Build Your Own Cheapo Countdown Timer

Knowing how much time you have left when preaching is fairly easy to do when you’ve only got one service but as soon as you go to two services it gets much harder to do the math in your head while simultaneously preaching brilliant points.  What you need is some sort of stage timer or countdown clock.

Admittedly, a lot of church presentation software packages will push out some sort of timer display for those on stage.  If, however, you don’t have that option available to you then I’ve got two products that might work for you.

 

Big Group Display Timer

The first option is expensive but it works.  It’s the from Microframe and it’s the unit that a lot of churches use.  I’ve seen it used in all sorts of setting but larger portable churches tend to use it a lot.  At $358 bucks you’ve got to really want this thing but it is impressive.

It has large, easy-to-read numbers.  It shows both minutes and seconds and, most importantly, it counts down.  (A lot of big timers don’t do that.)  It’s controlled and activated with a wireless remote.

You could easily see this thing from across any large auditorium.  If you need a countdown timer for the entire stage team then this is the unit for you.  You can order one of these here.

 

Perhaps You Don’t Need All That

However, you might be like me.  When we were looking at timers, I just didn’t want to spend $358 bucks on a clock.

As I thought about it, I realized the band and other stage people really didn’t need a timer.  Their stuff was largely set and subsequently their time on stage was fairly static.

The biggest time issue was me and my preaching.  Of course, it was excellent, outstanding, incredible preaching and there’s no doubt that the people would have stayed for hours and begged for more when I finished but, as a courtesy to our children’s workers, I decided I needed to put some limit on myself.

The bottom line was that really I was the only one that needed a timer.  With that in mind, I determined to find a better solution.

 

Build Your Own Cheapo Timer

After buying and trying all sorts of electronic timers, I finally found what I was looking for on Amazon.

It’s basically a kitchen timer with a large numeric display.  The display has black numbers that won’t wash out when bright stage lights hit them.  Also, it’s small enough to be discrete but large enough for me to read quickly while I’m preaching.

 

The Simple Hack

The only problem I had with the unit was that it had a very loud alarm that would go off when it reached the end of the countdown.  I thought this could possibly be potentially distracting while preaching so I simple opened the case and simply cut the wires to the speaker.

Now, when I run out of time, the timer simply starts counting up instead of counting down.  This allows me to quickly see how much time I’ve gone over my limit.

 

Best Option for Me

I’ve found this to be the perfect timer for me.  It has a fold out stand on the back as well as a magnet if you want to mount it to something but I just start it as I walk out and put it on the table beside my iPad as I preach.  I find it easy to read even when it’s not sitting up.

I know that there are products out there, and even apps, that are designed to stay in a speaker’s pocket and buzz when their time is up.  I just never felt that would work for me.  I don’t think I would notice it.  I often miss phone calls when my phone is on vibrate so I was certain I’d miss this too.  And, if the buzz was big enough to get me to notice it, then I’m sure others would hear it too.

Also, some preachers have told me that they wanted something to signal them with colors as they go, sort of like a debate clock for political candidates.  Again, I think if there’s a light that’s bright enough to get my attention while I speak, it’s certainly going to be a distraction to others too.

You can get your own cheapo pocket timer from Amazon here.

 

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