It's scary take risks, to run the race without regard to what people think, to take leaps beyond your comfort zone, to come face to face with opposition...but then I look back at people alive today who I deeply admire.
I know this world has many dedicated followers of Christ , true dreamers and heroes, who are amidst the workplace, our schools, and companies. Called to bring Him there, I am in awe of them as well and their obedience to His call. However, I do know not everyone is meant for that. There are some God sets a fire in to herald the reality of His presence to.
I know this world has many dedicated followers of Christ , true dreamers and heroes, who are amidst the workplace, our schools, and companies. Called to bring Him there, I am in awe of them as well and their obedience to His call. However, I do know not everyone is meant for that. There are some God sets a fire in to herald the reality of His presence to.
There are some serious dreamers.
These are people who are not just talkers but people who worship Christ in deed and truth. They have showed me that true faith is one that treasures Christ and puts Him ahead of themselves. These are people who continue to fire my heart for the gospel.
These are people who are not just talkers but people who worship Christ in deed and truth. They have showed me that true faith is one that treasures Christ and puts Him ahead of themselves. These are people who continue to fire my heart for the gospel.
Louie Giglio (Passion 268 Generation Movement)
This man has impacted me more than he may ever know. His deepest desire was to see a generation awake to the love and fire of Christ. He desperately wanted to see Christ magnified and for hearts to be set ablaze for the sake of Christ's coming Kingdom. His fearless pursuit of this dream has ignited me as I have listened to the music, tuned into these sermons, and have been continually inspired by one man's courageous and fierce love.
This uncontainable passion explodes from his words and dedication to preaching Truth.
This is one of the only verses I can use to capture Giglio's passion for God.
This is one of the only verses I can use to capture Giglio's passion for God.
"But if I say, “I will not mention his word
or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." -Jeremiah 20:9
or speak anymore in his name,”
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." -Jeremiah 20:9
Steven Furtick (Elevation Church)
Furtick's bold love for the gospel and for Truth to be magnified inspires me to delve deeper into the Scriptures. His inspiring and simple approach to preaching reminds me that the gospel rests upon the power of God and not human wisdom or eloquence (1 Corinthians 2:1).
Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Community Church)
Hybels began a church so many years ago that is now sparking new church planting in the U.S. and across the nations. Being a catalyst for leadership reformation and training, he is pressing for deep change.
John Piper (Pastor and author of "Don't Waste Your Life")
His bold and blunt sharing of the gospel may turn some away but the clear cut honesty blazes a path for all to see the cross-centered life will always be worth and in fact, is the only way to the abundant life Jesus promises (John 10:10). His book "Don't Waste Your Life" challenges me to come face to face with the fact that this life flies by and the way to make it all count is centering it around the King of Kings and going all out for His sake!
Bill Bright- (Campus Crusade for Christ)
These ordinary people said "yes" to the dreams Jesus laid upon their hearts and because of this the course of my life has been changed.
Because Bill Hybels said "yes" back in the 1970's to the dream of building an Acts 2 church, I am changed. Being a mediocre, half-hearted Christian my whole life, I was basically forced to attend a Willow Creek youth group my sophomore year of high school after I dealt with some drama and friend issues. Praise be to Him for in this youth group where Christ's pursuit for my heart became known to me and I was drawn into God's radical love that had been there all along.
Because Louie Giglio said "yes" back in the late 90's to pursuing Christ's call of a generational awakening for high school and college students, I am changed. This passion to see a fire kindled in the souls of this generation, to see the ruins of generations come to life here and now, and to inspire students to rise up into their calling within the Kingdom has changed my life. Sparking in my heart that day I recommitted my life to Christ on a retreat the summer heading into my freshman year, passion has only continued to grow. His passionate call inspired and empowered me to pursue a movement of Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) at Hope College where I attend school. The Passion Movement continues to challenge me to enlarge my perspective and realize the world-wide awakening Christ is stirring not only here in America but all across the world. It empowers me to play the part the Lord has assigned to me and to realize the eternal impact of my days on this earth.
