By now you have certainly heard about Twitter and Facebook and may have even peeked into one of these services to see what they are all about. Me? I took a dive head first into them and I haven’t come up for breath yet.
But before you write this off as yet another plea for you to join up, switch your phone over to unlimited texting, and spend countless hours pouring through the shallowness of the mundane, let me assure you that this is merely how Twitter and Facebook has changed, and even enhanced, my life. I no longer beg or plead with others to join up.
A Global Front Porch
Two years ago I set out to attend a conference called Re:Create. It’s founder, Randy Elrod, one of the most forward thinking Christians of our time, encouraged all who were attending to sign up for Twitter in order to enhance the dialogue at the conference.
While at the conference, many, myself included, were taken back by the cool factor of such a service. The long-term benefits were yet to be realized.
What started as a simple gathering of creatives in Franklin, TN, quickly blossomed into a world-wide network of worship leaders and creative thinkers that had a quick and easy tool to share resources, ideas, prayers, and encouragements. Almost all of the attendees operated a blog on some level and through the use of Twitter, we were able to let each other know when we had found helpful resources or deeper insights that would benefit the greater Kingdom of God.
This opened up a new door of retaining communication with people who were a part of a very special time of worship, renewal, and growth in my life. It was as if Twitter became our front porch and the sharing of ideas and thoughts began to flow.
A Dialogue Planted
What took place over the twelve months after Re:Create in February of 2008 was nothing short of a modern miracle of communication. Many colleagues who attended the conference experienced personal crisis. My friend, Paul, from north Georgia, learned of his mother’s diagnosis of cancer and shared specific prayers, updates and praises throughout the process. Others shared of family sickness or tragedy in their church and received immediate prayers and encouragements.
Several of us, including myself, celebrated the birth of children with friends all around the world. And speaking of celebrations, birthday greetings were enjoyed by all.
Countless conversations about worship, theology, technology, and surviving ministry poured out. The wealth of knowledge from such a diverse group of men and women was not limited to only one week – we continued our think tank conference on for an entire year. Having attended many conferences in the past, Re:Create was the only one where I actually kept up with the new friends I met. And it was largely thanks to Twitter and Facebook.
A Handshake Now Deeper in Meaning
Last February, we reconvened in Franklin, TN. People came once again from all over the United States, Canada, Egypt, and South America. The reunion on the first day was filled with deeper conversations because for the last twelve months, we were all in touch with each other in real time. We all knew of each other’s ups and downs and were able to go on to a deeper level in relationships because there was hardly any catching up required.
Since then, I have had many of my local church family join these services. There are countless testimonies of how these online connections have enhanced my face-to-face relationships.
Most of my friends in ministry agree that in today’s landscape of ministry, people give their money quicker than they give their time. With so little time for face-to-face contact, the relationship connections made online can only help us stay connected with our congregation, family, and friends from the past. It’s a band-wagon I’m willing to ride and use for the glory of God until it’s over and something new takes its place.
I’m Challenging, Not Begging
So what about you? If you’re in ministry, do you feel as though you’re getting deep connections with your congregation? Do you feel as if you’re in a bind for resources you can’t afford? Let me suggest that you give Twitter and Facebook a try. What could it hurt? It’s likely that many in your congregation already use these services. In less than an hour, you could be setup and connecting online to make your Sunday handshakes even better!
-BP
