We are pleased to announce the following information on Fresno CityFest, a major service outreach
and special event coming to the Central Valley.
Thousands have come together in Fresno for this unique partnership between churches, businesses,
organizations, city leaders, and the Luis Palau team. In the months leading up to the festival,
CityServe has blessed the community through more than 600 service projects.
The festival event is a free, family-friendly celebration featuring some of the biggest names in
contemporary music. Previous festivals have included artists such as Skillet, TobyMac, The Band
Perry, Chris Tomlin, Mat Kearney, Israel Houghton, Marisol, King and Country, Wynonna Judd,
and more.
Fresno CityFest is being produced by the Oregon-based Luis Palau Association with the support of
area churches and the contributions of local businesses, foundations and individuals. First conceived
and produced in Portland, Oregon, in 1999, Palau festival events have since changed the face of
contemporary faith celebrations around the world (www.palau.org). Recent festivals have attracted
massive crowds, including 900,000 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 250,000 in Houston and 300,000 in
Fort Lauderdale. A recent festival in New York City reached 180,000 people through events in Central
Park, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and beyond.
PRESS KIT
Dear Media Friend:
Luis Palau has spoken live to more than 25 million people in 72 countries, and reached over one
billion people through radio, television, the Internet, books and articles. His daily radio broadcasts
are heard by tens of millions of listeners on 3000+ radio stations in 48 countries. He is the author of close to 50
books, and his counsel on issues of faith has been shared with political leaders and heads of state around the
world. We welcome your inquiries and coverage and look forward to hosting you at the festival.
Please call us at any time for more information, interview requests or further assistance – we are grateful for your
interest.
Kind regards,
Chelsea Miller
Festival Publicity & Communications
239.994.3668
[email protected]
April 1 - 2, 2017
Save Mart Center Grounds
www.FresnoCityFest.com
Festival Chair:
CityServe Chairs:
Pastoral Chairs:
Prayer Chairs:
Fundraising Chairs:
Larry Powell
Artie Padilla & George Ordway
Dale Oquist, Fred Leonard, Johnny Mendez, Jymme Foote, Mitch Ribera
Bob Willis & Laura Jones
Mike Tatham, Mitch Ribera, Michael Lewison, Brent Riffel
FREE
Board of Reference:
Lynne Ashbeck
Debbie Poochigian
Alan AutryTom Sommer
Jerry DyerMayor Ashley Swerengin
Paul LoefflerCoach Rodney Terry
Bob OliverNathan Magsig
FAC TS
Save Mart Center Grounds
Saturday and Sunday, April 1 & 2, 2017
FAST
Festival Event
Location/Date:
Admission:
Details:> Produced by the Oregon-based Luis Palau Association in partnership with hundreds
of local churches, businesses and individuals. Palau Festivals are a season of coming together
to serve, culminating in a faith-based celebration featuring top recording artists, world-class
action sports demonstrations, and activities for kids, teens and families. Since 1999, more
than 8 million people have attended Palau festivals on four continents.
> Diverse talent lineups include artists such as Lecrae, For King and Country, Marisol Park,
Lincoln Brewster, Soulfire Revolution and more. International Christian communicator Luis
Palau and his son Andrew Palau will present faith-based messages of hope in both English
and Spanish.
> The Action Sports will showcase BMX biking and freestyle motocross, and a Fitness
Competition will feature four-time CrossFit Games Champion Rich Froning. FSU athletes will
lead football and soccer clinics.The VeggieTales Family Fun Zone features play areas and stage
entertainment for kids.
Information: Chelsea Miller
Festival Publicity and Communication
239.994.3668
[email protected]
www.fresnocityfest.com
April 1 - 2, 2017
Save Mart Center Grounds
www.FresnoCityFest.com
WORLD EVANGELIST AND AUTHOR
For more than 50 years, speaker, teacher, author, and spiritual leader Luis Palau has
been a powerful spokesperson for the relevance, reality, and significance of Jesus
Christ. His work has taken him to more than 75 nations and his campaigns have
allowed him to present a clear case for Christianity with more than 1 billion people
through television, radio, print, and live events. As a result, Luis Palau is known as
one of the world’s leading experts in Christianity – standing strong for issues of faith
and the importance of a vibrant, healthy spiritual life according to the teachings
of the Bible. He is well regarded by leaders around the globe, including past
presidents, national leaders, church clergy, and business professionals.
ENDORSEMENTS
“Luis Palau is one of God’s most gifted
evangelists in the world today, and
a man for whom I have the greatest
possible love and respect.”
– Billy Graham, World Evangelist
“The strength of Palau’s message can
be seen in the stadiums he fills.”
– TIME Magazine
“I remember the first time I saw Luis
Palau. I, of course, knew who he was
and knew about his ministry, but I
didn’t know how he would react to
me personally. What struck me was
his genuine sense of concern for
every person he came in touch with.
It’s something you can’t fake.
He’s real.”
