Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Glimpses of God, Best-Of ListsPassion Takes It Higher
On New Year's Eve, Atlanta's Philips Arena throbbed with the music of Widespread Panic. A few days later, the faint smell of marijuana still lingered as a different crowd gathered for its fourth day of loud, demonstrative worship. At center stage, Matt Redman struck up a new song for the nearly 20,000 college students who packed the arena. At least 3,000 more students in an adjacent venue watched the same image of Redman that Philips Arena projected on 12 screens. But this concert wasn't about Redman. Unlike other concerts, this event also projected lyrics. The words guided an animated throng to behold something bigger than the musicians on stage, something bigger than themselves.
We will shine like stars in the universe,
Holding out your truth in the darkest place.
We'll be living for your glory.
Two banners slowly climbed toward the ceiling, joining memorials for Atlanta Hawks basketball greats. Faint in the banners' background were the names of nearly 1,200 campuses represented in the audience.
We will burn so bright with your praise, O God,
And declare your light to this broken world.
In the banners' foreground were names of the world's great cities—Kuala Lumpur, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Nairobi, Toronto. Finally, the spotlights dimmed, and black lights revealed S-H-I-N-E written down each banner.
Like the sun so radiantly, sending light for all to see,
Let your holy church arise!
Exploding into life like a supernova's light,
Set your holy church on fire!
...
Passion has not just shaped evangelical worship music, but a generation of American evangelicals. In the last few years, Christianity Today has reported on various trends among younger evangelicals—from new monastics to hip emergents to throwback Calvinists. ...
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J. Karls ( JustStopAndThink.com )
Thanks for the informitive article, great writing, great movement. The influence of the Passion agenda gives me great hope for our future leaders. Praise God (once again)!
brent from Spain
This is great news. I am however somewhat concerned that the choice of speakers is a small like us thing. Frankly, I don't agree with the calvinistic views of many of these people yet I appreciate the music and the conference. I am willing to bet that over half those who attend don't agree with the Calvinistic stance of most of the speakers and worship leaders. Maybe when the get out and see the world they will more fully realize that the vast majority of evangelical and charismatic christians in South America, Asia and Africa do not share their views on calvinism and predestination. I wonder if these speakers will be challenged by being in an atmosphere that is different from them or will they just come to impose their way of doing things.
Abiams Pete
A very good article indeed! A programme like passion conferences that reaches out to the youths of our days cannot be less commending because then we can be asured of a better tomorrow with our youth living for God.
Travis
Well, the question is, does the piece puff man or GOD? The stats and quotes are what they are, the people and songs and issues are what they are, but is GOD who they claim he is? Is the message of Passion believable? If it is, and a world movement has truly come to witness a great "reality", this piece is not nearly puffy enough. If it is not, and a world movement has truly come to witness a great lie, this piece is nothing but shoddy, snaky, sordid lies. My take? God, from eternity past, has set called Louie and crew to reflect, or echo, the goodness of the glory of the grace of God.
Bob Stanton
Thank you. This was new information for me.