As we go to press, Sony’s longtime faith advocate Craig Harper is retiring and transitioning his responsibilities to Mark Hanna, the new National Manager supporting Sony Faith. Craig has been my favorite source in AV for worship because he brings such a three-dimensional view of mission to the subject. He’s been generous with his time and patient with a journalist’s questions. He has educated me about far more than speeds and feeds because he understands how unique the needs of worship AV are. He understands in detail how different faiths and congregations need different things from AV. That nuance matters so much to the experience of the congregants, and also to the more practical component of how to get systems designed, funded, approved, and set up for installation success.
It’s also an important conduit back to Sony product managers. The needs of faith communities are unique, but factoring them can make a product better. That’s because of church volunteers, Hanna reminds me. He would know, because he has a long history of working on the ground in churches himself, with a lifelong commitment to faith and gear. He was the Technical Director and Video Control Director at Hope Community Church in Raleigh, NC, where he lives. He’s specified, purchased, and installed technology for churches and organizations, has made hundreds of church-based videos, and trained many, many volunteers. He knows for himself how the combination of commitment and technical inexperience animates worship AV.
He shares Craig’s conviction that the technical needs of faith users have broader importance. Making technology work for church volunteers is good for ease of use. Further, making video technology accessible to the volunteer or faith leader who is an audio expert (or vice versa) acknowledges an ongoing reality. The future will require that people who specialize in one area of technology be able to work—or at least understand– broader product categories.
Hanna is not even a month into his job. He’s in regular touch with Craig who is decanting the knowledge and handing over the virtual manuals to this unusual position. Hanna is enthusiastic and grateful that Sony has given him this chance to serve his favorite market, and he believes that the future of content in church environments is bright—a place where live events meet streaming, distance learning, and storytelling. “It’s a unique market, but it also leads in a way,” he muses. “The features and ideas that come out of a church environment, especially those with smaller budgets can raise the industry more generally. Really good ideas are good everywhere. Making products easier for the church market to integrate makes it easier for pros too.”
Hanna has some big shoes to fill, and Craig’s ongoing support and he steps into them. If you’re working in the worship market, feel free to reach out to Mark. He said that, and provided these details Mark. [email protected] (984) 325-4165.
