Back in the USA!
It seems kind of weird being on the Passion World Tour, yet sitting on US soil, but that’s what’s going on tonight. Though only for a few hours, we are back in the USA after a flight from Mexico City to Salt Lake and will depart from here soon for Vancouver, BC. We are carrying with us the banner that the Mexican students made and are eager to see what Vancouver holds.
Mexico was amazing, and as we left today I had the sense that what happened this weekend is going to ripple across the nation as the 7000-8000 people that were there head back to their campuses and cities. By the way, some of you have asked what’s up with the numbers, especially with all the talk of the 18,000 sell out we posted several weeks ago. Well, if you’re confused, join the crowd. Tickets in MC were free (like in Vancouver and Sydney) and the response was overwhelming. But as it turned out, 2/3 of the people who went online and claimed a ticket did not show up. That was a pretty big curve ball for us Friday night as we were anticipating a packed out venue, but even more frustrating for those who had wanted to come but could not get tickets in the weeks leading up to the event.
Yet in the end there were 7000+ people there for our final session, and that is pretty cool for any city. We may never know what happened to the people who took tickets and did not use them, but we are SURE that God was with us, depositing something powerful in the hearts of all of us who were there. And Vancouver, I can assure you lots of Mexicans are praying for you. Added to their prayers, they gave at least 150,000 Pesos (we are still counting the coins), which is more than $15K US, for Passion Vancouver expenses. As well, Do Something Now was in motion as we partnered with seven organizations working in the toughest parts of Mexico City to provide rice and beans for meals for those in need. Those who came brought 6200 kilos of rice and beans…enough to feed 32,000 people 4 meals! Right on!
Hopefully, the ticket ration to people attending in Vancouver will be radically different. But whatever the case, we are thrilled to be headed to BC, even if a little tired and looking at a midnight arrival.
For His fame!
Louie
October 5th, 2008 at 10:51 PM
WOW!!!God bless you guys & gals & the whole worship team..it’s a beautiful thing to see what God does..He never fail to amazes & though u may not understand the diffierent languages & culture that this world tour takes u on one thing that everyone is bound to know & agree to is that God is good & that He is alive.Thank you sooooo much for stooping by in Malaysia, it’s been a blessing to so many people including me & my siblings..have a safe trip to the whole team & GOD BLESS YOU IN SPIRIT,SOUL & BODY..
Love & prayers from Malaysia.
October 5th, 2008 at 11:06 PM
i´m still wearing my passion band,it was a beutiful night!!! i´m also praying 4 for vancouver!!!! Dios los Bendiga en excesoo!!! and also God bless u Louie u are such a great leader!!!!
October 5th, 2008 at 11:37 PM
hola! disculpen que escriba esto en español, pero mi ingles es sumamente malo, y tengo la esperanza de que alguien pueda ayudarlos con la traduccion.
soy de guadalajara, en mexico, y acabo de estar con ustedes en el palacio de los deportes, y realmente fue increible todo lo que ustedes hacen, por nosotros, y por jovenes alrededor del mundo, y creanme si les digo que esto marcara una gran pauta en mi vida y me ayudar a seguir con el camino que e decidio seguir. fue maravilloso!
sin embargo, despues de estar en el evento, leer su post, el hecho de que amigos mios no fueron al evento por la ausencia de boletos, y ver como un palacio de los deportes que puede con 16000 personar, tenga solo poco mas de 7000 fue muy triste, asi como fue tambien muy triste saber que apenas se consiguieron algo asi como 6 mil kilos de comida, cuando el boleto para el evento era algo asi como un kilo de frijoles y otro de arroz, se debieron juntar al menos 14 mil kilos… se recibio una gran bendicion, sin embargo entiendo que no fue justo lo que esperaban, y que estubimos muy por debajo de las expecatativas…
asi que me gustaria darles una sugerencia, no se si les haya pasado lo mismo con otras ciudades, pero si en algun momento vuelven a mexico.
un evento “gratis” no siempe es lo mejor, ya que se presta para que la gente no le de la importancia que deberia, y son muy tristes las consecuencias que esto tiene… pero talvez si vendieran el boleto, simplemente como algo significativo, por un precio asi como, 10 pesos, (poco menos de un dolar) es una cantidad que uno paga sin ninguna molestia, sin ver afectado su bolsillo de la mas minima manera, pero se ahorrarian el hecho de que se llene virtualmente un evento, y muchisima gente falte a el, ademas de que 10 pesos, por 7 mil personas o mas, no es mucho, pero si puede ayudar para seguir haciendo eventos de la magnitud como ustedes lo estan haciendo.
