You say tomato..
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 -
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
I’ve gotten to know you better through Twitter than your blog, really. I wouldn’t want to get rid of it now. It’s comforting to see how alike we are even though we do life in different zip codes, states or even countries.
Also, Twitter is so central to the communication within Elevate, our local youth adult gathering comprised of folks from many local churches. Any “hanging at Starbucks” tweet has become an open invite for us to drop in and spend time together.
At the most basic level, Twitter has made it possible to put together a prayer chain that links people all over the world together instantly.
@Jay – I totally agree on the “getting to know you” comment. I’ve said to people that you can really tell what’s important to someone by the things they are twittering.
i confess. you got me hooked on twitter. i wish more people at my church followed. I’m better at twitter than blogging right now.
I used to make fun of people who Twitter. Now I am an evangelist for Twitter. It has really helped me fast forward relationships with people I work with and people like you. I could type a lot more, but no one wants that here. I posted about it a while back: http://caseyr.wordpress.com/2008/09/09/why-twitter/ .
@Darryl – It is no secret that people who are on Twitter are blogging less. I think that’s because what would have been a blog post in the past is now just being tweeted instead.
@Casey – Your post on Twitter is awesome. I should have linked it.
Twitter is something you have to experience and take time with. When I was looking at it from the outside it looked goofy. Once you have jumped in and taken the time to build relationships…it becomes clear that there are multiple levels of value and it has a unique and worthwhile culture!
@David – Yes, agreed. Even when we were talking about it around the table “goofy” was definitely one of the responses :)
I love twitter. I met this guy in Canada who twitters, and follows baseball, and we’ve become friends!
@Travis – Sounds like a guy I’d like to know!
Chris…I am hooked on twitter, and you are in part responsible. For me, it’s a link to people I care about. It’s the kind of “catch up” you did each day as kids at school. You just end up knowing tons about people you care about – more than in twitterless adult world. Plus, it can link to great ideas and sites you’ve never been to.
I love the community.
@Carey – “Catch up” as kids – I’d never thought of the parallel but yes!
Hey Chris,
I totally hate twitter. Totally pointless, waste of time, and I’m totally addicted to it.
Seriously though, I think my favourite story re: twitter was actually your story. The time when you were asking about a Vicky Beeching song, and she replied with an answer for you. That’s amazing power that blogs, facebook, etc. don’t seem to have.
That, and I’m way more popular on twitter than in real life.
@rkweblog
Well… twitter? Its simply a way to connect with those people who interest you and the direct messaging is better than email or just SMS (texting). Time waste? If relationships are a time waste, then yes.
@Pat – the Vicky story, yes! I’ll find the link to that story and post it here.
@Rich – I didn’t even mention the whole direct message thing but I love that I have basically immediate access to someone without needing their cell phone number.
Hey Chris,
I’ve just recently joined on with twitter. I can see how it could be a very useful tool. However, for people like me, who don’t really have any friends who use it, it’s a little “different”.
I do like it to “keep track” of people and those in ministry. It’s a very unique application to use to be able to pray for people where they’re at, in what they’re facing, without waiting a week or month to read about it on their blogs, or hear about it in person.
When you read “I’m having a rough day today…where is God when I need Him”, and you can instantly begin praying for them, let them know you’re available to talk to, etc. It’s neat!
I like twitter. Now if only I could find more friends who use it, or talk my friends into it! :-)
hey chris,
i am not a big fan of twitter although i can see it has some value. but having to take time to update it all the time, er, not sure. you said:
“I’ve said to people that you can really tell what’s important to someone by the things they are twittering.”
it made me laugh a little. obviously, you would know that this person loves to be online and update the tweeter status ;)
Initially I didn’t see the value… I had a Twitter account for over 6 months before I began to connect with other like-minded people and saw the value. Since that time I have recruited quite a few locals and remote friends and that’s where Twitter became my main virtual social outlet.
Yea it’s cool to connect with those on Twitter with similar interests BUT… The real “power” of Twitter comes when you introduce someone you know personally to Twitter and they embrace it the way you do. I have several friends in other states who now twitter and it’s almost like they’re in the same town!
