Some good info here. To add to it-
Crappy quality (technical term) ear buds aren't worth it. Telling musicians to go from hearing 'OK' (multiple wedges coming from various angles) to 'less than OK' depending on ear buds model is the wrong direction to earn trust.
Inter-band communication is important. A non-latching stomp box for the worship leader, and thumb switch mic(s) for those who don't sing, is important. The stomp box should have A and B out; one is normal level and goes to audience and band, the other is higher level and goes only to the band.
Audience microphones, stereo, are important. A pair of cheap condenser mics on the stage lip, or a pair of little choir mics flown, work great. I much prefer condenser mics over dynamic, but I've met others who prefer dynamics.
Clark Synthesis or Buttkicker shakers are great - not just for the drum throne, or for the bass player to stand on, but most of the stage. The Clark branded ones play higher and give more than just 'shaking'.
Agreed that stereo in-ear mixes, even on a mono PA, is very important.
Wired vs wireless - wireless costs a lot more for convenience and aesthetics of no wires. After everything else is done and done well - then consider upgrading from P16's to wireless - BUT only where necessary.
If you have a dedicated audio engineer who is experienced - a monitor console as Brian noted is great to have. This allows for not only mixing for those who aren't as adept at mixing their own mix - but also allows for multiple reverb FX.
Thnx all you guys for these answers.
I think with all the info here I am going the right direction.
Maybe you guys can help me with a last question. reason for this question is that I think the following setup would be possible, but I need to know for sure before getting in to it and go testing.
Right now we have a x32 as FOH mixer and it runs a AES50 cable to the stage with one S16. there is also running a small analog stagebox to the stage, because that was already there before the X32 came and is used for the mic for the preacher and other people who speak on the podium.
Is it possible to add a X32 rack to the mix, use the s16 as an extension to the rack (so that I still have 32/16 available, 16/8 from the Rack and 16/8 from the S16). and then use the AES50 to run all signals to FOH?
THe main point of the question is the extension part. DOes the Rack version has the possibility to see the channels of the 16 as "input 17/32 and output 9/16".
My guess would be that it is.
So the routing on the Rack would be:
RACK:
IN: CH 1-16 : Analog 1-16
CH 17-32: AES 50/A 1-16 on the S16
OUT 1-8: Analog 1-8
OUT 9-16: AES 50/A 1-8 on the S16
FOH X32:
AES 50/B:
CH 1-32: AES50/B 1-32
OUT 1-16: AES50/B 1-16
That would be the basic routing, but I have to be able to rout individual output channels on the FOH to Analog OUT on the FOH, because our infrastructure has some cables for Broadcast and overflow rooms lying at the FOH desk.
Is this a possible setup?