By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

X: @joshuamaloni

IG: @imjoshuamaloni

Passion isn’t just the name of a popular Christian band, or its signature conference, it’s the emotion, desire and enthusiasm displayed by tens of thousands of fans following an encounter with group leaders Kristian Stanfill, Brett Younker and Melodie Malone.

What began 30 years ago with speakers Louie and Shelley Giglio has turned into a movement that includes music, teaching and a conference that drew more than 45,000 youth to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, earlier this year.

And while it’s easy to motivate teens and 20-somethings to action in the midst of a musical rally, Passion Music is seeing those same students sustain that zeal beyond these events and into their hometowns.

“The Lord is doing a great work on the earth right now, and there's a great awakening happening,” Stanfill said in a phone interview. “There's a stirring. There's a return back to Jesus, back to the God of gods, and this generation is leading the way. There's a hunger and a desire to not only gather – like, be in gatherings like Passion – but know God's word, worship him in spirit and truth, tell the world about their faith.

“I think a lot of it comes down to, this generation of college students, they want something that's durable; they want something that lasts; something that's real, that's not going to let them down. They've been let down a lot – as have you, as have I. Been let down a lot by empty promises the world makes us; empty promises that culture makes us, and makes to us. I think this generation is, quite frankly, fed up with it, and they want something that they can build their life on – and Jesus is it.

“And so, when you see 45,000 college students coming to Globe Life Field in Texas – and they're not just coming, like, showing up; they're not just walking through the door just to check a box and go, ‘OK, I'm here.’ They are all in. They are all in.

“I wish I could take everybody to Passion and show you the way these students show up with their Bibles: They show up early; they show up prayerful; they worship with all their heart; they give money to translate scripture for unreached people groups of the world. And then they go back to their campuses with this fire burning inside of them, and it's really, really beautiful. It's not hype-y, it's not like overly emotional, it's real – and you have to give credit to what the Lord's doing right now.”

Stanfill added, “We've been to college campuses, and we've seen the fruit of students inviting their friends to these worship nights, and that you have thousands of college students gathering for a worship night. All that is, is students inviting students – it's not like some big marketing plan. It's not like we have some grand, like, ‘Alright, we're going to roll out this campaign to get all these students to this place.’ It’s like, no, ‘We're coming; there's going to be preaching; there's going to be worship; and we're going to baptize some people. Who wants to come? Tell your friends.’ And 5,000 students show up. That's just the nature of what's going on on college campuses right now. It's a really beautiful thing to see.”

Passion Music, “Just That Good” (Image courtesy of Merge Public Relations)

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Passion Music will bring its ministry – and new music from March album release “Just That Good” – to Darien Lake on Monday as part of the annual Kingdom Bound Christian music festival.

“Just That Good,” the song, “is just a response, a reaction, to what we're experiencing with Jesus in our own lives,” Stanfill said.

“I've experienced a lot of freedom and redemption. I've experienced the abundant life that Jesus has to offer; and it's, quite frankly, the greatest thing I've ever experienced in my life, and this song is just an expression of that.

“And that's what these songs are on this album. It's just an expression of the goodness of God to us, his grace, his love, his mercy toward us in our life. These songs are just expressing our gratitude for that. But these songs, they're also expressing the character of God: Who is he; singing about his holiness, his glory, his majesty, his beauty, in all these different ways.

“I think this, these songs – this record – is just a natural expression of what we're experiencing in our own lives. The through line – the thread of it all – is the joy of the Lord. I think you hear that in this record. In this album and this collection of songs, there's this theme of the joy of the Lord – and that is what I believe is really marking this generation and this time we're living in. People want to sing; people want to dance; people want to express this life that we have in Christ. So, that's what I think you hear on ‘Just That Good.’ ”

Stanfill said, “We hope to take a little bit of that spirit of Passion – what you and I are talking about right now – we want to take that and do that at Kingdom Bound.

“Everywhere that we go, any chance that we have to lead, we believe that anything is possible – and I'm really not just saying that. If we're going to go lead at Kingdom Bound, or some conference, or Passion conference, or church on Sunday – wherever it is – we have to believe that God is going to move if we have faith. So, that's what we're coming to Kingdom Bound with – that kind of faith, that kind of belief.”

He added, “We're really excited to be back with you guys. We had a really special time last time we were with you, and we look forward to being back.”

Passion Music is online at https://www.passionmusic.com/.

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WATCH:

 

Josiah Queen, for KING & COUNTRY to headline Kingdom Bound 2026

3-day Christian music festival returns to Six Flags Darien Lake

Kingdom Bound Ministries press release

The Kingdom Bound Festival, one of the largest and longest-running Christian music festivals in North America, is set to return to Western New York's Six Flags Darien Lake from July 27-29. Tickets for the annual three-day music festival are available at KingdomBound.org as well as at the gate.

Kingdom Bound 2026 is presented by Houghton University. It will feature more than 50 artists and speakers across four stages, headlined by four-time Grammy Award-winning duo for KING & COUNTRY, breakout sensation Josiah Queen, and CCM favorites CAIN. The lineup also includes Passion Worship, We Are Messengers, Ben Fuller, Rachael Lampa, Leanna Crawford, Hope Darst and Jon Reddick.

