Passion Conferences

Quality 0.50 · 1 view · Updated 2 months ago

Religious organization

title: "Passion Conferences" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1997-establishments-in-texas", "evangelical-christian-conferences", "evangelical-christian-music-festivals", "recurring-events-established-in-1997", "annual-events-in-the-united-states", "international-conferences", "youth-conferences", "youth-festivals"] description: "Religious organization" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passion_Conferences" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Religious organization ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox organization"]

FieldValue
namePassion Conferences
logoPassion_Conference_Hurricane_Logo.jpg
type501(c)(3)
founded_date1997
founderLouie Giglio
headquarters515 Garson Drive NE, Atlanta, Georgia
homepage
::

| name = Passion Conferences | logo = Passion_Conference_Hurricane_Logo.jpg | type = 501(c)(3) | founded_date = 1997 | founder = Louie Giglio | headquarters = 515 Garson Drive NE, Atlanta, Georgia | origins = | key_people = | area_served = | product = | focus = | method = | revenue = | endowment = | num_volunteers = | num_employees = | num_members = | subsid =

  • Passion City Church
  • Passion
  • sixstepsrecords (music label)
  • Passion Publishing | owner = | Non-profit_slogan = | homepage = | dissolved = | footnotes =

Passion Conferences (also referred to as Passion and the 268 Generation, originally named Choice Ministries) is a Christian organization founded by Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin in 1997. The organization is known for its annual gatherings of young adults between the ages of 18 and 25, more specifically college students.

The organization is also responsible for sixstepsrecords, the worship band Passion, and the megachurch Passion City Church, which serves as the organization's headquarters. Until 2009, the headquarters were in Roswell, a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. The first conference was Passion '97, held in Austin, Texas. According to the organization, its purpose is to unite college students for a "spiritual awakening in this generation." The foundation of the organization's purpose can be found in Isaiah 26:8.

Since its start, Passion Conferences has operated national conferences annually. In 2008, Passion Conferences launched its first global tour that visited 17 countries, starting in Kyiv, Ukraine and finishing in Sydney, Australia. Since then, Passion Conferences have continued to host gatherings and tours nationally and globally. Most conferences are held in Atlanta, Georgia, home of Passion's world headquarters, at either State Farm Arena or Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Georgia_Dome_-_Passion_Conference.JPG" caption="Passion Conferences, at [[Georgia Dome]], Atlanta, in 2013"] ::

1985–1997: Early years

In 1985, Louie and Shelley Giglio founded Choice Ministries at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Choice Ministries began as a campus-based student ministry and after 10 years of ministry at Baylor, Louie and Shelley moved to Atlanta, Georgia. In 1997, Giglio along with Chris Tomlin founded Passion Conferences in Atlanta under the banner of Choice Ministries to see a spiritual awakening among college students all across the United States and the world.

1997–2007: National success

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/Passion_São_Paulo_-_Chris_Tomlin.jpg" caption="[[Chris Tomlin]] performing at the May 23–24, 2008 Passion Conference in [[São Paulo]], Brazil."] ::

The first conference took place in Austin, Texas where thousands of college aged students came together during January 1–4, 1997. The first event had 2,000 students in attendance. The following year grew to 5,000 attendees in Fort Worth. Passion have hosted five more national gatherings in the next decade (1998, 1999, 2005, 2006, 2007), which involved more than 70,000 college students in total. During this decade, thousands of additional college students connected with Passion through one of several other gatherings, including the OneDay Gatherings in 2000 and 2003 and the Passion Experience Tour. Passion also became known for its worship albums over this decade, which featured many prominent contemporary Christian artists like Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and David Crowder.

2008–present: Passion City Church and world tours

In June 2008, while speaking for pastor Andy Stanley, Giglio announced the planting of Passion City Church in Atlanta, Georgia with Chris Tomlin. Along with Tomlin, Matt and Beth Redman, and a small core team, Passion City Church officially gathered in fall of 2008. Passion City Church held its first service on February 15, 2009, in Atlanta, Georgia at the Tabernacle. In 2017, Passion City Church announced plans to expand to two new locations - Passion City Church, Cumberland and Passion City Church, D.C.

Also in 2008, Passion Conferences embarked on its first world tour, reaching out to 17 different cities in all six continents. Passion has continued to launch world tours and regular tours throughout the years, including Passion NYC Subway Series, Regionals '07–'08, Passion 2010 University Tour, Passion 2012 University Tour, A Night of Worship with Passion Tour, Passion: Let the Future Begin Tour, and Passion: Take It All Tour.

