600 to come see

how faith impacts

Portland culture

By JOHN FORTMEYER
CNNW publisher
      PORTLAND — Even though the Rose City now has a national reputation as liberal, progressive and secular, some interesting things are happening here in terms of advancing the cause of Christ.
      So interesting, in fact, that it has caught national notice. That’s why this month about 600 church and cultural leaders from across the nation will gather here to explore it all.
    “Portland is on the radar nationally in the evangelical world,” says Portland native Kevin Palau, president of the Luis Palau Association and one of the “locals” helping host the Q Gathering Wednesday through Friday, April 27-29, at The Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W. Burnside St.

      This is the fifth year for the national conference, which until now has taken place in larger cities —Atlanta, Ga.; New York City; Austin, Texas and Chicago, Ill. The event was founded by Gabe Lyons, co-author with Dave Kinnaman of the Barna Group of the book unChristian, which revealed exclusive research on pop culture’s negative perception of Christians. He also is author of The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America.
     According to Lyons, the Q Gathering seeks to educate Christians on their historic responsibility to renew and restore cultures. Inspired by Chuck Colson’s statement, “Christians are called to redeem entire cultures, not just individuals,” Lyons set out to reintroduce Christians to what had seemed missing in recent decades from an American expression of Christian faithfulness; valuing both personal and cultural renewal, not one over the other.
     Each year a different host city is chosen to reflect a unique context of Western culture so leaders are challenged and exposed to the changing landscape of a post-Christian setting. Representatives of media, education, politics, arts and entertainment, business, the social sector and the church take part in lively interaction and learning.
     What caught the attention of Lyons and others behind the Q Gathering about Portland is how the local church is interacting here with a largely unchurched culture.
    “In Portland, the local church has found ways to partner with the local government — even though the government oversees an unabashedly secular city and is led by one of the first openly gay mayors in the U.S.,” Lyons writes on the Q Gathering web site. “As participants, you will see how the literal design of a city can either promote community or create division. You’ll find a place where artists and entrepreneurs have lived along side one another for decades and created some of the largest and most memorable brands of our time. The wet evergreens and bountiful roses show off the color of a city that values God’s creation and enjoys it as much as anyone. Amidst this original settlement, the church is pioneering a path fromwhich we can all learn much.”
     A big example of the church-government partnership is the Season of Service program the Palau team first instituted in its last major evangelistic festival in Portland and which it is also setting up as a companion effort to its many other festivals worldwide. In the Season of Service, thousands of churchpeople are enlisted to volunteer in the local community in a wide range of service projects. Even though it has been several years since the Portland festival, Season of Service continues strongly each year.
    “We are the best example of a formal partnership with city leaders that is long lasting,” said Palau.
     Palau said Portland also has caught the attention of Christianity Today magazine, which is sending representatives to Portland this month for interviews and the Q Gathering. He said the magazine will feature Portland in its November issue – first in a series looking at six cities.
      Palau said there also is improved coordination within the Christian community on innovative ways to present the Gospel. He said pastors representing dozens of the larger and most influential churches in the metro area are meeting on a quarterly basis.
     Almost two dozen speakers are scheduled for the conference. Among them are Kinnaman; Pastor Rick McKinley of Portland’s Imago Dei Community church, Luis Palau; Louie Giglio of Passion conferences, Mayor Sam Adams and Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel. For more information, go to www.qideas.org.