by Eric Moreno
This year, I was blessed to be able to start the year off by taking my college students to Passion! If you don’t know what Passion is, it’s a gathering of 40,000 plus college students and young adults (18-25 years old-and their leaders) for worship, speakers, and to focus on the name of Jesus coming into the New Year. Organized by the Passion Movement, the event aims to inspire a generation to live for God’s glory.
I'm here to tell you Passion 2026 was an amazing experience….even as a 43-year-old!
Here's a recap of some of my favorite Passion 2026 speakers.
Opening a Window into History-Jon Tyson
Jon was very informative and engaging with this generation of believers. He not only presented the Bible in a way that was very comprehensive through context and experience, but he also was great at looking at this generation’s statistical information concerning revival and took a deep dive on how it relates to allowing this generation to be more intentional with their faith as opposed to just simply wearing the badge they are given by society and the statistics.
Quote from his talk:
What you tolerate the next person will validate and what they validate the next person will celebrate!
Embrace the Process-A conversation with Sadie Robertson Huff, Ben Stuart and Jonathan Pokluda
This was by far one of the most intentional conversations that I’ve seen at Passion. It focused on diving into the process as opposed to wanting immediacy in how God works. It was a very intergenerational talk that allowed this generation to not only see the beautification in the outcome, but to also help them see the beautification in the process as well…that doesn’t seem like beauty when you’re in it, but is beautiful when you reflect on it. They talk about how jobs, people and experiences have trained them to do ministry even now to which it was very reflective of one generation learning from another. There was even a time when they had a true to life Gospel Conversation with someone in the crowd.
Quote from their talk:
Everyone wants to see the outcome, no one wants to see the process
Questions from this Generation-Cliffe Knechtle
I’ve never seen a crowd of young adults go absolutely crazy over a 71 one year old man until Cliffe was introduced at Passion. It’s almost as if he was the Taylor Swift of Passion (I know that’s a stretch). Cliffe was very engaging and this talk was basically covering questions that this generation as about faith. He embraced questions about doubt, evil, sexuality and even God’s design for each and every one of us. He embraced every question and answered it as thoroughly as he could by connecting each answer with the story, design and foundation of Jesus Christ and His word.
Quote from the talk:
Life is unfair. God is fair. Don’t get the two mixed up.
Broken Arrows Will Soar Again-Louie Giglio
This was a very reflective message of Louie’s that took a deep dive into Scripture. He highlighted the aspect of people not knowing who Jesus is, yet the demons can actually recognize Him. He hyped up the action of walking in the world and living as sent as opposed to living to just live. He referenced Luke 8 as to look at the demon possessed man and he explained that our demons that we had will have no place in how our God wants to use us as He’s rescues us from those demons. He talks about the action of not only accepting Jesus, but telling others about Him as well.
Quote from the sermon:
We don’t just want to gather everyone in a stadium. We want to launch people from this stadium.
From Pit to Palace-Christine Caine
This was a very driving talk that was Biblically engaging as Christine walked us through the life of Joseph. She got very vulnerable with us as she testified from her own accounts and also spoke deep into the heart of everyone there that may also be dealing with injustice as well. She mentioned specifics on forgiveness and how not to hold on to it makes our lives bitter, but to embrace forgiveness in time even if it’s from a distance. She goes into the favor of Joseph to the injustice that he experienced as he recognized profession over position.
Quote from the sermon:
Just because you’re not on the throne doesn’t mean He’s not testing you in the house.
Passion is an incredible experience. It's an honor to be able to take my students and experience the Holy Spirit moving so powerfully in that stadium...and continuing his work in their lives after we return home.
I pray that you are led by the Spirit this year and always.
—Eric
ChurchSource Account Manager & Youth Pastor
P.S. Check out the latest books and Bible studies from Passion 2026 speakers.
Jon Tyson
Sadie Robertson Huff
- Who Are You Following? (Book)
- Who Are You Following? (Study Guide w/ Streaming)
- Who Are You Following? (Guided Journal)
- Live on Purpose (Devotional)
- The Next Step (Devotional)
- Live Fearless (Book)
- How to Put Love First (Book)
- Live (Book)
Ben Stuart
- Single, Dating, Engaged, Married (Book)
- Single, Dating, Engaged, Married (Study Guide w/ Streaming)
- Rest & War (Book)
- Rest & War (Study Guide w/ Streaming)
Jonathan Pokluda
Cliffe Knechtle