Why I am excited about Passion 2010? I'll tell you!

Passion Twenty Ten

A few years ago I had never heard of Passion Conferences.

I was raised going to church in Birmingham, Alabama. Church service would start at 9am for Sunday School and we'd be out by 4pm. I learned about Jesus, and was baptized in middle school. Every Sunday, we were screamed at about how we're all sinners and the wrath of God is upon us. The audience was full of "Amen's" and "Preach on Brother", as Bible verses were read aloud (and not explained). Every church we went to was the same, I had no other perspective of God except, don't follow the rules in the Bible, you won't get to heaven.

When I moved to Atlanta, I went to college at Georgia State, and my world became so diversified. I became friends with so many people of different nationalities and religions. I had not been introduced to this before, so I was so curious. If they were willing to talk about their beliefs, then it would be discussed. I had conversations with Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhist. I was so interested in learning why they believe what they believed. Years went by, and I felt I was losing my religion. Who could prove which religion was the right one? Did people ever think outside the box? Have they ever formed their own opinion about their beliefs instead of just believing what they were taught? At this Crossroads in life, everything I grew up believing was under attack and I was my very own attacker.

A friend invited me to something called 722 at Northpoint Community Church. I went and I connected with the speaker's message (His name was Louie Giglio). His messages were more practical to my everyday life. There were many other people there in similar circumstances. I didn't feel as though the preacher was on some pedestal yelling at me. I didn't feel that is place was only after my money. I started to let my walls down again. I started attending regularly.

About a year later, I began to volunteer with 722 and one of my team leaders told be about Passion Conferences. I had never heard of it. I was over 25 and they were needing volunteers. I put it off for the longest, but felt as though something was telling me to go, so I signed up. The weeks before the conference, there was so many obstacles that kept popping up. No hotels were available, My car stopped working, and I had no money to spare and no way to eat. The conference had not even started and my faith was being tested big time.

I prayed over it and I said that it was in God's hands (the first time I ever said that). Lo and behold, a low rate hotel opened up and I charged to to my credit card. A friend of mine asked if I wouldn't mind riding with her to Passion and driving her car back. At the Passion Conference, the volunteers were provided lunches. Everything had been provided, I was so in shock. I can't believe I ever began to doubt.

As the conference began, I can't even describe how you could see the college students heart for Jesus! I was one of the first faces they saw in registration, and rain or shine, they were so happy to be there. The volunteer teams and leaders were so amazing. The amazing messages taught by Louie and the other communicators were so relevant. The music was amazing! New long-lasting friendships were formed. What it did for me was to change my perspective completely. Its not about me.

For Passion 2010, I'll be there again and I'll be looking for people who were at a Crossroads like I was.

If you're under 18-25, you should go.
If you're over 25, you should volunteer.

Register for Passion Here