Back To Where It All Began!
It’s a gorgeous spring-like day in Waco and the Baylor campus, like most across the nation, has settled into a post-semester calm. Mrs. Giglio is spending the day with the Crowder clan, working on a photo-shoot for their upcoming release, giving me the chance to get in a brief run on the trails that circle the campus.
A lot has changed in Waco since we sensed the urge to take our first big “backwards step” together–namely, forsaking the normal post-graduate school path of ministry to hang out and give birth to a fledgling little collegiate Bible study at the world’s largest Baptist university–and the face of the campus has undergone a radical transformation. But one thing is very much the same as it was in the fall of 1985 (quietly lift your hand if you were not born at this time)…the place it all began.
If you wanna see it, click here and check out the street view image. It’s the Arbors Apartments Clubhouse on Cottonwood Street, and it looks as it did that night the seven of us who had been praying about launching a spiritual movement on this campus opened the doors for whoever wanted to come.
About 40 friends showed up, the lyrics to a few choruses (I Love You Lord was one) had been typed out and photocopied at Kinkos to provide song sheets for everyone, Shelley and a sophomore named Kay helped lead the worship (with no instruments), the talk was from Ephesians 5:1 and a journey was begun that has carried us to this day. We didn’t have a name at first, nor staff, money or strategy. Just a desire to see this place come to life for His name.
That, my friends, is pretty crazy. And amazing. Wow.
Well, that’s it. I think that’s all the nostalgia for one day. No big conclusion. Just, wow.
LG
May 19th, 2009 at 2:49 PM
amazing to see where this all started.
what a crazy and exciting journey this is!
May 19th, 2009 at 3:14 PM
If only you knew then what you know now!
Its an inspiration… I love the podcasts too!
A
May 19th, 2009 at 8:58 PM
It’s interesting, we are given something small and simple to start with and God challenges us to be good stewards with it and to make the most of what we have. We can be good and faithful servants with what He has given (talent, treasure, time, opportunities, etc.) and be blessed with being trusted with more by being given more responsibility/bigger opportunities, or we can be upset or discontent with what we have and not do anything with it. I am very blessed and very joyful that those in that little house were faithful with what they were given, for if they had not, it is not known whether this thing called Passion that we love would be around or not. Thanks to everyone at Passion for their humble faithfulness to God’s vision 25 years ago, now, and all along the way getting here. And yes, I was one year old in 1985…barely made the cut….
Zach
May 19th, 2009 at 9:19 PM
Wow, is right! Thanks for the link to the street view… it is great to see “where it all began”- in a manner of speaking… but then its more like you all just got swept up into a great big wave that had already begun, and you’ve been carried by that same current ever since. We are all so thankful that you never said “ok, that’s enough, I think I’d rather sit on the beach now”…
Sails up…
Christis Joy
“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know…” – GOD (Jeremiah 3:33)
P.S. I was waiting to be born in fall of ‘85… does that count?
May 20th, 2009 at 12:20 AM
God is so Awesome!
He has used ya’ll to be such a great reflection of Him in this world!!!
That is so cool!!!
Also, yesterday was an amazing day to be in Texas! What great weather it has been this week!!!
Was alive in ‘85
Karahly
P.S. Thanks for your faithful service!!!
May 20th, 2009 at 12:24 AM
…..Thanks for the – Link! It’s fun to see where it all began!
May 20th, 2009 at 5:31 AM
..and WoW is a pretty awesome place to be left at too!
so cool to see the place where God first gathered you guys together and how He has done (and is still doing!) great and might things from the prayers of His people in the form of Passion in particular 
what an amazing journey thus far, I am so thankful to you & Shelley and the entire Passion team for your faithfulness.. may God bless you all abundantly 
p.s. I was also waiting to be born round that time, although didn’t make my entrance into the world until June ‘86.. ah well, close enough
May 20th, 2009 at 9:32 AM
Louie’s favorite word when describing the work that God has done thru Passion and will continue to do thru Passion: “Wow!”
May 20th, 2009 at 11:05 PM
hmm, thanks for the memoir of small beginnings. It’s a great encouragment to thouse of use who have big dreams but easily get tired and bogged down in the details and routine of everyday….
I’m glad for what happened at Baylor that day
awesome
May 21st, 2009 at 3:09 AM
Love the reminiscing blogs Louie! That’s why we’re urged to not despise the small beginnings right? Again, thanks so much for your obedience as I am one of the many people on the other side of that =)
May 21st, 2009 at 12:58 PM
For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Isa 61:11
So thankful for those days.
Acts 17:26-27
May 21st, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Glad you were blessed to be back on those stomping grounds. God is so good. He does amazing work, eh?!
May 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 AM
Isaiah 55.10-11.
So encouraged by how an ordinary beginning can be transformed by Him into an explosion of life. Really encouraged.
