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Passion Conferences
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Passion Conferences (also referred to as Passion and the 268 Generation, originally named Choice Ministries) is a Christian organization founded by Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin in 1997.[1] The organization is known for its annual gatherings of young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, more specifically college students.
Key Information
The organization is also responsible for sixstepsrecords, the worship band Passion, and the megachurch Passion City Church,[2] which serves as the organization's headquarters. Until 2009, the headquarters were in Roswell, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.[3][4] The first conference was Passion '97, held in Austin, Texas.[5] According to the organization, its purpose is to unite college students for a "spiritual awakening in this generation."[5] The foundation of the organization's purpose can be found in Isaiah 26:8.[6]
Since its start, Passion Conferences has operated national conferences annually. In 2008, Passion Conferences launched its first global tour that visited 17 countries,[7][8] starting in Kyiv, Ukraine and finishing in Sydney, Australia. Since then, Passion Conferences have continued to host gatherings and tours nationally and globally. Most conferences are held in Atlanta, Georgia, home of Passion's world headquarters, at either State Farm Arena or Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
History
[edit]
1985–1997: Early years
[edit]In 1985, Louie and Shelley Giglio founded Choice Ministries at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.[9] Choice Ministries began as a campus-based student ministry and after 10 years of ministry at Baylor, Louie and Shelley moved to Atlanta, Georgia. In 1997, Giglio along with Chris Tomlin founded Passion Conferences in Atlanta under the banner of Choice Ministries to see a spiritual awakening among college students all across the United States and the world.
1997–2007: National success
[edit]
The first conference took place in Austin, Texas where thousands of college aged students came together during January 1–4, 1997.[9] The first event had 2,000 students in attendance. The following year grew to 5,000 attendees in Fort Worth.[10] Passion have hosted five more national gatherings in the next decade (1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007), which involved more than 70,000 college students in total.[9] During this decade, thousands of additional college students connected with Passion through one of several other gatherings, including the OneDay Gatherings in 2000 and 2003[11] and the Passion Experience Tour.[12] Passion also became known for its worship albums over this decade, which featured many prominent contemporary Christian artists like Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and David Crowder.[13][14]
2008–present: Passion City Church and world tours
[edit]In June 2008, while speaking for pastor Andy Stanley, Giglio announced the planting of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia with Chris Tomlin.[15][16] Along with Tomlin, Matt and Beth Redman, and a small core team, Passion City Church officially gathered in fall of 2008. Passion City Church held its first service on February 15, 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia at the Tabernacle.[17] In 2017, Passion City Church announced plans to expand to two new locations - Passion City Church, Cumberland[18] and Passion City Church, D.C.[19]
Also in 2008, Passion Conferences embarked on its first world tour, reaching out to 17 different cities in all six continents.[20] Passion has continued to launch world tours and regular tours throughout the years, including Passion NYC Subway Series,[21] Regionals '07–'08, Passion 2010 University Tour, Passion 2012 University Tour, A Night of Worship with Passion Tour, Passion: Let the Future Begin Tour, and Passion: Take It All Tour.[22]
In 2017, Passion held its annual collegiate event in Atlanta's Georgia Dome, former home of the Atlanta Falcons before renovations.[23] That year, Passion encouraged participants to sponsor more than 7,000 children from Compassion International.[24] The conference also saw the debut of sixsteprecords artist Jimi Cravity[25] and the appearance of country music singer Carrie Underwood, which incited backlash from some right-wing Christian fundamentalists.[26][27][28][29]
Passion 2019 was held in four sold-out arenas and churches throughout the United States, including Atlanta's State Farm Arena, Duluth's (Georgia) Infinite Energy Center, and in the cities of Dallas, Texas and Washington, D.C.[30][31]
Passion 2020 was held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, a return to a single stadium. More than 50,000 people were in attendance, the largest of the Passion gatherings.[32][33][34]
In 2024, Passion hosted its third conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with approximately 55,000 students in attendance from the evening of January 3 to the morning of January 5. Musical artists included Crowder, Sean Curran, Kari Jobe Carnes, Cody Carnes, Brooke Ligertwood, KB, Phil Wickham, and Brandon Lake. Speakers included Louie & Shelley Giglio, Sadie Robertson Huff & Christian Huff, Christine Caine, Ben Stuart, Levi Lusko, Jonathan Pokluda, and Earl McLellan.[35]
In 2025, they brought together 40,000 people in two separate events. [36]
Conferences
[edit]Passion's annual conferences attract around 65,000 participants. The conference invites prominent Christian speakers and musical artists annually.[37]
Speakers
[edit]Pastor Louie Giglio, founder of Passion, often speaks during the conferences. John Piper is also a frequent speaker at Passion Conferences. Other speakers that have spoken at Passion Gatherings include: Francis Chan, Andy Stanley, Beth Moore, Judah Smith, Nick Rodriguez, Christine Caine, Carl Lentz,[38] Lecrae, Gary Haugen,[39] Ben Stuart,[40] David Platt, Matt Chandler,[41] Levi Lusko,[42] and Jay and Katherine Wolf, authors of the book "Hope Heals".[43]
Music
[edit]Passion (worship band) has released 28 albums over two decades. Most of the Passion albums are live albums, recorded during performances in conferences or tours. Passion Conferences also owns the record label Sixstepsrecords, whose artist roster includes Crowder and Passion.[44]
Sixstepsrecords artists form the core group of artists performing at the Passion Gatherings, including Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Melodie Malone, Brett Younker, and Jimi Cravity.
