More than 65,000 college students rang in the year of 2020 to the beat of Jesus Christ at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia December 31, 2019. Passion, a three-day conference designed for the gathering of hearts surrendered to the Lord, carried a joy, an exuberance that yet no one could truly describe. The lights, authority and prestige of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium created an air of excellence each attendee was sure to tap into.
From the outside looking in, there stood two entrances. Left, crafted with balloons and greeters for VIP and right labeled by doors and ticket scanners for General. Humbly escorted by volunteers to the left of the stadium, names were individually taken and recorded. This area was specifically reserved for those who were personally invited to Passion, as this was the case for me and my God parents.
Together we were greeted with a sense of home as spirits eagerly filled every inch of the stadium. Guided to the VIP area, we met and encountered significant hearts, well known for representing the gospel, such as Katherine Hope founder of Hope heals. The space of this area overflowed past several red curtains met by a metal railing which divided the room from the floor seats of the event. Vibrant groups of students bounced with joy as they met and scoured for seating. The music flowed as a brook of peace and joy, drenching each heart in exuberant anticipation.
As time paced forward, we made our way to our seats, reserved, private balconies located upstairs. These rooms consisted of significant individuals recognized for their work of the Gospel as well as friends and family who had invested in the manifestation of the event. Here, we were guided and directed to room 640 as well as given white wrist bands. From the view of our balcony the presence and experience of the people below grew into what seemed like the perspective of God. As each individual grew significantly smaller, the atmosphere seemed to extend significantly wider. As the lights began to dim, darkness overtook each space between every individual. Although by the light of each person’s white bracelet, every wrist glowed like stars in the solar system. The presence of more than 65,000 lights weighted over my heart as my eyes desperately attempted to grasp its entirety.
A chandelier of screens hung above as well as in front of the audience as it gleamed with light. Screens with words and phrases wrapped around the perimeter of the stadium like a strand of ribbon. A video filled with old flames of American culture within the decade of 2000 opened the session. The audience’s response rose with a hum of cheer and nostalgia, as the reality of the brink of a new decade set it. As the music began, the air of the stadium moved toward a spirit of praise, as hands and hearts rose up. Worship spilled out of each heart and mouth as the Holy Spirit visibly soared through the atmosphere. Each song and lyric reaped a deeper level of intimacy.
As the 2020 count down approached, “Good Grace” by Hillsong broke out. The built-up passion and praise grew as the count-down shrunk. Tears and praises filled the atmosphere, as everyone welcomed in the new year to the name of Jesus Christ. From the balcony of our seats, the presence of the lights from each bracelet, created a united family as they all flashed in unison, painting an essence of alliance. The power and authority exuded out every heart filled the stadium with a sweet incense as we continued to worship and praise into the night.
The morning broke with a burst of excitement as we took on the second day of Passion. Crowds stood anticipating the opening and scanning of general tickets. Today I would experience Passion from the point of view of a student. The second day would be broken into three sessions, each greeted with a different speaker and teacher of the word of God. A few of them being the great Ravi Zacharias, Christine Caine, John Piper, Louie Giglio and Sadie Roberson. As the doors opened, we rushed through the stadium to find the perfect floor seats. With just a few moments till the opening of our first session, the conference filled with joy and anticipation, only to be broken in by the praises and worship into the new day. The presence of Hillsong, Sean Curran and many other artists, guided the audience into a place of awe as the lyrics wrapped around every screen in the stadium.
The anointing of the Spirit poured heavily over heads, showering shoulders and hearts, breaking off bondage and lies hidden within. Then there was a moment. While in deep awe and praise, filled with tears, each head looked up to realize the majestic roof of the stadium missing, and the light, sun and clouds broke through the entire space, flooding the presence of the Lord. A moment Ivey Whalen a peer to the left of me described as “one of the most beautiful moments. I was truly overwhelmed by God’s love and magnitude.” This moment broke out so powerfully, that the head administrators walked out to the stage to acknowledge “we are all on holy ground. We want to be respectful of your time here at Passion, but we also want to recognize that God is doing something here.” This declaration followed by the music artists leaving the stage to give a moment of encounter for everybody in the conference. This time and space consisted of about 30 minutes as the peers next to me and hearts all over the stadium broke down in the presence of the Lord.
This was a time Travis Whillock the peer to my right described “A moment of complete tranquility complemented by a rush of beautiful images and pictures which he had orchestrated before I was even there. His pouring out over my spirit opened me up to pouring out to someone else.” Many others described this space as indescribable, a time words could never capture. As the second day came to a close, the individual teachings were applauded with praise and worship between each. The conference went until about 11 pm although crowds of people seemed to linger around the stadium. Greeted by the brisk of the January air, Travis Whillock described this experience as “walking into the unknown and coming out with a clear mind.”
The Pursuit of You 