20,000 at Passion 2015 in Atlanta hear Louie Giglio challenge 'Jesus generation'

ATLANTA (Christian Examiner) -- The Passion 2015 Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, was the host for more than 20,000 people over the weekend, according to reports. Young adults aged 18 to 25 from all around the world came together to worship, give to the needy, and listen to messages from Louis Giglio, founder of the conference and pastor of Passion City Church in Atlanta.

In the first of the Passion 2015 weekend gatherings, Jan. 2-4, students from 1,000 different universities and 22 countries heard from various Christian speakers. The Passion Band, which included Chris Tomlin, Christy Nockels, Kristian Stanfill and Brett Younker, played a Friday night worship performance.

Pastor Giglio's Friday night message centered on Jesus Christ's last words on the cross, tetelestai, Greek for "it is finished."

"We're beginning where Christ ended because His last word is our first," the pastor told the thousands of attendees. "His last expression on earth makes possible all of our expressions on earth. We're going to the end of His life to find the beginning of ours—the end of His word to find the beginning of our words."

"We live in a 'me' and 'my' generation, but we are the Jesus generation united for His fame. We rally around the life and death of Jesus. We pray tonight that we will receive the Gospel and relinquish our lives in total surrender," Giglio continued.

Other speakers from the weekend included Francis Chan, John Piper, Christine Caine and Judah Smith. Lecrae, Matt Chandler, Carl Lentz, and Ben Stuart also participated.

Those who attended the Atlanta conference were encouraged to bring towels and socks for the homeless. In past conferences they have given over $7 million to fight against modern-day slavery.

The next Passion gatherings will take place at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta from Jan. 16-18 and at Houston's Toyota Center on Jan. 30-Feb. 1.