The New Life Assembly of God Church: A four-decade journey of embracing AV technologies that are enhancing the worship experience for its growing congregation
From its humble beginnings as a small, intimate gathering of just four people, the New Life Assembly of God Church in Secunderabad has blossomed into a vibrant congregation of nearly 6,000 worshippers today.
In discussion with Senior Associate Pastor, Rev. Valson Varghese and Media Director, Philip David, we walk through their inspiring journey of embracing AV (audio-visual) technologies that have continued to elevate the worship experience for their growing congregation.
The start of a new journey
Rev. Valson Varghese tells us how it all began. “On the second Sunday of July 1983, our Senior Pastor (Late) Rev. Earl Stubbs and his wife Rev. Arlene Stubbs, gathered to worship the Lord in their home with just four people. Since then, we have moved to various locations and rented premises for almost 35 years: a hotel conference hall, a car garage, an old movie theater in Millenium Gardens, where we spent about 28 years. In 2018, we relocated to a new facility in Kompally.” Today, 41 years on, the New Life Assembly of God Church is a thriving community with three locations: their main campus in Kompally and branches in Hitech City and at Diamond Point in Secunderabad.
Pastor Valson reflects on their journey, noting that they started with just basic microphones, simple lighting, and old-style video cameras. “We have gradually and steadily evolved and invested in equipment; one of the greatest strengths in this journey has been the personnel,” highlights Pastor Valson, introducing Philip David, who leads media production at the Church. “With his IT background, Philip has recruited top technical talent to guide our AV investments. Our media team helps us assess needs and make purchases, some outright and others via hire purchase. We’ve come some way and still need a few more pieces of equipment,” Pastor Valson explains.
Philip explains that major AV upgrades at the Church began during their time at Millennium Gardens. “Initially, we invested in a Bose 802 speaker system and a Yamaha LS9 console, but we quickly outgrew this setup and upgraded to Meyer sound’s JM1P with 600 & 700 HP Subwoofer, all running through Allen & Heath ILive consoles. Millennium Gardens had a capacity of about 400 people, with two overflow sections that could accommodate around two-thirds of the attendees. We had hanging speakers – Mayer sound’s UPQs, large LED screens, and televisions in the overflow areas.”
Philip highlights that the AV system upgrades resulted from their own extensive research. Pastor Valson adds, “Quality was a top priority, as providing excellent sound and high-quality AV was essential in a city where people experience excellent equipment in their corporate workplace. So, we wanted to provide a relevant and modern experience when they came to Church.” He adds that the Church’s leadership was open about these investments, which Pastor Valson reflects have become a blessing to their local ministry.
Investing in Quality
Philip tells us about the AV systems at our current campus at Kompally. “Our new campus is built on a 12-acre property, including a 3,000-seat auditorium and 100,000 square feet of space. We have upgraded all our equipment to fit the needs of our new campus with products like D&B Y series for PA system with V series subwoofers and Avid S6L console mixing 80 channels of audio for the audience, while the worship team on stage have independent 3D immersive mixes using Klang by Digico. For lighting, we are using the GrandMA 3 accompanied with Robe and LBT for lighting. In the Video world, we now use Canon cinema series cameras for mobile and Sony Broadcast cameras for videography. Multimedia and Graphics use Propresenter with Resolume Arena running on Mac Studios for maximum efficiency and reliability. All our services are live on YouTube and we do a separate Audio multi channel mix with Avid S6L 16C console integrated with Waves Superrack for managing tones and levels going to our hardware Video encoders from AJA Helo & Teradeck. The other two campuses, Hitech City and Diamond Point are rented premises with AV Systems from EV, RCF & Shure, and we rent other AV equipment for larger events.”
Pastor Valson discusses the design of their new campus and explains that they engaged an AV consultant from Australia for acoustic treatment before construction began. “We were careful to ensure everything was done correctly, and overall, it has been executed well.” Affirming the importance of this investment in AV, he says, “We care about quality, and we care about the worship experience of our people, which is why we invested in quality media.”
Philip explains that the consultant assessed various factors, such as room acoustics, noise levels, wall vibrations, and airflow from the AC units, to ensure minimal noise interference in the seating area. “We conducted extensive research before starting this project, and his expertise was invaluable,” he says. Highlighting that his team is well-versed in AV technologies, Philip shares how they have also supported many other churches. “We have a talented audio team, some of whom have started their own businesses, a lighting consultant, and a skilled video production team experienced in various events. All our volunteers started out with us, and we continue to learn and grow together as a team. This also speaks a lot about the Church’s leadership, as Pastor Arlene Stubbs and Pastor Valson have been very supportive. They allow us to try new things, understanding that these are often trials; you never know if something will work or fail.”
A lifeline during the pandemic
“COVID-19 was an eye opener,” says Pastor Valson as he emphasizes the pivotal role media played during the pandemic and the surge in media use in churches ever since. “COVID was a game changer for churches globally, and because we were already using media to the fullest, we could seamlessly transition to online services during this paralyzing period. When the entire world shut down, we continued to hold services every single Sunday,” he highlights. They utilized video cameras and even started using iPhones and any other equipment they could access to provide ministry to their community through services, prayers, and messages delivered via various media channels.
Philip adds that local churches were on the back foot when it came to media, and many struggled with technology at the time. “During the pandemic, we organized a dedicated team and moved all the equipment to everyone’s homes. Everyone would record and send videos to a central location. And one person would compile the final video for release on Sunday morning on YouTube.”
“When the world was impacted by COVID-19, I would say that God prepared us in advance. We were able to conduct Sunday school, youth meetings, worship services and even preach online. We held pastors’ meetings, daily devotions, and prayer meetings on Zoom virtually. In remote villages, a simple cell phone could effectively convey the love of Jesus and the message of salvation through Him. The gospel could still be shared, and the ministry could continue. So I thank God for the media and our outstanding team,” he says, adding that they actively leveraged media to support and support those suffering, offering comfort and hope while ensuring help was available.
Growth and grace
In conclusion, Pastor Valson reflects on this beautiful journey of faith and resilience: “Over the years, we have evolved; we did not strategize our path; instead, we embraced each new location as we were looking for a home for our growing congregation, a space for the children’s Sunday school, and parking for our cars. And each location was adequate for our needs at the time.”
“It has been an incredible journey over the past 41 years, and we give God all the credit. We have not advertised or actively sought out new members; God has sent them to us. Miracles have occurred along the way—signs and wonders, healings, and many individuals have found peace with a living God and salvation in their hearts,” he says. “AV has definitely played as much a part as we have. As much as we saw the difference in the previous premises, we have exponentially invested and grown in the current premises when it comes to AV. We are grateful to God for our team and the ability to equip our Church with the necessary equipment.”