Now, To Live The Life!

Skies are blue over DC this morning as students head back to campuses all across the eastern US with a fresh sense of what CAN BE if we allow the Spirit of God to live through us what we could never pull off on our own. Passion DC was so special, and it ended in such a potent way last night. As you may know, we are hosting friends from the World Tour cities at each of these regional events. In DC we had guests from Paris, London and Hong Kong. A student that came with the HK team actually came from the mainland, where in 2004, as a struggling college freshman, she found Jesus. An English Lit and Translations major, her English rocked. But what blew us away was hearing Sam share about her journey to Christ, her connection to Passion, and about her hearing my talk from Passion 07 and wondering if the World Tour would make it to China.

For one, her simple step of giving her life to Christ brought tears to most of us, as she recalled sitting at her desk at midnight one night, feeling that the pull of the story she was encountering about Christ was just too irresistible (her words), she thought, "I really don't even know how to pray, so I just said, Jesus, will you take me.....and He did."

How Sam got a visa to even be in DC is still somewhat of a mystery and a miracle. But can you imagine standing in front of 3000 students and telling your story in a language that's not your own. Amazing! I hope to share more on the podcast this week, but it was pretty funny when she, after listening to the last talk from Passion 07 (long story), would watch the web to see if we might come somewhere near her. She said, "So I was sitting eating my dinner, scrolling through the 268Generation site, and when I saw Hong Kong I just dropped my rice bowl!! I couldn't believe it!!" Wow. Sam is the face of the Passion World Tour (and events like DC). She is why we are headed to Atlanta, Hong Kong and beyond!

Somehow, I believe God used Ashley, Christa and Sam more this weekend than anyone who was on the stage...students showing the power of God to students, and hope being birthed about the potential each of us has to be a part of a supernatural God-story that spans the globe.

Today, Passion DC really begins. God has touched our lives in ways only He can. Now, it's time to live the life. We will not be the same, and the world has changed. Students this weekend are sending 11,117 pairs of socks and 2920 towels to the shelters of Metro DC! Plus, they gave $42201 to build 14 wells in Africa AND $36,217 for Passion Kampala. Amazing! By the way, if you didn't notice (and haven't already cut yours off), if you turn your DC wristband inside out Passion Kampala is printed on the other side...hopefully a reminder to pray for this event from now until May.

Lastly, I must say excuse me to all in DC. In another step in the "humanization of Louie" (last weekend it was my math prowess), please excuse the mid-talk burp, the first, I think, in over 30 years of speaking in front of people. What a special moment for all! LOL! :)

So, we're all pretty ordinary, just more fuel for the story of what a limitless God can do through us.
Louie [with the Passion team and our brilliant volunteers]