One Direction

Michael Ferris from Vineyard Cincinnati Church in Cincinnati, Ohio brings us this cool arrow design.

From Michael: I’m in charge of tech for a ministry at my church called Momentum56. M56 is for 5th and 6th graders. We still have regular weekend services like every other age group, just with a different curriculum specifically geared towards the stage of life that 5th and 6th graders are in. We just had our summer camp and were looking for good ideas to make our very boring room look less…. boring.

On our house truss, I had 6 ColorSource LED PARs pointed around the outside of the room to give the whole room a nice glow, as well as two American DJ Blacklights pointed at the stage and 2 Elation Design Spot 250s. On our stage truss, I used 2 ColorSource LED PARs to light up the panels on the sides of the stage and 4 Rush PAR 2 Zooms in the middle of the truss and crossed the beams on both sides so that I could have a look with nice, tight beams crossing or widen the focus and get a full stage wash with a little spilling out into the crowd, too. I put 4 Rush PAR 2 Zooms on the front of the stage, 2 Chauvet RGB Geysers on either side of the stage pointed diagonally up, and 4 design spots towards the back of the stage with the middle two being further back to give more depth to the design. The organization that came to run the camp brought some props relating to the theme of the camp that they hung from the ceiling on stage and also placed on either side of the stage in front of 2 trusses that I stood up.

It looked really cool, but my favorite by far was our LED Arrow that we made. Our logo is an arrow that says Momentum56. We had previously painted 3 arrows onto the wall of the stage, but after a while they just got rough to look at. I had an idea to make this arrow and put LED tape around the edge to give it a nice glow.

I designed it in Autodesk Inventor and sent it to our facilities team to see if they could make just the actual arrow part for us(I’m 17 and don’t have the tools nor the time to construct it). After making some small design changes, we agreed on dimensions and our amazing team had it done within a day and a half. Once that was finished, I had the lighting and staging specialist for the church (Kevin) come and help me install the LED tape. At first we were going to glue the LED tape onto the arrow and solder wires to connect the strips around the curves since LED tape can’t bend sideways around curves. After trying that for about 30 minutes we realized there was no way we could do that for every single piece on every curve. After brainstorming for a couple minutes I came up with the idea to drill screws in around the perimeter of the arrow and just run the tape around the arrows. Kevin went and found the right size screws and we started putting them in.

Once we had the screws in, we ran the LED tape around the arrow and connected it to a DMX decoder. We used a 3-channel DMX decoder so we could control the RGB colors separately. The arrow is about 6 feet long and 2 feet wide. We used about 5 meters of LED tape total.

The arrow turned out amazing and was the centerpiece of our stage design. The kids loved it and it really helped tie the whole theme together. We were able to change the colors to match whatever look we were going for, and it looked great in photos and videos.

Building Custom LED Arrow Stage Elements

Custom LED arrow designs offer churches a unique way to incorporate branding and visual identity into their stage environments. This youth ministry project from Vineyard Cincinnati demonstrates how student leadership combined with church resources can produce professional-quality results. The arrow serves as both a functional lighting element and a visual representation of the ministry’s identity, creating immediate recognition for attendees.

The construction approach shows practical problem-solving in action. When the initial plan of gluing LED tape directly to the arrow proved impractical for the curved sections, the team pivoted to a screw-based mounting system. This adaptation not only solved the immediate challenge but likely created a more durable and serviceable installation. The ability to replace individual sections of LED tape without dismantling the entire arrow provides long-term maintenance benefits.

DMX control integration elevates this from a static prop to a dynamic lighting instrument. Using a 3-channel RGB decoder allows for color mixing and synchronization with other stage lighting. This means the arrow can complement worship moments through color psychology, warm amber for intimate moments, vibrant colors for celebration, or white for teaching segments. The DMX connection also enables chase effects and color transitions that add energy to youth services.

Youth Ministry Stage Design Considerations

Youth ministry spaces present unique design challenges that differ from adult worship environments. The energy level is typically higher, the content more fast-paced, and the visual expectations more demanding. This design successfully addresses these factors through layered lighting that creates depth and dimension while maintaining flexibility for different programming elements.

The combination of moving heads, PAR cans, and atmospheric effects like the RGB Geysers provides variety that keeps visual interest high. The crossing beam technique mentioned creates texture and movement without requiring complex programming. For youth spaces, having multiple lighting zones allows for quick transitions between high-energy games, intimate worship moments, and teaching segments.

Branding integration through the custom arrow demonstrates how stage design can reinforce ministry identity. When students see the Momentum56 arrow illuminated in their specific colors, it creates a sense of belonging and community. This psychological connection between physical space and group identity helps youth feel ownership of their worship environment.

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Pro Tips for LED Tape Stage Projects

Plan for Curves and Corners: LED tape cannot bend sideways around curves, which presents challenges for custom shapes like arrows. Before starting your build, map out all curves and plan your mounting strategy. Screw-based mounting systems, as used here, offer flexibility and easy replacement. Test your mounting method on scrap material before committing to your final piece.

Calculate Power Requirements: LED tape typically draws 4-6 watts per meter at full brightness. For a 5-meter installation like this arrow, plan for 25-30 watts plus a safety margin. Use appropriate gauge wire for your power runs, and ensure your power supply can handle the total load. Voltage drop becomes significant over longer runs, so position your power supply strategically or use thicker wire.

DMX Decoder Placement: Mount DMX decoders in accessible locations for troubleshooting and programming changes. While it may be tempting to hide them completely, you’ll appreciate being able to reach them when adjustments are needed. Label your DMX addresses clearly on both the decoder and your documentation for future reference.

Test Before Final Installation: Always test your LED tape and DMX control before permanent installation. Power up the entire length to check for dead pixels or color inconsistencies. Test your DMX addressing and ensure you can achieve the colors and effects you want. Catching issues during the test phase saves significant time compared to troubleshooting after everything is mounted.

Related: Shine Your Light – Learn how to build chase-able blinder lights for your church stage under $1000 using C9 Christmas bulbs and DMX dimmer packs.

Related: Skypan – Learn how to build professional DIY skypan lights for your church stage under $50 with this complete guide from VOUS Church.