From the beginning Passion has been rooted in the confession of Isaiah 26:8: “Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You, for Your name and renown are the desire of our souls.” As a result, Passion seeks to gather college and university students across the nation and around the world to seek the face of God, asking Him to ignite in our souls a passionate pursuit of Jesus Christ and a desire to spread His fame to everyone on earth.
I always believe that there's such great power when people meet up in One place, at One time, for One purpose and share One heart for Our generation. And He did it that night again. (: It was so encouraging. Just seeing so many young people worshiping their lungs out. Young people who were just like me, human. Young people who believed in the same God. Young people who wanted something more to their lives than merely living life they're told to by culture & society.
I left my bible and paper and pen in Mel's car when I went for the conference. I have to take notes usually cos I have TERRIBLE memory. Hah, no notes. Haha. Yep, so whatever I blog is probably 20% of what I've gathered from the conference. Haha! Nonetheless, the night was special. God was moving so mightily in our midst with such tenderness. From beginning to end, I never stopped having goosebumps and tears rolling down my cheeks. (Thank God the lights were off. Hah) Louie's sermon was simply yet powerful. The story of ashley, was just so impacting.
From the 268 blog:
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Just after Passion 07 we received this at the Passion House from her:
Well my roommate went to this Passion Conference over winter break. And she came back and moved into my apt and she was real and genuine about all her Christian stuff, like I have never seen before in a person. She said that God changed her at this conference, so i was like what are you talking about. And she told me. She told me about how God was cool, and how God really wanted a deeper relationship with her, and she wanted to really love God the way he loved her, so of course I was like well huh? She then said you need to listen to Louie talk about God, so I asked who Louie was, and she put on the Indescribable talk, and then we watched the Passport talk. And in the Passport talk you said that Christians do not have to just hope for the best at the end, that they do not have to do enough good stuff. You explained how to get to heaven in a simple way, in a way that I have never heard before. I actually got it, I got it that it is not about being so good, cause I am not a good person. I have screwed up a lot. But then you said grace, and talked about how is was different than other religions. Because God is a loving and a kind God who wants to forgive me. My roommate then explained that he wants to forgive me.
Now for one of the reasons I am thanking you. One, I am now a Christian. And two, my roommate said that she had never really cared about telling others about how much God loved her before she went to this conference. So though I am not sure who will ever read this. Please tell Louie thanks from me, for talking about Christ in a way that a college kid can understand. I know that Jesus has changed my life and as I get ready to graduate college in May, I am gonna be a different person. I am sorry this is kinda rambling but I just had to tell you that I now know about the Grace of God, and I have life for the first time in my 22 years
Ashley
I will never forget the day her message came. And I’m not going to forget last Friday. Waking early for the last day of Thirsty, I happened to see this on my Blackberry and opened it.
But I just felt like you should know that she listened to as many of your talks as she could get her hands on and read your book I am not but I know I am and she was so excited about God and her new found faith. Words alone can not thank you enough. I may never meet you here on earth, but I know that someday I will be able to meet you and give you a hug in heaven, but only after Ash does. Thank you so much for praying for my girl, and your support of her as she was starting her new life. Also thanks for being a man of God who has a passion, and love for college students.
Your vision to share the gospel and getting college students to do the same made all the difference at a funeral today. Instead of being sad and scared for her. We were able to sing praise and worship songs today. Though there will be tears and I am so very heartbroken and crying as I type this, it is only because I will not hold her for so many years. And I will miss her for the rest of my life. I know I have said thank you a lot in this email, but because of you and Christa (Ashley’s roommate) and people at the Bible Study that she was going to she was happier than I have seen her in a very long time. In the email she originally sent you, it said she had life for the first time in her 22 years, and please know she meant every word of that. She lived the last few months serving and loving and learning more about Christ. She will now spend eternity in heaven with Him so one more time thanks. I know this was long and I debated for the last 4 days as to whether or not to write you. I know you are a very busy man, but I also figured you would want to know.
By the third line tears were streaming down my face, blurring the words, but not the sudden reality of it all. I had just received an e-mail from Ashley a few days before saying how excited she was to finally be through with college and headed to a “real job” in the Bay Area of California. And now she was gone.
I was crushed, but I found myself pumping my fist in the air, confident that Jesus Christ overwhelmed death and the grave. And just in the nick of time, He reached through the confusion and hopelessness and brought Ashley back to life again. Her mom was kind enough to allow me to share her e-mail and sent a photo of Ashley so we could all put a face with the name that has brought much rejoicing throughout the Passion world in recent months. Anna, please know that you and your family will be in our hearts and prayers as you begin the process of living without the daughter you so deeply love. You will see her again. And with our prayers we are praising God for matchless mercy…mercy that saved the day and carried Ashley safely home.
PS- You can leave a message at the Facebook group Ashley’s mom has created here
Grace is a beautiful thing. Perhaps why the world is so resistant to the redemptive story of Christ is because it is a concept beyond their imagination and beyond human rationalization. Not that I can understand it either, but I guess I can say that, I've given God a chance, and He's proven that He's real, whatever He says has been true, and that He has never failed me once. And He's given me so many second chances. Everytime I fail and when all I could do is ask, He gives me a brand new start. I constantly find myself baffled at how God sees the depths of my heart and yet loves me the same. I mean seriously man, we are more imperfect than we seem! Our hearts, our thoughts, God sees them all. YET He loves us THE SAME as if we were on our bestest behavior.
A thought really scared me so much. What if Christa gave up on Ashley... and quit preaching and telling her about God... And Ashley died? Well I'm glad and encouraged that Christa didn't. Who knows about tmr? I love this question. Cos it never fails to help me think of what I'm really made to do, and what I'm doing. And why I'm doing the things I do.
My thoughts are a lil all over now. As usual. But yea, it was awesome. It was awesome worshiping with Chris Tomlin together! ;) After 8 years of hearing him on cd tracks. And He did several of my fav songs! Oh, and the opening of the conference was almost the same as Hillsong Conference 07's! And he did "My chains are gone too" (: He was pretty cute, but I'M STILL DEVOTED TO JOEL HOUSTON for the record :D Move on, esther, move on. HAHA
Anw, I wanna go for Hillsongs 09!!! Louie will be preaching and He's so so so so good can. ):
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