Chicago Rocked

OK, so you Midwesterners can make some serious noise...not just decibels in the building, either...but a serious shout of justice and kindness for the whole wide world to hear! Passion Chicago rocked as students from close to 300 colleges and universities gathered for a life-rearranging 28 hours that in many ways has just begun. You'd have to have been there to really appreciate just what God can do in such a short span of time, but it's phenomenal to watch and be a part of it as it builds and unfolds.

Some students came from far away places like Florida, Tennessee, California, Boston (yes Boston), South Carolina and Toronto. But most came from the heart of the nation, places like Notre Dame, KSU, ISU, Ball State University, Grand Valley State, Moody, IUPUI, The Universities of Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, South AND North Dakota State Universities, Purdue, Ohio State, Wayne State, Valapraiso, Wheaton, and so many more that I'd love to name. The best part was asking students in the opening session if this was their first Passion gathering and seeing 95% of the hands shoot into the air! That"s brilliant...and exactly why we are bringing Passion to you!

In an effort to wed worship and justice, the Do Something Now Campaign has anchored us both in Boston and Chicago. It's true God landed in our hearts with stunning power (healing, restoring, rescuing, inspiring, solidifying, releasing), but the result of His divine touch in us is now a wave of gratitude that spills over onto others in our paths...and even alters our paths to reach still others with the hope of His Kingdom. To that end, Passion Chicago brought 3036 towels and 9000 pairs of socks to be distributed through six partner agencies throughout the city. As well, they gave $32,612, enough to build over 10 wells in African villages PLUS $24,892 to help take an experience like Passion Chicago to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Your generous hearts are contagious and overwhelming, proof that God can and will use your generation in ways far greater than any of us can fully imagine.

All of us on the Passion Team thank you for letting us share such a beautiful and powerful weekend with you in Chicago. Next stop: LA!
Greater things have yet to come,
LG

PS- For more check the Chicago Rocked Podcast at iTunes later today. More photos are available under the Chicago "P" here.