Kansas City-General Superintendent Jerry D. Porter addressed the Nazarene Headquarters (now Global Ministry Center) Centennial Celebration planning team, posing the question, "What is passion?" Porter spoke on defining what is truly important-what one is passionate about as, "that for which one would die."

The 2008 Nazarene Centennial Celebration, while yet a few years away, is receiving attention regarding planning for participation, events, and faith projections. Porter spoke of "turning points that are important to passion and its development." He affirmed the need for such events and reflected on the emerging sense of hope and optimism stemming from recent reports of growth and outreach.

"Pentecost was such an event," said Porter. "It not only gave birth to the Church, it infected those early believers with a new passion." He added, "Such turning points are common in nature. 'Normal' might be to continue where we are. 'Passion' demands that we break out of the comfort zones of preoccupation with maintenance, traditional methodologies, and limited vision."

Porter then asked the group, "Are these merely words in the wind or are they convictions of our hearts?"

In his conclusion, Porter challenged the team to understand that, "Passion-driven change can bring fresh glory to God. Indeed, God often changes his methods to bring new glory to himself." Members of the planning group were urged to remember that, "Passionate people embrace God's new future, infecting others with their contagion."

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