In 2017, Passion held its annual collegiate event in Atlanta's Georgia Dome, former home of the Atlanta Falcons before renovations. That year, Passion encouraged participants to sponsor more than 7,000 children from Compassion International. The conference also saw the debut of sixsteprecords artist Jimi Cravity and the appearance of country music singer Carrie Underwood, which incited backlash from some right-wing Christian fundamentalists.

Passion 2019 was held in four sold-out arenas and churches throughout the United States, including Atlanta's State Farm Arena, Duluth's (Georgia) Infinite Energy Center, and in the cities of Dallas, Texas and Washington, D.C.

Passion 2020 was held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, a return to a single stadium. More than 50,000 people were in attendance, the largest of the Passion gatherings.

In 2024, Passion hosted its third conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, with approximately 55,000 students in attendance from the evening of January 3 to the morning of January 5. Musical artists included Crowder, Sean Curran, Kari Jobe Carnes, Cody Carnes, Brooke Ligertwood, KB, Phil Wickham, and Brandon Lake. Speakers included Louie & Shelley Giglio, Sadie Robertson Huff & Christian Huff, Christine Caine, Ben Stuart, Levi Lusko, Jonathan Pokluda, and Earl McLellan.

In 2025, they brought together 40,000 people in two separate events.

Passion 2026 was held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX, from January 1-3, 2026. Musical talent included Crowder, KB, Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Brooke Ligertwood, and of course, Passion Music. Speakers included Louie and Shelley Giglio, Sadie Robertson Huff, Jonathan Pokluda, Christine Caine, and others.

Conferences

Passion's annual conferences attract around 65,000 participants. The conference invites prominent Christian speakers and musical artists annually.

Speakers

Pastor Louie Giglio, founder of Passion, often speaks during the conferences. John Piper is also a frequent speaker at Passion Conferences. Other speakers that have spoken at Passion Gatherings include: Francis Chan, Andy Stanley, Beth Moore, Judah Smith, Nick Rodriguez, Christine Caine, Carl Lentz, Lecrae, Gary Haugen, Ben Stuart, David Platt, Matt Chandler, Levi Lusko, and Jay and Katherine Wolf, authors of the book "Hope Heals".

Music

Passion (worship band) has released 28 albums over two decades. Most of the Passion albums are live albums, recorded during performances in conferences or tours. Passion Conferences also owns the record label Sixstepsrecords, whose artist roster includes Crowder and Passion.

Sixstepsrecords artists form the core group of artists performing at the Passion Gatherings, including Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill, Melodie Malone, Brett Younker, and Jimi Cravity.

Other artists that have performed at Passion Gatherings include Lecrae, Hillsong United, Jesus Culture, Kari Jobe, Tenth Avenue North, Shane and Shane, SonicFlood, Gungor, Rend Collective, and Sean Curran of Bellarive.

Door holders

The men and women who volunteer at the conferences are called door holders. They serve on different teams such as community groups, logistics and registration and are considered to be at the core of the gatherings. They travel from all over the nation to serve at these gatherings. At various times throughout the year Passion City Church has special events for Door Holders.

Charitable contributions

In 2011, Passion started the Do Something Now fundraising campaign, later renamed 72DaysForFreedom. The fundraising campaign encourages participants in Passion's annual conferences to donate to different charitable organizations. In the Passion 2011 conference, more than 22,000 students raised over $1.1 million towards multiple causes. At the 2012 conference, students raised $3.3 million to fund seven different organizations that battle sex trafficking. Passion 2013 saw the launch of the End It Movement, an anti-human trafficking fundraising campaign. Attendees gave more than $3.6 million towards various causes at this conference.

At the 2015 Atlanta conference, attendees collected items to donate to Atlanta's City of Refuge homeless ministry. In 2016, participants raised more than $800,000 towards Project Haraka حركة, a partnership with World Vision USA to fund the building of a health facility in Syria. The building is intended to serve as the first newborn ICU in opposition-controlled Syria.{{Cite web | url = http://www.thechristianbeat.org/index.php/news/1439-passion-2016-raises-over-800-000-to-build-hospital-in-syria | title = Passion 2016 Raises Over $800,000 To Build Hospital in Syria | last = Longs | first = Herb | website = TheChristianBeat.org | date = January 6, 2016 | access-date = February 25, 2016

Music

| name = Passion | background = group_or_band | alias = Passion Music | origin = Atlanta, Georgia, US | genre = Contemporary worship music, contemporary Christian music | years_active = –present | label = | current_members = * Chris Tomlin

Passion's first record, Our Soul's Desire, was released in 1997 under Star Song Records. After Star Song artists transferred to Sparrow Records, Passion released two more live albums, including 1999's Better Is One Day, which saw Passion charting on the Billboard Christian Albums chart for the first time. In 2000, Passion Conferences founded sixstepsrecords as a division of Passion Conferences. As partners of Sparrow Records, a division of Capitol CMG, sixstepsrecords has many prominent contemporary Christian musicians under their label. Their first album on the newly created label, The Road to One Day, became the first Passion album to chart on the Billboard 200.

