Comments on: Changing Your Voice – Missional Social Media

By: Rich Schmidt

Rich Schmidt — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:13:53 +0000

I don't know… It seems to be working well for me in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Foursquare hasn't taken off here, but Twitter definitely has. We have 20-30 people together each month for our #nwitweetup, and there are always new faces. Most months it's tied to some kind of charity that's benefiting, and the hosting business is giving food away for free. So I get to meet people in the community and get fed doing it!

By: vince

vince — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:33:47 +0000

Good stuff rich

By: Justin Wise

Justin Wise — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:03:50 +0000

Brilliant post, Vince. I'm excited to see where this new effort leads you.

If we're going to be serious about reaching a digital mission field, we should probably be familiar with the way that culture works. Love your commitment! Well done.

By: Rich Schmidt

Rich Schmidt — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:48:45 +0000

This is basically what I've been doing with Twitter since signing up for it last year. I follow as many local people as I possibly can, only following a handful of "big name" folks, and not all of those are within "church world."

A local tweetup scene has developed – #nwitweetup – and I've gone to as many of those as possible. I've gotten to know quite a few people who live and work here whom I probably would never have met otherwise, and a few have visited the church I pastor. It's been a great way to connect with new friends who don't know Jesus or have any church connection.

It's the same reason I participate in the Chamber of Commerce. I was at one monthly networking event yesterday morning that I've been attending for 5 years. In fact, yesterday was my 60th time in attendance — more than anyone else in the group. I'm like a minor celebrity in this group of 70-100 business leaders. Cracks me up. And it's led to a handful of people connecting with our church. I love it.

By: human3rror

human3rror — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 21:57:04 +0000

that is cool.

By: vince

vince — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:58:25 +0000

I'm sure i'll re-connect with those people soon…after i have re-invented my voice.

By: vince

vince — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:58:02 +0000

It does help being in a hotbed of social media like Austin.

By: human3rror

human3rror — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:28:03 +0000

thanks for this. going to check it out.

By: Shaun McMillan

Shaun McMillan — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:22:04 +0000

I've tried to do this too, while on long bus rides I did local searches on twitter trying to connect to people. I also tried foursquare, but somehow I don't see many people participating here in Orange County. Locale is definately the next big step for social media. I also thought this was an interesting tool for such outreach, http://trendsmap.com/

By: Jim Kane

Jim Kane — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:52:41 +0000

A great post! Your thinking about unfollowing leading voices and being more missional describes what I have been thinking and did not have the words for it.