Serving My Church Through Code
Ever since I joined Comunidad Familia Real, I've always had a deep desire to serve. Over time, I've been able to do that through the audiovisual team and currently as the leader of our worship band.
But I also wanted to contribute from my talent as a software developer. And I finally found the perfect way to do both.
Discovering FreeShow
If you've ever been part of a church tech team, you know the struggle: most presentation software for worship is either expensive, proprietary, or clunky. That's why I was thrilled when I discovered FreeShow — a free and open source presentation app designed specifically for churches and live events.
FreeShow lets you handle everything your church needs in one place:
- Scripture display during sermons
- Song lyrics with real-time live display
- Images and slides for announcements
- Instrumental audio playback
- Welcome videos and media
- Stage display for musicians and speakers
And the best part? It's completely free. No subscriptions, no licenses, no limitations.
Why FreeShow Stands Out
Here's what makes FreeShow special compared to other church presentation tools:
| Feature | FreeShow | ProPresenter | EasyWorship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $399+ | $199+ |
| Open Source | Yes | No | No |
| Cross-platform | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac | Windows only |
| Bible integration | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in |
| Live lyrics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MIDI support | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| NDI output | Yes | Yes | No |
How We Use It at Our Church
At Comunidad Familia Real, we started implementing FreeShow to support our weekly services. Here's how we use it:
- During the sermon — We display Scripture passages on screen so the congregation can follow along
- Worship time — Live song lyrics are projected in real time as our band plays
- Welcome and announcements — Videos and image slides before and between services
- Instrumental background — Ambient music during prayer and reflection moments
The transition was smooth, and our team picked it up quickly. The interface is intuitive enough that even volunteers with no tech background can operate it.
From User to Contributor
I liked FreeShow so much that I decided to contribute back to the project. I'm excited to share that my first Pull Request was accepted and is available in the latest version of FreeShow!
There's something deeply satisfying about using your professional skills to serve your community AND contribute to a project that helps churches around the world.
Why Your Church Should Try FreeShow
If your church is:
- Paying for expensive presentation software — FreeShow does what you need, for free
- Using PowerPoint or Google Slides for worship — FreeShow is purpose-built for church services
- Looking for something that "just works" — it's lightweight, fast, and easy to set up
- Running on different operating systems — it works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
Give it a try. You have nothing to lose.
Get Started
- Download FreeShow at freeshow.app
- Import your song library or create new songs directly in the app
- Add your Bible translations
- Set up your output screens
- You're ready for Sunday!
The FreeShow documentation is a great place to learn the basics, Garry Bjr's YouTube channel has excellent tutorials and walkthroughs, and the community on GitHub is welcoming and active.
Contribute!
FreeShow is open source and welcomes contributions. Whether you're a developer, designer, translator, or just someone who wants to help improve the documentation — there's a place for you.
Check out the GitHub repository to get started.
I'm grateful for the opportunities to serve and keep growing as a developer. Technology can be a powerful tool for our communities — and open source makes it accessible to everyone.
Have you used FreeShow or a similar tool at your church? I'd love to hear about your experience in the comments!
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