Atlanta Hosts Passion 2012

Nearly 45,000 college-aged students and their chaperones have descended on Atlanta for Passion 2012. Founded by Christian speaker and pastor Louie Giglio and his wife Shelley, Passion conferences have become a driving force among evangelical college students. This is an age when many people leave the faith of their parents, some never to return. Giglio was once one of those, taking years to return to a life of faith. His goal is to keep the fires for God burning and usher in a generation that emerges from college full of promise and hope.

The line-up for the four day conference is impressive. Speakers include Giglio, John Piper, Francis Chan, Beth Moore, and Christine Caine. Musical worship leaders include Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Kristian Stanfill, Christie Nockels, Charlie Hall, David Crowder Band, LeCrae, and Hillsong United.

But Giglio is quick to point out that the most important person in the building is neither speaker nor musician.

"It's awesome for you to appreciate (the artists), but we want the name of Jesus to be the only name we lift up. We want the world to know the One that we already know, Jesus."

As has become a Passion tradition, the four-day event begins with prayer Passion-style. Attendees are asked to join in groups of three, forming a prayer triangle. The concept is built on the Scripture promise that a three-fold chord cannot be broken.

The focus for Passion 2012 is Freedom. Attendees are educated in regards to the 27 million people who are currently in some form of captivity in the world. There are more slaves today than at any point in human history.

"If we thought slavery was a thing of the past," Giglio says. "We haven't been paying attention."

The plight is personalized with a film, segments of which will be shown over the four days of the conference. The film follows the travails of three individuals whose lives have been affected by some sort of slavery. Meena from Nepal was enslaved for two years. Raman was born into bonded slavery at a rice mill in India. Katy, a Russian girl who traveled to Greece in search of employment, found herself a sex slave. Her passport was taken from her. She was beaten and her family threatened with death should she try to escape. These are stories told in their own words, from their own homes, and powerfully portrayed the seriousness of this crisis.

All sessions are streamed live on the Passion website and remain available for viewing for 24 hours after the session has ended. As of Tuesday, more than 45,000 additional people in all 50 states and from 96 foreign countries have watched the streaming videos.

Atlanta attendees and online viewers are all being asked to make a difference through donations which will be divided between six organizations that work to prevent, rescue, or rehabilitate victims of slavery. The goal is $1,000,000. They are already more than half-way there.