6) Using Twitter For Christ’s Global Cause

There’s been some chatter recently, stirred in part by Brigada participant, Doug W., as to whether or not he might be able to use Twitter in overseas communication and reporting. If you’re a regular Twitter user, would you jot a note in the Comments below about how you employ it??? Please mention any limitations and a pointer or two to guiding websites, if there any.

0 Shares

5 Comments

Anonymous on 2008/11/28 at 9:47 pm

Some in our organization have begun using twitter just to communicate where they are and what they are doing when on a teaching trip overseas.
I used it the past few days to watch the current news reports out of Mumbai. There are several up to the minute, almost, news reporting sites on twitter. I use http://www.twitter.com/BreakingNewsOn which is covered by several different “desks” around the world 24/7. Much better than Yahoo/CNN/BBC whatever. I think twitter is great for allowing the younger generations (I’m 63 and just learning as an “immigrant”)to understand what “missions” is all about as they read the short “ON SCENE” bulletins from missionaries.

Dennis Miller
International Christian Ministries

Tony on 2008/11/29 at 6:20 am

We have a page about using Twitter here:

Twitter

Blessings

Tony

Diana Scimone on 2008/11/29 at 8:51 am

I started tweeting about 3 months ago, and I can't tell you how it's expanded our reach. When you have a blog and website (we have both), you're constantly trying to attract new readers & subscribers. With Twitter, a world of people who actually want to network with you is right at your fingertips.

Like all new Twitterers, when I first set up my account I just stared at the screen and thought, "I don't get it." About 48 hours later when I was suddenly "following" and tweeting with people all over the world, my comment changed to, "This is the most amazing thing I've seen."

I'm head of an NGO that works to stop global child trafficking. Twitter has allowed me to network with others in the fight, as well as to meet many others around the world who have graciously promoted what we're doing. There's a huge sense of give-and-take on Twitter; in fact, if you're just promoting your own cause, it's considered bad Twitter etiquette :-) .

The Mumbai terrorist attacks brought Twitter to a whole new level. Twitter beat any news site by at least 30 minutes breaking the story (I use CNN World as my home page so I was watching). @BreakingNewsOn , which Dennis recommended above, has continued to report, and always ahead of the traditional media curve. The tweets coming from people on the ground in Mumbai have also been valuable and heartbreaking at the same time.

Two weeks ago when the earthquakes struck in Indonesia, Twitter beat CNN by a full hour (again via @BreakingNewsOn).

Mumbai did show the need to be careful if you're in a secure ministry. You don't really know the people who are "following" you, but if you have that kind of ministry, you already know how to be discreet.

The article that Tony recommended above has some valuable tips and Twitter tools.

If you decide to tweet, you're welcome to follow me at @DianaScimone .

Diana Scimone
President
Born to Fly International, Inc.
http://www.born2fly.org
http://www.dianascimone.com
@DianaScimone