Luis Palau

Luis Palau Jr. (born November 27, 1934) is an international Christian evangelist living in the Portland area in Oregon, United States. He was born in Argentina and moved to Portland in his mid-twenties to enroll in a graduate program in Biblical studies.

Luis Palau
Palau speaking at an event in 2004
Born
Luis Palau Jr.

(1934-11-27) November 27, 1934
Ingeniero Maschwitz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
NationalityArgentine, American
EducationMultnomah Bible College
OccupationEvangelist
Years active1960–present
Known forChristian evangelist, author of books on Christianity
Notable work
A Friendly Dialogue between an Atheist and a Christian, Calling America and the Nations to Christ
Political partyPalau makes a point of staying out of politics, refusing to endorse ballot measures or candidates.
Spouse(s)Patricia Palau
(m. 1961–present)
ChildrenKevin, Keith, Andrew, and Stephen Palau
Websitewww.palau.org

Palau had a long and close relationship with evangelist Billy Graham, and has been characterized by many as Graham's successor. "One of the world’s leading evangelical Christian figures,"[1] he is known for his strong appeal to young people, and for his efforts to reach out to secular leaders to address issues like homelessness.

In 2007, he was estimated to have shared the message of Jesus Christ with 25 million people in 70 nations.[2] Palau's ministry employs 70 people in their headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon and another 25 around the world which include offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina and London, England.[3]

On Thursday January 18, 2018 Luis Palau shared[4] on Facebook that he had stage four lung cancer.[5] In late November 2018, he told a reporter for the Beaverton Valley Times that his cancer had "stabilized for now".[6]

Early life

Luis Palau Jr. was born November 27, 1934 in Maschwitz, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has five younger sisters and one stepbrother.[3] His father, a construction executive, died when Palau was 10.[7] Within a matter of years after his father's death, due to poor financial management by relatives, Palau, his siblings, and his widow mother were left nearly destitute. Palau was forced to leave his education at a British-run boarding school and began working as the sole-provider for the family at a bank in Córdoba, Argentina.

Palau says that he was born again at the age of 12, devoting his life to Christ.

Palau first heard Billy Graham on a radio broadcast from Portland, Oregon while still living in Argentina in 1950, and drew inspiration from him. He later worked for Graham as a Spanish translator and as an evangelist. In 1970, Graham contributed the seed money for Palau to start his own ministry, which he modeled after Graham's.[8]

Since then, Palau has held many large-scale evangelistic festivals and gatherings around the world.

Settling in Oregon

Palau arrived in Portland in 1960 to attend a graduate program at Multnomah Bible College,[3] from which he graduated in 1961.[9] His travel and tuition was paid by U.S. benefactors.[7] There he met his wife, Pat, a Beaverton kindergarten teacher, who was a fellow student.[7] They married in 1961 and settled in Cedar Mill, an unincorporated area of the Portland metropolitan area just north of Beaverton.[10] He became a U.S. citizen in 1962.[3] The Palaus spent the next eight years serving as missionaries in Mexico and Colombia, before returning to Oregon.[7] After receiving $100,000 as seed money in 1970 from Billy Graham, in quarterly payments of $25,000,[11] Palau worked to build up his ministry in Oregon through the 1970s.

In 1975, Palau shared the Bible Expositor post at Eurofest '75 with Bishop Festo Kivengere. Eurofest '75 was co-sponsored by the Billy Graham organisation and was held in Brussels, Belgium, at the Palais du Centenaire and the Heysel Stadium from July 24 until August 2, 1975. In October 1978, the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association, based in Beaverton, was incorporated.[10]

Growing local popularity and secular service
Palau in 2008

In 2013, Palau was continuing to reside in Cedar Mill,[12][13] but in late 2018 was residing in nearby Bethany,[6] another unincorporated also north of Beaverton and immediately west of Cedar Mill. A November 2018 article in the Beaverton Valley Times referred to the Cedar Mill Bible Church as Palau's "home base".[6]

His ministry, the Luis Palau Evangelical Association, continued to be based in nearby Beaverton as of 2003. Three of his four sons were working for his ministry at that time.[7]

In 1999, a writeup in a Portland weekly newspapers noted that Palau had assembled an 80,000-member audience in "the nation's least-churched major city." It also noted the contrast with the previous large revival, led by an aging Graham, which drew larger numbers but not as many young people as Palau's. Media coverage of Palau's event mentioned Palau as a potential successor to Graham.[9] The annual budget of his ministry was estimated that year at $6 million.[9]

As of 2003, he hosted three daily radio programs: an English show carried by 900 stations in 23 countries, and two Spanish programs carried by 880 stations in 25 countries.[3] In that year he was noted for being "at the forefront of efforts to make evangelism more active, contemporary and accessible to a younger audience,"[14] and his ministry's annual budget was estimated at $11 million.[7]

