Some people follow as many people as they can just so that they’ll have people follow them back, therefore, increasing their own number of followers. I have no interest in doing so.
Every person or group I choose to follow brings value to my time on Twitter.
Some I follow because they’re friends or family, some because of their humour, like God (@TheTweetofGod), or Ellen DeGeneres (who I also like because of her attempts to make the world a better place), some are local or national politicians, others are advocates that I appreciate learning from, others are ways of keeping abreast of what’s happening with various causes I care about, and a few to keep up on the sport I love, hockey.
There are some people on Twitter I enjoy more than others. Let’s say they’re my favourites, for all sorts of reasons, but essentially because I admire what they do, how they speak up for what they believe in, and how they want to be part of making the world a better place. They’ve all chosen to be part of the solution to our broken world.
I’ve listed, in alphabetical order, the five favourite people I follow on Twitter. I’ve listed their Twitter handle, their own Twitter description of who they are, their website, and a few comments about why I like them.
I’m grateful that they take the time to share their thoughts with us. If you don’t already follow them on Twitter consider doing so.
Cathy Crowe – @cathyacrowe – Street Nurse, author, filmmaker, maker of pies. Social justice nursing means working for the housing cure.
- cathycrowe.ca
I’m moved by her empathy and life-long commitment to finding solutions for homelessness. She’s a relentless advocate for those living on the streets. We so desperately need more people like her.
Cheslea Clinton – @ChelseaClinton – Mom of Charlotte & Aidan, Married to Marc, Advocate, Author, Teach, @ClintonFdn & @CHAI_Health & @HealthierGen, New Yorker.
I’m consistently blown away by the positive online responses she has to the thousands of haters who don’t think twice about saying the cruelest things about her or her parents. She consistently rises above the attacks and continues to be a positive influence on so many. Her commitment to advocacy and action is inspiring.
Farrah Khan – @Farrahsafiakhan: Education and sexual violence support worker. Feminist troublemaker. Lover of empathy, pleasure and otters.
- farrahkan.ca
I’ve only recently discovered her on Twitter but she has quickly become one of my favourites. I love her desire to make the world a better place and the way she uses her influence to motivate others to do so.
Rachel Held Evans – @rachelheldevans – Doubt-filled believer, author of Inspired, Searching for Sunday, A Year of Biblical Womanhood, Faith Unraveled.
- rachelheldevans.com
As a Christian I’m deeply offended at how the evangelical right in the U.S. has supported Trump. I liked Rachel Held Evans well before she took such a strong anti-Trump position. I started following her back in 2012 because of her books and blogs. But her criticism of her fellow Christians who continue to support Trump is what cemented her as one of my favourites.
Shane Claiborne – @ShaneClaiborne
Author, activist, & recovering sinner. Building a new world in the shell of the old one.
- shaneclaiborne.com
I couldn’t possibly say enough about Shane Claiborne to describe how much I admire him. He’s the fourth person I ever followed on Twitter and remains one of my favourites. His example of being an authentic follower of Jesus is what all followers of Jesus should strive for. He pushes back against a Christian culture that has strayed from Jesus’ message of love and peace.
