House of Worship

Miami's Metro Life Church Expands with SONY HD Technology

"If you're looking for the best way to get the Word out, to reach the masses, the way to go is to use media," said Steve Alessi, Pastor of Metro Life Church in the Doral metro area of Miami. "And if you're going to use media, how can you afford to not do it with what is the highest standard of presentation?"

For Alessi, seeking the "highest standard of presentation" means an end-to-end Sony HD production system that includes four HDC-1500 multi-format cameras, two PDW-F350 XDCAM® HD camcorders, an Anycast Station live production system, an MFS-2000 multi-format switcher, plus PDW-F70 XDCAM HD decks.

Installation and integration will take place as construction is completed for the church's new 20,000-square-foot facility (with room to grow to 56,000 square feet) this summer according to Metro Life. But the equipment's arrival in early April just before the Easter holiday weekend inspired staff and volunteers to make an impromptu temporary setup to capture the occasion.

Pastors Steve and Mary Alessi founded Metro Life Church nine years ago, with Steve proclaiming the message while Mary produced and performed music. This husband-and-wife co-ministry has since grown from 10 original members to more than 1,000 members, they said.

A new vision for the congregation utilizing media came unexpectedly two years ago with the release of Mary's CD, More. The recording gained national television exposure and brought attention to her church. A follow-up release, When Women Worship, an accompanying DVD release and a national tour further increased the ministry's visibility.

"We had to match what was on the road at home," said Mary Alessi. "These are not two ministries, just parts of the same whole. As both prospered, we needed to match them visually. Also, with everything mushrooming, it made sense to take this step to get on TV."

The timing for meeting this challenge proved fortuitous. Congregation member Kathy Gazda had left a 25-year career in television news for missionary work overseas, but had returned and quickly accepted an offer for full-time work as Metro Life's Media Outreach Coordinator. Working with her connections in the industry, she pulled together the team to select, install and integrate the appropriate solution, according to Alessi.

"HD is the only way to go, especially with digital broadcasting mandated by March 2009," Gazda said. "Sony has the superior products and, most importantly, we have received tremendous sales support and service throughout.

The production layout calls for three of the four HDC-1500 multi-format cameras setup in studio configuration on tripods with the last mounted on a jib. The PDW-F350 XDCAM HD camcorders are used handheld to get candid shots and will also be used on the road with the Anycast Station system to capture Mary's music ministry. The MFS-2000 multi-format switcher will serve as the backbone. Initially, plans are to distribute video of the services through streaming media while details of the service format, production workflow and the like are sorted out. Then, once it's ready for prime time, broadcast distribution will commence.

In the meantime, positive response to the Good Friday and Easter Sunday shoots have helped acclimate church members to having cameras in the sanctuary.

"We felt very strongly that we needed to make this debut to introduce the congregation to having cameras present and to see the value," said Gazda. "It's a hump we needed to get over, but since everything in the new building is unfamiliar, this is just one more new thing."

Now that the congregation has had a taste of what is to come, the full installation and integration is moving forward with a great sense of excitement and anticipation.

"We wanted the congregation to see this as soon as possible, and the people were floored and enamored by the incredible quality it delivered," said Steve Alessi. "They are proud to be a part of this and eager to get this going."

While there are other options, Alessi sees this as the best investment.

"Finding the funding for HD production has really come down to an act of faith," he said. "We could afford SD right now, but where would that leave us in a year? Also, if we went that route, what kind of people would we attract? You attract who you are and Sony HD represents us in the best way."

To view a service of the Metro Life Church, click here >