Passion 2014

Hey y'all!

So last weekend (January 17-18), I had the awesome opportunity to go to the Passion Conferenece 2014! For you who don't know what that is, it's a Christian conference for college students! 

I went last year for 2013, but it was for four days whereas this one was only 2 days. At Passion 2014, we had 20,000 college students and leaders at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta to gather together in God's name! Just wow! I don't know what it is, but there is something about gathering with other Christians and only worshipping 1 God. And the students come from all over the world! It's amazing! 

We heard many new songs off of the new Passion record that will come out maybe in the spring. 

Do Something Now is a project that Passion puts on every year at their conference, and it is always something different. Lat year it was End It Movement, a movement to stop human trafficking, and this year was raising money to send bibles to Iran! The goal was to raise $250,000 to send at least 25,000 bibles to families. Well because so many students were inspired by this, Passion rose $335,000! So over 33,000 bibles are goo to families in Iran! God is so amazing! 

One thing I got out of Passion Conference, was realizing how deep it is for Jesus to had died for us. Yeah I always knew that Jesus died for us to save us from our sin, but I never just took time to really sit and meditate on it. And it seemed that's what the whole conference was about! Almost every song was about that, and 2 sermons were about that. Just to sit and think how it was OUR fault that Jesus died. It wasn't just the cross it was OUR cross! It's just so hard to think that He didn't deserve our punishment, but He took it anyways! Think about it!

Passion was amazing this year! And I can't wait for next year! 

Here are some pics from Passion 2014!

That Sunday, we were able to pass through Birmingham, AL and go to The Church At Brook Hills where David Platt preaches! It was absolutely amazing to hear him preach and was also a pleasure meeting him!

^David Platt and I

^our group visiting The Church At Brook Hills!

Thanks for reading! 

Share Love. Be Love,

-Tonya!  :)

Christmas Break and a New Year!

Hey y'all!

So my first semester of college ended, and Christmas break was here! 3 weeks away from school! Where most people would be happy about not going to school and going home to their families for the holidays, I was thinking, "Home? I love it here at Colin and I don't want to go to back home!" I love my family, but I see them every weekend and they don't live hours away like many college kids do. So staying at Colin all the time isn't a big deal, I love it here! It's pretty much my home away from home! 

Christmas time isn't such a big deal to me anymore. It's great getting together with the family, but ever since my daddy passed away when I was 15, Christmas just hasn't been the same. The feelings aren't the same. I'm sure some know what I'm talking about.

The whole time I was home, I was thinking, "Man! I just want to hop on a plane and go do some missions somewhere!" China was an option for me, but the time I had heard about it, I only had 3 days to decide to go there or not. That's not a lot of time for me. So I knew that there was always next year, and I do plan on going!

For New Years Eve, my church's youth leadership team traveled to Xtreme Winter in Gatlinburg, TN for 3 days! It was an amazing experience! We say 8 amazing bands, and 4 speakers! I was also able to meet 2 different band members! AT&T he conference, we kicked off the New Year worshipping Jesus with the band Skillet band! Also as the youth leadership team, we got together to talk about things that we could do differently in the youth group and what type of missions hat we could do throughout this new year!

^the leadership team!

^one of the lead singers from the band Unhindered!

^oneof the lead singers from the band For King and Country, Joel!

^the first night at Xtreme Winter

Now I'm back at Colin, and I couldn't be happier to be back! I have a new roommate, and her name is Carlianne, and we get along great! I'm ready to see what God has in store for us! 

^me and Carlianne!

I getting ready for Passion Conference  next weekend, and getting ready to raise money for my trip to the Philippines! Mission trip over spring break, then ending the last semester of my freshman year here at Colin, then off to summer missions in the Philippines!

It'll be here before I know it!

Show Love. Be Love.

Tonya, :)