Other artists that have performed at Passion Gatherings include Lecrae, Hillsong United, Jesus Culture, Kari Jobe, Tenth Avenue North, Shane and Shane, SonicFlood, Gungor, Rend Collective, and Sean Curran of Bellarive.
Door holders
[edit]The men and women who volunteer at the conferences are called door holders.[37][45] They serve on different teams such as community groups, logistics and registration and are considered to be at the core of the gatherings. They travel from all over the nation to serve at these gatherings. At various times throughout the year Passion City Church has special events for Door Holders.[46][47]
Charitable contributions
[edit]In 2011, Passion started the Do Something Now fundraising campaign,[48] later renamed 72DaysForFreedom. The fundraising campaign encourages participants in Passion's annual conferences to donate to different charitable organizations. In the Passion 2011 conference, more than 22,000 students raised over $1.1 million towards multiple causes.[49] At the 2012 conference, students raised $3.3 million to fund seven different organizations that battle sex trafficking.[50][51] Passion 2013 saw the launch of the End It Movement, an anti-human trafficking fundraising campaign. Attendees gave more than $3.6 million towards various causes at this conference.[52]
At the 2015 Atlanta conference, attendees collected items to donate to Atlanta's City of Refuge homeless ministry.[53][54] In 2016, participants raised more than $800,000 towards Project Haraka حركة, a partnership with World Vision USA to fund the building of a health facility in Syria.[55] The building is intended to serve as the first newborn ICU in opposition-controlled Syria.[56] Passion 2017 saw the start of the Make History Together fundraising campaign, in which the organization partnered with Compassion International to sponsor children in poverty around the world. The students sponsored more than 7,000 children in total, including all of the Compassion International children from El Salvador, Rwanda, Indonesia, and Tanzania, and another 900 children from Bolivia,[57] creating the largest surge of sponsorships in Compassion International's 65-year history.[58]
Music
[edit]Passion | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Passion Music |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia, US |
| Genres | Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | |
Passion Conferences have released 28 albums over the span of 2 decades under the name Passion. Most of the Passion albums are live albums, recorded during performances in conferences or tours. Passion Conferences also owns sixstepsrecords, a record label that includes Crowder and Passion.[44]
Passion's first record, Our Soul's Desire, was released in 1997 under Star Song Records. After Star Song artists transferred to Sparrow Records,[59] Passion released two more live albums, including 1999's Better Is One Day, which saw Passion charting on the Billboard Christian Albums chart for the first time.[60] In 2000, Passion Conferences founded sixstepsrecords as a division of Passion Conferences.[61] As partners of Sparrow Records, a division of Capitol CMG, sixstepsrecords has many prominent contemporary Christian musicians under their label.[62][63] Their first album on the newly created label, The Road to One Day, became the first Passion album to chart on the Billboard 200.[64]
Since the creation of sixstepsrecords, Passion has released more than twenty more live albums and two studio albums, nine of which have consecutively charted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart.[60][65] The lead single off of 2012's live album White Flag, "One Thing Remains", became Passion's first No. 1 song on the Billboard Christian Songs chart.[66] Passion's Let The Future Begin (2013) and Take It All (2014) both peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, making them Passion's highest charting albums.[60]
Discography
[edit]Live albums
[edit]| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ [67] |
US [68] | ||
| 1997 | Our Soul's Desire
|
— | — |
| 1998 | Live Worship from the 268 Generation
|
— | — |
| 1999 | Better Is One Day
|
4 | — |
| 2000 | One Day Live
|
12 | 158 |
| 2002 | Our Love is Loud
|
4 | 77 |
| 2003 | Sacred Revolution: Songs From OneDay 03
|
5 | 107 |
| 2004 | Hymns Ancient and Modern
|
8 | 163 |
| 2005 | How Great Is Our God
|
2 | 74 |
| 2006 | Everything Glorious
|
2 | 69 |
| 2008 | God of This City
|
3 | 74 |
| 2010 | Passion: Awakening
|
1 | 15 |
| 2011 | Passion: Here for You
|
1 | 11 |
| 2012 | Passion: White Flag
|
1 | 5 |
