Using Twitter for Ministry Part 2

Twitter is the “new” thing. Newspapers,TV Stations, Hollywood stars and even Oprah are now using Twitter. Maybe you are wondering, “What is Twitter?”  Twitter says it is a service for friends, family, and co-workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?

The brilliance of Twitter is that it is simple. You send out a short (140 character) message to all those who are following you. You follow other people and receive their updates. There are many ways people are using Twitter. I thought I would share with you 5 ways you can use Twitter for Ministry. Last month I covered the first two. Here are the last three.

     3) Connect with Christ-followers in your Church.

Twitter (and Facebook) are a great way to stay connect with the people in your church. My twitter updates automatically go into Facebook.

I use Twitter to show our church what I’m doing. The joke is that a Pastor only works one day a week. When I send out our eNewsletters I have a link that says, “What is Matt Doing?” I want our church to see examples of me out serving in the community. I want them to see me developing relationships with Non-Christians. I want them seeing me taking my kids to sports practice and taking my wife out on a date. I want them to see me studying the Bible and working on my messages.

Twitter shows authenticity and transparency. One woman found us online and emailed me. She said she had a bad experience with a church and specifically had a trust issue with a Pastor. I told her to follow me on Twitter so she could see the real me.

    4) Listen to the Needs of Your Community

I follow and friend people in our church so that I can keep up with what is going on in their lives. I can make comments and encourage them or challenge them when necessary.

We have a woman in our church who uses her spiritual gift of encouragement online. Almost every day she is encouraging people on Twitter and Facebook. She listens for things people say like, “Is it Friday yet?” or “I’m so tired. I didn’t sleep well last night!” and then comments back encouraging words.

I use Twitter’s search functionality to try and listen to what people are saying about our community, or schools or our church. When someone says something positive – I “retweet” it. If someone says something negative I try to discover the need and do what I can to help.

     5) Meet and Develop Relationships with the UnChurched in Your Area.

I purposely follow everyone on Twitter that I notice is from Portland because I have a chance to meet them. “Tweetups” are where a group of people who use Twitter meet up in person. Over the last few months I’ve been to three different tweetups. I have had a chance to meet several people who I follow and who follow me.

When my wife was sick and scheduled for an MRI I asked for prayer. I had many comments from people saying they were praying. I had a few interesting responses from people who are not Christians. One said, “Just in case there is anyone or anything out there—I’ll pray.” Another said, “I’m not the praying kind but I’ll send good thoughts her way.” Another said that she would think happy thoughts.

I have had deep spiritual conversations with people I found through Twitter. Some have been face-to-face conversations over coffee and some have been “virtual” on Twitter. Twitter is a great way to meet people and help connect them to God.

Are you on Twitter? Follow me at twitter.com/mlpayne.