Andy Stanley Speaks at Passion 2011

One of the most important concepts expressed during Passion 2011 occurred about 11:30 a.m. on January 3, 2011. It didn't come in the reading of God's Word - although many important concepts were expressed that way today. It didn't come in the wonderfully inspired lyrics of worship songs led by Kristian Stanfill, Charlie Hall, and Chris Tomlin.

It came from two anecdotal stories.

Passion founder Louie Giglio introduced the morning session speaker with the story of how they first met.

It seems as a junior high student living in Atlanta, Giglio attended a summer youth camp. One night, out in the camp bunkhouse, a massive fight broke out among several campers. Giglio, wishing to avoid any participation in the ruckus, dove underneath his bunk bed.

Much to his surprise, he was not alone. Curled up under that same bunk bed was another equally scared student. Giglio looked at him. He looked at Giglio. They made an unspoken pact to remain silent with the understanding they both wished to avoid the fray. Louie Giglio and Andy Stanley hunkered down under that bunk bed and have been friends ever since.

A popular Atlanta-area pastor and author, Andy Stanley climbed to the stage. He then provided the audience with a new perspective on Giglio's story.

Stanley asked the audience to think back to their best friend in middle school. Even if they were no longer in contact, he wanted to them to remember the person who was the focus of the most important relationship during that time of their lives.

"Now," Stanley says. "Imagine that same person to be in charge of this entire event."

It was a poignant statement for most.

"You have no idea what God has in store for you," Stanley continued. He went on to tell the audience that if Mary Gellerstedt, a leader in their church youth group at the time, had been given a premonition that these two young men would one day stand on this stage in front of 22,000 college students, she would not have believed it. According to Stanley, Ms. Gellerstedt could tell you that he and Giglio were the ones who were "always disruptive, always late, always making a party out of everything."

The idea that Giglio would one day launch a movement that would impact college students all over the world was not on anyone's radar at the time - certainly not on Andy Stanley's and probably not on Ms. Gellerstedt's.

These stories led into Stanley's message. He spoke on our worldly appetites and the need to rule over them, rather than allowing them to rule over us. Stanley shared the Biblical story of Esau trading his birthright, and the right to be an ancestor to Jesus Christ, for a bowl of stew. Had it not been for Esau's hunger, Moses would have encountered the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Esau.

While Scripture confirmed Stanley's theory, his point was movingly solidified by the simplicity of his own personal experience. Andy Stanley and Louie Giglio were once childhood friends with a penchant for showing a slightly mischievous side. Now, they are bonded men charging a new generation to live for Jesus.

You have no idea how God may use you to accomplish things for Him in this world.

Passion 2011 Lesson of the Day: God has mighty plans for each of us; plans that far exceed our own expectations. Don't trade God's plan for your life to gain any temporal satisfaction.

Pass on that bowl of stew.