– President Bill Clinton
“A listing of his crusades reads like
a world atlas: Jakarta, Kiev, Buenos
Aires, San Antonio. He has preached
on every continent except Antarctica.
From Aberdeen, Scotland, to Zurich,
Switzerland, Palau has tried to
awaken cities to their need for God.”
– Associated Press
“As an evangelist, he is second only
to Billy Graham.”
– British Broadcasting
Corporation
“If Billy Graham epitomizes classic
1950s American virtue, Palau
represents continent-straddling 21stCentury multiculturalism. He is as at
home in Romania as he is in Raleigh.”
– Miami Herald
www.palau.org
LUIS PALAU
LUIS PALAU
Having spent much of his career serving the people of Latin America – including
several years of service in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Guatemala – Luis
Palau is regarded by many as the most influential spiritual leader in the region for
the last 40 years. He is the author of more than 40 books, host of three international
daily radio programs, and leader of one of today’s most relevant religious
organizations (Luis Palau Association). He has dedicated his entire life and career
to presenting the claims of Christ and the importance of our spiritual lives with as
many people as possible. Over his 50 years of ministry, he and his team have held more than 480
evangelistic campaigns, festivals, and rallies reaching more than 30 million people in person.
Luis Palau has played an influential role in Christian missions and worldwide evangelism in some
of the most difficult and challenging areas of the globe. He has had the opportunity to minister
to world leaders, nobility, business professionals, and the general public in historic ways, and
has held massive evangelistic efforts in leading world cities such as New York City, Buenos Aires,
London, Madrid, Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, and Mexico City. During the ‘70s and ‘80s, Luis
Palau was one of the few foreign preachers allowed to hold spiritual campaigns within the old
Soviet Union, and when the iron curtain came down in 1991 he was among the first to hold openair stadium campaigns in the region.
As a result of his worldwide work, the name Luis Palau is now synonymous with innovation,
collaboration, and cutting-edge evangelistic models that are breaking down stereotypes and
reaching all levels of society.
Luis Palau’s campaigns around the world have helped build relationships that have led to
interdenominational and inter-religious initiatives for the benefit of the entire population. One
of his most recent initiatives in New York City brought together more than 1,700 churches and
organizations. Millions of individuals were reached with a message of hope – including 180,000
people who came out to hear Luis Palau and his son Andrew at more than 115 events throughout
the city over a 3 month period of time, including culmination events in Radio City Music Hall,
Times Square, and Central Park.
As an author, Dr. Palau has published works in more than 36 languages. Some of his most wellknown books, including God is Relevant, Con Quien Me Casare (Whom Shall I Marry), Where is God
When Bad Things Happen, and Say Yes, have been distributed into the hundreds of thousands. His
Bible commentary in Spanish is recognized as one of the best in the field. His Starting Point Study
Bible (published with Zondervan) was a 2003 Gold Medallion finalist for best Bible of the year. His
video courses in Spanish are known throughout Latin America for their clarity and effectiveness
– being used by pastors and church leaders for ongoing training and encouragement. And 10
million copies of his most popular booklet, What is a Real Christian, has been distributed in over
60 nations.
WORLD EVANGELIST AND AUTHOR
International evangelist and author Andrew Palau is the son of famed author,
speaker, and world evangelist Luis Palau. Andrew has been an instrumental leader
within the Luis Palau Association for more than 20 years, using his own story of
rebellion and redemption to share the Gospel with millions of individuals through
radio, TV, and live events, including citywide campaigns in more than 20 nations on
five continents.
ENDORSEMENTS
“Andrew Palau’s story is a gripping
reminder of what happens when we
live for ourselves. It’s the story of a
young man descending into a deep
pit of hopelessness and despair,
only to be rescued under the most
ironic of circumstances. Andrew’s
story shows how a merciful, loving
God offers to each of us forgiveness,
peace, and a future.”
- Mike Huckabee
Former Governor of Arkansas, New York
Times best-selling author, radio
and TV commentator
“Andrew is a uniquely gifted man
with a passionate heart for God and
wandering souls.”
- Ravi Zacharias
Author and speaker
“The safest way to navigate a
minefield is to follow the guy who
has already walked through it and
survived. If your minefield is drugs,
alcohol, or doing everything you can
to run away from God then Andrew
Palau is your guide. Trust him; he
knows the way out.”
- Dave Ramsey
New York Times best-selling author and
nationally syndicated radio host
Andrew grew up in a strong Christian home, with his mom, dad and three brothers.
Andrew, however, chose his own way and did not make an early commitment to
Jesus Christ. He attended the University of Oregon where the party life was a large
part of his studies. After graduating with a degree in English literature, Andrew
moved to Boston where he worked in retail for five years at the May Company. In
1993, Andrew took vacation time to join his parents for Luis’ evangelistic outreach
in Kingston, Jamaica. His father preached the same Gospel message he had heard
him share hundreds of times, but this time was different. Having witnessed God’s
presence in the lives of some Jamaicans he met, including Wendy Levy whom he
later married, Andrew gave his heart to the Lord after 27 years of living apart from
Him. Not long after the Jamaica trip, Andrew returned to Portland, Oregon, to serve
as Luis’ personal assistant while he determined which direction to take his career.
