may hit their goals, but they miss the pulse of God’s timing. Remember, God works by times and seasons. When we stay aligned with Him, He shares ideas, sparks creativity, and fuels passion that human effort alone cannot produce. And because it’s not driven by our will, it lasts and carries eternal impact.
Reflection: Even Jesus stayed connected to the Source throughout His life and ministry. If He could not move without the Father, how much more should we, who serve Him—even in tech ministry—remain connected to God?
Relational and Emotional Undertone
I once asked a question to one of my church leaders: what is more important—the gift or the one who has the gift, the service or the servant? The truth is, there’s no single right or wrong answer. Your choice will often depend on what you hold most important: the gift itself, the one who carries it, or even the Giver of the gift. What I have come to learn is that you cannot truly separate these things. To build a healthy tech team, you must value both the gift and the person—and most importantly, recognize the God who gives all gifts.
When you fail to value the person, you create an environment that becomes dependent solely on what they can do. That’s where subtle forms of segregation or discrimination begin to creep in. It may not always show up openly, but it is revealed in the way people are treated.
For example, one of the reasons I left my former church tech team was because I realized that while my skills were valuable to them, I was not. In time, I saw that I was only tolerated for what I could produce, not wanted for who I was. And the moment I stopped performing at that level, I was excluded—and even till this day, I still feel the sting of that exclusion. It hurts. But more than that, it highlights how dangerous it is to place priorities in the wrong thing. When gifts are valued more than people, it doesn’t just wound individuals—it also discourages others from stepping forward and contributing.
This is where emotional intelligence becomes critical. Every team is made up of different personalities, and every personality brings its own energy. For instance, I am more introverted by nature. I don’t like taking pictures or standing in the spotlight, but when there’s work to be done, I quietly push through until the task is finished. I also tend to withdraw sometimes, and I don’t find certain things as appealing as others might. That’s just who I am—and it’s the same with everyone else on the team.
The problem comes when one personality type, especially extroverted ones, becomes the template for what “valuable” looks like. Too often, those who are more visible, outspoken, or everywhere at once get the credit, while the quiet workers who faithfully push things through are overlooked. This imbalance can create frustration and division if not handled with care.
Then there’s the matter of conflict. Tech teams, like any other group, face stress, mistakes, and misunderstandings. But conflict must be handled calmly and intentionally. The best way is to first sit down and talk it out—look honestly at why something failed without pointing fingers or shifting blame. And once an issue is resolved, don’t drag it up again when another problem arises. Conflicts should never be swept under the carpet, no matter how “small” they seem. Even little issues can linger and resurface in ways that affect trust and teamwork later on. If a matter cannot be resolved within the team, it’s better to involve a higher authority or a neutral person who can help bring closure. Conflict resolution is not about proving who is right or wrong—it’s about ensuring peace so that the team can continue to thrive.
And encouragement? That should never be treated as optional. The same goes for appreciation. Sadly, one of the reasons I had to not only leave but also distance myself from my former tech team was because even a simple “thank you” became treated like something too costly to give. I remember one person once told me, to my face, that they didn’t know they had to say thank you for what I had done. Over time, whenever I brought up appreciation, it was brushed aside as unnecessary. Eventually, I stopped waiting for it and stopped doing much at all. That’s how neglect eats away at a team. When encouragement is absent, when appreciation is brushed off, people lose the drive to give their best.
If I could speak directly to leaders about the relational and emotional health of their teams, I would urge them to do it right—and to do it God’s way. No one is asking for perfection, but we can strive for it. We can strive to value both the servant and the service, to practice emotional intelligence in dealing with different personalities, to resolve conflicts quickly and fairly, and to make encouragement a culture, not an afterthought.
Because at the end of the day, the people matter as much as the work. And when people are valued, the work thrives.
Reflection: Don’t just thank your tech team for what they do—thank them for who they are. In God’s eyes, the servant is never less important than the service.
Physical Undertone
When people think of tech teams, they often imagine buttons, screens, laptop, fancy gadgets etc. But behind those tools are real people with real bodies, carrying physical demands that often go unnoticed. Long hours sitting on uncomfortable chairs, the strain of lifting equipment, or even the toll of staring at screens until eyes blur and headaches come—it all adds up. And yet, many tech members still show up, even when unwell, pushing through because the responsibility feels too heavy to drop.
That’s why it’s important to recognize the physical side of team life. People are not machines; they’re not expendable. Fatigue is real, and if we overlook it, even the most passionate servant can burn out. Giving room for rest, creating rotations, and intentionally guarding health isn’t just wise—it’s a form of stewardship.
Team bonding also plays into this. Beyond Sundays and rehearsals, tech teams need spaces to simply be together. Imagine gatherings at a park, birthdays celebrated in a teammate’s home, or Saturday afternoons filled with laughter, prayer, board games, or even console challenges. Add a giveaway now and then, share scripture, or just talk—it doesn’t have to be grand. What matters is carving out intentional time to connect outside the pressure of service.
At the end of the day, tending to the physical side of team life is more than a nice idea—it’s vital. It creates room for the spiritual and relational tones of teamwork to flourish. So here’s the challenge: don’t ignore the physical. Rest, bond, and care for one another—it’s a way of honoring the God who made us whole, body and soul.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, my deepest hope is that every tech team becomes all that God has called them to be—not just skilled with tools, but strengthened in spirit, in relationships, and in the way they care for themselves physically. Because when any of these undertones are missing—spiritual, relational, or physical—a team can easily grow stale and stagnant.
People matter. God matters. Bonding as a team matters. These things don’t just happen by accident—they require intention. Not because someone said so, not because it’s convenient, but because it is necessary. The health of your team and the impact of your service depend on it. And don’t forget: your relationship with other departments in the church is part of this picture too.
So here’s my challenge to you: make an honest report of yourself and your team. Ask, “What’s missing? What needs attention?” Then take steps—practical and prayerful—to address it. It’s never too early, and it’s never too late. And as you do, may God strengthen you, guide you, and help your tech team walk fully in His will and purpose.