Vamos a Ciudad de Mexico!
OK, maybe my Spanish isn’t all that sharp, but what I’m trying to say is “Let’s Go Mexico City!” In three weeks we will be rolling into town (if you can call home to 30 million people a town) and getting set for Passion Mexico City for what is shaping up to be a phenomenal start to Leg 3 of the Passion World Tour. As of this week, registration is closed for this two-day event! That’s amazing when you think back to Philips Arena in Atlanta when we announced the WT in January 2007. Some of you were sitting in the second venue at GWCC, but there were about 18,000 of us in Philips and that’s how many people have claimed tickets for Passion Mexico City. Crazy, crazy stuff! But once again, it’s about more than numbers, it’s about a seismic shift taking place in the hearts the people who pack out the Palacio de los Deportes and the ripples that we pray will touch every campus and church in the nation.
Once again, we are asking you to rally behind us with your prayers. These are unstable days throughout Mexico, and uncertainty and security risks have become a way of life for everyone. We believe it’s the right time to be in Mexico City, a light shinning for His fame, and we are praying God will amplify His grace through these days like never before.
And speaking of rallying behind us, I just want to say thank you again to everyone who has believed in this global undertaking and given to make it possible. We are not super great fundraisers here at Passion and always look for ways to exhibit less hype when treading in these waters. But we cannot help but say THANK YOU to those of you who have taken amazingly creative and sacrificial steps to help make the 6+million dollar journey possible.
The good news is we have only $900,000 to go! I know, that’s a huge number, and it seems rather odd to be using the word only in any sentence where there is a figure as big as $900K. But from where we have come, and in light of all God has done, we can say with a smile, we ONLY need $900,000 to cover all that God has given us to do! And all our hope is in Him.
Some have given very large amounts, amounts we have never received in our 13 year history. And in light of each of them we say a very big “wow!” We are humbled. Others have given small gifts–$75 given through the GIVE button on the website, $25 cash that was handed to me a a youth event this summer and everything in between–that move our hearts the same as those that have many more zeros attached. Every day something arrives that blows us away, causes us to be extremely grateful and assures us that we are on the right track with God.
I mentioned on the Podcast the students in Texas that sent a support letter to everyone they know. So far, we have received multiple batches of checks form these girl’s crazy little adventure, a God-breathed idea that has allowed us to touch the loves of other students around the world. In case you missed it, I am posting their letter here.
And just this week we received this letter from a professor at a Christian College in Chicago:
In my Speech Communications classes at Moody Bible Institute we do a persuasion exercise that involves each student picking a ministry or service organization that is special to them and persuading the class that this organization is worthy of their support. At the end, the class chooses which one was not only effectively presented, but also is a ministry they would like to support. Last semester Jake H. [Jake I'm preserving your full identity!!] gave an excellent presentation of your work so I am sending this check at the request of his classmates.
With the letter was $100 towards the Passion Word Tour!! Again, wow!
Jake, sounds like you have a very persuasive way about you and a passion to see your generation live to make Jesus famous.
God is an unending provider, and He is so creative in the ways He chooses to make His resources available in our lives. It will be very cool to watch and see how He moves the remaining $900K into place to impact students in Mexico City, Vancouver, Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney.
So, so thankful!
Louie
September 11th, 2008 at 7:31 PM
Louie and team,
It is funny how Passion ‘07 seems like so long ago, yet at times yesterday. It has been such a privilege for me to participate in the work of Christ that you are championing all over the world! Though I have not been able to give much, I do consider the amounts given at ‘07 and in DC to be some of the best dollars I’ve ’spent’ in the last couple years. As a small part of this Passion movement, I would just again like to say thank you for allowing yourselves to sail whichever way the winds of the Spirit would have you go to preach the great Gospel of the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praying for Mexico City and leg 3,
Chris in Wheaton
September 11th, 2008 at 7:37 PM
It’s just another one of those moments that my heart can’t contain and that I can’t really articulate into the right words…
So excited to continue to see all that God continues to do during these amazing times!
Praying with you all and for you all…
September 11th, 2008 at 10:47 PM
Aloha Louie!
It’s so great to hear all the things that you guys are doing for the glory of Christ throughout the world! It really encourages me to continue on in the work I am doing here.
I was at One Day in 2003, because of that experience, a message you gave that challenged us to leave univeristies with lots of Christians and go to universities where there weren’t many Christians, and a class that changed my world, I ended up here in Hawai’i. I left my Oklahoma school and flew to Hawai’i to honor Jesus on a campus were there aren’t many honoring him. Thank you!
I am praying for your world tour!
Aloha,
John
September 11th, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Hey Louie and the Passion Team!!!
That’s really cool that $900k is all that is left!!! :D
Praise God!!!
It is so amazing how God provides for His people!
Like the verse says:
7″Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Matt. 7:7
What a great God we serve!
God’s favor is on Passion…
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:37-39
Ya’ll give (unselfishly) of your lives for “His fame” and He is blessing you in return!!! :)
No worries on your Spanish Louie!
