What is Twitter?

[James Nored]

Twitter is a relatively new social networking and microblogging service. Read the Wikipedia article on Twitter. There are several uses for Twitter:
- It is useful for posting short updates that are not the length of a regular blog, such as "Getting off the plane right now."
- It allows a user to post an update from his or her phone, not requiring a computer
- It can help a user make quick updates in, say, an emergency
- It can be integrated with Facebook, with Twitter updates being used as the "Status" update on Facebook; this allows Facebook friends to get more updates
- The Twitter updates can be fed to a website through RSS and HTML code inserts

Like other social networking tools, Twitter allows its uses to send out invites to their friends from their email address books to "follow" them (receive their Twitter updates) on Twitter. A Twitter user can follow others who use Twitter as well as see who is following them.

If you go to my blog, on the top left hand side you can see my Twitter updates, and you can sign up to receive these updates.

Twitter has some great uses, though some post trivial things like what they are eating for dinner. It is another way to communicate and stay in touch with friends. If you are up-on technology, you are on Twitter.

Do you use Twitter? If so, what do you use it for and why? How might Twitter be helpful to outreach and ministry?

[James Nored]

There is an additional tool called Twellow, which is a type of yellow pages that helps Twitterers look up and find other Twitterers. I looked my name up, and didn't find it. But maybe I have not been Twittering enough.

[James Nored]

Here is a great article called "15 Twittery Things for Your Holiday Enjoyment." There are some pretty cool twitter applications here. Check it out!

[James Nored]

Here is an article from CBS Marketwatch called "Twitter Yourself a Job." The story tells how microblogging can help a person get a job.

[John Dobbs]

James Nored said:

There is an additional tool called Twellow, which is a type of yellow pages that helps Twitterers look up and find other Twitterers. I looked my name up, and didn't find it. But maybe I have not been Twittering enough.

Hey, loved Twellow. I love Twitter ... and hope we can find even more ways to use it for the Kingdom's sake!

[James Nored]

John, Twitter is a social networking tool that we are going to try to use to reach people. So if you have any ideas, let us know!

[John Dobbs]

Find out who's twittering near you with http://nearbytweets.com . Follow them...perhaps they will follow you ... and you can start making some local contacts.

[James Burgess]

High Pointe Church of Christ is on Twitter. follow www.twitter.com/highpointecofc

Follow it and pass it on!!

[Debra]

I signed on to Twitter, but I'm lost. Someone is going to have to tutor me in Twitter!

[John Dobbs]

Debra said:

I signed on to Twitter, but I'm lost. Someone is going to have to tutor me in Twitter!

A good video explanation of Twitter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o

[James Nored]

Here is an article with some tips on gaining Twitter followers.

[Donn Holsinger]

There is an interesting article in Time about how some churches are using Twitter as part of worship:

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1895463,00.html?xi...

[James Nored]

Donn, thank you for sharing this article! Mars Hill has been leading in this category, and it sounds like other churches are getting involved. This is a great way to connect with younger generations, technology users, and increase the sense of community. I twittered all during the Tulsa workshop, as did others, and it really turned the one way speaker into a multi-voiced dialogue. Let's be thinking about how we can best use this technology to form commununity and connect with others, both inside and outside the church.