Passion 2012

            I stepped out of my car after the eight-hour drive at The Varsity, a world famous hot dog diner opened in the 1920s. I was here. This was the place where my friends and I would convene. Coming from Florida, Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas, the five of us would gather together in Atlanta, Passion City, for Passion 2012. All I had heard about Passion were great things, but it left me with no idea what to expect.

            The Reed Brothers, Will Peters, Jared Lax, and I headed to the W hotel, where we would check in before heading over to the Georgia Dome. We had no idea how many people would be at Passion; just a lot. After parking our car, we had to head in to the Georgia Congress Center to register and pick up our IDs and wristbands. Little did I know we would be in line with 45,000 college students.

            Passion is defined as “strong and barely controllable emotion.” The Passion Conference, led by Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin, channels the “barely controllable emotions” of college students towards Christ.

            After waiting for what seemed like forever to register, I headed into the Georgia Dome, eagerly awaiting the beginning of Passion. I was sitting in the back of one of the lower sections, about 50 yards from the biggest stage I had seen in my life. People everywhere were talking, people on stage were reading Bible chapters, and I had no idea where to focus my attention.

            Before I knew it, Christ Tomlin, Christy Nockells, Kristian Stanfill, and the rest of the Passion band came on stage. I had chills. Forty-five thousand college students were on their feet, hearts open, arms lifted high, praising Jesus. I had chills. All I could do was join, overcome by the Holy Spirit.

            After about 45 minutes of worship, Louie Giglio made his first appearance. His presence and message were awesome. Like, they put me in awe. I’ve listened to his first message four or five times now, but hearing it for the first time, surrounded by 44,999 other college students was incredible.

            After the message, we broke up into our community groups. Our communities were determined by the color of our wristband. Mine was yellow. When we got into our communities, I was told that we would be dividing into family groups. I looked around, knowing nobody, and was told by our community group leader, Matt Metzger, to find somebody random to pair up with, and they would be our first partner. I caught the eyes of somebody and put out my hand, “Hey, I’m Jimmy.”

            The response I got was completely unexpected. “NO WAY, MY NAME’S JIMMY, TOO!” Family member number one: Jimmy Funchess.

            Then, we were told to find another pair with the same birthday month as one of our original two. With no luck, Jimmy and I joined another random pair. Family group members three and four: Brock Fiedler and Charity Fischer.

            Last, we had to find another random group of 4. Members five through eight of my family: Amy Clark, Megan Berndt, Hailey Patrick, and Stephanie Danielle. Eight people, hailing from Florida, Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, Georgia, and Montana; all of us brought together by the grace of God.

            Day 1 of Passion was just the beginning of the greatest spiritual growth I have felt in my life. I carry that Passion I felt with me everyday of my life, and I hope that someday I can be brought together with the same eight people who helped me grow so immensely again.