LLL Spring Virtual Event Focuses on Households of Faith by CHAD FIX
Future of Neighboring Presented at Q Culture Summit by MEGAN MCDANIEL
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n April 22 and 23, individuals participated in person and virtually in the 15th annual Q 2021 Culture Summit held in Nashville, Tennessee. Going with a new approach this year, the Culture Summit was accessible through the Q Media Platform where participants could view the main stage as well as have access to over 40 Q&A sessions with trusted experts. … our local life On the first day of the event, the main stage matters, our presentation featured a video of Executive community Director of The Hopeful Neighborhood matters, and our Project Rev. Dr. Tony Cook and LHM Content local neighbor Development Manager Don Everts, co-authors matters. of The Hopeful Neighborhood Field Guide. Following the main stage presentation, an email was sent to everyone on Q’s mailing list. That email included a pre-recorded video of Cook, who shared some features of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project and why it is important for everyone wherever they live. Following the video, Founder of Q Gabe Lyons reaffirmed the importance of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project. “If there is anything we learned over this last year, it’s that our local life matters, our community matters, and our local neighbor matters. The local businesses in our community matter,” says Lyons. “With the timing of The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, it not only brings amazing research for us to better understand how to think about our neighborhoods, but for people and leaders of faith that have communities of faith, it shows how we can make an impact.” On the second day, Cook participated virtually in a live 30-minute lecture and Q&A where he shared his vision for the future of neighboring. Following the summit, when individuals went to hopefulneighborhood.org to learn more, they had the opportunity to receive a free Field Guide and sign up for book clubs led by Cook and Everts. The summit proved to be a great opportunity to present The Hopeful Neighborhood Project to a large audience of individuals and church leaders. For more information about The Hopeful Neighborhood Project, visit hopefulneighborhood.org. Gabe and Rebekah Lyons founded Q in 2007 as a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society. They convene leaders in America’s most influential cities and equip them to engage public life in winsome and thoughtful ways. Gabe is the co-author of Good Faith: Being a Christian When Society Thinks You’re Irrelevant and Extreme, author of The Next Christians, and co-author of UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters. Prior to launching Q, Gabe served on the team that co-founded Catalyst, the largest gathering of young church leaders in America. Rebekah is a national speaker and bestselling author of Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose, You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are, and Freefall to Fly: A Breathtaking Journey Toward a Life of Meaning. =
18 | The Lutheran Layman Spring 2021
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o you know the way Christians Feedback from the event was go about their days and connect positive and many attendees with the members in their household mentioned they will use the is a critical aspect of spiritual growth? information in upcoming Bible This was a key point addressed during studies and share it with their pastors, the 2021 Lutheran Laymen’s League board of elders, and other leaders. Spring Virtual Event March 13. “The event was informative, giving Modeled after the Fall Virtual Event data learned from Barna Group to held for the first time in 2020, more paint a clear picture of the challenges than 250 people attended this nearly before us, such as declining witness of three-hour session to learn more our faith by Christians,” says Delano about the Households of Faith research Meyer, president of the Minnesota conducted through LHM’s partnership North LLL District. “We gained ideas with Barna Group and find out what of what we can do individually to be Households of Faith are, why they witnesses for Christ, sharing the joy matter to God, and how to nurture the of responding confidently in spiritual faith of individual households. conversations within our household Participants were given with those who do not “We gained and the choice to join virtually yet know Jesus as their Lord ideas of what and Savior. It is refreshing from home or at one of six we can do viewing locations hosted by to know LHM has so much LLL districts in areas of the individually to information and materials country with fewer COVIDto help us be better be witnesses available 19-related restrictions. witnesses for our faith.” for Christ …” Attendees logged on “The impact of welcoming from all over the United States, with non-family visitors into a believer’s 24 LLL districts and 150 different home is more important to their congregations represented. Gospel witness than ever and is The program included a devotion by an easy practice to change within Speaker of The Lutheran Hour Rev. my household,” says Dan Johnson, Dr. Michael Zeigler; the Households president of the Indiana LLL District. of Faith workshop presented by “I also liked the admonitions to Curriculum Development Manager handle household issues by being Ashley Bayless; a Live Q & A with present, engaged through asking Bayless and Vice President of Global questions, and showing true interest. Ministries Rev. Dr. Tony Cook; Great advice!” and closing comments from LHM Plans are already underway for the President and CEO Kurt Buchholz. The 2021 Fall Virtual Event on Saturday, session also included the unboxing Sept. 25. Mark your calendars now of the new Better Together kit to and look for more details in the highlight the available resources. coming months. =
