Whether the lovely vinyl (which is now sold out, sadly, and relegated to the likes of ebay), a digital download or an actual compact disc, Church Music from THE DC*B has now made it into many hands and hearts, not to mention #3 at iTunes and into the Top Ten on trending topics for twitter yesterday (#churchmusic), and we want to hear from you…I want to hear from you.

Based on the recent comment traffic, I am going out on a huge limb here (or maybe a shaky little branch), but our goal is to get your feedback on the new Church Music offering (hopefully you are loving it as much as I am!) and we’d really like to get more than a few responses!

I think it’s been since Asia and the crazy Kuala Lumpur people that we have had more than 30-something comments on the Blog, so I’m wondering….

My personal favs from Church Music on repeat more often than not are tracks 4, 6 and 15, but I can’t not let the whole thing play beautifully and seamlessly from start to finish at times, either.

If you have no Church Music, get it today! Once you are “robed up” and listening, leave a happy amen here…

Waiting for your replies,

Pastor Louie

And, in case you missed it, there’s a great interview with Crowder about Church Music on the Passion Podcast now.

It’s been a pretty crazy, but immensely beautiful, week in Passion world…starting with last Sunday night:

Walking with my friend CT to church.
Well, a different kind of church.
Sold out Soldier Field.
Eighty thousand strong.
The people of the world going to worship.
You, too?
Bono said it was church.
Anthems of a generation.
I saw grace and compassion, though.
And saw sun come up.
Crazy early flight.
Live Link bound.
ATL, GA.
Students joining.
Passion spreading.
Wave is growing.
120 students in room with us = happiness.
14,000 joining via web.
America + 43 other nations.
Technology shrinks globe.
One spiritual space.
One voice.
One hope.
Jesus.
Thousands of people.
Praying. Singing. Believing.
China and Connecticut.
Burkina Faso and Baltimore.
Malaysia and Mississippi.
Ukraine and Utah.
Ireland and Idaho.
Great Brittan and Georgia.
South Africa and South Dakota.
We missed Hannah, though.
And our tears joined hers.
Met Koso.
Smile.
God smiles on Koso.
We want to smile on Koso, too.
I believe Koso will sing His song.
Soon.
Link ends.
Access continues.
Our guests and friends.
College campus/church leaders.
In our space at Passion House.
We love college leaders!
LOVE THEM.
The are the front-line servants of the movement we seek to foster.
We hang out.
We were still.
Loud.
Honest.
United.
Encouraged.
Good bye leaders.
We are with you.
See you soon.
Night falls Tuesday.
First big 2010 registration deadline.
Watching computer screens.
Thousands pouring in.
Man, nights like this fire me up!
Not about numbers, though numbers very cool.
But seeing people’s names.
People.
You.
Wednesday night church.
Old school?
PCC.
Core team.
On our knees.
Hearing God’s Word.
Speaking faith.
Covering our weekend gathering.
Thursday calm?
No way.
Everything’s buzzing.
Crowder coming.
sixsteps crunching.
Talk preparing.
Readying Passion.
Friday brings more friends.
Amazing friends!
Volunteer Team Leaders for Passion 2010.
These people make it happen.
We = small staff team.
They = our horsepower.
Passion 2010 planning officially underway.
Vision first.
Then the details.
Many details.
Looking around room thinking-What a team!
We can do this.
Saturday goodbyes.
Sunday church.
Early load in.
Fantastic team.
Finally, this day has come.
Passion City Church gathered again.
Soggy day.
Solid night.
Cobb Energy Centre energetic.
Grace amplified.
Jesus celebrated.
People cared for.
Met new friends from Bhutan.
Bhutan is a country!
Refugees displaced from their home.
But welcomed here.
The Church should be the first to welcome refugees.
I was a refugee when Jesus welcomed me.
Worship rising.
Church happening.
Not a building.
Don’t have one.
But people.
His.
So, so good.
Great night.
Early flight.
Through clouds and rain.
Sunny Texas landing.
Celebrating with radio winners at Crowder’s for lunch.
Rudy’s anyone?
Tonight DCB plays new Church Music.
Sold out.
Word is a robot will join band and play drums.
Only Crowder.
Tomorrow, album arrives to world as we fly home.

Humbled. Depending. Covered by your prayers. Excited.

Monday night’s Passion 2010 Live Link was such a beautiful and powerful time as 14000 of us connected from 43 nations and over 5000 locations around the globe. Yet, among the thousands who were with us our hearts were breaking for one who was not.

If you joined the Link or have followed this Blog, you know about Hannah, an amazing recent college grad who messaged us a few days before the Link from west Africa where she is working to share the light of grace among the Koso people.

Hannah put the whole Live Link in perspective, and we were determined to pray for her during the night, and for the Koso, an unreached nomadic Muslim people group numbering in the hundreds of thousands.

As the Link approached, we reached out to Hannah (who is from the Atlanta area) to find out more about her and the work of which she was a part. Monday morning an email arrived from Mali that made us smile…

Hey, wow, never thought one little blog comment would lead to so many supporters and prayers for the Koso! God continues to blow my mind when I am not even expecting it.

So about me, um, I like traveling, hiking, spontaneous road trips, shrimp and grits….ok ok I’m guessing this isn’t actually the information you were looking for, i kid i kid.

Actually, I graduated from the University of Georgia just over a year ago and headed to Mali to work with the Koso in April. I’ll be here for 2 years working to translate a chronological Bible story set into Koso Tigemaxo (one of the four Koso dialects) and trekking up and down the Niger river to share this amazing story of Jesus in Koso villages. Most days, having this responsibility of sharing with a Koso man or woman the story of Christ for the very first time is so daunting and overwhelming. I question so much, wow, “who am I to get this privilege?” But I am also constantly reminded that God decided to make His name famous here and in every nation a long time ago and certainly has the power to make His name famous among the hardened hearts of the Koso.

