Question 1

Is live streaming a bolt-on feature or built into ChurchSpring?

Accepted Answer

It's built in — completely. When you create an event in your Events Calendar and mark it as a live stream, ChurchSpring automatically adds it to your streaming schedule. Your stream player, sermon archive, live banners, and app integration are all connected automatically. Nothing is a plugin or third-party add-on.

Question 2

Which plans include live streaming?

Accepted Answer

Every ChurchSpring plan includes live streaming capabilities. The Grow plan lets you embed live streams from YouTube, Facebook Live, Vimeo, and other platforms directly on your site. The Flourish plan adds multi-destination restreaming — go live to your website, YouTube, and Facebook simultaneously. Streaming upgrade add-ons are available on any plan and add direct browser-based streaming, automatic recording, file archiving, and WebRTC low-latency streaming.

Question 3

Can I use my existing streaming hardware like a Blackmagic ATEM?

Accepted Answer

Yes. ChurchSpring supports custom RTMP streaming, so any encoder that outputs RTMP — including Blackmagic ATEM, OBS Studio, vMix, Wirecast, and others — can stream directly to your church website. You keep using the gear you've already invested in.

Question 4

What are ChurchSpring's recommended encoder settings?

Accepted Answer

For best results, set your encoder to output H.264 video at 1920×1080, a 2-second keyframe interval, and AAC audio at 128 Kbps. ChurchSpring delivers your stream at 720p from there — sending a higher-quality source gives our system the best possible image to work with.

Question 5

Can I stream to YouTube and Facebook at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that's multi-destination restreaming, available on the Flourish plan and streaming upgrades. One stream goes live simultaneously to your church website, your YouTube channel, and your Facebook page. No separate tools like Restream or StreamYard required.

Question 6

What is the built-in studio?

Accepted Answer

The ChurchSpring Studio is a browser-based streaming control room. It includes a camera switcher (switch between multiple camera angles live), screen sharing (share worship slides or presentations), audio source management, and live chat moderation — all from one screen, with no downloads required.

Question 7

What happens to the recording after I go live?

Accepted Answer

With Record & Auto-Post enabled, ChurchSpring automatically records your stream and posts it to your Sermon Library the moment it ends. Your audio and stream playback are available immediately; the downloadable MP4 file finishes generating shortly after and appears automatically once ready. Members who missed the service can watch on demand from the website or mobile app — no manual upload required.

Question 8

How do people know when I go live?

Accepted Answer

Your website automatically displays a 'We're Live Now!' banner the moment you start streaming, directing every visitor straight to the stream — and it disappears automatically when the service ends.

Question 9

What happens if I run out of streaming minutes?

Accepted Answer

ChurchSpring warns you well before that happens — you'll see reminders at 10, 5, and 1 minute remaining, each with the option to upgrade on the spot. If a service runs long, we'll also check in 15 minutes past your scheduled end time and let you continue with one click. If you do reach your limit without upgrading, the stream ends gracefully and your recording is still saved.

Question 10

What happens if my internet connection drops mid-stream?

Accepted Answer

It depends on how you're streaming. With the built-in Online Studio, reconnecting within about 1–2 minutes lets you pick the same stream back up right where you left off. With Custom RTMP hardware, a dropped connection means starting a new stream event to resume.

Question 11

Can I schedule streams in advance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Create your stream in advance with a title, date, and time. ChurchSpring adds it to your streaming calendar automatically. If you create it through your Events Calendar and mark it as a live stream event, the scheduling happens automatically.

Question 12

What type of camera do I need to live stream?

Accepted Answer

Start with whatever fits your budget — many churches begin with a mobile device or a basic webcam. As your ministry grows, you can invest in a dedicated streaming camera or professional encoder. ChurchSpring works with everything from a smartphone to a full Blackmagic production setup.

Question 13

Why not just use YouTube or Facebook Live directly?

Accepted Answer

When you stream through a dedicated church platform, your service runs without ads, algorithm interruptions, or risk of your account being flagged. Churches that rely solely on social platforms have experienced blocked streams, unwanted recommended videos, and account restrictions. ChurchSpring keeps your stream on your website — where you stay in control.

Question 14

What happens to my recordings if I cancel or downgrade my plan?

Accepted Answer

Recordings remain accessible for 15 days after cancellation of your main plan or streaming add-on. After that, video files are removed, and any sermon audio is retained as an MP3 so your sermon library never goes empty.

Question 15

What if I need help setting up live streaming?

Accepted Answer

Our Customer Success team is available by phone, chat, and email Monday–Friday. Whether you're brand new to streaming or migrating from another platform, we'll walk you through the entire setup — no tech background required.

The complete live streaming platform. Built into your church website.

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Live Streaming Quick-Start Guide