Passion Atlanta 2011

Matt and I have just returned from Passion Atlanta 2011. I referenced this conference in a previous post, and my admiration has only grown. If you are not familiar with the Passion movement, please take some time to research it. You will be so impressed not only with the founder Louie Giglio, but also with what our Lord and Savior has done and is doing thru this movement.

We have kind-of always stood on the "outside looking in" when it came to Passion. When it first began, Matt and I were at the "recommended age" (this is an "event" intended for college students) but never had an opportunity to attend due to different circumstances, but we have always prayed for, attempted to attend and listened in on every Passion event. We purchased the cd every year, read the blogs (or whatever it was we read back then), prayed for our friends that were able to attend, tried to find a way to go with them, and just stood in awe of what God was doing in this generation.

Well, a few years back at a Youth Workers convention, I finally got to hear Louie Giglio in person. It was at that moment I told Matt we would find a way to get to the next Passion event. I can remember so clearly the message Louie brought. It was one of those moments that God brought my circumstances and His (God's) words together in a "beautiful disaster" and things have never been the same since.

We attended Passion Atlanta 2010 last year with our group from Dothan. We finally made it to Passion!!! Yay us! What an amazing time we had! We knew we would not miss this year! So we packed up our bags and headed to Atlanta. This year was a little different. We were able to attend as leaders (part of Matt's position here in WV) but we were not leaders of a group this year. There we were: "outsiders" again, but this time it was more like we were on the inside looking out! We were able to witness some amazing things!

One morning our seats were directly across from the hearing impaired section. I stood there, as we were led in worship, just watching. Usually that a "no-no" You should never be a spectator in worship, you should always participate. Well, I was participating in worship....I was watching the most beautiful worship I had ever seen! These students were signing the words to these songs! It brought to life the verse "every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord"

We heard some amazing speakers like Beth Moore, John Piper, Frances Chan, Louie Giglio, Andy Stanley and David Platt. But that was not the most amazing thing! The most amazing thing was that they were all pointing us to Jesus! This was not an "event" about great speakers and great worship leaders.....this was and is a movement about "walking in the way of Your truth, waiting eagerly for You; Your Name and Your Renown are the desires of our hearts" (Isaiah 26:8)

Let me very quickly share two of the most amazing things that I saw this week. The first was Tuesday night, after a stirring message, 22.ooo college students were asked to walk to their Family Groups in complete silence focusing on Jesus. That may not seem like a big deal to you but not only did these 22,ooo college students have to file out of the Phillips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center, but some of their Family Groups were three blocks away in downtown Atlanta! And these students DID IT!!! It was an amazing moment. Someone recorded some of this with their cell phone and put it on YouTube.....look it up! I have never seen 20 college students walk in silence, much less 22,ooo!

The other chilling moment was the final announcement of the Do Something Now Center. Each year at Passion they set up an area called Do Something Now. They ask everyone in attendance to bring towels and socks as they check in. Passion in turn donates these towels and socks to a homeless mission in downtown Atlanta. Passion's philosophy is that they want the people of Atlanta to know that there were students in their city that love the Lord for months after they were there. After Passion 2010, this homeless shelter was able to provide new towels and sock to the homeless well into the Fall! Amazing!

The Do Something Now Center is different organizations that Passion has partnered with to take the love of Jesus to the nations. Some of the things these college students could give to included "adopting" a child thru Compassion International, giving money to build wells to bring clean water to people in India, and giving money to help bring simple surgeries to children with life threatening diseases. My personal favorites were Passion wanted to send 20,ooo bibles to Columbia, feed 1500 children in Africa for a year and to build 15 homes in Haiti.

Let me tell you how this generation stepped up! The very last night of Passion, the Do Something Now Center averaged 2,ooo dollars A MINUTE in donations! These college kids gave enough money to send 31,ooo bibles to Columbia, feed 2025 children in Africa for one year and to build 34 homes in Haiti! At the end of the last session the total given was 1,007,000 dollars!!!!! And after the final service when these numbers were announced, these students gave another $150,000!!!!!AMAZING!

Now - let me address you cynics. I am a cynic by nature, so I thought the same thing some of you are thinking....well they are just college kids spending mommy and daddy's money! But then the Spirit convicted me and reminded me of my college years spending mommy and daddy's money and guess what I spent it on....ME....never others! So yes, the majority of this money was probably meant for something else, but these college kids chose to give it for His Name and His Renown!

I will end now! I know this has been long and probably boring for most of you but if you are still reading, here are some things you can do: if you know a college student buy them a ticket to Passion 2012 for Christmas next year - they will never be the same! If you are an adult, pray about volunteering at Passion 2012 next year - you will never be the same! If you are a Christian - pray for Passion 2012 - the world will never be the same!


So I’ll stand
With arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the One who gave it all
I’ll stand
My soul Lord to You surrendered
All I am is Yours