What’s your name?
Aaron West
Where do you serve, what is your title, and how long have you served there?
Currently, I serve as a volunteer at Central Baptist Church in Crossville, TN helping with the Worship Ministries and Technology. I also run an AVL Consulting Company specifically for churches and also work with MediaShout. Previously I have been the Tech Director at two other churches as well as the AV Director for Dave Ramsey.
How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t go to church?
I get to play great music and have fun with the technology while doing it all for something bigger than me.
What were some of the things that you experienced that shaped the way you approach your work?
I’ve worked in several churches over the years and supported a name as well.
What’s the one thing you wish people knew about your job?
I love to serve the local body of believers, no matter where they are so that they can better serve their communities with the Gospel.
What is the one tool for your job that you can’t live without, and why?
My computer – it is the one thing that keeps me organized and focused. I schedule all meetings (and even tasks), so I know how much time I can dedicate to a particular element. I also prioritize tasks throughout the day and keep my email organized and clean as much as possible.
What is the biggest mistake that you see churches making when it comes to communications and marketing?
Do I only have to choose one??? The most common I see is proofreading. However, I think most people can look over that. Instead, the biggest mistake is not knowing your audience when communicating. As communicators, we use words we are comfortable with and sometimes those “church words” that we would share with our congregation are not the best message when communicating with our community. We have to remember that each communication may be to a different audience and we have to present correctly.
Who is someone that you look up to in the church communications world?
Katie Allred, of course! 🙂 Actually, the people who serve their church well (with excellence) and no one knows what they are doing are my heroes.
It was a joy reading through varied insights from well-experienced fellow like Aaron West. Thank you so much for letting us get your thoughts on these questions. You are truly helpful in bringing a different perspective to the community.
Check out some previously featured members:
