Interview with Evangelist Luis Palau
The Family Research Council hosted a press conference with international evangelist Luis Palau on Sept. 30 regarding the upcoming DC Festival, which opens at the National Mall Oct. 8-9. The following are general comments spoken by Palau during the introduction of the conference:
It's intriguing to be here. Now we will have a national component to this festival, but basically, we promised the ministers and the business people we're doing this for Virginia, Maryland, and particularly the district itself.
We’re not here to put on a show so somebody can talk about it back in Oregon. We’re here to try and lead to faith in Christ – young families and their children, teenagers, singles and all people of all ages. That's the festival.
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We'll use the festival as a secondary goal to go out on radio on 1,200 stations around the country live and then we will also have this television special – two of them, in fact. Then we have 500 cities where they're downloading DC Festival and they're calling it a local DC Festival with some feed from the mall, and then some local activity with local bands and local evangelists inviting people to come to Christ.
By the way, I forgot to mention the most important factor is contemporary musicians. So this even should be a great festival. It should be a glorious time and we pray that everyday, [people] will bring their noncommitted friends or searching friends so that they can find forgiveness, eternal life and the presence of God in their life.
Do you expect any major politicians, including possibly the president or former president?
We have asked them to come. Jimmy Carter couldn't come. You know he’s a born again man, but he couldn’t come … Bill Clinton could not come either. I prayed for him in the second inaugural so I invited him, but he couldn't come. But he's going to do a video. I’ve asked the president if he would come ... and I hope he will come, but if he can’t, at least we're asking for a video so we can show that this is totally bipartisan, that the good news is for people of all sides of the spectrum and the Kingdom of God is above the kingdoms of this world and we're not doing party politics at all.
What’s the biggest logistical challenge of putting together something like this?
To get a permit to get on the mall, they have to have 82 departments sign off. That was a challenge. Also, it was a little slow and unusual to get the 900 churches understanding and coming on board, but now the excitement is high. That was a bit of a challenge for a while. And then, $3,450,000 was a bit of a challenge, but it's always hard work and we're not afraid of hard work … The best is hundreds and hundreds of Christians who give us small gifts and a few large ones. And some churches gave very good checks.
By how much of that budget comes from corporate sponsors and how easy or hard was it to attract those sponsors?
It's a little harder here I think than other cities because there aren't as many corporate headquarters or events here, but 20 percent for the budget has been covered by corporate sponsors, which is a new thing.
You mentioned this event to be for Virginia, Maryland and particularly for DC … and now you’re singling out DC. Is that because this is where the event is taking place or are there other reasons as well?
No, no it’s both. DC is a city in itself and I was invited originally by the African American churches. The first group that I had lunch with to discuss the festival was the African American pastors in DC proper. One of them said to me, “Are you really coming to preach with us or for us or are you trying to use us for color?”
I understand what he was saying. I said, “No, no, no. I’m not coming if you don’t invite me.”
Well, they instantly and unanimously said “please come.” Then we went to the Anglos, then to the Hispanics, then the Asians, in that order. So, D.C., Maryland and Virginia – all three as one package.
When the festival is over with and you’re back in Oregon and people here are back in their homes, what do you want them to remember the most?
I would like them to remember that Jesus is alive, that he is the son of God almighty, that he can keep changing their lives for good; that they can be growing and developing in every area of their life. We say that we do spiritual preventive medicine for many, many hundreds of people and even thousands. Even if one person who turned to Christ will spare violence, illegality, going to jail, think of socially, the impact that has … In fact, I’d like them to remember that evangelism is the deepest form of social action that anybody can engage in because it changes people.
I’d like them to remember that the Bible is the Word of God and if they live by it, they will live a very fruitful, cheerful, successful life and if they stay with a fellowship of local churches, they’ll grow even more because I call the church God’s Group Therapy and it’s part of God’s redemption. The local church isn’t just some formality. It is part of God’s redemptive purpose, and we help one another and we keep balance and [are] emotionally stable when you belong to a healthy, small or large group of other believers.
Thousands are expected to come to Christ through this festival. How will you be following up afterwards?
First of all, most people who come come with a friend who brings them. That’s why we urge people to bring their friends. They’re the first line of building up and discipling in Jesus the new people. Almost 100 percent who make a commitment were brought by a friend. Number two, the local church has been in training. Many of them have taken it seriously that they may get one or ten or a hundred new ones. Thirdly, we encourage them to listen to Christian radio … and around here you’ve got very good ones … They [will] listen to good teaching, encouraging information, and news so we encourage them. That’s the third line.
Then from Portland, we write to them every other month for a year, encouraging them to stay in the Bile, to keep praying, to stay in the fellowship of a local church, to listen to Christian radio. We give them simple suggestions for a year. Then, they’re on their own. Well, not on their own. They’ve got the Lord. I think that’s as much as we can do.
We encourage them to go back [to a local congregation].
You’ve already spoken to millions of people, so as you go on the stage for this festival, are you looking forward to anything different for this event?
Well, I’ve been struggling with that for quite a while because I want to speak to the nation [since] you’re in the capital. But at the same time, the commitment was: “this is for Virginia, Maryland and DC” and the pastors wanted to know that very carefully. We don’t mind rejecting nationally, so I’m still praying about it … But the more I think about it, my time is limited and I’m really addressing the audience in front of me, and they’re not too interested in grand statements to the nation. They don’t even expect it. I think I’m going to stick with a basic, simple message that turns people back to the Lord through Jesus Christ rather than grandiose statements that may be good and valuable. But I’m an evangelist, not a prophet, so my job is to leave it to Christ.
Is there anything in particular you want to revive in this city since it is the nation’s capital?
On the basis of that thought I just gave you, I think I’m just going to stay with the phrase becoming a Christian is a staggering event. I will talk about what a staggering thing it is to actually meet God for yourself.
Personal evangelism on a massive scale
I talk to the audience. Yes, it’s a crowd, but basically I’m thinking of one person and it’s always been that way. I think it’s a little more personal. I used to talk to crowds in the old days and I used to scream because it’s a crowd, so you’ve got to scream at them. But now it’s one person. I still am open for the Holy Spirit to guide me in any direction if I should step in.
It’s a great temptation to make some grand “America must return to God.” Who’s America? – One by one, sitting out there. It sounds grandiose and presumably in some miles it’s good, but in my mind, I think, “Okay, I would’ve done that 20 years ago, but now I’m thinking in the end, it’s individuals turned to Christ, converted and changed that will make the difference.”
[Editor's Note: Questions were asked during the press conference.]