Every ticket to the festival also includes access to the rides and waterpark attractions of Six Flags Darien Lake. Special ticket discounts are available at the gate for Six Flags Darien Lake season passholders.

“We are so excited to gather once again with friends from across the United States and Canada,” Festival Director Donna Russo said. “Kingdom Bound continues to bring families and friends together for three days filled with praise, teaching, fun, camping and Christ-centered community.”

In addition to music, the festival also features a variety of additional programming including seminars, art classes, kids and teen programs and kids theater programs.

More information about Kingdom Bound 2026, including the full lineup, tickets and information, can be found at KingdomBound.org. 

More about Kingdom Bound Ministries: The producer of one of the nation's leading Christian music festivals, Kingdom Bound Ministries has been in operation for more than three decades. With a focus on Biblical truth and a reputation for excellence in ministry, Kingdom Bound is more than a music festival, as it has tackled relevant subject matter such as depression, youth, the opioid epidemic, health and wellness, parenting, self-esteem, the influences of modern media, and a host of other contemporary topics.

Learn more about the ministry at www.KingdomBound.org.

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Kristian Stanfill of Passion Music (Image courtesy of Merge Public Relations)

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Kristian Stanfill Q&A

Q: I was looking to see when the last time was that you and I chatted, and it was 2019. I don't suppose anything interesting has happened to you personally or professionally, since 2019, has it?

Kristian Stanfill: I would say the person you chatted with in ’19 is not with us anymore (laughs). I would say a lot has changed in those seven years, for sure.

Q: And you know, I'm being facetious, but that's really sort of the heart of the question, is that a lot has changed since then. And, between COVID and social media, and just the way the world is, I find it so remarkable that you guys are still able to attract 45,000 people to a youth conference in 2026. To what do you credit that – and what can you tell me about that – because that's certainly not the thing that we see on the 6 o'clock news every night.

Kristian Stanfill: Yeah, that's right. But I do love talking about it, because it is happening.

I think the credit is due (to) the Lord is doing a great work on the earth right now, and there's a great awakening happening. There's a stirring. There's a return back to Jesus, back to the God of gods, and this generation is leading the way. There's a hunger and a desire to not only gather – like, be in gatherings like Passion – but know God's word, worship him in spirit and truth, tell the world about their faith.

I think a lot of it comes down to, this generation of college students, they want something that's durable; they want something that lasts; something that's real, that's not going to let them down. They've been let down a lot, as have you, as have I. Been let down a lot by empty promises the world makes us; empty promises that culture makes us, and makes to us. I think this generation is, quite frankly, fed up with it, and they want something that they can build their life on – and Jesus is it.

And so, when you see 45,000 college students coming to Globe Life Field in Texas – and they're not just coming, like, showing up; they're not just walking through the door just to check a box and go, ‘OK, I'm here.’ They are all in. They are all in.

I wish I could take everybody to Passion and show you the way these students show up with their Bibles; they show up early; they show up prayerful; they worship with all their heart; they give money to translate scripture for unreached people groups of the world. And then they go back to their campuses with this fire burning inside of them, and it's really, really beautiful. It's not hype-y, it's not like overly emotional, it's real – and you have to give credit to what the Lord's doing right now.

Q: You and I have both been to many conferences over the years, and, of course, you feel one thing on the weekend, and you have a certain motivation on the weekend that doesn't always carry over to Monday, right? But from what you're saying, it sounds like the youth who are coming to this, you said they're all in. Tell me more about what you're hearing, what you're seeing about them, not just at the conference, but after they leave the conference, and the impact that they're then taking to their communities.

Kristian Stanfill: Well, the conference is just part of it. I would say that the conference is just, it's in the flow of their walk and talk with Jesus. So, before these students get to come – and, obviously, not everybody that comes to Passion even knows Jesus. A lot of students meet Jesus for the first time at conference. So, there’s a lot of students coming in, seeking, searching, going, "What is this thing? I don't really want to be here.” There's that, too. But there's the majority of the students that want to be a light on their campus, a light in a dark place, and that's just happening.

I mean, we've been to college campuses, and we've seen the fruit of students inviting their friends to these worship nights, and that you have thousands of college students gathering for a worship night. All that is, is students inviting students – it's not like some big marketing plan. It's not like we have some grand, like, “Alright, we're going to roll out this campaign to get all these students to this place.” It’s like, no, ‘We're coming; there's going to be preaching; there's going to be worship; and we're going to baptize some people. Who wants to come? Tell your friends.” And 5,000 students show up.  That's just the nature of what's going on on college campuses right now. It's a really beautiful thing to see.

And so, Passion just kind of like lands in the flow of that. They're coming to Passion, like going, “Man, we're in.” They want great teaching; they want to worship side by side with their brothers and sisters, and get sharpened and experience God in new ways. But then they're going back to their campus, they're just going to keep doing what they've been doing. It's pretty rad.