Practice makes perfect (or for we humans; close to perfect!) :)
I can hardly wait to see what God has in-store on this last leg of the WT!
As always…God be with the Passion Team…
with love and prayers
Karahly :)
September 11th, 2008 at 11:42 PM
I almost forgot!
18,000….WOW!!!! :D :D :D
God is Awesome!
September 11th, 2008 at 11:51 PM
WOW, reading your blog and how you do things for Christ and your eagerness to serve Him and make Him famous fills my heart with joy. God is indeed our Provider, He knows very well the perfect timing and who to use. And reading/knowing how people are also blessed with what your team is doing,these people, also are eager to bless everyone else! That $900K had already been provided for in Jesus name, we just have to wait… :D
I can’t wait to hear about what God will do in Passion leg3… God is so amazing! God is so great! And let His greatness be known to everyone!
Praying for Passion Mexico and the rest of the cities..
:D Merie, Philippines
September 12th, 2008 at 12:02 AM
i was there at Passion 07! as stoked as ever as I am now still!
God is really working the Passion machine
September 12th, 2008 at 1:11 AM
can’t wait to see what God does in Mexico.
Please pray for us in Houston….Ike may get us =(
September 12th, 2008 at 1:12 AM
can’t wait to see what God does in Mexico.
Please pray for us in Houston….Ike may get us =(
September 12th, 2008 at 7:24 AM
Louie and the team,
good job by you guys….
will keep praying for the tour n we reli cant wait to c how mexico will b shaken by God’s words….
Mexico,get ready….it’s ur time now….
:)
September 12th, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Louie,
Hello there. My name is Jolie Hall and I was at the Seattle / Edmonds, WA concert last night. Chris was sharing the history of some of the songs from Hello Love and I was thinking…. wouldn’t it be great to post blog comments or create a blog that shows how these songs came about? It is so AMAZING to see God at work and what he is doing, and as you know, God is at work big time with you all and your ministry. I think it woud be a neat opportunity to share that with those that may not be able to make it to a show.
Keep pressing on for his glory!!
God bless you all and thanks for the concert last night,
Jolie Hall
September 12th, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Hi people!
So amazing to hear of God’s provision and how is moving in people’s hearts! Still praying with you all and getting more and more excited as I see God work all over the world in every nation.
Got the Jesus Messiah song from the new Chris Tomlin and loving it – can’t wait to get the whole album now, yeah!
Yes Lord in You we trust, we place our hope in You! Keep on shining for His glory!
Blessings.
S
September 12th, 2008 at 5:23 PM
Vaya con Dios Passion team! Praying for you here in CT. Amazing to see what God has done during Leg 1 & 2. Can’t wait to see what he will do on the final leg of the WT.
BTW, Love the CD/DVD from Crowder, Chalie Hall and Chris Tomlin!
In Him,
J
September 12th, 2008 at 8:03 PM
Hey there,
If God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it…coz His name is Jehovah Jireh, the God who is more than enough to supply our every need.
And yep – His providence for Passion so far (and more to come) is an example of God’s ‘condonement’ of this event. Rock on Passion Team. We are praying for you all.
And cant wait to see ya’ll here in Oz.
:) anneline
September 12th, 2008 at 9:06 PM
Tu espanol es bien-pero es “vamanos a la ciudad de Mexico”.
estoy emocionada para ti.
traduccion:
your spanish is good, but it’s “vamanos a la ciudad de Mexico”.
im excited for you.
i hope to one day be able to go to a passion event!
September 13th, 2008 at 5:49 PM
It has been a month(Today date is 13/09/2008) since Passion made a stop in the most beautiful city in the world…cape town of course.
Ironically enough a local farmer/preacher, Angus Buchan was in town and tonite and the night before altogether almost 60 000 christians and many more tuned in via fm (CCFM,Radio Tygerberg and Radio Pulpit) came out in the cold to listen to this remarkable man.
ironically enough, we sang GOD of THIS CITY as part of worship – that song repeated in my head every moment of the day,like every day since last month (13/08/08).
His message was simple : Who is your source ?
He challenged us all to spend more time with GOD, and TRUST GOD for our daily lives, and MAKE TIME for GOD.
When we drove back from Newlands towards home, to dodge the traffic (last night, 12/09/2008, apparently the cars backed up from the N1 towards Newlands – almost 10km’s apart), the bus driver took the upper High way into the City Bowl, just looking over God’s City, the words came back to me ” Greater things are yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city”
So MExico city, only a couple more weeks.
God Bless out of Cape Town,South Africa
Tian
September 13th, 2008 at 6:18 PM
Once again, I find my heart beating so hard it seems to be coming out of my chest. I am so excited to see the works that God is doing. These troubled times are turning into great harvest for those out doing the labor. May more people get involved so that we may reach even more! Blessings to you in Mexico City and beyond…may everything you do bring great returns for the cause of Christ!!!