ANDREW PALAU
ANDREW PALAU
He found he didn’t have far to go — he thrived when involved with his father’s
outreach events. Andrew was instrumental in crafting the content of the first Palau
festivals that marked a key shift away from the crusade model for evangelism. The first two
festivals were staged in the Palaus’ home base of Portland, Oregon, in 1999 and 2000. Before
moving across the country to direct Washington DC’s event on the National Mall in 2005, Andrew
directed festivals in Boise, Idaho, and South Florida. Now Andrew preaches at his own festivals
around the world, from the United States to Rwanda, Romania, Egypt, Mexico, India, Poland,
and Jamaica. He has shared the Gospel with millions of people, and at every opportunity he
demonstrates his father’s same passion and love for Christ and for evangelism. In 2009, he joined
Luis on his radio feature, Reaching Your World. Andrew’s two-minute messages are broadcast on
855 radio outlets every Friday. The full, gripping account of Andrew’s raw journey to faith is told
in his debut book, The Secret Life of a Fool, available now. “There is power for change in Jesus
Christ, the cross, His blood, His burial, and His resurrection,” says Andrew. “I long to see all people
embracing His gifts of the forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit to empower life, and the assurance
of heaven for eternity.” He and Wendy have three children, Christopher, Jonathan, and Sadie
Anne. They live in Portland, Oregon, close to the world headquarters of the Palau ministry.
“In the unedited raw footage of
Andrew’s life, you’ll be amazed by
the painstaking way in which God
pursues us.”
– TobyMac
Multi-platinum recording artist
www.palau.org
LILONGWE MALAWI
FAIRBANKS ALASKA
PRESIDENT, LUIS PALAU ASSOCIATION
Kevin Palau is president of the Luis Palau Association, a Portland, Oregonbased ministry that has shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with 1 billion
people around the world through Kevin’s father, evangelist Luis Palau.
KEVIN PALAU:
• Has been involved in
world missions for more
than 25 years
• Pioneer behind the Next
Generation Alliance®, Livin
It® Alliance, and Season of
Service
• Strategic contributor to
Palau’s Festival 2.0 model
for citywide evangelism
• Nationally recognized
leader and innovator
of sustainable citywide
Gospel movements
Kevin joined the Palau Association in 1985 and began directing the day-today operation of the ministry in the late 1990s. Under his leadership, the
Luis Palau Association has produced some of the largest Christian events
ever staged, including massive festivals that have drawn crowds of up to 1
million people from south Florida to South America. The festival model for
mass evangelism is based on free, family-friendly celebrations that bring
together well-known Christian and mainstream music artists, prominent
Christian athletes, extreme sports exhibitions, interactive children’s areas,
and much more.
KEVIN PALAU
KEVIN PALAU
In 2008, he pioneered the Festival 2.0 model that joins a major Season of
Service with the festival event. Beginning months before the festival, and
designed for long-term sustainability, the Season of Service is a massive,
area-wide outreach showing the love of Christ through community
service projects. These projects meet the city’s greatest needs, which are
determined by local city officials. The effort has received widespread media coverage
in major outlets including USA Today, Reader’s Digest, and PBS’s Religion & Ethics.
Today Kevin is nationally recognized as a key leader for sustainable citywide movements
that bring civic, government, and church leadership together in unprecedented ways.
In 2006, Kevin and the Palau team established the Livin It® Alliance, a strategic
partnership to connect Christian action sports ministries including skate, BMX, FMX,
surfing, and snowboarding. The Alliance brings ministries alongside each other for
more effective evangelism, and has created various outreach tools, including Livin It,
a fast-paced action sports DVD co-produced and directed by actor Stephen Baldwin,
to engage with an otherwise hard-to-reach segment of youth.
“We’ve seen an incredible response to our skate parks and demo teams at our festivals.
The Livin It® Alliance serves a strong need among youth pastors and churches working
hard to impact young people who are fans and participants in core action sports.”
In 1997, Kevin developed the Next Generation Alliance®, LPA’s partnership to encourage
and equip a new generation of evangelists. The experience and resources of decades of
evangelism are shared with partner evangelists taking the Gospel to the world. While
Kevin’s brother Andrew joins Luis Palau as an evangelist in his own right, Luis remains the
leader and driving force of the ministry.
“As long as Dad continues proclaiming the Gospel — and he shows no signs of slowing
down — I’ll encourage the team to take full advantage of his spiritual gifts and steadfast
commitment to evangelism. We must do everything we can as a team to share the Good
News with a world that is searching for hope.”
www.palau.org
Kevin Palau holds a degree in religious studies from Wheaton College. He lives in
Beaverton, Oregon, near LPA’s international headquarters with his wife, Michelle, and
their three children.