| 2013 | Passion: Let the Future Begin
|
1 | 4 |
| 2014 | Passion: Take It All
|
1 | 4 |
| 2015 | Passion: Even So Come[69]
|
1 | 18 |
| 2017 | Worthy of Your Name[70]
|
1 | 32 |
| 2018 | Whole Heart
|
1 | 37 |
| 2019 | Follow You Anywhere
|
3 | —[A] |
| 2020 | Roar (Live from Passion 2020)
|
5 | —[B] |
Studio albums
[edit]| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ [67] |
US [68] |
US Latin Pop [72] | ||
| 2000 | The Road to One Day
|
3 | 139 | — |
| 2016 | Passion: Salvation's Tide Is Rising
|
1 | 19 | — |
| 2017 | Glorioso Día
|
— | — | 12 |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Compilations and other releases
[edit]| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ [67] |
US [68] | |||
| 2005 | Passion 05
|
— | — | [importance?] |
| 2006 | Passion: The Early Session
|
— | — | [73] |
| 2006 | The Best of Passion (So Far)
|
9 | 168 | [74][75] |
| 2007 | Live From Passion07
|
— | — | [importance?] |
| 2008 | A Generation United for His Renown
|
— | — | [76][77] |
| 2014 | Passion: The Essential Collection
|
9 | 133 | [78] |
Singles
[edit]| Single | Year | Peak chart positions | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ. [79] |
US Christ. Airplay [80] |
US Christ. Digital [81] |
Album | ||||
| "White Flag" (featuring Chris Tomlin) |
2012 | 8 | 3 | Passion: White Flag | |||
| "One Thing Remains" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
1 | 6 | |||||
| "The Lord Our God" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
2013 | 18 | — | Passion: Let the Future Begin | |||
| "In Christ Alone" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
2014 | 32 | 25 | — | |||
| "My Heart Is Yours" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
13 | 12 | 32 | Passion: Take It All | |||
| "Even So Come" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
2015 | 7 | 3 | —[C] | Even So Come" (radio version / live) [digital single] | ||
| "Remember" (featuring Brett Younker & Melodie Malone) |
2016 | 16 | 16 | 27 | Passion: Salvation's Tide Is Rising | ||
| "Simple Pursuit" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
41 | 27 | — | ||||
| "Glorious Day" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
2017 | 25 | 19 | 14 | Worthy of Your Name | ||
| "God, You're So Good" (featuring Kristian Stanfill & Melodie Malone) |
2018 | — | 42 | — | Whole Heart | ||
| "God, You're So Good" (featuring Travis Greene) |
— | — | — | non-album single | |||
| "Follow You Anywhere" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
2019 | 45 | 38 | — | Follow You Anywhere | ||
| "Step Into the Light" (featuring Sean Curran) |
— | — | — | Bigger Than I Thought[D] | |||
| "Behold the Lamb" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
— | — | — | Follow You Anywhere | |||
| "There's Nothing That Our God Can't Do" (live) (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
32 | 31 | — | Roar (Live from Passion 2020) | |||
| "King of Glory" (live) (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
44 | — | — | ||||
| "Way Maker" (live) (featuring Kristian Stanfill, Kari Jobe, and Cody Carnes) |
2020 | 39 | — | 9 | |||
Other charted songs
[edit]| Single | Year | Peak chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Christ [79] |
US Christ Digital [82] |
Album | ||||
| "Burning In My Soul" (featuring Brett Younker) |
2013 | — | 41 | Passion: Let The Future Begin | ||
| "Come As You Are" (featuring Crowder) |
2014 | 43 | 24 | Passion: Take It All | ||
| "Salvation's Tide" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
2016 | — | 46 | Salvation's Tide Is Rising | ||
| "Worthy of Your Name" (featuring Sean Curran) |
2017 | 27 | 8 | Worthy of Your Name | ||
| "This We Know" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
35 | 22 | ||||
| "How Great Is Your Love" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
50 | — | ||||
| "Whole Heart" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) |
2018 | 48 | — | Whole Heart | ||
| "Reckless Love" (featuring Melodie Malone) |
31 | — | ||||
| "Welcome The Healer" (featuring Sean Curran) |
2019 | 42 | — | Follow You Anywhere | ||
| "Bigger Than I Thought" (featuring Sean Curran) |
44 | — | ||||
Notes
[edit]- ^ Follow You Anywhere did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at No. 47 on the Top Album Sales chart.[71]
- ^ Roar did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at No. 68 on the Top Album Sales chart.[71]
- ^ "Even So Come (featuring Kristian Stanfill)" did not chart on the Billboard Christian Digital Song Sales chart. However, "Even So Come (featuring Chris Tomlin)" peaked at number 7.
