When you walk into Agora Bible Fellowship in Agoura Hills, California, you immediately notice the beautiful 40-year-old architecture with its distinctive arches spanning the ceiling. But what you might not realize at first glance is that this 250-seat worship space just received a complete technology overhaul that transforms it into a modern production environment while respecting its classic aesthetic.
Justin Audia, the Tech Director at Agora, had been following Churchfront since 2017. When their PA system hit the 20-year mark and other infrastructure was showing its age, he knew it was time for a comprehensive upgrade. But more importantly, they wanted to future-proof their systems and work with people who understood ministry, not just technology.
As Kyle Hahn, their Worship Pastor, put it: “I’m a pastor and a musician, so there’s a lot that I do know, but there’s a lot that I don’t. We were really excited to have professionals to partner with who could take our vision and dreams and actually make them happen in a professional way.”
Before diving into any audio upgrades, the team evaluated the room’s acoustics. Fortunately, Agora had already installed DIY absorption panels throughout the space. These panels feature mineral wool insulation and are strategically placed on the sides of the congregation and behind the tech booth. This acoustic treatment is crucial for getting the most out of any new speaker system by clearing up the mix and reducing unwanted reflections.
One of the most striking features of the upgraded space is the Altitude LED panel system. This marks the first time we’ve implemented this particular configuration in one of our installs, and it’s turned out beautifully.
The setup includes:
The Altitude Cloud panels deliver crisp, clear images that look professional from any seat in the house. We did a complete deep dive on this LED setup on the Altitude LED YouTube channel, covering all the details of how we configured ProPresenter and the NovaStar processor to enable different content on the center versus side screens.
The audio upgrade represents perhaps the most dramatic improvement in the space. The new system features Fulcrum Acoustic point source coaxial speakers paired with Powersoft amplifiers in a passive configuration.
Low Frequency Coverage: The foundation of the system is Fulcrum’s dual 18-inch cardioid subwoofer. Unlike traditional omnidirectional subs, this design pushes energy forward toward the congregation for more efficient coverage and less stage bleed.
Main Left/Right: Fulcrum CCX 15-inch coaxial speakers provide the main coverage, delivering an excellent stereo image even in this relatively compact space.
Front Fills: The RX 8 front fills got a unique installation treatment. Originally planned for on-stage placement, the team made a last-minute pivot during install week. Local carpenters created custom pockets under the stage, angling the speakers upward. While this might not provide the absolute optimal coverage compared to on-stage placement, it looks incredibly clean and still delivers great sound to the front rows.
Delay Speakers: CCX 12-inch coaxial speakers mounted toward the back of the room provide delay coverage for the rear third of the sanctuary and the tech booth, ensuring mix engineers hear an accurate representation of what the congregation is experiencing.
The PA installation followed a rigorous engineering workflow:
This tuning process maximizes how the speakers interact with the room, eliminates dead spots, and ensures consistent sound quality from front to back.
Justin’s first impressions after the first Sunday? “The PA just sounds a lot clearer than a 20-year-old point source system. I can feel like I can EQ things and hear the frequency spectrum accurately and not just guess based off of what the room needs, but what’s actually happening in certain frequencies.”
The lighting system demonstrates smart design for a space with lower trim heights, where traditional theatrical lighting approaches can be challenging.
Front Wash: Eight Pro Church Lights Pro Wash Max fixtures provide the primary stage lighting. These aren’t complicated lights, but they excel at their job: creating an even, manageable wash across the entire stage. The presence of LED walls instead of projection makes this approach viable—you can use brighter stage lighting without washing out your visual displays.
Accent and Color:
That last point is worth expanding on. In a space with lower trim heights and white ceilings, uplighting the walls bounces light off the ceiling to create natural hair lighting for people on stage. This eliminates the need for dedicated kick lights or back lights, simplifying the system while still achieving professional results.
The lights also integrate with RGB LED tape that was already installed behind the center cross, creating a cohesive design that frames the stage beautifully.
While Agora doesn’t currently livestream their services, they wanted the ability to distribute video to other locations on their beautiful Southern California campus, allowing people to enjoy services outdoors.
The solution: a Blackmagic Design ATEM Constellation switcher. While this might seem like overkill for their current needs, the ATEM Constellation functions as more than just a switcher—it’s a comprehensive video hub that handles:
Stream Deck Integration: Custom macros programmed into an Elgato Stream Deck provide quick access to common functions:
The Stream Deck automation eliminates the need to manually toggle graphics layers, making the system more operator-proof.
The tech booth rack houses critical infrastructure:
At the mixing position, the team retained their existing Midas M32 console, which Justin knows inside and out. A Midas DL32 stage box in the back rack provides stage inputs. The console features a Dante card for network audio integration.
A dedicated audio computer sits under the mix position, running:
Power Control: A Lyntec switch at FOH triggers a Lyntec NPAC controller in the back rack, providing network-controlled power sequencing for all AV equipment. The system can be automated with Companion and Stream Deck for even more integration possibilities.
The compact system design allowed the team to integrate all back-of-house equipment into a single rack:
Network Infrastructure:
Processing and Distribution:
The SoundTools CAT Drops system is particularly clever. It allows audio to be transported over standard Cat cable and then broken out to XLR connections at the stage. Combined with custom Elite Core stage boxes and the comprehensive patch panel system, this gives Justin and his team incredible flexibility—any input on the Midas DL32 can be patched to any floor pocket on stage.
Monitor System: Behringer P16 personal monitor mixers integrate through the same patching system, giving performers control over their own in-ear mixes.
Amplification and Power:
The NPAC isn’t inexpensive, but it provides sophisticated power sequencing and management, acting as the brain of the entire power control system.
The stage features custom Elite Core stage boxes connected to the SoundTools CAT system. The beauty of this design is complete flexibility—audio inputs can be moved to different locations simply by repatching at the rack, without running new cables or reconfiguring hardware.
What really struck us during the install was Justin’s comment about what sets Churchfront apart: “You can go to an integrator and get the same product, same systems, same organizational things, same labeling schemes, all that stuff, but those people don’t know ministry. Churchfront’s really cool and really special because you guys understand ministry. You guys are church people. The whole team this week serves at their different churches in different capacities.”
Kyle echoed this sentiment, particularly appreciating how the Churchfront team helped navigate the interpersonal dynamics of getting buy-in from senior leadership, elder boards, and budget approvers. “It was so helpful to have a third party just to be a part of those conversations, to work with us and even just validate certain things that we were seeing and had value for.”
The project timeline spanned about six to seven months from initial conversations in March to installation, with Churchfront providing support throughout the entire process.
Justin summed up the experience of that first Sunday perfectly: “The PA just sounds a lot clearer. I can feel like I can EQ things and hear the frequency spectrum accurately and not just guess based off of what the room needs, but what’s actually happening in certain frequencies. Visually, it’s just a whole different space almost with just better lighting and better screens. I feel as a creative, just more empowered and more able to do things and learn the system better as time goes on.”
If you’re considering a similar upgrade for your space, here are some principles to take away from the Agora project:
The Agora Bible Fellowship project demonstrates that even a 40-year-old building can be transformed into a modern production environment without losing its character. With thoughtful design, quality equipment, and proper integration, a 250-seat sanctuary can deliver a worship experience that rivals much larger venues.
Want to see the detailed breakdown of the LED system configuration? Check out our deep dive on the Altitude LED YouTube channel. Interested in working with the Churchfront team on your own project? Visit churchfront.com and click the “Apply” button to get started.
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