Episode 484 of the Church Solutions Podcast tackled a reality every church tech team faces at some point: the livestream goes down. Whether it’s an internet outage, hardware failure, or a software glitch, your perfectly planned Sunday service can suddenly turn into a tech nightmare. But don’t panic—we’ve got you covered.
Why This Matters
Streaming your church service is no longer optional—it’s essential. For many, it’s the front door to your ministry. That’s why having a solid plan for what to do when the stream goes dark is crucial.
Hosts Phil Thompson and Michael Gray, (subbing for Steve Lacy), talk about Mike’s Willy’s Jeep project before walking through a 10-point tech crisis checklist that every church tech team should know and prepare for.
🚨 1. Don’t Panic—Communicate!
Yes, it’s easy to freeze or freak out, but the first step is to breathe and communicate:
- Internally: Let your pastor or key staff know what’s going on (without texting them mid-sermon, of course).
- Externally: If you’re using a chat platform, send a quick message: “We’re experiencing technical difficulties. Stay with us!”
And if you’re a StreamingChurch.tv customer—reach out! Their team is ready to help troubleshoot in real time.
🌐 2. Verify Your Internet Connection
Even the best internet (yes, even fiber) can go down or hiccup. Use these tips:
- Run a speed test.
- Check your modem/router lights.
- Reboot if needed.
- Make sure no one is hogging the bandwidth during your service.
🖥️ 3. Check Your Streaming Software or Encoder
Whether you use OBS, Wirecast, vMix, or a hardware encoder:
- Look for error messages or status lights.
- Check CPU usage—anything over 75% is danger territory.
- Restart the encoder or computer if needed.
- Review the logs for dropped frames or other anomalies.
🔑 4. Confirm Stream Key and Destination Settings
Sometimes settings mysteriously change, especially after a software update. Make sure:
- Your stream key is correct.
- The destination (StreamingChurch.tv, Facebook, YouTube, etc.) hasn’t been altered.
- No duplicate streams are being sent (which can overload your system).
🎥 5. Confirm Local Video & Audio Sources
If your stream is up but the video is black or the audio is garbled:
- Test your camera and audio sources locally.
- Check cables and adapters.
- Confirm that your video capture device is functioning.
- Label your cables and create a signal flow map for quick troubleshooting.
🔌 6. Check All Physical Connections
Loose or disconnected cables—especially Ethernet and USB—are often culprits. Periodically inspect and label all key connections.
📶 7. Monitor Network Traffic
Other devices on your church network might be causing the crash:
- Discourage large uploads during the service.
- Have a dedicated network for streaming, if possible.
- Ask staff to pause Dropbox/Google Drive syncing until the service ends.
📼 8. Always Have a Backup Plan
Have a recorded sermon or worship video ready to stream in case of failure. Also:
- Record your livestream locally to upload later.
- Consider simulated live services using past content.
📍 9. Consider an Alternate Streaming Platform
If your main stream fails:
- Be ready to pivot to Facebook Live or YouTube Live.
- StreamingChurch.tv even offers a new service to help manage Facebook streaming and analytics—stay tuned!
📝 10. Document the Failure
After things calm down:
- Write down what happened and what fixed it.
- Meet with your team to review and create a response plan.
- The best prevention is learning from the last failure.
Final Thoughts
Streaming failures are frustrating—but they’re also fixable. And the more prepared you are, the faster you can respond. Remember the golden rule: Don’t panic. Plan.
The Church Solutions team at StreamingChurch.tv is here to help—even if you’re not a customer. If you have questions or need support, visit StreamingChurch.tv or check out past webinars and guides.
🎧 Subscribe to the Church Solutions Podcast so you never miss an episode full of tech tips, ministry strategies, and maybe even a Jeep Willys restoration story or two.