Stop Trying to be the Big Church

Copying Elevation isn't a strategy. It's an identity crisis.In this episode, Dan challenges one of the most common — and quietly destructive — impulses in church media: the moment your pastor comes back from a conference and says "I want us to look like that." Dan has been inside those large church rooms. He knows what they actually look like. And he knows what it costs a smaller church to chase that aesthetic instead of leading with what they actually have.This one will challenge you — and give you language for a conversation you've probably been avoiding.What we cover:Why the pastor-comes-back-from-the-conference moment is dangerousThe Bethel handheld story and what it actually costWhat those large church rooms really look like from the insideThe producer's responsibility to know your audienceHow to have the conversation with your pastor when things go off courseWhy Gen Z is fleeing to simpler, more reverent churchesWhat does your church actually have — and are you leading with it?The takeaway: Authenticity scales. Imitation doesn't.Connect with Dan: 🌐 drwmediaworks.com 🐦 Twitter/X: @danwathen 📸 Instagram: @danthetvmanGot a question, a story, or something you’re working through in your media role? Text or leave a voicemail — your situation might become the next episode. Click here to send it in.