My first Passion event (after hearing about them for at least two years!) was a 2-day Passion '08 Regional in Atlanta. It was then I knew I really wanted to attend a 4-day conference while I was still in the "student" age group. (Passion attendees are 18-25 years old) Louie Giglio, the founder and still leader of the Passion movement, preached a three-part message, entitled Hope, at Regionals. With permission, he read passages from the journal of a girl named Ashley. The passages unfolded Ashley's testimony and the influence of her roommate, Christa, a Christian and Passion '07 attendee. Correspondence between Ashley and Louie Giglio began as Ashley wrote to Louie as a Senior at the University of Florida. (the first email Ashley wrote to Louie is posted on the Passion Blog for Jan 30th, 2007) Louie read some of her emails along with the journal passages. He also read emails from a young boy torn by a great tragedy, confused as to where God was in it all. The boy's older sister had recently passed away of severe internal bleeding after a car accident. She was just days away from her college graduation. Louie said it took him days to respond to the boy because he was at such a loss for words....he didnt want to resort to the cliches or empty comfort... In the end he told the boy to look to the Cross. It's not ok and it'll never be the same again but God is steadfast. His plans are to give us a hope and a future. He is the only light in the darkness.
As the story progressed, we learned that this boy was Ashley's brother. Ashley passed away in May of 2008. The telling and retelling of her testimony throughout the Passion movement and beyond has brought many to Christ! Her death, though heart-wrenching for her family, friends and anyone who hears her story, is not in vain but for the glory of God! It has also brought countless more to the foot of the cross in times of fading hope and faith; when circumstances cloud our view of Christ.
Something Ashley's brother wrote to Louie stood out to me: he had taken some time to be alone with God- to cry, to be angry, to ask God why He didn't save his sister when so many were fervently praying for her to recover from her injuries.... God reminded him that he did save Ashley.... She had written to Louie that she had "life for the first time in [her] 22 years" when she met Jesus. By God's grace, Ashley accepted Christ as her Savior five months before she passed away.
As Louie preached the Passion 08 messages, unfolding Ashley's testimony, he also drew in the effect her testimony had on her family. Ashley's mother, step father and brother were believers but her father was an atheist at the time Ashley became a Christian. After Ashley's mother wrote Louie to inform him of Ashley's passing, her brother and father also corresponded with Louie. Ashley's brother struggled to understand why God would take Ashley home so soon after answering their prayers for her salvation. Ashley's father wanted to understand why his "princess", his girl who clearly held the entirety of his heart until her death, respected Louie and the Passion movement so much. He wanted to understand the drastic change in her life. After some time building a friendship, Mike asked Louie if he could ask a few questions about Christianity. One of the first was what Ashley meant by having "life for the first time in [her] 22 years". Ashley met the Creator, the Messiah, the Almighty God. Her life as a believer on earth was short but full of hope and joy. She's with Him now, sitting at His feet, praising and glorifying the Heavenly Father she fell in love with while she was with us on earth.
At the time of Passion 2008 Regionals, correspondence between Louie, his wife Shelly and Ashley's family was ongoing. Louie told us that there was no neatly tied bow at the end of the story.....
In reference to this, Louie had this to say in today's blog post (exactly three years after Louie received Ashley's first email!!!!)
As I shared this message of hope in the midst of pain, I would always end by saying something like, “I know, if this was a good “preacher story” there would be a nice bow on the end and Ashley’s dad would walk out and close our time in prayer….but life doesn’t work out that way and I don’t have a bow. Often, in this world, we don’t get a bow.” People would always laugh. Yet something powerful would settle over the message that rings true. Life doesn’t always end up working out the way we plan. You know it and I know it, but it doesn’t take one ounce of power away from our message, or the cross of Christ which immovably anchors our hope in a God who loves us no matter what, and who paints on a canvas bigger than we can see or imagine.
Mike and I would often write and talk back and forth about the life his daughter found in Christ. After hearing the Hope message he wrote, “I’m not sure you’re ever going to get your bow.”After three years, I sometimes wondered if he was right.But, as I say after sharing Ashley’s journal and story of faith, “Never count God out!” A few days ago an email came with the subject: New Year. New Life. It reads in part (with permission)…
Louie,
I hope your 2010 has started off great. I can hardly believe that it has been almost 3 years since my daughter first told me told me she was a Christan and I told her she was crazy. The last few months I have been doing a lot of reading and studying about Christianity…
I have been attending a Bible Study with some men that I work with. Christianity is not something that I ever thought would be a part of my life. But for almost 3 years it has been something I think about every day. I am not the same man I was a few years ago…
In studying Christianity I have discovered that I do not have to be alone. I have also discovered that I can have my life back. I can regain the joy that I had when I was with my Princess. To use words that you would say. I have taken my ribbons and tied a bow, 3 days ago I accepted Christ as my savior. It is the first time in 3 years I have had any peace in my life.
Holding a Bow
Mike
I just sat there staring at my Blackberry. The same one I stared at the day I got the news from Ashley’s mom that she had died and was home with Jesus. Both days my eyes filled with tears. That day in 2007 they were tears of overwhelming sadness. This day in January 2010 they were tears of stunning joy. All I could think of was Mike and Ashley together in heaven, forever linked by a common love for the One who saves and restores!
LG
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Mike, the whole world has been praying for you and I’m pretty sure that there are fist pumps pumping, tears flowing and shouts being shouted right now in places all around the globe. I know there are in heaven!
Welcome to the family, Mike!