I think the ministry aspect of Twitter has real potential too. To be able to “connect” with others in the local church outside of scheduled gatherings is a huge benefit. I have a couple local church friends twittering but it would be great to have more!
@djbyron
Twitter is excellent. It’s a useful tool in so many ways – to keep in touch with friends and family, to learn more about people we don’t know that well, to bounce ministry ideas off of other ministries, to communicate with co-workers. I love Twitter and I regard myself somewhat of an Twitter-addict.
However, there is one issue I have with Twitter. I’ll rephrase that: I have an issue with some people’s misunderstanding of Twitter, and that is that some people just don’t get it yet still use it. Without mentioning names, there are some people I used to follow who are pretty well known in certain circles who could use Twitter to do some great things, but they don’t. They tweet twice a day about what they ate for breakfast and dinner and how they must hit the gym or go on a date with their wife. Rinse and repeat. That’s the same as lame-blogging syndrome; the person who launches a blog only to post the unimportant mundane details of how their day went, rather than engaging in community and conversation. I’ve ‘unfollowed’ several people in the last week or so simply because I was disappointed that they wouldn’t use Twitter for something greater than letting the world know how PUMPED they were for church.
Now I’m not saying that there’s not validity in tweeting that kind of content – I do the same from time to time – but when that is ALL you tweet, it completely devalues it and gives me no reason to follow a person. It doesn’t tell me anything about that person. It doesn’t involve me in conversation or community. Isn’t that really what Twitter is about – community and conversation?
Is twitter of value. YES!
I use Twitter for 2 reasons.
#1 for relational value. I absolutely love the community and relationships that have come to be since I have been on Twitter. I have noticed more and more that people are being honest online. Maybe I should say this. Now that more people are being honest on twitter, it is much more obvious when someone is posing. I refuse to follow posers,or people looking for attention. I don’t have time to waste unless it is something valuable in my life. Like honest relationship.
#2 for education. I am an early adopter as well. I have been given more great info, links, updates and “check this out” on twitter that anywhere else in my life. I have chosen to follow some people just for the value of what they are going to discover and then pass along. Twitter has been amazing for last minute suggestions and a little extra help. It’s blown me away. I make a call out for some info and I have leaders of amazing ministries giving me suggestions. That blows me away.
Now I tend to get “noisy” on twitter. If you are following me, you know I like to talk. I love the conversation, but I also love the value. I find value in conversation as well as what i can get out of it. So, even though I am up to almost 6000 updates, I will continue to speak honestly, look for those who can offer me value and deepen relationships.
My comments are going to be disjointed because @inworship is so dang noisy on twitter tonight that I can’t think straight. :)
To echo former comments … twitter CAN BE both an inefficient waste of time AND an incredible resource. I don’t know what it would have been like to jump in ‘blind’. I joined twitter because of re:create, which immediately provided a few followers/followees (not a word, apparently) with shared experiences and shared interests.
I’d also agree that the resourcing is invaluable. You, chris, have been really incredible in replying to questions and offering ideas/resources. Thank you for your generosity in that way. This is where twitter isn’t a waste of time at all for me. The fact that throughout any given day, the helpful & weighty tweets are peppered in amongst good humor and interesting information is just the cream cheese frosting on the proverbial carrot cake. (see? noisy noisy twitter…)
I’ve now learned to know people in two directions through twitter: there are those I met in real life first, then learned to know better thru twitter; and there are those I met first on twitter/blogs, and am now learning to know them through phone conversations, looking forward to future face-to-face meetings.
Haven’t had much luck convincing those around me to jump in, however. Out of 100 people I follow…. only 3 are people I know and regularly have conversation with locally.
Haha. Kim is funny :)
chris,
i understand the direct ties with twitter to media-driven jobs (worship pastor, graphic/web designer, tech guru’s…but for the everyday working guy/girl…how do you see it interfacing…?
i.e The 24-year old girl who is a teller at a bank or the 32-year old guy that is an electrician..?
Twitter Update – “just gave a dude thirty-five 100 dollar bills”
Twitter Update – “just got zapped…should’ve checked those wires”
I just don’t see how practically it can interface is a practical or relevant way with the average “non-tech/media-job” type person…
Thoughts???