Work +
Culture
be upon us, and establish the work of
our hands for us; yes, establish the work
of our hands.
Work
Calling involves much more than our job but, for most of us, work (paid or unpaid) is our single biggest time commitment every week, meaning our work will be the main context through which we follow Jesus, love one another, and serve Los Angeles. Work is important.
IKON creates ongoing communities for those working in the same fields to mutually encourage one another and learn together how to follow Jesus in the unique circumstances of their shared calling. Scroll down for a list of field-specific resources and communities as well as resources for discerning and understanding calling in general. Each group is unique, gathers between 2-6 times a year in a variety of formats, and is led by people working in that profession (after a 2020-2021 hiatus, the groups will be resuming in 2022).
Culture
Nature is what God gave. Culture is what we do with it and the meaning we find in that doing. Making culture was the first thing God asked of humans and all work is also culture-making. IKON develops materials, shares resources, and hosts events to grow followers of Jesus into mature relationships with culture and culture-making.
Partners
We don't do anything in a vacuum. We collaborate with other organizations across Los Angeles to better serve our city and equip disciples to work with God and make culture, You'll find some of these key partner organizations listed below and we encourage you to check them out.
Newsletters
If you'd like to stay up-to-date on what we're doing and receive a monthly curated dose of opportunities and resources related to making culture or working with God, sing up for one (or both) of our newsletters:
➜ Convocation is our monthly newsletter focusing on the intersection between faith and all work.
➜ Cultivate is our monthly newsletter focusing on the intersection between faith and the arts.
Ongoing
If you work as an actor or in a related field, please take a moment to introduce yourself so we can invite you to our next gathering.
In the meantime, check out the various resources for exploring the intersection of faith and acting below.
Acting
8 RESOURCES
The gospel is a story of design and redesign. A universe in which God refers to himself as Creator, Maker, and Author is a universe in which design matters. Whether we work in architecture, in graphic, interior, fashion, experience, or character design, or in any design field of any kind, what does it mean to design in the image of a redemptive Designer? How can we love our neighbor well through the experiences, objects, and media we create for them?
If you work in healthcare, please take a moment to introduce yourself so we can invite you to our next gathering.
In the meantime, check out the various resources for exploring the intersection of faith and healthcare below.
Healthcare
4 RESOURCES
If you work in music or a related field, please take a moment to introduce yourself so we can invite you to our next gathering.
In the meantime, check out the various resources for exploring the intersection of faith and music below.
Music
7 RESOURCES
If you work as a writer or in a related field, please take a moment to introduce yourself so we can invite you to our next gathering.
In the meantime, check out the various resources for exploring the intersection of faith and writing below.
Writing
18 RESOURCES
Past
Food is an absolute necessity for all life on earth, and the table is one of the primary spaces where people foster culture and community. But how often do we actually think about what we eat and how we eat it? What does a meal actually mean? The profound significance of food is a theme woven throughout the Bible, from the opening pages of Genesis to the closing vision of Revelation. The resources below invite us to consider what the Bible says about the gift of sustenance, and how that affects our lives whether we are casual cooks, professional restauranteurs, or simply lovers of food.
Food and Hospitality
6 RESOURCES
How do we pursue justice in just ways? What are the unique spiritual challenges and opportunities faced by those called to the field of law? What is the legal profession’s impact on the common good?
Law
3 RESOURCES
In the midst of a culture confused about its ideals and foundations, what is the right way to lead? What does it mean, not just to be an effective leader, but to be a good one?
Leadership
7 RESOURCES
In the beginning God said “Let there be light,” and we’ve been trying to capture that light ever since. From news reports and billboard advertisements to Christmas cards and selfies, photography has become one of the most powerful storytelling tools in the world. But what stories are we telling, and how do they affect us? How do we live in a culture increasingly defined by images? What does the Christina faith have to say about the lenses with which we frame the world?
Photography
3 RESOURCES
Sports are profoundly ingrained in our nations culture, economy, and identity. In fact, few areas of modern life hold more sway over how we pass time, spend money, set priorities, and form relationships. So are sports merely about playing a game, or have they become something more powerful? What does the Christian faith have to say about such topics as physical discipline, competition, and winning and losing?
Sports
7 RESOURCES
Computers, smartphones, and social media saturate our daily loves, yet we rarely reflect on how they shape the world. The incredible technological thresholds crossed in the last decade have brought not only new opportunities, but also new questions. What should we avoid and what should we embrace? Does the Christian faith give us guidance on how to live in a digital age?
Technology
6 RESOURCES
General
Whether we work as artists or not, we’re all created in the image of a creating God. Part of being human, therefore, is being creative. How does this biblical understanding of creativity differ from the prevailing view? How does this concept of every-human creativity affect our relationship to the arts, both as creators and consumers?
Creativity
14 RESOURCES
The following resources help provide an overall biblical perspective on work and calling, no matter what your individual calling.
What Is Calling?
16 RESOURCES
Looking for wisdom about discerning your own calling? Here are some resources to get you started:
What Is My Calling?
4 RESOURCES
Partner Organizations
Any questions not answered above?
Or suggestions for more resources along the lines of those on this page? Reach out to me!