- ^ Bigger Than I Thought is a release by Sean Curran.
External links
[edit]References
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Passion Conferences.
- ^ "Chris Tomlin - Biography | Billboard". Billboard. February 2, 2017. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
- ^ Interview Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra (February 24, 2009). "Q&A: Louie Giglio". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ "Baptist Press – Passion '07 kicks off with 21,000 adults in Atlanta – News with a Christian Perspective". sbcbaptistpress.org. Archived from the original on May 10, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ^ Georgia Secretary of State office, control number 10018357
- ^ a b "Passion 2019 Conferences". PLSN Magazine. February 11, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Passion Conferences". Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ Tweet Email (January 9, 2007). "Passion Conferences to Go International in 2008 | Christian News on Christian Today". Christiantoday.co.uk. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Gaines, Adrienne S. "College Students Worship, Pray, Serve at Passion 2010 Event". Charisma News. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Louie Giglio: The Heart Behind the Passion". Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ VARA, RICHARD (October 22, 2005). "Giglio's passion led to ministry for college students". Chron. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ "Passion Conferences 'OneDay 03'". The Christian Post. January 24, 2003. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ "The 2003 Passion Experience Tour Dates". The Christian Post. October 26, 2003. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "One Day Live - Passion | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Our Love Is Loud - Passion | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Chris Tomlin leaving Austin Stone". Human3rror.com. May 11, 2008. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ "Giglio and Tomlin to plant church". Modern March. October 10, 2008. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
- ^ Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff. (February 24, 2009) Christianity Today. Q&A: Louie Giglio - The Passion Conference founder talks about his overseas tour and the new church he has started with Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin.
- ^ "Passion City Church Approved for Cumberland Expansion". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Passion City Church // D.C." Passion City Church. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
- ^ "Over 20,000 Students Attend Passion 2014 Conference in Atlanta". The Christian Post. January 18, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Passion Reaches Out To NYC Students Through Subway Series". The Christian Post. September 10, 2004. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Kristian Stanfill to Lead 26-City "Passion: Take It All" Tour, Kicking Off September 10". the media collective. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ Poole, Shelia. "Passion 2017: Atlanta faith-filled event reaches out to millennials". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ^ "Passion Students Sponsor Every Compassion Child in Four Countries". christianitytoday.com. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ^ "Passion 2017 Overview". The Echo. January 24, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Carrie Underwood incites Christian backlash after Passion 2017 performance". ajc. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Carrie Underwood Crashes Passion". CMT News. Archived from the original on January 5, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Carrie Underwood's Appearance at Passion 2017 Attacked". Taste of Country. January 6, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "American Family Association". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ "Passion 2019: God's heart is to be Father to anxious generation hurt by divorce, iPhones and suicide". The Christian Post. January 4, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
- ^ Parke, Caleb (January 4, 2019). "At Passion 2019, students raise $400G to translate Bible for deaf people across world". Fox News Channel. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
- ^ "Shine 'the Light of Jesus' in 2020: 65,000 at Passion Conference, Others Rally Global Prayer Relay". CBN. December 31, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ V, JM (December 30, 2019). "Passion 2020: 65,000 to Ring in New Year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium". Missions Box. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ Parke, Caleb (January 3, 2020). "At Passion 2020, college students raise over $1.2M for this cause". Fox News. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
- ^ "Home". www.passion2024.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
- ^ Julie Hays, Central Texas pastor delivers message to thousands at Passion 2025 in Atlanta, kwtx.com, January 15, 2025
- ^ a b Young, Charles. "Passion Conferences: Helping Christian youths spread the gospel". WV News. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Passion Conference: It's Danger and Lack of Passion for Truth". Proclaim & Defend. August 12, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Gary Haugen at Passion 2013: You Can Be the Generation That Ends Slavery in the World". The Christian Post. January 3, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "More than 20,000 Gather in Worship at First Passion 2015 Conference". Christianity Daily. January 5, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Matt Chandler: Passion 2015". Lighthouse Gospel Ministries. March 31, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "SBTS Prof Promoting Nefarious Charismatic Gathering? Say it Ain't So". Pulpit & Pen. January 3, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "After 20 years with Passion conferences, here's two things I've learned • Notes from the Trail". Notes from the Trail. January 7, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ a b "Discography". sixstepsrecords. November 6, 2014. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Door Holders". Passion 2015. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ "US Conference – Passion City Church". passioncitychurch.com. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
- ^ "55,000 Pack Georgia Dome for Passion 2017, Sponsor Over 7,000 Children". The Christian Post. January 7, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "College kids feeling passion for conference". Archived from the original on January 13, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Passion 2011 Brings in Record High $1.1 Million". The Christian Post. January 6, 2011.
