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Most of Franklin Graham's and Greg Laurie's recent events occurred in stadiums, arenas, and churches, though Laurie did have an event at Disneyland. But Palau's Portland Festival took place in a city park, giving the event the profile of a community happening.

Other evangelistic organizations have combined sports and amusements with Christian witnessing. Campus Crusade's slow-motion football and 100-foot-long banana splits on campuses and at beach outreaches are two examples. Young Life and Youth For Christ are famous for evangelism that entertains. However, the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association's festivals use these strategies on a larger scale and in ways that challenge public perceptions.

Robert Coleman, director of the School of World Mission and Evangelism at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, says Palau's festivals do a particularly good job of reaching young people on a "neutral site."

"I affirm what Luis Palau is doing," says Coleman, author of the book The Master Plan of Evangelism. "He has updated the concept of mass evangelism and put it in a contemporary format."

Building on the success of the Portland Festival, Palau held a festival in Rosario, Argentina, in November, drawing up to 130,000 people. This year's festival schedule includes Connecticut (May and June); Boise, Idaho (August); and Irvine, California (September).

Visit the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association site.

Palau wrote "Which Part of the Great Commission Don't You Understand?" for Christianity Today in 1998.

Other CT stories about Palau's ministry include "Crowds Exceed Palau's Expectations" and "Palau Crusade Last in Hong Kong?"

Palau was also a member of the endorsing committee of "The Gospel of Jesus Christ: An Evangelical Celebration."

View pictures from the Portland festival site.

Soon the schedule for the Connecticut festival will be posted at this Palau page.

Visit the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College.

Learn more about Greg Laurie's Harvest crusades.

Visit Trinity's School of World Mission and Evangelism.

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January 8 2001, Vol. 45, No. 1