Jetlagging...might as well write something

Passion 2013 was the 3rd time I've been a Doorholder.  I was a Doorholder last year and I worked at the first ever Passion World Tour- it was in Kiev, Ukraine back in May of 2008.  Before that I was a Student Minister taking students to Passion events as far back as 1999 in Ft Worth, TX, the 3rd ever Passion event.

While it is true that I like being a Doorholder because I want to "give back" and I want to usher in students to a place I've been before, I have to admit to a more selfish reason: I'm not a student, I'm no longer really a student leader, so the only option I have to continue to be involved with Passion is as a volunteer!

And I don't mind working behind the scenes to get there.  In fact, as far as "serving" goes, I rather prefer to be in the background anyway.

My "Team" at Passion was the Worship and Justice Team.  Specifically, I was a cashier at one of the End It Movement giving stations.  It was a great job!  Not only did I have a small hand in setting the display up the day before students arrived but I was able to interact with hundreds of them throughout the conference. And this year in particular, the schedule was conducive to being able to attend several main sessions.

And just like last year, working on a team gave me an opportunity to meet some amazing fellow servants.  Their stories are always inspiring.  Some of them serve because they're in a position similar to my own...no longer a student and not really a staff minister responsible for a group of students.  Some of them are parents of teens who have benefited from Passion.  Many of them, especially on the Worship and Justice Team are working in incredible ministries such as Atlanta area anti-trafficking ministries.

Passion 2013

There's no way I can describe Passion 2013 in a few paragraphs. I'll try to tackle it in a couple of blogs.  I think I'll write about the emphasis on slavery first.

I was a Doorholder; a volunteer.  I worked on the Worship and Justice Team which among other things operated the EndIt giving stations where we collected more than $3.2 million for 19 ministry partners bringing Awareness, Prevention, Rescue, and Restoration to modern day slavery.

In case you've been living under a rock, there are an estimated 27 million slaves in the world today; more than at any other time in history, far surpassing even the Atlantic Slave Trade of the 18th Century.

The social network "enditmovement" was launched at Passion 2013.  Probably the last thing we need is another "organization" but that's not what the "Enditmovement" is.  It's a temporary thing designed to "shine the light" on slavery and to point people through social media to those organizations that are already in the fight.  You should check it out at www.enditmovement.com.

One afternoon featured a Round Table Discussion with Louie Giglio and leaders of several prominent domestic and international anti-slavery ministries.  I didn't get to stay for all of it but I was very impressed with how articulate and passionate everyone was.  I'm looking forward to the release of the DVD.

In an effort to put a name on the face of slavery the first night featured a very dramatic story about the rescue of a 12 year old Filipino girl named Rachel who was raped by her Uncle and sold to a brothel.  The highlight of the night, maybe even of the whole conference, was when that precious child was introduced to 60000 students in a standing ovation Louie later described as louder than anything heard during the Chick-Fil-A bowl the night before.  What I learned attending Passion City Church after the Passion Conference was that several of the EndIt giving station attendants (Doorholders) reported receiving donations of $73.  At first they thought it was an odd amount and didn't relate it to the Rachel's story but when the supervisors kept hearing more and more stories they finally put two and two together.  It wasn't a coordinated effort; just random students choosing to honor Rachel.  You see, she was sold to the brothel for $73.

Post Passion/ Pre Ukraine

January 2-5 I volunteered at Passion 2012.  It was my second time to be a "Doorholder" (their term for volunteers taken from Psalm 84:10 where it says it's better to be a Doorholder in the house of God than dwell in the house of the wicked).  I also worked at the one-night Passion event in Kyiv, Ukraine back in 08.

I served on the Do Something Now team.  Beginning back in 2007 Passion made a decision to be known for more than "Worship".  They believe (and I agree) that our worship is empty if we're not moved to action; to justice.  So every Passion event since then has incorporated an "outlet" to impact the world.

My particular job was to direct the students who gave financially to respond in worship by writing prayers, creating artwork...whatever on items representing those articles that are commonly made by slave labor around the world.  It was really humbling to "handle" those articles and attach them to the statute.  I felt like I was "handling" the Prayers of the Saints.  It was a sacred service.

In past years Passion partnered with a variety of  ministries around the world.  This year the entire focus was FREEDOM for 27 million slaves in the world.  All of this years' partners work in the areas of Prevention, Rescue,  and Restoration.  42000+ College Students (and at least 1 Adult with deep pockets) gave more than $3 Million dollars for 10-12 ministries around the world.

This morning I attended Passion City Church and it was an incredible Post-Passion Celebration.  It was neat to be there this morning and hear some of the stories.  36000 Towels and 156000 pairs of socks given to ATL area Homeless Ministries!  People in downtown ATL with no connection to Passion coming to the Lord because of the influence of these students and the work of the Holy Spirit that permeated the event.

Here's a cool story:  One of the "creative" voices at Passion who worked to develop the DSN theme came up with the idea last summer to fly 27000 White Flags (each flag representing 1000 Slaves).  She shared her idea (inspiration?) with Louie and he just stared at her like he'd seen a ghost.  He then told her that only 2 or 3 people in the world knew that Tomlin was working on a song they thought would (and did) become the anthem for the event...the song was named, "White Flag"!

A Muslim Student came to the conference...who knows how that happened.  He was assigned "randomly" to a Community Group (that's one of 19 groups of about 2000 students!).  He was then assigned very "randomly" to a "Family Group" of 8 students and a leader.  Guess what?  His leader was a former follower of Islam.  That leader led that student to Christ!  Crazy!

The 103 foot artwork.  The Hand.  Here's how it was described this morning in church.  "A Hand of Worship Covered in Justice".  That's awesome!

Happy New Year!

I have been...(and am still)...bringing in the New Year in awesome fashion.

On Friday, Dec 30 I began the journey to Ukraine via a sleep-over in Birmingham where I watched Mississippi State's Music City Bowl Game on TV with my one of my oldest friends and his family!  The Dogs Won.

Saturday morning I had a great breakfast in Birmingham with another sweet friend, her husband and beautiful kids.  We go pretty far back too...back to my "proto-youth minister" days in Aberdeen.

And then the day got better.  My other friends got free tickets to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl in Atlanta so off we went to see Auburn put a thrashing on Virginia.  If you look closely you can see hundreds of little Chick-Fil-A Cows parachuting onto the crowd!

My friends left me in Atlanta where I spent the night with my sister and went to church with her and her husband the next morning.

Later in the day I checked in to my hotel in downtown Atlanta in preparation for Passion 2012.  Before all that kicked off though, I had dinner with my precious youngest niece.

I'm spending January 2-5 at Passion 2012 at the Georgia Dome with 44000 + College Students/Leaders/Volunteers and some High School Seniors.  Not to mention Piper, Giglio, Beth Moore, Christine Caine, David Crowder Band's LAST Concert, Hillsong United, Tomlin, Nockels, Stanfill, Redman, Hall...and quite a few friends who will be attending.  

My buddy Stik and his sister are bringing students from Zion Hill.  Student/Friends from Mississippi State and South Mississippi will be there.  My buddy Thomas and some of is Aberdeen students are coming.  It's going to be busy, but it will be a blast.  

Lastly- DRUM ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

I'm catching a flight to London next Wednesday (and flying with a former youth group student from the Coast I might add!)  From there I'll fly to Budapest, Hungary and spend a couple days with a friend and his family.  And a day or two later I'll figure out how to get to my destination of Uzzhorod, Ukraine!!!

I hope your New Year is off to a great start too!