The Power of Video Storytelling, by Tom Dudzinski

We have a special treat for this post: a guest blogger, Tom Dudzinski, who writes about the power of video storytelling in the service of UU stewardship, especially capital and combined campaigns.  Tom is a pro who brings decades of video and communications experience to enhance congregations’ ability to reach and engage members and friends.   Check out his sample videos below, which were produced by Tom in support of recent UU capital campaigns.  I encourage you to reach out to Tom as you plan your campaign.  Barry for Stewardship for Us

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Using video is often thought of as either a luxury or an afterthought during a church’s combined capital and stewardship campaign. The trap that many fall into is the notion of, “We can’t afford a professional video, so we’ll have someone record the big meeting with an iPad.”

Spending tens of thousand of dollars for a slick professional video may not only be inappropriate, but could be detrimental to the message of fiscal responsibility.  On the other hand, hand-holding an iPad or smartphone usually results in a video that, at best, no one will watch; at worst, it could detract from the brand and messaging that you need to convey.  (“If this is what they want me to look at, it must not be a very important project.”)

The power of video lies not in the technology, but in leveraging the messaging that the medium is uniquely designed to deliver.  It’s about making a modest investment to thoughtfully plan the message that tells your unique story.

This can be done by communication-savvy members of your congregation, an outside professional, or a combination of both.

This article shows how three UU churches effectively used video to tell their unique stories by:

• Developing authentic messaging that was intentional, strategic, compelling and succinct;
• Using a story-driven approach that had both emotional and intellectual appeal;
• Including multiple members of the community within the videos to demonstrate broad support for their campaign;
• Delivering a consistent message through multiple venues such as web sites, email blasts and town hall meetings.

First Universalist Church of Denver:  Setting the Stage

Videos were used throughout First Universalist’s “Building for the Future” campaign … before, during and after their combined campaign.  During the preliminary planning phase, videos set the stage and made the case for a new facility well before the combined campaign began.  They provided historical background, described the planning process, and encouraged congregational participation throughout the planning and fund-raising process.

Watch “Turning Dreams into Reality”

First Unitarian Society of Denver:  Bridging the Past to the Future

The story for this congregation was about preserving a historically significant building, reminding members of the vital role their church has played in their church and broader community, and encouraging members to continue to be a champion for social justice.

Watch  “Step up to our Legacy; Embrace our Future” 

Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship:  Targeting the Stories

We started with a basic question: Why do people come here?   For some it is to belong to a loving and caring community.  For others, it’s for lifelong spiritual learning.  Or the music program.   Or to engage in social action.  We created a video to highlight each dimension of their fellowship, reinforcing the importance of sustaining their ongoing operations while investing in the future through the capital campaign.

Watch “Building for Our Community”

Compelling video storytelling requires thoughtful and intentional planning and implementation.  This investment can result in a powerful tool that touches the hearts and minds of your members.  Such emotional and intellectual messaging has the power to not only encourage members to commit to the current combined campaign, but can also reinforce individuals’ commitment to be involved in the on-going life of the church community.

Tom Dudzinski is a member of First Universalist Church of Denver and has worked as a television and video producer for more than four decades.  He has leveraged his professional experience to assist First Universalist and other churches in the Denver community by consulting and producing videos to augment their communication efforts during their combined campaigns.   You can reach Tom at:  TomD@RenaissanceMedia.com.