from April 3, 2011 prayer update

After 20 years of investing my life in college students as a younger man (through The Navigators and through three different Austin area churches), it is a real joy to participate in an event like Passion 2011. A Passion conference was held in Atlanta earlier this year, with the second held this weekend in Fort Worth. 10 thousand college students packed out the downtown Fort Worth convention center.

Passion is a very appropriate name for this event and the organization that makes it happen. These folks clearly love Jesus, and He is center of what they do. They preach a very simple message, sadly one that much of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Western world only gives lip service to. It is all about Jesus and His mission. The key verse this ministry has highlighted since its inception is Isaiah 26:8, “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we eagerly wait for You, for Your name and Your renown are the desire of our souls.”

Featured were several big name Christian bands (David Crowder, Charlie Hall, Christy Nockels, Matt Redman, Kristan Stanfill, Chris Tomlin) and three big name Christian speakers (Francis Chan, Louie Giglio, John Piper). A little more hero worship and preoccupation with “cool” than is healthy, but that happened back when I was a college student too. And it is an issue that can trace its roots back to the first century Church (I Corinthians 1:12).

In addition to the music and the speakers (which dominate this 20 something event), there were small group breakout sessions where students could process what they were hearing and a large GO Center with an area called “Do Something Now”. There was the usual emphasis on social justice that is commonly associated with the millennial generation’s perspective on world missions (creation care, HIV prevention, orphan care, stopping sexual trafficking, water wells, etc.). Sadly these issue are often promoted without any kind of meaningful linkage to evangelism or church planting, resulting a very hollow and short-lived social justice.

But this was not the case at Passion 2011. I was delighted to see the premiere focus of the global outreach component of this event focused on a Bible translation project among an unreached people group in Mali, Africa. And a challenge to the students to make themselves available to serve among the nearly 6900 unreached people groups in today’s world (less than 2% evangelical Christian). A challenge that about 1/3 of those present responded to with affirmation. WOW! I am now hoping the Passion folks will somehow link these students with mission sending agencies serving among the unreached to seize this fantastic opportunity.

I had the opportunity to serve as one of 700 volunteers working behind the scenes to help make this event possible. Having been responsible for leading several missions conferences in the past gave me a huge appreciation for the scope and quality of what took place with this event.

“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.” (Psalm 71:18)