Since the creation of sixstepsrecords, Passion has released more than twenty more live albums and two studio albums, nine of which have consecutively charted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian Albums chart. The lead single off of 2012's live album White Flag, "One Thing Remains", became Passion's first No. 1 song on the Billboard Christian Songs chart. Passion's Let The Future Begin (2013) and Take It All (2014) both peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, making them Passion's highest charting albums.

Discography

Live albums

::data[format=table] | Year | Title | Peak chart positions | US Christ | US | |---|---|---|---|---| | 1997 | Our Soul's Desire | — | — | | | 1998 | Live Worship from the 268 Generation | — | — | | | 1999 | Better Is One Day | 4 | — | | | 2000 | One Day Live | 12 | 158 | | | 2002 | Our Love is Loud | 4 | 77 | | | 2003 | Sacred Revolution: Songs From OneDay 03 | 5 | 107 | | | 2004 | Hymns Ancient and Modern | 8 | 163 | | | 2005 | How Great Is Our God | 2 | 74 | | | 2006 | Everything Glorious | 2 | 69 | | | 2008 | God of This City | 3 | 74 | | | 2010 | Passion: Awakening | 1 | 15 | | | 2011 | Passion: Here for You | 1 | 11 | | | 2012 | Passion: White Flag | 1 | 5 | | | 2013 | Passion: Let the Future Begin | 1 | 4 | | | 2014 | Passion: Take It All | 1 | 4 | | | 2015 | Passion: Even So Come | 1 | 18 | | | 2017 | Worthy of Your Name | 1 | 32 | | | 2018 | Whole Heart | 1 | 37 | | | 2019 | Follow You Anywhere | 3 | — | | | 2020 | Roar (Live from Passion 2020) | 5 | — | | ::

Studio albums

::data[format=table] | Year | Title | Peak chart positions | US Christ | US | US Latin Pop | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | | The Road to One Day | 3 | 139 | — | | | | Passion: Salvation's Tide Is Rising | 1 | 19 | — | | | | Glorioso Día | — | — | 12 | | ::

"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilations and other releases

::data[format=table] | Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Notes | US Christ | US | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2005 | Passion 05 | — | — | | | | 2006 | Passion: The Early Session | — | — | | | | 2006 | The Best of Passion (So Far) | 9 | 168 | | | | 2007 | Live From Passion07 | — | — | | | | 2008 | A Generation United for His Renown | — | — | | | | 2014 | Passion: The Essential Collection | 9 | 133 | | | ::

Singles

::data[format=table title="List of singles and peak chart positions"] | Single | Year | Peak chart positions | US Christ. | US Christ. Airplay | US Christ. Digital | Album | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | "White Flag" (featuring Chris Tomlin) | 2012 | 8 | 3 | Passion: White Flag | | | | "One Thing Remains" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 1 | 6 | | | | | | "The Lord Our God" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 2013 | 18 | — | Passion: Let the Future Begin | | | | "In Christ Alone" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 2014 | 32 | 25 | — | | | | "My Heart Is Yours" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 13 | 12 | 32 | Passion: Take It All | | | | "Even So Come" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 2015 | 7 | 3 | — | "Even So Come" (radio version / live) [digital single] | | | "Remember" (featuring Brett Younker & Melodie Malone) | 2016 | 16 | 16 | 27 | Passion: Salvation's Tide Is Rising | | | "Simple Pursuit" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 41 | 27 | — | | | | | "Glorious Day" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 2017 | 25 | 19 | 14 | Worthy of Your Name | | | "God, You're So Good" (featuring Kristian Stanfill & Melodie Malone) | 2018 | — | 42 | — | Whole Heart | | | "God, You're So Good" (featuring Travis Greene) | — | — | — | non-album single | | | | "Follow You Anywhere" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 2019 | 45 | 38 | — | Follow You Anywhere | | | "Step Into the Light" (featuring Sean Curran) | — | — | — | Bigger Than I Thought | | | | "Behold the Lamb" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | — | — | — | Follow You Anywhere | | | | "There's Nothing That Our God Can't Do" (live) (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 32 | 31 | — | Roar (Live from Passion 2020) | | | | "King of Glory" (live) (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 44 | — | — | | | | | "Way Maker" (live) (featuring Kristian Stanfill, Kari Jobe, and Cody Carnes) | 2020 | 39 | — | 9 | | | ::

