Passion Comes to Dallas

Tonight, over 6,000 college students will make their way to the Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas for a two-day Passion Regional Conference. If you are asking the question, "What is a Passion Regional Conference?" watch the video on the right. As I prayed this afternoon for those students traveling, my thoughts went back to eleven years ago, when I was making my way down to Austin from Fort Worth for the first ever Passion Conference. I remembered hitching a ride with some friends and crashing in their hotel room, doing whatever I could do that weekend just to catch a glimpse. Sure the spectacle was part of it, but during that time in my life, I was wanting something bigger. I wanted an experience with God - and I definitely got that. Gathered with 2500 other 20-somethings, my spirit within was confronted with the all-consuming glory of God, like I had never experienced before...and rarely since. Everything about the three days was focused on God's name and His fame in our lives and in the world around us. We heard some incredible teachers and worshipped in an incredible way. I remember sneaking into a breakout session just to hear a friend of mine lead a small band of college students in worship.

"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our souls" (Isa. 26:8) was the anthem of this band of Christ-followers meeting in a back room at the convention center. Late night conversations about the bigness of God in our lives followed and a no-holds-barred attempt to follow Christ would consume after we left. Students committing to mission work, to being catalysts for God's movement on their college campuses, to being light in dark places no matter what the cost.

It could be argued that no young adult movement has had the global impact that the Passion movement has lead since 1997. The numbers of students who have responded to the call of God's greatness in their lives has been staggering and continues today. Tonight begins one of the two-day regional gatherings. My prayer tonight is for those students to taste more of what I tasted eleven years ago, that their vision for God's greatness would be blown out and that "Yes, Lord..." would resound in their hearts from this day forward. It's about His bigness and his grandeur - don't be mistaken.

Maybe you've been one of those impacted by this movement and would like to share your story with us here. Whether it's a conference, a trip or a cd, tell us your story!