- ^ "College kids vow to end slavery". Archived from the original on January 10, 2012.
- ^ "Passion conference raises more than $3M for its campaign to end human trafficking". Cardinal & Cream. February 22, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Passion 2013 Donates Over $3 Million to Fight Human Trafficking". The Christian Post. January 11, 2013.
- ^ "Passion Conference returns to Philips Arena". WXIA. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Passion Conference | Crew One". www.crew1.com. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ Hallels (October 2, 2014). "Passion Conference Has Raised $811,813.39 for Project Haraka". hallels.com. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ Longs, Herb (January 6, 2016). "Passion 2016 Raises Over $800,000 To Build Hospital in Syria". TheChristianBeat.org. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
- ^ "Wow: Millennials 'Make History' at Passion Conference by Sponsoring 7,000 Kids Across the Globe". CBN News. January 8, 2017. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Passion Students Sponsor Every Compassion Child in Four Countries". News & Reporting. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ Price, Deborah Evans (December 5, 1998). "EMI's StarSong Shifts To Imprint Status". Billboard. p. 5.
- ^ a b c "Passion Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Passion". the media collective. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
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- ^ a b c "Passion Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- ^ "iTunes Music - Passion: Even So Come (Deluxe Edition) [Live] by Passion". iTunes Store. March 17, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
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- ^ a b "Passion Chart History: Top Album Sales". Billboard. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Passion Chart History (Latin Pop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
- ^ "Passion: the early session 01". Amazon. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
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Passion Conferences
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
History
Origins in College Ministry (1980s–1996)
In 1985, following the completion of his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louie Giglio and his wife Shelley established Choice Ministries as a weekly Bible study at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.[2][9] This campus-based initiative targeted college students, emphasizing spiritual awakening and personal commitment to Christian faith amid the challenges of university life.[10] Choice Ministries rapidly expanded, drawing crowds of up to 1,000 students weekly for Giglio's preaching sessions, which focused on biblical exposition and calls to leverage one's life for divine purposes.[11] The ministry's core vision drew from Isaiah 26:8—"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts"—inspiring a generation-wide pursuit of God's glory over personal ambition.[4] This period marked the inception of what would later be termed the 268 Generation, a reference to the verse's chapter and verses summing to 16, symbolizing the estimated 16 million college students in the United States at the time, whom Giglio sought to mobilize for evangelism and worship.[11] By the mid-1990s, Choice Ministries had solidified as a influential model for collegiate outreach, fostering deep engagement through prayer, worship, and discipleship while remaining rooted in Baylor's evangelical context.[12] Giglio's leadership emphasized undistracted devotion to Christ, avoiding secular distractions, and laid the relational and doctrinal foundation for broader national efforts, though formal expansion beyond the campus occurred post-1996.[2]Launch and National Expansion (1997–2007)
The inaugural Passion Conference, designated Passion '97, occurred from January 1 to 4, 1997, in Austin, Texas, drawing approximately 2,000 university students focused on worship and prayer for spiritual awakening. Organized by Louie Giglio through Choice Ministries, the event targeted young adults aged 18 to 25, emphasizing a commitment to the renown of Jesus Christ amid growing disinterest in traditional church structures among college-aged demographics.[9][13] Attendance doubled to 5,000 for the 1998 gathering, which returned to Austin and featured expanded sessions on biblical exposition and communal worship. By 1999, the conference relocated to the Fort Worth Convention Center in Texas, accommodating over 11,500 participants and incorporating speakers such as Bill Bright to challenge attendees toward evangelistic mobilization. This progression reflected deliberate efforts to scale operations nationally, shifting from localized college ministry roots to broader collegiate outreach across multiple states.[9][14][15] The year 2000 marked a pivotal expansion with OneDay 2000, a singular day of prayer at Shelby Farms near Memphis, Tennessee, assembling 40,000 students in an open-field setting to prioritize intercession over extended programming. This event, the largest of its kind for collegians in over two decades, underscored the movement's capacity for mass mobilization and its emphasis on unified supplication for national revival. Subsequent annual conferences sustained growth, transitioning primary venues to Atlanta, Georgia, by the mid-2000s; Passion '07, held January 1 to 4, projected attendance exceeding 20,000, signaling consolidated national infrastructure for sustained large-scale events.[16][14][17]Church Integration and Global Scale (2008–Present)