Other charted songs

::data[format=table title="List of singles and peak chart positions"] | Single | Year | Peak chart positions | US Christ | US Christ Digital | Album | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | "Burning In My Soul" (featuring Brett Younker) | 2013 | — | 41 | Passion: Let The Future Begin | | | "Come As You Are" (featuring Crowder) | 2014 | 43 | 24 | Passion: Take It All | | | "Salvation's Tide" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 2016 | — | 46 | Salvation's Tide Is Rising | | | "Worthy of Your Name" (featuring Sean Curran) | 2017 | 27 | 8 | Worthy of Your Name | | | "This We Know" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 35 | 22 | | | | | "How Great Is Your Love" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 50 | — | | | | | "Whole Heart" (featuring Kristian Stanfill) | 2018 | 48 | — | Whole Heart | | | "Reckless Love" (featuring Melodie Malone) | 31 | — | | | | | "Welcome The Healer" (featuring Sean Curran) | 2019 | 42 | — | Follow You Anywhere | | | "Bigger Than I Thought" (featuring Sean Curran) | 44 | — | | | | ::

Notes

References

References

  1. (2017-02-02). "Chris Tomlin - Biography {{!}} Billboard".
  2. Interview Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra. (February 24, 2009). "Q&A: Louie Giglio". ChristianityToday.com.
  3. "Baptist Press – Passion '07 kicks off with 21,000 adults in Atlanta – News with a Christian Perspective".
  4. Georgia Secretary of State office, control number 10018357
  5. (February 11, 2019). "Passion 2019 Conferences".
  6. "Passion Conferences".
  7. Tweet Email. (January 9, 2007). "Passion Conferences to Go International in 2008 | Christian News on Christian Today". Christiantoday.co.uk.
  8. Gaines, Adrienne S.. "College Students Worship, Pray, Serve at Passion 2010 Event". Charisma News.
  9. "Louie Giglio: The Heart Behind the Passion".
  10. VARA, RICHARD. (2005-10-22). "Giglio's passion led to ministry for college students".
  11. (January 24, 2003). "Passion Conferences 'OneDay 03'". The Christian Post.
  12. (October 26, 2003). "The 2003 Passion Experience Tour Dates".
  13. "One Day Live - Passion {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic". AllMusic.
  14. "Our Love Is Loud - Passion {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic". AllMusic.
  15. (May 11, 2008). "Chris Tomlin leaving Austin Stone". Human3rror.com.
  16. (October 10, 2008). "Giglio and Tomlin to plant church". Modern March.
  17. Zylstra, Sarah Eekhoff. (February 24, 2009) [[Christianity Today]]. ''[http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/february/28.17.html Q&A: Louie Giglio]'' - The Passion Conference founder talks about his overseas tour and the new church he has started with [[Matt Redman]] and [[Chris Tomlin]].
  18. "Passion City Church Approved for Cumberland Expansion". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  19. "Passion City Church // D.C.". Passion City Church.
  20. (January 18, 2014). "Over 20,000 Students Attend Passion 2014 Conference in Atlanta".
  21. (September 10, 2004). "Passion Reaches Out To NYC Students Through Subway Series".
  22. "Kristian Stanfill to Lead 26-City "Passion: Take It All" Tour, Kicking Off September 10". the media collective.
  23. Poole, Shelia. "Passion 2017: Atlanta faith-filled event reaches out to millennials". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  24. "Passion Students Sponsor Every Compassion Child in Four Countries".
  25. (January 24, 2017). "Passion 2017 Overview". The Echo.
  26. "Carrie Underwood incites Christian backlash after Passion 2017 performance". ajc.
  27. "Carrie Underwood Crashes Passion". CMT News.
  28. (January 6, 2017). "Carrie Underwood's Appearance at Passion 2017 Attacked".
  29. "American Family Association".
  30. (January 4, 2019). "Passion 2019: God's heart is to be Father to anxious generation hurt by divorce, iPhones and suicide".
  31. (January 4, 2019). "At Passion 2019, students raise $400G to translate Bible for deaf people across world". Fox News Channel.