asi mismo, la organizacion en cuanto a la entrega de los boletos a cambio de los kilos de arroz, pues no fue del todo buena, si buscaran la forma de intercambiar el boleto al mismo tiempo que la comida, podrian asegurar tener mas cantidad de comida de forma justo por los boletos que se expidan, y no dejar la comida en un lago, para luego ir por los boletos a otro donde no se puede comprobar que se entrego la comida y que se merece el boleto.
disculpen que talvez sueno un poco a queja, sino que me gustaria que eventos de esta magnitud, y con tanto trabajo que ustedes invierten en el, realmente fueran del tamaño que ustedes esperan, y aunque el evento fue maravilloso y lleno de bendicion, no es justo que gente quede afuera por gente que no asiste.
les envio un abrazo y estaremos orando muchisimo por vancouver. por el resto de la gira y porque Dios llene los corazones de una generacion como la nuestra!
Dos los bendiga!
October 6th, 2008 at 1:57 AM
[...] 6 10 2008 Vancouver, are you ready? The Passion team lands in the US en route to [...]
October 6th, 2008 at 2:28 AM
Awesome stuff! good job Mexico! attack the blog with your stories! i wanna read them!! Louie-were waiting for the podcast here in Jo’burg!!! i cant wait to hear what went on! its awesome to hear how ppl were moved, makes the Christian life so exciting!!! we are praying! God with God and the power of prayer and hit Vancouver with a bang!
Praying always!!!
October 6th, 2008 at 2:36 AM
Yip, can’t wait for the podcast either. So cool to hear how God works, especially when things don’t go according to plan.
Praying for you guys in Vancouver and you, Passion team. His grace is all we need, his strength is sufficient in our weakness.
October 6th, 2008 at 2:58 AM
¡¡ Thanks for talk about us !!
i´m still praying for vancouver!!!!
¡ GOOD JOB!
October 6th, 2008 at 3:04 AM
go british columbia!~ :)
vancouver will be awesome. praying for this city
October 6th, 2008 at 3:18 AM
Hiya guys!
Go Mexico City! Yes we always have/make plans and then God comes and does a new thing and it is amazing! So awesome to know brothers and sisters all around the globe are uniting in prayer and shining their light among the nations.
Vancouver tonight is your turn and we here in Jozi, South Africa, have your back as well. Louie also thinking of you and the team, yo you guys don’t have a lot of time between Mexico, Vancouver and Seoul, but know by God’s grace He will provide energy. And as 2Cor5:14 says ‘For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us.’
Blessings!
S
October 6th, 2008 at 5:39 AM
Hey,
Just to let you know that Passion 08 is in my prayers! Will be praying for Oz esp as have many friends there. All the best for Canada and safe travels for the rest of the tour,
s
October 6th, 2008 at 9:52 AM
HEY LOUIE!!! It is me the girl on the picture with the blue-green top and the one whom asked you about how you heard God´s voice for passion comming to mexico city. you know what? what you said on friday about 1968 about that God is concerned about the future and about this present generation… God told me the same on thursday evening while watching TV about 1968.
I am doing a photo-documentary with the topic :”Hearing God´s Voice” that is why I asked you about how you heard God´s voice about passion mexico city. So I will write about you there. I will send you the documentary when I am finished with it.
God bless you Louie! It was amazing passion. Im so happy to know that God has a plan for Mexico city.. oh I wish God reveals more about that to me (I have been praying about it since it is one of the parts of the documentary, that God shows me his heart for mexico city) :)
God bless you in Jesus name.
Karla Paz
October 6th, 2008 at 10:50 AM
That is strange about the tickets, but for sure God had the people there that He wanted there (maybe it was a situatuion like Gideon’s army this time). Seven Thousand was what He had reserved for Himself in Israel in the days of Elijah and that is more than enough for Him to rock the nation of Mexico and the whole world for His glory. After all, who we are and how many of us there are really doesn’t matter: GOD is with us! Or to paraphrase a very wise person I once heard: “we are not, but we know I AM!” :)
God continue to bless you guys and prepare the way in Vancouver for His beautiful Name! You are very much loved and prayed for!
Christis Joy
October 6th, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Thank you again sooo much for coming!!!! Last night I got back to my hometown, Guadalajara, from Mexico City, and I still can’t believe it! it was awesome! Although I was also a little bit disappointed about the absence of people, I am sure that God had there those He wanted, and He will use us in different places and ways to shine for Him. I can witness that God gathered every one of the students that went, because in my case, I literally saw His provision for this trip and the way everything came together before (even years before…), during, and (I am sure) after Passion. Nothing was out of His hand, and it has been an incredible experience.
