A Reflection | NYC | & | Q |

#1 - NYC

Last week was one of the most refreshing and challenging weeks I have ever been apart of. First of all, I had the chance to go to New York City for the very first time in my life. I followed an opportunity and went. In one year my college experience will be drawing to a close. Last week I got a taste of what life is like on your own. New York City in all of its bigness is a little overwhelming but as I walked the streets of Times Square I felt compelled. This place holds so much diversity. One street corner easily holds the stories of people who believe in different things, different ideas, and have simply grown differently from the way I have grown up. I respect NYC in all of her splendor and in all that she holds.

#2 – Q
I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people last week. The reason I went to NYC was to be apart of something called, Q. It is conference that brings together a multitude of leaders to converse about and listen to ideas from people who are impacting society in many different forms. Louie Giglio said, “Q is a conversation about a potentiality and possibility.” These are some of the statements and questions that struck me most throughout the course of the week:

Eboo Patel a devoted Muslim who is the president of Interfaith Youth Core spoke at Q. He focuses on creating spaces for people who come from different backgrounds can come together who might disagree in theology but agree on humanity.

Chuck Colson’s inspiring quote: “Christianity is an explanation of all reality.”

Tim Keller’s argument that the best place to minister is the city because the Biblical pattern of evangelism and influence always begins in big cities and then moves to the countryside. Also Jon Tyson’s message agreed with this belief. There needs to be a return to the city. We need to come back to the places where culture is created.

Louie Giglio’s question: “What does transcendental leadership look like?”

Shane Hipp’s message called, “The Downside of the Digital Age.” Christianity is fundamentally a communication event…God revealing Himself to the world. Essentially, how you understand communication is how you understand God. We are the Gospel message.

The next few blogs I will be taking some of these concepts and applying them to the context of my life. What do they mean on a grand scale? I will ask what Shane Hipps asked, “Is our Gospel message to small?” What does living in a land of pluralism reveal about these concepts? What do these concepts say about this land of pluralism we live in? If scholars agree that Jesus’ mission was primarily, “Kingdom of God.” How big is this Kingdom?