Because Steven Furtick said "yes" to God's call on his life at the age of 16 and began to pursue His call to become a pastor in a major city, I have been impacted. His fierce love of God's people and hatred of injustice and evil in the world continues to challenge me to love and stretch myself as I seek Christ daily.
Because Bill Bright said "yes" to God's call to begin Campus Crusade for Christ- thousands upon thousands are impacted by the gospel and commissioned to reach their schools with the gospel. Because he said yes to Jesus there are now ministries popping up all over the country set on fulfilling the Great Commission. I have been impacted deeply by this ministry's mission and now Cru has been launched on Hope's campus and if the Lord wills it will continue to set a fire in the student body from Christ Himself that will extend far beyond the borders of Holland, Michigan.
Because Bill Bright said "yes" to God's call to begin Campus Crusade for Christ- thousands upon thousands are impacted by the gospel and commissioned to reach their schools with the gospel. Because he said yes to Jesus there are now ministries popping up all over the country set on fulfilling the Great Commission. I have been impacted deeply by this ministry's mission and now Cru has been launched on Hope's campus and if the Lord wills it will continue to set a fire in the student body from Christ Himself that will extend far beyond the borders of Holland, Michigan.
The most powerful thing of all is that when I look at every one of these people I see Jesus. I see dreamers whose very heart and soul's desire is for the world to see the One who changed them. They fervently desire for all of the lost to see the One who rescued their life from emptiness and brought them to the true purpose of this life-- to magnify the Risen Christ, Precious Savior, and Majestic King of Glory.
If each of these people had chosen to back away, to step backwards into safety, and away from the dream the Lord had revealed to them, I know I would not be the same. Christ used each one of them (and many others in my life) to show me what authentic, Christ-exalting leaders look like who day by day ask the world to follow them as they follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Turning to Scripture, we see their prime example, Jesus, whose eyes were firmly set on the Father and His will. John 14:31 says, "I have done as the Father has commanded me so that the world may know that I love the Father." Kneeling down in the Garden of Gesthemane, He prays if possible for this cup to pass. Tears of blood ran down His perfect face as He agonized over the road ahead of Him and yet these words escaped His lips: "...Not my will but Yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
And as I survey these dreamers, my heart screams YES!
Jesus, show Your face, Your glory, Your great calling upon the lives of this generation and generations past. Every single person has a part to play if they would allow the King of Glory into the doors of their hearts. The ruins of the generations past would stop HERE. New life could begin today. I believe we would see a decrease in suicide, depression, divorce, hopelessness, apathy, and we would see a generation rise up to meet Christ- the Healer, Sanctifier, Lover, and Savior of the world.
To anyone who is reading this, I know you long for more in your life. Christian or non-Christian, You have longed to belong to something larger than yourself, you've longed to feel accepted, you've longed to feel valued, you've longed to dream.
And this is your push:
Go. Dream. Live life in love with Christ.
Don't let your dreams just be dreams. Seek the Lord and ask Him if they line up with His will. If they do, you'll be sure to see them come to pass as your pursue Christ and surrender them over to Him.
Say "yes" to what God is laying on your heart to pursue and let Him set your heart ablaze with His life in you. You never know those who will be impacted by your obedience.
Jesus, show Your face, Your glory, Your great calling upon the lives of this generation and generations past. Every single person has a part to play if they would allow the King of Glory into the doors of their hearts. The ruins of the generations past would stop HERE. New life could begin today. I believe we would see a decrease in suicide, depression, divorce, hopelessness, apathy, and we would see a generation rise up to meet Christ- the Healer, Sanctifier, Lover, and Savior of the world.
To anyone who is reading this, I know you long for more in your life. Christian or non-Christian, You have longed to belong to something larger than yourself, you've longed to feel accepted, you've longed to feel valued, you've longed to dream.
And this is your push:
Go. Dream. Live life in love with Christ.
Don't let your dreams just be dreams. Seek the Lord and ask Him if they line up with His will. If they do, you'll be sure to see them come to pass as your pursue Christ and surrender them over to Him.
Say "yes" to what God is laying on your heart to pursue and let Him set your heart ablaze with His life in you. You never know those who will be impacted by your obedience.
