I recently attended the annual PASSION conference in Atlanta as did over 50,000 other 18-25 year olds, and it has forever changed my life. Here are 10 reasons why I believe every college-age person needs to attend this life-giving event.
1. The speakers are humble and profound.
Louie Giglio, the leader and founder of PASSION conferences, has a heart for ministering to this age group, and it shows in his speech and actions. The rest of the speakers, such as Francis Chan, Beth Moore, and many others (subject to change each year) truly desire to see this generation prosper in their walks of faith; they do not speak for their own benefit, but rather to impart wisdom and encouragement on our generation.
2.The worship is powerful.
Who do I even begin with?! David Crowder, Hillsong United, Passion Worship, Chris Tomlin, and even CARRIE UNDERWOOD! The worship was so meaningful and moving that I felt as though I was singing directly to Jesus. It set my eyes on Jesus so there was no distraction in my heart.
3. The fellowship with similar age people is encouraging.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel as though I am one of few Christians in this generation. At PASSION, this idea was completely thrown out. I realized there are thousands of us, and you see genuine followers of Christ at PASSION that truly encourage you to keep sharing your faith. Seeing this amount of youth pursuing Christ sets a fire in you that you cannot contain.
4. It sets your heart straight for the new year to come.
PASSION is every January 2nd, and having it at the very beginning of the year motivates you to start your spiritual life strong. No matter where you are in life, I promise you PASSION will push you into a worshipful love of Jesus that you cannot deny nor squelch.
5. The Holy Spirit is alive and well during each session.
This year, every speaker spoke around similar topics, yet they told our group multiple times that this was not planned. At every session you can tell the Holy Spirit is speaking and moving because of the strong use of Scripture, and the pureness of heart that seems to be in every speaker and worship leader.
6. It deepens your friendships with the people you attend with.
There’s something about driving several hours with your best friends, getting to PASSION, worshipping alongside them, praying with them, learning beside them, and hanging out with them the entire time that binds you together like nothing else. It is the Holy Spirit that glues these friendships together that makes you feel completely blessed to know your best friends.
7. You can receive the PASSION scholarship and attend the conference for FREE!
If you feel like money is an issue, don’t worry! You can always apply for the PASSION scholarship, which gets you in the conference for free!
8. Everything is prepared with a purpose.
In each session you can tell that each speaker had prepared very well for their segment. They had strong points and good reasoning for everything they said, but what really stood out was the genuine nature behind their presentation of the information.
9. You can make life-long friends in your community groups.
There is a part of PASSION that is called community groups, and in these you group up with about 10 other students and discuss what you have been learning so far. You also can encourage one another and pray for each other. It is during this time that a lot of people find good friends they can rely on for years to come. I am praying for the people in my community group, and I know they are praying for me as well.
10. There is something so powerful about worshipping God with over 50,000 other people.
There were several times during worship where my breath was absolutely taken away by the volume of voices singing praises to God. The power behind it was invigorating and refreshing. I truly felt as though the Kingdom of God was on the earth because the body of Christ came together to sing praise to our Christ and Lord.
All in all, I highly recommend going to PASSION next year. It is a way to kick start the new year and invigorate your relationship with God in such a powerful and unique way.
