Tweet Missions
The summer is a time when groups from many churches are spending time at various mission opportunities around the world. One of the frustrations for those at home is often the lack of information from the groups hard at work. The availability of social networking sites provides a way of sharing with those at home what is happening.
One example is via YouTube. People in the field can post videos during the trip to show what is happening from day to day. It keeps people at home informed about the different things the mission group is doing. One such example out of many from Tube is below.
In addition to YouTube, sending pictures to Facebook or a section on the church’s website is another way to share information about the work people are doing.
Missioners can also keep in touch minute by minute by using Twitter. Adding a tag in a tweet such as #mission allows people at home to search for the particular tweets from the mission trip of their church. People who are interested can have a constant stream of information of what the mission team is doing and how the work is progressing. Tweeting can be done from a cell phone so if there is not Internet access, then using Twitter is an excellent way of telling the story of what God is doing through the hands of those from your church.
There are many communications tools at our disposal that shrink the world and allow us to communicate easily while also participating in God’s ministry in the world. These tools can open us up to the needs of the world around us, and also to the ways people are reaching out to people.
July 29, 2009 at 12:29 am
So I’m a big fan of technology, but heck that’s my job. But I often wonder if we get way too carried away with wanting to know everything “right now.” I think there is something to be gained by not hearing from someone until they either write or return. Can you imagine if we didn’t have the letters from Paul to read these days… just a quick Twitter? Not sure it would have the same effect. I think the idea that those left behind are praying and thinking about those on missions means more than getting a video to look at. Maybe I’m wrong, but I would rather wait and see them face to face and let their joy and happiness fill the room when they tell everyone all the little stories and tidbits. Just my 2 cents.
August 1, 2009 at 2:31 pm
John, Thanks for your comment. I appreciate your thoughts. We do live in a microwave population that wants everything quickly. I do think communicating from the field can produce similar enthusiasm, and even support the team in prayer for the work and special concerns that arise that people back home may not know about until they are home. I also think family members back home like to hear from their family that are there, its good to hear from them. Thanks again, and I like the blog you have created for Family Faith, its a great communication tool.
August 1, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Stan,
My daughter Katie just got back from the Jeremiah Project in Winchester area… She had an absolute fantastic time. They were not allowed to take their cell phones. So no texting, no contact. But for me, this allowed them to focus on the people they were there to help. Not worry about people back home. I thoroughly understand that there are times for certain mission projects that it might really benefit the “mission” if video of situations or needs could get back to the home base quickly enough for “help” to come in the form of supplies, or even as you say, prayer for immediate needs.
Thanks for checking out the Family Faith website, and yes I think it could be a good communication tool, but as of now, it is barely being used by anyone but Marsha, myself and one or two others in the class. Maybe it is a product of the average age of our class, but there are quite a few “technology savvy” folks in there. Any suggestions are always welcome.
Take care, God Bless.