  32. (2019-12-31). "Shine 'the Light of Jesus' in 2020: 65,000 at Passion Conference, Others Rally Global Prayer Relay".
  33. V, JM. (2019-12-30). "Passion 2020: 65,000 to Ring in New Year at Mercedes-Benz Stadium".
  34. Parke, Caleb. (2020-01-03). "At Passion 2020, college students raise over $1.2M for this cause".
  35. "Home".
  36. Julie Hays, [https://www.kwtx.com/2025/01/15/central-texas-pastor-speaks-thousands-young-christians-passion-2025-atlanta/ Central Texas pastor delivers message to thousands at Passion 2025 in Atlanta], kwtx.com, January 15, 2025
  37. Young, Charles. "Passion Conferences: Helping Christian youths spread the gospel". WV News.
  38. (August 12, 2014). "Passion Conference: It's Danger and Lack of Passion for Truth". Proclaim & Defend.
  39. (January 3, 2013). "Gary Haugen at Passion 2013: You Can Be the Generation That Ends Slavery in the World".
  40. (January 5, 2015). "More than 20,000 Gather in Worship at First Passion 2015 Conference". Christianity Daily.
  41. (March 31, 2015). "Matt Chandler: Passion 2015". Lighthouse Gospel Ministries.
  42. (January 3, 2016). "SBTS Prof Promoting Nefarious Charismatic Gathering? Say it Ain't So.". Pulpit & Pen.
  43. (January 7, 2017). "After 20 years with Passion conferences, here's two things I've learned • Notes from the Trail". Notes from the Trail.
  44. (November 6, 2014). "Discography". sixstepsrecords.
  45. "Door Holders". Passion 2015.
  46. "US Conference – Passion City Church".
  47. (January 7, 2017). "55,000 Pack Georgia Dome for Passion 2017, Sponsor Over 7,000 Children".
  48. "College kids feeling passion for conference".
  49. (January 6, 2011). "Passion 2011 Brings in Record High $1.1 Million". The Christian Post.
  50. "College kids vow to end slavery".
  51. (February 22, 2012). "Passion conference raises more than $3M for its campaign to end human trafficking". Cardinal & Cream.
  52. (January 11, 2013). "Passion 2013 Donates Over $3 Million to Fight Human Trafficking". The Christian Post.
  53. "Passion Conference returns to Philips Arena". WXIA.
  54. "Passion Conference {{!}} Crew One".
  55. Hallels. (October 2, 2014). "Passion Conference Has Raised $811,813.39 for Project Haraka".
  56. (January 8, 2017). "Wow: Millennials 'Make History' at Passion Conference by Sponsoring 7,000 Kids Across the Globe". CBN News.
  57. "Passion Students Sponsor Every Compassion Child in Four Countries". News & Reporting.
  58. Price, Deborah Evans. (December 5, 1998). "EMI's StarSong Shifts To Imprint Status".
  59. "Passion Chart History".
  60. "Passion".
  61. "Capitol Christian Music Group".
  62. "sixstepsrecords {{!}} Christian Music Archive".
  63. "Passion Chart History".
  64. "Passion Band Discography, Passion Conference, Passion Artist Database, Lyrics {{!}} Jesusfreakhideout.com".
  65. "Passion Chart History".
  66. "Passion Chart History: Christian Albums".
  67. "Passion Chart History: Billboard 200".
  68. (March 17, 2015). "iTunes Music - Passion: Even So Come (Deluxe Edition) [Live] by Passion". iTunes Store.
  69. "Integrity Direct - Passion: Worthy Of Your Name - Christian Music, Worship Music, Books and DVDs".
  70. "Passion Chart History: Top Album Sales".
  71. "Passion Chart History (Latin Pop Albums)".
  72. "Passion: the early session 01".
  73. Russ Breimeier. (December 2006). "The Best of Passion [So Far]". ChristianityToday.com.
  74. "Review: The Best Of Passion (So Far) – Passion – Cross Rhythms".
  75. "Review: A Generation United For His Renown – Passion – Cross Rhythms".
  76. "Passion: A Generation United For His Renown". Last.fm.
  77. (November 10, 2014). "Passion: The Essential Collection".
  78. "Passion Chart History (Hot Christian Songs)".
  79. "Passion Chart History (Christian Airplay)".
  80. "Passion Chart History (Christian Digital Song Sales)".
  81. "Passion Chart History {{!}} Billboard".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1997-establishments-in-texasevangelical-christian-conferencesevangelical-christian-music-festivalsrecurring-events-established-in-1997annual-events-in-the-united-statesinternational-conferencesyouth-conferencesyouth-festivals