So about how I got here, I don’t even know where to begin. It has been a long journey that I was sure would break me before I ever actually got to Mali. I’ll fill you in on the condensed version. So many factors including BCM ministers at UGA, summer missions trips, Passion Conference ‘07, a car accident leading to the death of one of the best people I have ever known and my best friend Miley and lots of hospital time for me, and the unavoidable desire and calling I had to make Jesus known among people who had never heard are what got me here. After being surrounded by some of the most amazing people at UGA who were dedicated to sharing the gospel everyday among college students I knew I couldn’t just sit on the sidelines anymore soaking up the “wow factor” and energy I got from seeing these people at work. I started looking into mission opportunities around the world and God led me to Mali, west Africa and the Koso. If you knew me better you would understand that working with a people group called the Koso is so fitting!

Currently there are no known believers among the Koso and they are considered one of the toughest people groups in west Africa to reach because of their nomadic lifestyles. I ask that prayers be lifted for the Koso people, that they would turn away from their idols, from their empty religion and turn instead to the true Father and Creator of the universe.

Thanks so much and I can’t wait for LiveLink tonight, I really hope the internet will hold out so I can be a part of it.

hannah

Can you imagine being in the heart of Mali and suddenly God marshaling thousands of people on every continent to pray for you and the people you are giving your life to reach?

But, then Monday took a difficult turn as we learned (even before Hannah did) that her mom had suddenly died of a heart attack here in Atlanta that day.  Soon, that crushing news would reach Hannah in Mali.

Tears flowed.  Yet God’s sovereign grace shined through.

Suddenly, the Passion Live Link became so much more… and I knew we were on holy ground.  Not only because we were worshiping the Maker of all, but because the Creator of the Universe was using our little gathering to extend His arms to a daughter who’s heart was breaking.  2 Chronicles 16:9 came rushing in to frame the moment: For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may show Himself to be strong on behalf of those whose heart is completely His.

As we prayed for Hannah during the Link, and for the beautiful Koso of Mali, she was on a flight to Paris that would eventually lead her home.  And today, as I type this post, she is celebrating the life of her mom, Anitria, and laying her body to rest.

Hannah’s mom loved Jesus, served him well and gave her life to seeing children grow and understand just how amazing He is.  As I talked with Hannah this morning, I assured her many around the world were praying for her family and for the Koso, for whom I trust in some way God will redeem her mother’s death until Jesus’ name is known and praised in their tongue.

We love you, Hannah,

Louie/Shelley and all in the Passion Movement

Just a few days now until the Passion 2010 Live Link and our tribe is growing! As of this post, 5595 people have RSVP’d, and we think there are tons more of you linking in who haven’t let us know yet.

We’re excited to have more people joining the Link every minute, but realize every number represents somebody…somebody with massive potential to make Jesus famous in this generation.

With that in mind, we couldn’t be happier about this comment left on the last Live Link Blog post:

Hannah Says:
September 8th, 2009 at 1:33 PM
Working with the Koso people here in Mali, but I’ll be listening on the 14th.

That, my friends, puts the Live Link, and Passion 2010, in total perspective.

Mali, in case you don’t know, is a land-locked West African nation considered one of the world’s poorest. Among several unreached people groups there are the Koso, predominantly Muslim people who live along the Niger River and number (with all Koso dialects) in the hundreds of thousands.

In the midst of the Koso tonight is a light shinning, the face of Christ with skin in the person of someone named Hannah, one life extending His heart in the darkness.

Right on to that.

We are so looking forward to seeing every single face that’s going to be on the other side of this screen next Monday night. And we can’t wait to all be united as we pray for you, Hannah, and others like you around the globe!

Shine on,
Louie

We’re Back!

Yes, it’s true. The church that starts and stops and waits and moves is back as Passion City Church opens it’s doors again on Sunday night September 20 at 6 PM! It’s been a long few months since we were last together in May and we are so ready to gather again and set our course for the months and years ahead. Read more…

We’re only seven days away from the Passion 2010 Live Link and students and leaders are joining from coast to coast.  At our last Link Blog post a week ago 2343 people from 292 locations were on board for Monday night, September 14 [8:30 PM EST].  As of tonight, there are 4349 of you from 526 sites joining with us!  Exciting!  But the big question is, how far can we go?  How many of us will be linked via the web next Monday night for an amazing night of worship and prayer as we believe God for great things this semester and turn our hearts toward Passion 2010?  We’d like to see our numbers make a massive jump during the next few days, so help us spread the word and establish a link location where you are.  We’re talking about:

Suite-mates at SCAD.
Roommates at Rutgers.
A condo at Clemson.
Someone in the computer lab at Covenant College.
A girl’s small group at Georgia.
A men’s group at MSU.
Just you at Jacksonville State.
A little group in Leeds. [UK]
A dorm at Duke.
A campus leader in Louisville.
A bunch at Baylor.
Students at Shorter.
People at Purdue. And Palm Beach Atlantic. And Penn State.
Friends in Florida, as in The University of Florida…
Or Florida State, or The University of Central Florida, or South Florida.
Linkers at Liberty.

You get the idea…

And you don’t have to be a university student to join in.  Just mark the date, visit the Passion 2010 site, RSVP and let us know where you’re joining from… and get ready for a great night together!

By the way, if I missed you in the list above, drop a quick comment and let us know where you’re linking from!

Seven days to go.  Lots of people need to know.

Louie