My heart is expectant for what God has for our generation, not only here in Mexico but all around the world. Every word said at Passion echoed the desire in my heart, and I really felt identified… I’d been “watching HDTV” and it was sooo encouraging and exciting to see that there are others who are in the same tune!!! So thank you again Passion Team, and volunteers, and all of you who had been praying for us–keep it up! And Vancouver, we ARE praying for you! Mexico is with you!
oh, and by the way, Louie, actually, I am one of the listeners of the podcast in Mexico!
MUCHAS GRACIAS!!! May God stregthen you and guide you!
SUSY
p.s: the sign is a little fragile, and a bit smudged because it was raining, but it was made with love!
October 6th, 2008 at 12:25 PM
We believe in a God that makes no mistakes… And by your own profession of faith you have taught us how to deal with curve balls in this journey of life. Thanks, Louie.
This girl from Kuala Lumpur prays alongside you. God bless the team; the hands, hearts, and minds that are set on glorifying Him, the Almighty.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Amazing time in Mexico!!! Continued blessings as you reach souls that others can’t touch in the same way. I continue to lift you to the Lord daily…many blessings!!!
October 6th, 2008 at 1:39 PM
Ok…We got a curve ball. My next prayer strategy along with you will be to ask God to remove every hindering force that would keep the students from coming. I believe God wants those stadiums filled!
October 6th, 2008 at 2:01 PM
Hey Passion Team!
I’ll be praying for ya’ll today as you are in BC…
Can hardly wait to hear what God does there!!! :)
Yeah, I was wondering about the numbers; I’m sorry to hear that…thanks for letting us know!
But…God can do a “LOT” with little!
Just remember what Jesus did with a few fish and loaves of bread (”LOT’ with little”)!!! :D
The 15K and rice/beans are amazing!
Thanks again for the post!
love and prayers
Karahly :)
October 6th, 2008 at 5:29 PM
Great!!!! Here in Mexico we are praying for Vancouver and we are sure God will make great things today as He did here. Louie, the message you and all the Passion team transmitted to us really touched the depths of my soul and heart…. God, Your Fame and Renown are the desire of my SOUL.
Maybe all of us were expecting a 18,000 crowd packed in the Palacio, however, it wasn’t that way…but we are looking forward to the day when Passion will come back to Mexico City and for sure there will be a crowd as big as the one we were expecting for this weekend :) … BUT until then, we will make what is more important… and what we heard in the first meeting on friday: let us go out and shine God’s light so other people that didn’t experienced what we experienced at Passion may experience the saving power of God, that is what all of this is about… our mission
God bless U guys and all university students over the world….
For God’s Fameeeeeeee
October 6th, 2008 at 6:21 PM
Yikes that is a lot of rice and beans…wow – but then again another name of God is Jehovah Jireh – the God who is more than enough.
Great stuff.
Go for it in Vancouver :)!
October 6th, 2008 at 8:14 PM
It is difficult for me not to feel disappointed that young people who wanted to get a ticket for Passion couldn’t and in the end places were available.
I am believing though that those who were there “got it” and that they will go and *SHINE* for Jesus in their generation .
18,000 or 7,000 Jesus was still glorified above all !!!
Praying for you in Vancouver .
October 6th, 2008 at 8:20 PM
It was an amazing weekend!
Thanks Louie, and thanks to all the Passion team! You all made a great job!
What a shame we were not 16,000 people and i was kinda sad for that! But I do know that God always has the control of everything! And I’m sure God had there those He wanted to be there!
And i think 7000 people it’s a good number to start to make Jesus famous in our city, and in our country! And with the help of all the other students, we could do it in the whole world!
I was impacted whit Ashley’s testimony, and now I can say that I’m watching HDTV!
You all guys are in my prayers!
I’m praying for Vancouver and also for all the other cities!
Greater things have yet to come!
And greater things are still to be done for Him!
Gob bless you all!
October 6th, 2008 at 10:44 PM
thanks for sharing about Mexico City…
as surprising as the numbers must have been to everyone… it sounds like those who God had a divine appointment with to be at P-MC last weekend- did make it! :-)
praying that in each stop every person who He desires to be there- will be there… with open ears… no distractions… focused and receptive hearts to hear what He wants to communicate to each person…
“I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever Amen.” Eph 3:16-21
October 6th, 2008 at 11:43 PM
Praying for you all as you are ending your time in Vancouver… May God multiply and do much more than we can imagine to ask Him for. It’s exciting to see and hear about how God is rising up students from all over the world to be a part of His plan!
