This week started off great. Our ministry staff spent a good 24 hours away with each other – we ate, laughed, told stories, prayed, bowled and just got caught up. Our senior pastor has returned from his 3-month sabbatical and it was good to hear about what God has been speaking to him and also good to get him caught up with what’s been going on while he’s been away. It was a productive time both for our team and for our relationships – spending unstructured time with the people I serve alongside is a great use of time.
One of the main topics of our conversations was Twitter. If you’re plugged in to the whole idea of online community then you probably know what Twitter is and you’ve probably made one of two decisions – you either think it’s incredible and you’ve jumped in with both feet, finding the best desktop app, how to tweet from your phone or Blackberry, been looking for the funniest tweeps to follow.. OR.. you think it’s a big waste of time, has no real relational value, that it’s just another internet fad and is in no way worth of your time.

I have been on both sides of that fence. But I am much more in the former category rather than the latter. I have seen the benefits of Twitter several times this year in developing genuine relationships, fostering communication and the sharing of ideas.
As a staff team, we live along the spectrum of wired/connected/early adapter to traditional/skeptical/slow to adopt – I think every team needs to be diverse and so the fact that we have people along that spectrum is a good thing. BUT.. We did spend some time talking about Twitter and let’s just say that some people really get it and some people rrrrrreally don’t get it.
Do you get it? If you have no idea what Twitter is and why anyone would be interested, here’s a quick video -
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Here’s where I’m at with Twitter. Does it take time? Yes. Does it take some attention? Yes. Does it have its value? Yes, definitely. How? It is a communication and technology tool that can be leveraged by individuals AND teams to develop along missional and relational levels. How? Imagine if a large percentage of our church was Twittering and following each others’ updates – instead of only seeing each other on Sunday morning and at their small group there would be an increase in “virtual connections” where people would have quick updates on what other people in the church are doing through the week.
The missional implication? As other OBC folks are twittering about how they are living out their kingdom ministry through the week there are others who are following those updates and praying for them as they go. The relational implication? When we gather again on Sunday morning we have an increased sense of what has been front and centre in the minds of those people all week.
There are a whack of sites out there that will give you the top 10 reasons FOR and AGAINST Twitter but for me there is definite value in being involved in Twitter-land so I’ll keep doing it.
Are you on Twitter? Do you think it’s a waste of time?
If you are, follow my updates at www.twitter.com/chrisfromcanada
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UPDATE – Okay I think this is going to be a post that gets some good attention so I want to start keeping a running tally of people from OBC who are on Twitter. If you or someone you know isn’t listed here and they Twitter, leave it in the comments.
Chris Vacher – @chrisfromcanada
Earl Marshall – @earlmarshall
Ami Alexander – @amionajourney
Noelle Klassen – @dandercas
Teresa Aukema – @cowsrus