In August 2003, Palau mobilized several thousand volunteers from numerous churches to "spruce up" local public schools.[7]

In November 2005, Palau visited China, wrapping up a week-long visit by attending a Beijing church service along with U.S. President George W. Bush.[15] He launched a book venture after holding a conversation with a former government Chinese official during his trip to Beijing; Palau launched a book venture based on the transcribed work. The book, now published by Zondervan is entitled A Friendly Dialogue Between An Atheist and a Christian.[16]

Palau makes a point of staying out of politics, refusing to endorse ballot measures or candidates. Recently he has partnered with secular leaders as well. Portland Mayor Vera Katz did not attend his first big Portland event in 1999,[9] but her successor, Tom Potter, who is not a churchgoer, approached Palau at a 2005 Portland appearance by First Lady Laura Bush. Potter asked for Palau's assistance in getting other evangelical leaders to address Portland's homelessness problems.[17]

Palau got in touch with fellow evangelicals, and cooperated with Portland Commissioner Erik Sten, Potter, Beaverton Mayor Rob Drake, and Gresham Mayor Shane Bemis in 2008 in planning his August 22–23 festival, which focused on volunteerism in support of the homeless. Palau's last Portland event drew about 140,000 people over two days.[18] Palau addressed 500 Christian pastors in March 2008, joined by Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, in the buildup to the August event. He calls the effort the "Season of Service."[19]

In 2015, Palau hosted CityFest, an evangelistic event in New York City that drew 60,000 people to Central Park.[20] This was a year-long effort that involved over 1,700 churches.[21]

Works

Palau has written numerous books including:

  • Where Is God When Bad Things Happen?
  • Calling America and the Nations to Christ
  • God is Relevant
  • High Definition Life
  • A Friendly Dialogue between an Atheist and a Christian ISBN 978-0-310-28533-5
gollark: "do some biology please"
gollark: Just find a biologist, and say "hello I will give you money if you do biology".
gollark: Ultimately it'll end up being funded by individuals anyway, just indirectly, so you might as well throw money at any biologist you know.
gollark: In that case, throw your money at it, you *can* do that.
gollark: .

References
  1. Robbins, Liz (July 9, 2015). "Central Park Festival to Highlight New York's Vibrant Evangelical Movement". The New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
  2. "World renowned evangelist, Luis Palau, is keynote speaker at Hillsboro's Prayer Breakfast". Hillsboro Argus. October 5, 2007.
  3. "Luis Palau Jr. path to the United States: Biography". The Oregonian. November 3, 2003. p. A9.
  4. Luis Palau (January 17, 2018), Luis Palau Health Update, retrieved 2018-01-18
  5. "News - Luis Health". Luis Palau Association. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  6. Pitz, Ray (November 29, 2018) [online date November 28]. "Luis Palau gets some good news, steps out for night of evangelization". Beaverton Valley Times. p. A6. Retrieved 2018-12-04.
  7. Oppel, Shelby (November 3, 2003). "The Monday Profile. A man with a message – Luis Palau: 50 years of making the case for Christ". The Oregonian. p. A1. Retrieved 2018-05-04 – via NewsBank.
  8. Haught, Nancy (June 24, 2005). "In Portland: Evangelist Palau drew inspiration, help from Graham". The Oregonian. p. A13 – via NewsBank.
  9. Dawdy, Philip (August 25, 1999). "Closing for Christ". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008.
  10. Ntonga, Alfred (November 5, 1992). "Evangelist works tirelessly to preach word". The Oregonian. West Metro Neighbors section, p. 4 – via NewsBank.
  11. Haught, Nancy (June 24, 2005). "In Portland: Evangelist Palau drew inspiration, help from Graham". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2018-05-04 – via NewsBank.
  12. Haught, Nancy (March 14, 2013). "Local evangelist Luis Palau thrilled his friend is new pope". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2018-05-04 – via NewsBank.
  13. Haught, Nancy (March 13, 2013). "Pope Francis: Luis Palau of Cedar Mill considers him a personal friend". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-08.
  14. Linn, Sarah (November 2, 2003). "Evangelist Luis Palau targets younger crowd". The Columbian. Associated Press. p. D7.
  15. Luis Palau to Meet Bush in China, Wrap Up Visit | Christianpost.com
  16. Shanghai Daily | 上海日报 - English Window to China News
  17. McIntosh, Don (June 20, 2007). "Holy Alliance!". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on February 8, 2008.
  18. "Portland's season of service". The Oregonian. February 15, 2008. p. B6 – via NewsBank.
  19. Krattenmaker, Tom (March 23, 2008). "Societal challenges". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2008-03-29.
  20. http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2015/July/Luis-Palau-Festival-Draws-60000-to-Central-Park
  21. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/10/nyregion/central-park-festival-to-highlight-new-yorks-vibrant-evangelical-movement.html?mcubz=0
  • PALAU Luis International Who's Who. accessed September 1, 2006.
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