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Hello Twitter! How religious leaders crafted their first tweets

To honor eight years of Twitter, the social network allowed users to find their first tweet.
Hello Twitter! How religious leaders crafted their first tweets
Megachurch pastor Rick Warren's first tweet.
Sarah Pulliam Bailey

Religious leaders are powerhouses on Twitter with more engaged followers than most celebrities, the New York Times has reported.

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren's first tweet.

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren’s first tweet.

It’s been eight years since Twitter entered our lives, and to honor of that day, Twitter allowed users to find their first tweet. You can find your first tweet here. We took a look at how some religious leaders said hello to Twitter for the first time.


California megachurch pastor Rick Warren tweeted what we were all wondering as we joined the new social network.

Just over a year ago after his papal appointment, Pope Francis asked for prayers.

But! It wasn’t the first tweet from the @Pontifex account. Pope Benedict XVI first tweeted,  “Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart.”

Perhaps one of the most retweeted first tweets was from Tim Keller, who joined just over a year ago.

Similarly, popular Bible teacher and author Beth Moore is likely blaming her daughter Amanda Jones for getting her on twitter.

The Dalai Lama’s scheduler apparently started his twitter feed.

An upbeat Texas megachurch pastor Joel Osteen previewed what was to come.

Bill Nye, an agnostic who debated creationist Ken Ham earlier this year, started with a bang.

Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, gave a preview of what to expect in his sermon.

Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church Katharine Jefferts Schori called an assembly.

Sojourners founder Jim Wallis pointed to former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Here’s the blog post, in case you want a flash to the past.


Here’s a very matter-of-fact post from Texas megachurch pastor TD Jakes.

President of Interfaith Youth Core Eboo Patel echoed what many said by joining the 21st century.

Los Angeles Rabbi David Wolpe offered some words of wisdom.

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