September 14th, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Got the email last week to say that Sydney’s sold out! Can’t wait until the night! Praying for you all in Mexico. Great victories require great commitments and you guys have definitely committed, and the victory is our Lords! Be blessed.
Aash,
Kalgoorlie, Western Aus.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:09 PM
Rich blessings to you and your team!
September 15th, 2008 at 8:14 PM
Wow that Passion Mexico has sold out, and that Passion Sydney has as well! What a fantastic outcome! I will be praying very hard for an ourpouring of the Holy Spirit and a positive change in peoples’ hearts throughout Leg 3!
The Lord bless you and keep you,
Arthur.
September 18th, 2008 at 9:22 AM
wow it seems so long ago that I was getting psyched up for you guys coming to London!!
Its been amazing to see what you’ve been doing all round the world!
I’m so hoping that you will come back to London on one of the spring tour dates that you’re planning :D
Will be praying for leg 3 that amazing things would happen there just as they’ve been happening elsewhere in the world!
Naomi
x
September 19th, 2008 at 8:51 AM
[i]“…our GOD is the GOD who provides…”[/i]
wowww!
We (brazilian) keep praying for all you guys!
September 24th, 2008 at 2:33 AM
hey louie,
hope the collection for another 900k has been good :) can’t wait to see you guys get up into the ‘field’ again :) i’ve just got my tix for Passion HK !! so so excited and i hope everything is well so that the conference will go on as planned. AMEN!
September 26th, 2008 at 12:35 AM
May God bless you and pour on to you greatly!! I am so excited to hear that your going to Mexico! Mexico is always in my prayers!! I was born there! Thanks for reaching the lost in Mexico!!! :)
September 26th, 2008 at 10:10 AM
yeahhhhhh!!! wow!! wow!! WOOOOOW!! Mexico will be fill with Passion for God!!! I Cant wait for Passion Mexico City, But i will not be there. I pray for you Louie, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder and all the passion team. GOD IS LORD OF THIS NATION, MEXICO
September 28th, 2008 at 3:55 AM
Wow Passion is goign to Mexico! Im from El Salvador and i wish i coulg go to the Passion in Mexico! wow Louie my heart goes out for the students in Mexico who will be attending… Latin America needs Jesus :) im soo glad… :)
i would be your translator , maybe next time :)
God bless
September 29th, 2008 at 2:48 PM
PRAISE GOD!
That is so insane that the 3rd leg is kicking off that soon! It seems like no time at all ago that i was singing and praising and screaming my head off at Passion Atlanta. Praise God for you guys allowing Jesus to move through you and complete the work that He has for this generation, my generation.
much love
September 30th, 2008 at 7:40 AM
Dear Passion,
I’ve been wearing my wrist band since your last show in Cape Town and will wear it untill Friday. I’d like to wish you guys all the best and may God be with you and the people you will adress. I pray that He, in all his might, will open their hearts and yours to be filled with His “GRACE” – The most beautiful word!
All the best!
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:16 AM
God bless the people in Mexico City!! I have been wearing my wrist band since the last show in Cape Town. We have been praying for you guys in Mexico the past month and will continue to pray for you.
Have an amazing show…its awesome how great the grace and love of God is!!
May the Lord bless you all
Anja
October 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 PM
As a student leader in my campus and a person that knows many people around the country with the same goal and vision as me, I can tell you that Passion is a very expected event. Just me have heard of hundreds if not thousands of people that will be waiting for you tomorrow.
Last year we saw 20,000 people fill the exact same place with Hillsong United. And I know that we won’t be dissapointed this time.
In Mexico we are living a very uncertain time, as most of you have surely heard in the news, the insecurity is very high, the economics quite bad, etc. The society is asking, shouting for a solution.
That’s why I know Passion will come to change many lives, to open many eyes, to stand before a crumbling country in the name of God, and to show the future leaders how to live and be a light among the darkness that’s all around us.
Thank you for whatever is going to happen this weekend. Thank you for whatever will happen after that as I know many thing will change.
But mostly thank God fot the effort that many people is doing to change the lifes of 25 million “chilangos”…110 million mexicans
October 12th, 2008 at 2:54 AM
은혜로운집회였습니다^^
새로운걸 얻어간것 같아요
October 13th, 2008 at 1:23 AM
I have spent years watching the passion movement get involved with the world. It is so amazing to watch as the Lord works miracles in young peoples lives. I love watching Louie as the Lord speaks through him to talk to youngsters about sex and sin and why it is so important to stay free from sin and bondage and live for the Lord. Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder and Chris Hall inspire me ti continue to put God first in my life through worship, I have been struggling to play the guitar and man I watch Chris Tomlin play and I get so inspired. I love all of you guys and I am at awe at the simple fact that I am able to talk to you, I have spent years listening and following all of you and I have sat back and thought of what to say if I was to ever meet you all and the only thing that I could come up with is thanks for inspiring me and my family.