May 26th, 2009 at 6:08 PM
Hey,
My name is Dani and I am 19. I just wanted to write you to tell you just how much I appreciate your willingness to let God work through you. God is doing amazing things and I want to be apart of it. I have been a Christian since I was 12 and been raised in church all my life. I have always loved God. I have gone through times of being totally on fire for God and times when it was such a struggle to get in the word. Lately and for a while now I am have just been at that struggling part. I have been praying that God would awaken a desire within me to see him glorified and for him to work in my life. You see I had all the head knowledge but my heart was not clinging to it. I have recently began to feel God work in me and I am so excited to see where he takes me. I came to your blog today and read all your posts about Ashley and they touched me deeply. If only I had that same vigor as she did the moment Christ invaded her heart. I long for that and wanted to thank you for being such an amazing man of God.
I also have something else. For as long as I can remember I have loved singing and knew that is what God wanted for me. I have felt a calling long time. I have been praying that God would open up doors for me and take me down the path he chooses. I don’t want to go anywhere that he is leading. I want to be involved in things like Passion! It excites me to know that God could use me, a dirty, rotten, sinner to bring about an amazing plan…Just like with Ashley. I was wondering if there was anything that I could do to be involved with Passion. I want to sing about God! I don’t want to just be another “positive” singer. I want my music to have depth and meaning. I want people to be able to listen and know that they can worship God through my music. So, if there is anything that I can do, PLEASE let me know. I am ready to see where God leads me…wherever that may be. Thank you for reading this really long comment.
God bless you, Dani
godsprincess08.blogspot.com
May 27th, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Humble beginnings…I’m so happy about all your growth and success. The Lord will continue to bless those that will seek him out. The greatest thing we can do is strive to understand Him.
May 27th, 2009 at 4:58 PM
amazing. Who will be next?
May 27th, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Thanks for the latest podcast Louie! Loved hearing the new songs coming on Christy’s album and the stories behind them. Can’t wait for her cd!!!
May 28th, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Louie’s favorite word when describing the work that God has done thru Passion and will continue to do thru Passion: “Wow!”
May 28th, 2009 at 2:05 PM
Wow;-)God is so awesome..! Thank u Louie, for having a servant heart! xxx
May 29th, 2009 at 7:48 AM
Hey Louie and all,
Wow, what an amazing story. God remains good and it shows what He can do when people are just obedient. Congratulations!!
Our own story started 14 years ago in a small prayer chapel on our church grounds, with 5 people, myself included. I wasn’t a Pastor then, but a matric (final year high school senior) and the Pastor who started the ministry is long gone to another church. But, I am now the Pastor there and have been for 9 years, the only remaining “original.” But, who cares! People are getting saved, worshipping Him, loving Him, and making a difference on the campus of the University of Pretoria! God remains good and worthy to be praised.
Louie, some of our guys and girls went to the Passion Conference in August lat year at Gallagher Estates in Johannesburg. I left on a mission trip to Madagascar that day, after enduring months of ribbing from my leaders because I was “too old” to attend anyways (I was 30 at the time). Luckily we found out ministry leaders may attend. Please could you make that stipulation more obvios next time, so I have some “ammo” to shoot back at them?!
Louie, I am a great fan, and you’re one of the very few people who’s preaching and ministry I actually listen to. God has blessed and favoured you, and long may it continue.
We love you, your wife and the Passion/268 Generation family!
June 1st, 2009 at 1:35 AM
Hi Louie and a huge thank you to our Lord for your incredible ministry,
What a blessing it has been to recall Passion in the City of Sydney!! Thank ou for you ‘Where it all Began’
What great memories sharing the night with your team and all the students and their guests. Greater things ARE yet to come and still to be done in our City!! Powerful!! Moving!! Tears shed!! The Worship!! I might be old but WOW! Some of my favorite Worship songs!! The excitement and the powerful presence of our Lord is still with me!! I’m not a student, I had the privilege of driving students and it was Indescribable, I’m still bouncing.
Thank you Chris for your article on ‘Hello Love’ it was truly great to hear what was behind the writing of each song.
From a very passionate Passion Fan
June 9th, 2009 at 8:08 AM
I arrived at BU for grad school in the fall of 1991…and I’ve never been the same.
Last night I used the Stars, images from the Hubblesite.org, and hauling out my big telescope to check out the Sunlight bouncing off the Moon (even through the mist and clouds that obscured most of the stars) to share a bit of Jesus with some new friends from England visiting Louisiana.
I am so blessed God brought me to BU and to Choice. I have a wife (some of our early outings were her bringing me to Seventh & James not so baptist church on monday nights…i had no idea!), a ministry and lifelong friends (I consider it such) through God working through you two and your team.
Here is what I say…Go Jesus!
paul
June 15th, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Louie!?? Why didn’t you tell me that you would be coming to Waco?? That’s my hometown!! I would have loved to hang out with you, but it sounds like you guys were busy.. Oh well next time I guess…
Can’t wait till 2010!!
Jamie <
June 18th, 2009 at 12:10 AM
So interesting that it stills looks exactly the same as I remember after ALL these years. I sensed then that God would work wonders through you and Shelley with Choice but I don’t think anyone truly knew what God had in store. God’s plan is always so much bigger than we can ever imagine.