In 2008, Passion Conferences shifted toward global expansion by launching its first international world tour, visiting 20 cities across 15 nations at an estimated cost of $4 million. This initiative followed regional U.S. events in late 2007 and early 2008, aiming to unite college students worldwide in worship, prayer, and mobilization for justice initiatives. Specific stops included Makerere University in Uganda, featuring speakers such as Louie Giglio and Francis Chan, extending the movement's reach beyond North America for the first time in its history.[18][19][20] Church integration advanced in 2009 with the founding of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia, by Louie Giglio, incorporating the conferences' emphasis on student awakening into a dedicated local congregation that began gathering on February 15 at The Tabernacle venue. As part of the broader Passion Movement, the church provides a structural base for ongoing ministry, including leadership development and worship practices aligned with conference themes. This development complemented the movement's goal of equipping attendees to apply conference experiences within existing church communities, fostering renewal in local worship and discipleship.[21][2] Subsequent years saw sustained global efforts, including events in locations such as São Paulo, Brazil, and South Africa (Pretoria and Cape Town), alongside U.S.-based gatherings that draw international participants via livestreams and partnerships. By emphasizing the local church's role in sustaining spiritual momentum—such as through worship leader training and post-conference application—Passion has positioned its events as catalysts for broader ecclesial engagement, with leaders attending to import elements like communal singing and doctrinal teaching back to their congregations. Since 2008, the movement has engaged millions of 18- to 25-year-olds globally, prioritizing verifiable outcomes like justice funding exceeding $18 million to partner organizations.[1][22][3]Leadership and Organization
Founding Figures and Key Personnel
Louie Giglio, an American pastor and author, co-founded the Passion Movement in 1995 alongside his wife Shelley, with the inaugural Passion Conference gathering occurring in 1997.[1] As the Visionary Architect and Director of the Passion Movement, Giglio oversees its core components, including Passion Conferences, Passion City Church—which he pastors in Atlanta, Georgia—and affiliated entities such as Passion Publishing and sixstepsrecords.[5] His leadership emphasizes mobilizing college-aged students toward worship, prayer, and justice initiatives, drawing from his earlier college ministry experiences in the 1980s and 1990s.[1] Shelley Giglio, co-founder of the Passion Movement, plays a pivotal role in operational and strategic aspects of Passion Conferences, including production and artist management through sixstepsrecords, an Atlanta-based label integral to the events' worship components.[1] She serves as Chief Strategist and Director of Label Operations, contributing to the conferences' expansion and the development of associated music resources.[23] Together, the Giglios have directed the growth of Passion Conferences from initial U.S.-focused events to international gatherings, maintaining a focus on spiritual awakening among young adults.[24]Affiliated Ministries and Entities
The Passion Movement, directed by Louie Giglio as its Visionary Architect, comprises Passion Conferences alongside affiliated entities such as Passion City Church, Passion Publishing, and sixstepsrecords, which support its mission of worship, prayer, and justice among young adults.[1] These components emerged from the movement's origins in college ministry, extending its influence into local church planting, media production, and resource dissemination.[1] Passion City Church operates as a multi-campus evangelical congregation in Atlanta, Georgia, with its inaugural gathering held on February 15, 2009, at The Tabernacle venue.[21] Led by pastors integrated with the broader Passion framework, including Brad Jones at the 515 location, the church emphasizes communal faith expression and global outreach, aligning with the movement's student-focused ethos while serving a wider demographic.[23] Shelley Giglio contributes as Chief Strategist, overseeing strategic elements tied to the church's growth across locations like Cumberland and DC.[1] Passion Publishing functions as the movement's imprint for books, devotionals, studies, and children's resources, dedicated to propagating life-altering messages rooted in biblical themes to glorify God and engage readers worldwide.[25] Established to extend conference teachings beyond events, it partners with distributors like Thomas Nelson for broader dissemination, prioritizing content that invites participation in the movement's core pursuits.[26] sixstepsrecords serves as the affiliated record label, specializing in contemporary worship music recorded live at Passion gatherings and featuring artists such as Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, and Crowder.[27] Founded to capture and distribute the musical expressions central to Passion events, it operates as a boutique operation focused on a core group of performers who integrate songwriting with the movement's theological emphases, releasing albums that reflect conference sessions dating back to the early 2000s.[28] Shelley Giglio manages its operations, ensuring alignment with the overarching vision of worship as a pathway to spiritual awakening.[1]Event Format and Components
Core Structure and Logistics
