Passion:DC
How do you adequately describe a "conference" that God uses to radically set your life in an entirely different direction? That's the question I asked myself 10 years ago after my first Passion Conference, and that is the question some of the young adults that came with us to DC are now asking themselves. For anyone who has ever been to a Passion event and who has really engaged in what God was doing through it, the ability to describe what goes on in your heart and mind the next morning, the next week is virtually impossible. It seems that the Lord moves grandly through the humble speakers and lead worshippers associated with Passion, and Passion:DC has been no exception.
The weekend got off to a difficult start! Precarious weather situations seem to follow Passion events wherever they go, so I have to admit that I was not at all surprised that talk of bad weather began to surface just before we left on Thursday. I guess some things just build faith, and after enduring the horrific thunderstorms at One Day '03 in Sherman, Texas, we've learned not to even worry about the weather. Bad weather tends to make the journey just a little bit sweeter... okay, a whole lot sweeter!
By Thursday afternoon, we were already in DC (Fairfax, technically), but most of our group was still waiting to leave Columbus. The snow began to roll into to Central Ohio by Thursday afternoon, and talk of several inches of snow followed by an ice storm closer to Northern Virginia was all that we heard about on the news. Part of our group planned on leaving Columbus on Thursday night, and the other group planned on leaving before dawn on Friday morning. So that night I slept pitifully! Our hotel rooms were all on the same hall, and I slept with one ear to the door just waiting to hear any sound that they had arrived safely. Brian spent much of Thursday evening on the phone with the Friday crew encouraging them to press on despite the weather. Shortly after 5 am on Friday morning, I heard the sweetest sound --- a text message! Kyle had sent word to let us know that they were safe and secure in their rooms! I could finally sleep... at least for another hour or so!
We woke up Friday morning to an inconsequential ice storm! Light ice, but nothing to stop the event! The Friday morning crew eventually made it in safely, and Passion:DC was off to a start.
I wish I could recount the entire weekend to you (all 5 of you who read this blog!). I wish that I could adequately describe the impact of the conversations we had while driving or sitting around... the impact of the music led by Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, and Matt Redman... the way it sounds when 3,000 young adults shout "Sing, Sing, Sing" as loud as they can with hands lifted high... the way a "real life" story about a girl named Ashley and her roommate called "Fruitcake" can rock the lives of countless young adults... the way an unpredicted BURP can relieve the emotional intensity of a powerful moment while maintaining the focus and point of the message... the way God can call out a young girl to go to China through orchestrating the testimony of a Chinese college student to coincide with His pulling at her heart strings. Ultimately, I can't do justice with words to the impact this weekend had on many. Many stories remain untold even today as God fans into flame transformation at the very deepest level of people's hearts.
Before I close, I have to thank my mother-in-law who made the trip to Ohio to watch our kids while we went to DC and my father-in-law who let her come. I couldn't have made the trip without your help, and I'm beyond grateful for the sacrifice you both made. As Louie said during prayer time before Saturday night's session, the families left behind last weekend are just as much a part of the Passion story as those on the stage or those in the arena. So, thanks...
The picture above was taken on Saturday night after everything was over. This is the group of "attendees" that went from Resonate, but we also had 4 others from Resonate who "volunteered" throughout the event. They served tirelessly, and I thank them for all they did to foster an environment where God could work on hearts. So, thanks to Jen F, Dave, Mike, and Jen M... we love you guys! I wish I had you in the picture too... maybe I can just Photoshop you in!
Want to hear the craziest thing? Many of our young adults are now talking about heading to Passion:Atlanta or one of the stops on the World Tour... I just love it!
The weekend got off to a difficult start! Precarious weather situations seem to follow Passion events wherever they go, so I have to admit that I was not at all surprised that talk of bad weather began to surface just before we left on Thursday. I guess some things just build faith, and after enduring the horrific thunderstorms at One Day '03 in Sherman, Texas, we've learned not to even worry about the weather. Bad weather tends to make the journey just a little bit sweeter... okay, a whole lot sweeter!
