It’s the perfect gift for youth groups and campers—capturing the colors, sights and sounds in highlight videos to chronicle their life-changing summer adventures. User-friendly technology makes it easy for youth leaders and camp staff to film and produce multimedia visuals, and mixing popular Christian artist music on their audiovisual footage sweetens the experience. But is it LEGAL?

Many youth leaders are unaware that it’s illegal to “lift” songs from their favorite artists (whether from a CD or MP3 download) to score scenes from camp activities—unless prior permission is obtained. Licensing can be obtained directly from publishers and record labels or through the online VideoReady License at Christian Copyright Solutions.

Instant replay shows no penalty, and thanks to bipartisan action by U.S. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Arlen Specter (D-PA), churches are no longer penalized so they can legally show the Super Bowl at their facilities (under certain conditions). 

For monastics, literacy and collection, care and preservation of books, the Bible in particular, have always been foundational to their spiritual identity and to the work and prayer of their daily lives. In the spirit of that tradition, Saint John's University sponsors The Saint John's Bible and the "Illuminating the Word" Art Exhibit. Today's Christian visual artists need our support and encouragement to assure that their creative gifts flourish in the contemporary Church.