Passion Gathering Culminates in Battle Cry for Freedom
A call to “do something now” in the name of Jesus rang through the arena at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta on the final day of Passion 2012 on Thursday.
Passion 2012 is a four-day gathering for college students led by teachers Louie Giglio, John Piper, Francis Chan and Beth Moore, among others, as well as lead worshipers Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill and others.
Forty-two thousand students representing 31 countries attended the gathering. They learned about the horrific realities 27 million people worldwide who are enslaved as forced laborers, child laborers or trapped within the all-too prevalent sex trade face every day.
Passion founder Giglio challenged students to not live in anticipation of “what’s next” but to take action today and pursue what makes them come alive … and do it for the glory of God. Passion’s call to “do something now” exists to marry worship and justice, empowering each individual to join efforts and together, be a force for good in the world.
“We believe that this generation of students has the ability to put an end to slavery,” says Bryson Vogeltanz, chief steward of Do Something Now for Passion Conferences. “We believe that God receives much glory when worship and justice are wed as one. It’s about doing something in the name of Jesus to free people all over the world who are enslaved.”
Giglio asked students to live fearlessly and take action in their faith. Many students spend countless hours pondering the question “What am I supposed to do?” Giglio answered that daunting question during Thursday’s closing session: “Well, what are you good at? Do it, and as you do, move to the top of your prayer list, ‘God will you give me the words to fearlessly proclaim the gospel?’”
Students roared Thursday morning when Giglio announced that Passion would yet again be back in the Georgia Dome in 2013, but this time, with the anticipation to take down the curtain and open to seating in the round. Being that the gathering sold out at 42,000 prior to its start, this new possibility would open the experience to nearly 71,000 students next year.
In total, students gave $2.5 million toward freedom with an additional $500,000 donation from another couple attending the conference and $300,000 being given online since the closing day. That makes a total of $3.3 million. The financial gifts will support 20-plus projects around the world focused on prevention, rescue and restoration for the 27 million men, women and children entrapped in modern day slavery.
