Day Two of Q 2013, Los Angeles

by Q Ideas

Day two of Q LA may not have had the clear thread that yesterday did and yet there was an underlying feeling connecting one talk to another … a sense of now. That right now is the time—there is an urgency and a significance to our days. Here's a wrap-up from day two of 2013 Q Ideas in Los Angeles.

Mark Burnett was scheduled to talk reality TV and its effects on society—and he did—but he also preached. Burnett emphasized the significance of church unity in our day and challenged Christians to seek the common ground with one another in order to advance the common good.

Kim Biddle awakened listeners to the presence of sex trafficking in LA—and in every city. She uncovered realities behind identity formation—how our pop culture, fashion and consumerism are affecting the way young girls see themselves. She asked "What happens when 'sexy' becomes synonymous with 'beautiful'?"

Romanita Hairston wants to see education reform and improved child well-being in the United States. But she knows those can't simply be ideals—both have to start with a relationship first. She argued that while we may have more non-profits than ever today, we are facing a crisis of compassion, consciousness and conscience when it comes to the poor.

Michael Miller challenged us to re-imagine a solution to poverty. He said the real questions don't revolve around alleviating poverty but around creating prosperity for families and communities—rekindling people's creative capacity and imagination.

Katelyn Beaty asked "What do Christian women want?" The answer to that, she said, is not more pink Bibles or women's ministry "spa nights." Christian women are asking for an opportunity of be part of the deeper conversation—they are as interested in pursuing their calling in the public square as in the privacy of their hearts and homes.

Tom Krattenmaker said that from his vantage point as a journalist, he's seen the divisions caused by many of the debates surrounding controversial issues. Yet, he's also seen the positive public momentum Christians can gain when they turn their attention toward pursuing the common good.

Jason Lankow pointed to one of the strongest information trends today: the infographic. He outlined some of the ways information is going visual and offered tips for doing infographics effectively.

Dr. Kara Powell wondered what it means to raise children in a digital age—how has the access to so much technology changed the experience of childhood? But stewardship of technology doesn't start with kids, she said, it starts with parents. If parents are addicted to technology and are not fully present as a result, that's the posture children will mimic.

Kip Jacob shared the story of what happens when a mostly white, affluent suburban church shows up at the doorsteps of an urban high school with a desire to work together. Through his experience, he challenged churches to get involved with their neighborhood schools and invest in their renewal.

Jim Palmer said you know something is broken when we treat our homeless pets better than our homeless people. He offered a new vision for working with the homeless—one that respects the image of God in people and rekindles creativity, calling and dignity.

Scott Kauffmann argued that, while urban centers are where many trends start, it's a lie to believe the most significant ministry only happens in cities. Yet, he said, it is still true that cities are the new cultural frontier and create a learning lab for ministry innovation. As such, there are ways churches in all areas can apply the insights being learned by churches in larger cities.

Tyler Wigg-Stevenson looked at the past decade's trend toward social justice and wondered what the next generation's "reaction" toward that trend will be. He challenged Christians to do activism well and argued that to do so means to carry with us the awareness that our activism cannot fix everything—it cannot erase a broken past, even as it imagines a better future. As Christians, we cannot replace the need for a crucified Savior with "better engineers."

Lynn Aldrich virtually walked us through her gallery as she made the argument that a broken world, a digital world, a fast world is more in need of tangible art than ever.

Bob Hurley and Jamie Tworkowski talked surf culture. Hurley recounted some of his journey as an entrepreneur and said he believes much of the success of the Hurley brand has been a result of removing the exclusivity of surf culture and offering an inclusive message instead—going from "surfing is cool" to "you're cool."

Chris Horst talked about the importance of place and investing locally. He gave some examples of how churches in Denver have come together to work toward a very local vision for common good.

Jeff Shinabarger challenged Christians to redefine the idea of "enough." He emphasized the importance of drawing a line in the sand on our choices as consumers and argued that generosity is the key to freedom in a greedy world.

Nancy Duarte offered a map for better presentations. Culling insights from historically great presenters such as Martin Luther King Jr, Eva Peron and Jesus, she gave practical and powerful tools for truly effective public communication.

Jessica Dominguez took on immigration reform and the said the question can no longer be "if" reform will happen, but "how." She offered insights into how the Church can play an important role in this reform and why consideration for the whole family must be central.

Henry Kaestner challenged the myth that faith and finances can't go together. He offered practical tools for investing well and stewarding financial resources and argued that a spiritual integration plan helps, not hinders financial results.

Praxis Finalist Awards: Q participants listened to pitches from Liberty in North Korea (LiNK), These Numbers Have Faces and Rising Tide, then voted to award three cash prizes in the amounts of $20,000, $30,000 and $50,000, respectively.

Jon Tyson offered insights into what it means to do evangelism in an urban, pluralistic, often hostile context. He said it takes recognizing a long-term view—that evangelism isn't the work of a moment and it cannot be about counting "how many" were saved today or this month or this year.

Gabe Lyons concluded the evening with a challenge for Christians to be part of shaping the cultural imagination. While a world might offer only a vision for pursuing happiness at all costs, Christians can offer a better story. Christians can recognize the truth of people's pain, sit with it and imagine renewal through it. We are living the human story and we can trust God to connect that with the human heart.

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