Passion Conferences events follow a standardized multi-day format designed for large-scale gatherings of young adults, typically spanning three days around the New Year period. These conferences feature a series of main sessions combining worship music and biblical teaching, held in major arenas or stadiums capable of accommodating tens of thousands of participants. For instance, the 2026 event is scheduled for January 1-3 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, targeting individuals aged 18-25 and their leaders.[29][30] The core schedule emphasizes immersive sessions: an opening evening gathering on the first day, followed by a full day of multiple morning, afternoon, and evening sessions on the second day, and a concluding morning session on the third day. Recent examples include Passion 2026 with sessions at 7:30 p.m. on day one, 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. on day two, and 9:30 a.m. on day three. This structure has remained consistent across events, facilitating extended periods of communal worship and instruction while allowing time for breaks and optional small-group interactions.[29][31] Logistically, these conferences rely on extensive volunteer involvement, with thousands serving as "Door Holders" in roles spanning registration, crowd flow, hospitality, production setup, and backstage support. Production teams manage high-scale audio-visual elements, lighting, and staging for worship performances, supported by dozens of personnel per visible onstage participant. Venues such as Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta have hosted events drawing over 55,000 attendees from dozens of countries, requiring coordinated transportation, lodging partnerships, and on-site services like meal distribution. Ticket prices, such as $189 for Passion 2026, cover entry, with additional logistics handled through church groups or individual planning for travel and accommodations.[32][33][3]Speakers and Doctrinal Content
Passion Conferences' teaching sessions primarily feature speakers from evangelical backgrounds, emphasizing biblical exposition and personal application of Christian doctrine. Louie Giglio, the founder, delivers recurring messages centered on God's sovereignty, human brokenness, and the transformative power of the gospel, often drawing from passages like Isaiah 26:8 to underscore living for God's renown.[1] Other frequent speakers include Sadie Robertson Huff, who addresses themes of discerning God's reality amid doubt, as in her 2024 session "How Do You Know God Is Real?"[34], and Levi Lusko, focusing on spiritual stewardship and loss, exemplified by his 2025 talk "Finders Weepers, Losers Keepers."[35] Additional speakers vary by year but align with conservative evangelical emphases, such as Jon Tyson on embracing an "unwanted" God in 2025[35] and Ben Stuart on kingdom principles in 2024.[34] David Platt has contributed sessions urging engagement with unreached peoples and rejecting cultural Christianity, as in his 2022 address challenging casual faith.[36] These selections reflect a doctrinal commitment to sola scriptura, with talks rooted in Scripture to promote repentance, faith in Christ's atonement, and obedience, though critics from Reformed circles argue the events prioritize experiential emotionalism over rigorous doctrinal precision.[37] Core doctrinal content revolves around awakening passion for Jesus Christ, portraying salvation as exclusive through his death and resurrection for sin forgiveness, and calling attendees to prayer, worship, and justice initiatives like anti-human trafficking via the affiliated 268 Generation.[4] Sessions avoid denominational specifics, instead promoting a non-denominational evangelical framework that includes biblical inerrancy, the urgency of missions, and personal sanctification, with empirical attendance data showing over 50,000 participants annually engaging these teachings at U.S. events.[30] While official materials present this as biblically grounded spiritual formation, external analyses highlight potential risks of diluted theology due to speaker associations, such as past inclusions of figures later critiqued for prosperity leanings or ecumenical ties.[38]Worship Sessions and Music Integration
Worship sessions form the heartbeat of Passion Conferences, emphasizing extended communal singing of contemporary Christian music to cultivate spiritual intensity and unity among primarily college-aged attendees. Held in massive arenas accommodating tens of thousands, these sessions integrate live performances by Passion Music artists such as Kristian Stanfill, Brett Younker, and Chidima, who lead anthems designed for collective adoration.[30][3] Music weaves seamlessly into the event's main sessions, often preceding or following teachings to heighten prayerful engagement and facilitate moments of extended, spontaneous worship. For example, during the January 2024 conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, a performance of "Agnus Dei" extended to 20 minutes, exemplifying the flexible, Spirit-led structure that prioritizes transformative experiences over rigid schedules.[3] The 2024 event drew over 55,000 participants across its three-day format, which typically includes an opening evening session, a full day of gatherings, and a concluding morning session.[39][31] New songs debuted in these sessions, captured live for subsequent albums, extend the conference's influence into local churches; the 2025 release Call on Heaven (Come, Lord Jesus) includes tracks like "He Who Is To Come" and "The Lord Will Provide," performed with collaborators such as Anna Golden.[40][3] This approach positions Passion as a proving ground for worship music, with surveys indicating high adoption rates by church leaders exposed to live debuts.[3]Volunteer Roles and Unique Practices