October 7th, 2008 at 12:53 AM
Along side the Passion team with prayers!! His glory shines!!
October 7th, 2008 at 1:18 AM
To the Passion gang: Thanks for a great evening in Vancouver and for delivering a message that needs to be repeatedly told. Vancouver’s cultural and ethnic diversity can really make sharing God’s message tough, so groups like Passion help a lot. In about a year-and-a-half, Vancouver will also welcome the world when it hosts the 2010 Winter Olympics. It is a huge opportunity to outreach globally without needing to get on a plane, so pray that your work may have seeded a desire to outreach in the hearts of Vancouver’s young people. To Mexico City: thank you for your prayers and that wonderful banner. We felt so loved and close to you. Take care all.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:01 AM
Fill us up and send us out, Holy Spirit.
Fantastic evening in Vancouver! God bless Seoul and all of Korea. Will be wearing my wristband and praying for the days to come.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:17 AM
Praise God for His sovereign orchestration to bring Passion to Vancouver. I was blessed to worship our Great God with fellow believers on this scale in a city that is so full of beauty but most people don’t connect it to its maker. It feels so secular that sometimes you feel worship sucked out of your heart and lungs even though your natural response to seeing his creation all around you is to worship. How much I love the beauty of creation here, but how much more I need and want to see the beauty of Jesus, my creator and redeemer in his fullness fill and make this city truly beautiful. I need strength to worship. What an artist. This evening was evidently put together by His design.
I found myself heading to the evening with hope and optimism that God can penetrate the darkness and grayness of this city. That he could light a fire in our hearts that wouldn’t be drowned by the rain of unbelief around us. How great it was to have these gifted musicians lead us in worship and Louie to stir our hearts to see God more acurately.
I realized at one point, wow, here we are in a unique gathering in this place, no where else in the whole globe, this night. In this moment, to testify that God is Mighty to Save in this city. Humbling. I was refreshed in my hope in God’s ability to work in my life and save me. I took opportunity throughout the evening to look at all these young men and women for whom I give my life energy and time influencing on campus at UBC and was calling out to God that they would know that God is mighty to save them and the city in which they live, to take steps of faith together that they would be stirred to see the renown of Jesus.
My thoughts prayerfully moved forward for an outreach we are doing in January where we will have Porn Star Ron Jeremy debate Micheal Lehee, a Christian who was a former porn addict. We are trusting that God will expose the darkness and bring healing to many souls. As a person who has fought many battles and won some and lost some in this area, I trust God that he can use this event to reach thousands of others. Please join us in prayer for this event. Please pray and join us in trusting that God will use this event to bring broken people into his kingdom, just like Ashley, just like me, just like you. I encourage you to live out the essence of what we focussed on tonight moment by moment by the Holy Spirit and getting involved for his kingdom where you are at. If not involved join a movement of God’s people who are passionate about Jesus and taking his message to the world.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:24 AM
This was my first Passion concert, at age 24. I stepped in, and when the music started, I forgot the band, forgot the lights and all I could think about was the glory and the united voices that were rising up to God. In a city where individualism thrives, the youth of Vancouver raised all the voices to worship our one and only Abba.
서울은 당신, 나의 기도 이다. 나는 그가 당신 모두를 위해 계획한 잠재력을 및 생활을 해방하는 신의 힘을 위해 기도한다. 당신은 모두 긍지에 신의 기치를 서울의 전부 나르고 저쪽에 본 일지모른다.
신은 당신을 모두 강복한다. 사랑해요, 그리스도에 있는 나의 형제 그리고 자매.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:27 AM
WOW GUYS!
Praise God for the power that filled GM place tonight.
It was indescribable… uncontainable… :)
Nobody could contain themselves, because the power was so amazing.
Great job tonight, DC & CT. Especially you Louie,
for your amazing sermon.
I will definitely be following along with the blog now that I know it’s here –
Jesus is Risen, and He is flowing through our world faster than anyone realizes.
God Bless Vancouver & especially SEOUL!!
I will be wearing my wristband until friday and praying for them!
WOOOHOOO!!! THANKS! =)
October 7th, 2008 at 3:32 AM
Thanks for sharing Ashley’s story with Vancouver
October 7th, 2008 at 3:34 AM
Tonight was amazing. God bless you guys! I love every moment of it; from the long line up to being on a PACKED and CROWDED skytrain. You guys are truly anointed. Just can’t fully explain how great our God is. It’s indescribable. Keep using your talents for the Lord and sharing the word of God. Btw, your exhortation really touched my heart, as well as the music team(chris tomlin, david crowder band).Keeeep rockin`! Amazing.. praise the lord! I’ll be praying for you guys. God bless SEOUL!
