I remember the day quite clearly, because it's hard to forget that I looked and felt like a fool in front of a room full of people. A friend had promoted me so enthusiastically before I gave a presentation to his youth group that I spent weeks preparing. I felt like I needed to impress and impress well. I came loaded with all sorts of edgy videos I'd made to help my message sound cooler (and perhaps feed my ego a bit in the process to be honest).

This was during the early days of using digital media, and the youth group's computer was too slow to run what I'd brought. All the clips I was depending on to carry me through my talk were impossible to use, meaning I not only had large blocks of time to fill but also didn't have any solid transitions to glue my thoughts together. Stepping onto the stage that night was one of the most insecure moments I've ever experienced in ministry, because I'd invested too much time developing the medium instead of the message.

Perhaps I should start differently about the best sites for video to use in your youth ministry, but given my experience then and in other situations, we need a context for what follows. Media is a compelling ally in breaking down someone's spiritual defensiveness through what they see and hear whether a dramatic vignette or an imaginative backdrop behind worship lyrics. If we grow to depend on technology, though, we can begin to focus on creativity versus the Creator. Just as Jesus used visuals and stories to teach people eternal truths, videos help your students begin thinking more about God and His love for them, not how cool a clip is.

Developing great video for large and small gatherings takes time and resources. The good news is that much of the work already has been done for you through many sites.

One-Stop Shops

All these companies offer monthly freebies or discount codes, but you may need to sign up for their e-mail list to avoid missing out. Be smart about this gift: Save your downloads for strategic use throughout the year.

• Worshiphouse Media (WorshipHouseMedia.com): I always start my search for media here, because not only does WHM offer a wide range of videos but only accepts 30 to 50 percent of what's submitted to maintain quality. The prices feel fair for what you're buying, from backdrop motions—around $4 to $12 dollars—to mini-movies that range from $12 to $20 dollars. With more than 200 contributing producers, this truly is a valuable resource of "creative church media for the creative church pastor."  (Check out WorshipHouseKids.com for children's ministry resources.)

Favorite Video: Love Words

• SermonSpice (SermonSpice.com): A little known fact about this well-known site is that a father and son started it to further the Kingdom of God through media. Since then, it has become one of the largest libraries of its kind with several videos that are exclusive to the site. The top end of the price range is slightly higher than competitors', but you still can find many quality videos for as low as $5.