Passion Conferences relies heavily on unpaid participants known as "Door Holders" to facilitate its large-scale events, which attract tens of thousands of attendees. These individuals, typically aged 25 and older, undertake roles such as logistics coordination, audio-visual production, hospitality services, and backstage support, ensuring smooth operation across multi-day gatherings.[32][41] Door Holders are required to commit to the full duration of the event and cover their own travel and accommodation expenses, distinguishing the role from casual participation.[41] The organization deliberately employs the term "Door Holder" over "volunteer" to convey a deeper level of dedication, drawing from Psalm 84:10, which describes preferring to serve as a doorkeeper in God's house rather than dwell elsewhere.[32] This nomenclature underscores an expectation of ownership and joy in service, contrasting with volunteers who may merely sign up and attend sporadically; Door Holders are positioned as essential stewards who actively shape the event's atmosphere of worship and community.[32][42] A unique practice is the integration of Door Holders into the event's spiritual framework, where serving is framed not as logistical necessity but as an act of worship aligned with the conference's mission to glorify God through unified prayer and action.[4] This approach fosters a culture of sacrificial involvement, with participants often transitioning from event service to ongoing roles in affiliated ministries like Passion City Church, which mirrors similar production and hospitality teams.[43] Such practices emphasize holistic commitment over intermittent help, enabling the scale of events like the annual Passion gathering at venues such as the Georgia Dome.[32]Music and Recordings
Associated Artists and Labels
Passion Conferences' music output is channeled through sixstepsrecords, a worship-focused label established in 2000 by Louie Giglio as a division of the organization. This label handles recordings from Passion events, emphasizing live worship sessions captured at conferences. Sixstepsrecords' roster constitutes the primary performers, including lead vocalists Kristian Stanfill, Sean Curran, Brett Younker, and Melodie Malone, alongside Crowder.[27][44] Additional artists frequently collaborating on Passion projects and stage appearances encompass Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, and Charlie Hall, who have contributed to albums and led songs during gatherings. These musicians, often signed to or distributed via sixstepsrecords or affiliated Capitol CMG imprints, integrate their original compositions into the events' worship sets. For instance, Tomlin's performances have been staples since the early 2000s, with recordings like those from Passion 2023 featuring Stanfill and Crowder.[45][46]Discography Overview
Passion Music, affiliated with Passion Conferences, maintains a discography centered on live worship recordings from the organization's annual gatherings, released primarily via Sixsteps Records, a Capitol Christian Music Group label. These albums document the extended worship sessions integral to the events, featuring performances by rotating ensembles of artists such as Chris Tomlin, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Redman, and Crowder, with an emphasis on congregational singing and original songs rooted in evangelical theology. Over 20 full-length projects have emerged since the late 1990s, contributing to the mainstream adoption of tracks like "How Great Is Our God" (2004) and "In Christ Alone" (2006), which have amassed millions of streams and radio plays.[28] The catalog predominantly comprises live albums, with occasional studio efforts or deluxe editions incorporating re-recorded material or EPs of standout moments. Early releases tied directly to the "268 Generation" movement, named for Isaiah 26:8, focused on youth-oriented worship amid the conferences' origins. Production shifted toward polished, multi-artist collaborations by the 2000s, reflecting the events' growth in scale and attendance. Recent outputs, such as those from 2024 and 2025 conferences, maintain this format while incorporating global elements, including Portuguese-language adaptations like Testemunho (2023).[47]| Release Year | Album Title | Type and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Live Worship from the 268 Generation | Live recording from early conferences |
| 2000 | One Day Live | Captures the inaugural OneDay event |
| 2003 | Sacred Revolution: Live Worship from the Passion Conferences | Features emerging worship leaders |
| 2006 | Everything Glorious | Studio album with select live elements |
| 2008 | God of This City | Live; includes the hit title track |
| 2010 | Awakening | Live from multiple sessions |
| 2011 | Here for You | Live deluxe edition available |
| 2013 | Let the Future Begin | Live; focuses on generational themes |
| 2014 | Take It All | Live compilation-style |
| 2016 | Salvation’s Tide Is Rising | Live; collaborative worship focus |
| 2017 | Worthy of Your Name | Live from Atlanta conferences |
| 2019 | Follow You Anywhere | Live; emphasizes personal devotion |
| 2020 | Roar (Live from Passion 2020) | Live amid pandemic constraints |
| 2024 | Call on Heaven (Live) | Recorded at Mercedes-Benz Stadium; 14 tracks |
| 2025 | Call on Heaven (Come, Lord Jesus) [Live] | Extension with five new songs; February release |
| 2025 | Garment of Praise | Latest full album; September release |