By Thursday afternoon, we were already in DC (Fairfax, technically), but most of our group was still waiting to leave Columbus. The snow began to roll into to Central Ohio by Thursday afternoon, and talk of several inches of snow followed by an ice storm closer to Northern Virginia was all that we heard about on the news. Part of our group planned on leaving Columbus on Thursday night, and the other group planned on leaving before dawn on Friday morning. So that night I slept pitifully! Our hotel rooms were all on the same hall, and I slept with one ear to the door just waiting to hear any sound that they had arrived safely. Brian spent much of Thursday evening on the phone with the Friday crew encouraging them to press on despite the weather. Shortly after 5 am on Friday morning, I heard the sweetest sound --- a text message! Kyle had sent word to let us know that they were safe and secure in their rooms! I could finally sleep... at least for another hour or so!
We woke up Friday morning to an inconsequential ice storm! Light ice, but nothing to stop the event! The Friday morning crew eventually made it in safely, and Passion:DC was off to a start.
I wish I could recount the entire weekend to you (all 5 of you who read this blog!). I wish that I could adequately describe the impact of the conversations we had while driving or sitting around... the impact of the music led by Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, and Matt Redman... the way it sounds when 3,000 young adults shout "Sing, Sing, Sing" as loud as they can with hands lifted high... the way a "real life" story about a girl named Ashley and her roommate called "Fruitcake" can rock the lives of countless young adults... the way an unpredicted BURP can relieve the emotional intensity of a powerful moment while maintaining the focus and point of the message... the way God can call out a young girl to go to China through orchestrating the testimony of a Chinese college student to coincide with His pulling at her heart strings. Ultimately, I can't do justice with words to the impact this weekend had on many. Many stories remain untold even today as God fans into flame transformation at the very deepest level of people's hearts.
Before I close, I have to thank my mother-in-law who made the trip to Ohio to watch our kids while we went to DC and my father-in-law who let her come. I couldn't have made the trip without your help, and I'm beyond grateful for the sacrifice you both made. As Louie said during prayer time before Saturday night's session, the families left behind last weekend are just as much a part of the Passion story as those on the stage or those in the arena. So, thanks...
The picture above was taken on Saturday night after everything was over. This is the group of "attendees" that went from Resonate, but we also had 4 others from Resonate who "volunteered" throughout the event. They served tirelessly, and I thank them for all they did to foster an environment where God could work on hearts. So, thanks to Jen F, Dave, Mike, and Jen M... we love you guys! I wish I had you in the picture too... maybe I can just Photoshop you in!
Want to hear the craziest thing? Many of our young adults are now talking about heading to Passion:Atlanta or one of the stops on the World Tour... I just love it!
5 comments:
At least 6 people read your blog, since I am assuming that you weren't counting me in on the 5 :)
Jen ---
I will definitely up my counter now that I know you're reading!
Hope your day is going well!
JP
Good to see your news about the trip! We look at your blog often, we like seeing pictures and keeping up with you guys!
Much Love,
Sarah P
i'm SO moved by your passion story and how y'all persevered thru some crazy weather (that southerners would die of fright from) and met with God. after last year in atlanta, i'm a believer in passion. maybe the world tour is somewhere in my future!
and i want to say thanks so much to Mrs. Mary, for standing in the gap and allowing my sis to go!
love ya,
Karen
What a privilege it was to stay with my grandkids!!! Thanks for asking!
I must say that God through Passion is greatly impacting my life even now. For the past three trips in the car, I have been listening to the three CD's of the messages. God has laid a number of people on my heart to share those messages with. I pray that they will listen to them and allow God to touch their lives through them, as well.
Thanks, Brian and Janna, for allowing God to use you in young adult ministry--because you have a "passion" to make Jesus renown!
Love you,
MPark
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