From,
Vancouver
GREATER THINGS HAVE YET TO COME, AND GREATER THINGS ARE STILL TO BE DONE IN THIS CITY.
Thank you so much.
October 7th, 2008 at 3:36 AM
LOVE YOU GUYS AND LOVE THE LORD ♥ I FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS GREAT EVENT. GOD BLESS YOU AND GOD BLESS SEOUL!
October 7th, 2008 at 3:40 AM
Shine your LIGHT and let the whole world SEE
singing for the glory of the RISEN KING
WOOOOOOOOOH!!
Nice job everyone and GOD BLESS.
VANCOUVERRRR WHATTT!
October 7th, 2008 at 3:45 AM
WOW.. I AM SPEEEECHLESS.
VANCOUVER WAS BLANKIN’ AWESOME. JUST JOKING ABOUT THE “BLANKIN”
I’M A FRUITCAKE =]
I’LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU GUYS AND I PRAY THAT GOD WILL DO EVEN GREATER THINGS IN SEOUL.
EXCELLENT JOB EVERYONE! LOVE LOVE LOVE THE LORD.
GOD BLESS.
You just earned a new reader!
October 7th, 2008 at 4:15 AM
Seoul, Korea – we’ll be praying for you – you know that classmate/coworker that you’ve always wanted to invite to church but you’re not sure… this is the event to bring them out to!!! All of us wish we did. Now we have to re-tell Ashley’s story without Louie – just ain’t the same :) Thanks for inspiring us to carry on with greater things that are still to be done in this city
October 7th, 2008 at 4:19 AM
I just got back from the Passion and it is amazing to see how people of Vancouver get to dance and sing for the Lord. This is just amazing. I’ll be praying for the people in Seoul that God will do amazing things. LOVE THE Lord
God bLESS sEOUL
October 7th, 2008 at 5:12 AM
What a great night, I dunno what else to say. It was so memorable that no words could describe what we experience a few hours ago in General Motors Place, one thing for sure it was more fun than watching Vancouver Canucks’ hockey game.
Also I bet some people who say they’re from Vancouver are not really from Vancouver but Lower Mainland since Vancouver is just a small part of GVRD ahahahahha just a little bit of information.
Anyway, God Bless Us all, Let us all pray for the upcoming Passion Tours in Seoul and so on.
Yo people all over the world, be ready for God’s work in each and every one of you.
GBU
October 7th, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Thanks so much for coming to Vancouver and helping us worship the Beautiful One. To let God use your talents in such a way as to inspire thousands of Vancouverites and others that travelled from further away is amazing. It was a great night and with that many university students united in song, heart, and mind was nothing short of a miracle. A giant “thank you” goes out to the whole team for making last night possible. That being said, “greater things have yet to come, greater thigns are still to be done in this city.” God is with us and we have been and will be changed.
If anyone is reading this from Korea, we want you to know that we’re with you and we’re praying for you! God bless you all!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:44 AM
escribo en español solo para que los que somos de Mx entendamos esto, la verdad se vierón muy mal boicoteando passion cuando acapararon todos los boletos y eso es una muestra del egoismo chilango ya que en lugar de promover y verse cuates dejar´n sin boletos a un montonon de estudiantes que querian asistir y que podrian hacer la diferencia en nuestro pais
so thank´s to passion for worry for this generation in Mexico, and i hope that the next time we can fill the “estadio azteca” over 100 thousen students
we´re impacted for you to Jesus
October 28th, 2008 at 7:54 AM
Hey all Gods children!!!
I’m from South Africa, and when Passion was here a few months ago, it was so amazing is just change my life and I came on to the website, and Passion is still going and going and going! We can actually say God is going and He’s going and He is working!!! May God bless all of you ALL over the world!!!!
And Louis……..Thanks!!!
God loves you!!
BLESS YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS OUR SAVIOR!!!!
Vicky
July 12th, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Wow el tiempo vuela!, ya casi es un año!, pero sigo recordando todo lo que aprendi ese día espero que regresen pronto a mi país, y si esl a voluntad de Dios espero poder acompañarlos en passion 2010, para Dios todo es posible asi que espero verlos, y quiero decirles que hay un avivamiento en México!! hemos pasado por tiempos dificiles pero Dios nos ha dado la victoria!!!, el Diablo está derrotado!, Dios los bendiga
a EL sea la gloria
Isai Bustos
Ciudad de México, México