Q: Tell me about “Just that Good,” and how this is sort of an amplification of what you just spoke of, and how this is something that can minister to the people – not just who were there, but to the people who couldn't make it – the people in Buffalo, for example, and the college students here. Tell me about this album, and what you hope it does for college students and other people elsewhere.

Kristian Stanfill: That song is just a response, a reaction, to what we're experiencing with Jesus in our own lives.

Personally, we wrote that song. I've experienced a lot of freedom and redemption. I've experienced the abundant life that Jesus has to offer; and it's, quite frankly, the greatest thing I've ever experienced in my life, and this song is just an expression of that.

And that's what these songs are on this album. It's just an expression of the goodness of God to us, his grace, his love, his mercy toward us in our life. These songs are just expressing our gratitude for that. But these songs, they're also expressing the character of God: Who is he; singing about his holiness, his glory, his majesty, his beauty, in all these different ways.

I think this, these songs – this record – is just a natural expression of what we're experiencing in our own lives. The through line – the thread of it all – is the joy of the Lord. I think you hear that in this record. In this album and this collection of songs, there's such this theme of the joy of the Lord – and that is what I believe is really marking this generation and this time we're living in. People want to sing; people want to dance; people want to express this life that we have in Christ. So, that's what I think you hear on “Just that Good.”

Q: That is, certainly, of paramount importance, and that is the goal and the most important thing you're taking away from this project. I don't want to take away from that one bit, but I also want to ask you – as an artist – if you could tell me, creatively, what it's like to make an album with 45,000 people in the background? Logistically, I can't even imagine what that's like; and knowing that it's going to be imperfect and that it's going to be just live and raw – what excites you about that? What challenges you?

Kristian Stanfill: I mean, it's kind of a cheat code, honestly. Bro., If you can record a live album with 45,000 college students who love being in the room, they want to sing – I mean, it's incredible. The sound – the sheer noise of it – and if you're in the room, the sight of it – is breathtaking. It's pretty amazing.

Logistically, it takes a lot, and we have an amazing team who works really hard to capture all the sights and the sounds of Passion. But you know, one thing I love about our team, and it's been this way – I've been at Passion for over 20 years now, and it's been this way since I've got here – we don't talk about making the record. So, we're not talking about the recording; we're talking about leading people; we're seeking God together; we're crying out for him to move and reveal himself, reveal his glory.

And just behind all of that, that prayer and that preparation, we're recording – we're just recording everything. And then after it's all over, our team sorts through it all, and we figure out what were the moments. What are the moments that need to go on this collection of songs?

I just love that the album recording never gets in the driver's seat. It's there, and it's kind of in the car, but it's not driving things. We're primarily focused on seeking God and leading people.

Q: Tell me about Kingdom Bound, your live show, and what we can expect.

Kristian Stanfill: Well, we hope to take a little bit of that spirit of Passion – what you and I are talking about right now. We want to take that and do that at Kingdom Bound.

Everywhere that we go, any chance that we have to lead, we believe that anything is possible – and I'm really not just saying that. If we're going to go lead at Kingdom Bound, or some conference, or Passion conference, or church on Sunday – wherever it is – we have to believe that God is going to move if we have faith. So, that's what we're coming to Kingdom Bound with – that kind of faith, that kind of belief.

We don't know – I mean, this year will be different than last year; probably different set, different group of people – certainly a different group of people will be in the audience. So, we have to ask the question, ‘Lord, what are you doing now?’ Not, ‘What did you do last time?’ ‘What are you doing now, and how do you want us to lead? What songs are we going to pick? What scriptures are you surfacing? How do you want us to lead this night?’

We're really excited to be back with you guys. We had a really special time last time we were with you, and we look forward to being back.

Q: You mentioned something very interesting at the start of our interview. You said the person you were in 2019, he's not here anymore. What are you versus what you were then? Presumably, you're talking more in terms of spirituality, but even just as an artist, musician – tell me more about this evolution that you've had over the past six years.

Kristian Stanfill: (Laughs) Yeah, that was a little dramatic. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that person's dead. But, in a lot of ways, that version of Kristian Stanfill has passed away.

You know, we all went through a lot through 2020-21 and, for me, a lot was exposed. I've been really open about my addiction to alcohol, and I've been sober now for five-and-a-half years.

So, you know, 2020 was me coming to grips with the fact that I had an addiction, a problem with alcohol, that I needed to address, and that took some pretty serious renovation in my own life, personally, with the help of friends and pastors. And through that process, the Lord showed me a lot, taught me a lot, revealed himself in ways that I had never seen him before, and quite frankly, it changed my life forever.

And so, that's why I say that the guy you talked to in 2019, that version of me, thank God, is not here anymore. In his place is a sober man, a man full of joy, a man with a fire burning in his heart to see Jesus and help others see Jesus.

And I'm seven years older, so last time we talked I was in my 30s; I'm not anymore, so that's different. A lot changes, and thank God that he is about our growth and maturity. He doesn't leave us where we are, but he progresses us on.

I'm grateful. I'm really grateful.