One year ago, thousands of young people poured into Baton Rouge, hearts open, hands lifted, and souls hungry. It wasn’t just another summer gathering — it was the return of International Youth Conference 2024, and at its heart stood a man who had never stopped believing that revival begins with a generation unashamed of the gospel: Pastor Jimmy Swaggart.
That week was electric.
Worship shook the walls.
Tears soaked the altars.
And through it all, Pastor Swaggart stood — older in years, yes, but alive with fire. There was something in his voice that week… something urgent, prophetic, eternal. He preached Christ crucified with a boldness that pierced hearts and a tenderness that drew them in. And though we couldn’t have known it then, this would be his final IYC.
Four weeks ago, Pastor Swaggart left this world to be with the Savior he spent a lifetime proclaiming. The pulpit is now empty. The voice is now silent. But the flame he lit still burns.
Because what happened at IYC 2024 didn’t end when the lights dimmed or the crowd dispersed. It lives on in every heart that was changed, in every young soul that said yes to Jesus, in every call to ministry that was birthed in that sacred space.
Pastor Swaggart believed — fiercely — that God was not done with this generation. That no matter how dark the world seemed, the answer would still be found at the foot of the cross. He didn’t just preach to young people. He believed in them. He challenged them to rise, to go deeper, to carry the gospel with fire and fidelity.
And now — it’s our turn.
We don’t carry his voice.
We carry his vision.
We don’t inherit his pulpit.
We inherit his passion.
So today, on this one-year mark since that unforgettable week, and just weeks since his passing, we don’t just remember Pastor Swaggart — we continue what he began. We preach. We worship. We pray. We lead. We burn.
He lit the fire.
Now it’s up to us to keep it burning.