December 12, 2006
Passionate
Lauren and I shrugged our scarves up over chins and tucked our heads down as we waited for the Spring Street light to change. "This is Kansas cold," she told me. "Take your breath away, cold." We kept our heads down as we walked to the Omni Hotel, caught up in the streams of people headed to Philips Arena for the Bob Segar show. We were running a few minutes late and I was grateful for about the thousandth time that I had a free place to park.
There were volunteers stationed in the lobby who pointed us to the right room for our meeting. As we checked in at registration and filled out our nametags, Louie Giglio walked up next to us, and I told Lauren that was probably the closest we'd get to him during the entire conference.
A lot of people were running late. There was a bus on fire that shut down Spaghetti Junction and somewhere a horse had gotten loose on the Interstate. It was the coldest night of the year and an hour-long "My Name is Earl" was about to start; there were numerous distractions and deterrents. But we filed into ballroom A, mostly the local representation of the 1,100 or so Passion '07 volunteers, for our kick-off meeting.
Passion's vision, or heart beat as Louie says, is to bring college students into a gathering where they seek God's face, asking Him to ignite in them a pursuit of His Son and a desire to spread His name across the world. Passion Conferences began in 1997 at the University of Texas with 2,000 students. This year they expect close to 25,000. So many in fact that Philips can't hold them all, and a second makeshift arena is being erected in the Georgia World Congress Center next door.
Ten years ago, when Passion began, I was still a college student. If someone had gently nudged me off the fence and shown me the passion that Passion stirs, I imagine the picture of my life would have looked much different as I lived through those 10 sometimes-very-difficult years. But that period of my life is over and the opportunity to serve Him on my campus and as a passionate member of a mobilizing generation no longer exists. But because He loves me anyway - loves this lying, sinful, prideful heart of mine despite myself - He's blessed me with the opportunity to be involved anyhow, all these years later. To be a part of something so enormous it hurts my head to try and imagine it.
Twice a year my place of employment holds two major meetings for our members. They're well-attended with 500-1,000 members and guests traveling to different cities and hotels where they attend meetings, luncheons and receptions. The weeks and days before the meeting our office is abuzz with activity and we work long hours stuffing registration packets and processing late registrations and double-checking everything. And that is for roughly 500 people.
More than 20,000 citizens of the world ages 18-25 have already registered for Passion '07. 1,100 volunteers ages 26 and up have committed to giving up four days of their busy post-holiday lives to sometimes literally stand in an arena and hold open a door. (Psalm 84:10 - I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.)
The volunteer deadline is Friday and after I sent an e-mail to a few of my friends asking them to seek their hearts about volunteering, I realized that just asking them wasn't enough. So I'm asking you. You can read more about Passion - and find a volunteer application - on the 268 Generation website.
We were created to glorify Him and Him alone. There is no one like Him. We are one Body in Christ - we are His hands, feet and heart. What could possibly matter more than setting hearts aflame for Him? We are His.
"Great is your faithfulness, Oh God. You wrestle with the sinner's heart. You lead us by still waters into mercy. And nothing can keep us apart. So remember your children. Remember your people. Remember your promise, Oh God!"
Passion 2007
Philips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center
Jan. 1-4
Atlanta, Georgia
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Posted by hannah at 03:02 PM
