Evangelist Leads Thousands In Prayer On War (2 Day event had 250,000-300,000)

The Miami Heald ^ | March 24, 2003 | Donna Gerhrke-White

[FreeManWhoCan]

Evangelist Luis Palau prayed for captured and killed American troops Sunday during Beachfest in Fort Lauderdale, which rivaled the largest U.S. revivals, according to police crowd estimates.

''Please bless America,'' Palau prayed as a 24-by-16-foot flag was unfurled on the stage Sunday afternoon during a patriotic salute to a nation at war.

He asked God ''to protect the troops'' as well as Iraqi ''innocents'' -- people he described as being just like Americans in wanting peace and a better life for their children.

He also pleaded with the thousands thronging to hear his message to put aside their political differences and pray for American leaders to make wise decisions.

''Even if they make mistakes,'' Palau urged the crowd to pray that ``they turn to God for wisdom.''

The preliminary estimate by Fort Lauderdale police that 300,000 had attended the festival over two days would make it one of the largest such religious events ever, comparable to Billy Graham drawing more than 250,000, for example, in his four-day Jacksonville crusade in 2000.

Police said they had revised their Beachfest attendance numbers to about 200,000 on Saturday because of a huge turnout for Palau's evening message and for popular Christian bands.

That would be more than double the previous record of 85,000 who attended one day at one of Palau's faith festivals in Seattle.

[skr]

Awesome photo...like grains of sand

[TightSqueeze]

But the bible also says the grace of God is greater than this kind of junk.

Agreed, still they might have posted a Deity hurl alert anyway.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The demons believe, and shudder.

[k2blader]

Bump!!!

[redheadtoo]

For those who are not familiar with Luis Palau he is an Argentine born American citizen who is known as the "Billy Grahram of South America."

I had the privilege of hearing him speak while I attended Biola University. I believe he attended Moultnomah (sp?) Bible Institute in Oregon.

His primary ministry is to hispanics but he also holds evangelical meetings in English.

[Fearless Flyers]

This is a link to the ABC Broadcast about the event March 22, 2003, including an interview with Jason Wetherington at a seperate Support Our Troops event held at 17th St and U.S. 1 in Ft Lauderdale. It's about two minutes long 19.2 MB.

Feel free to copy it and place it in a more convenient location.

[Bigg Red]

But why wasn't this on the news?

Well, the religious leaders who are opposed to the war - read opposed to Bush -- got lots of air time.

[GretchenEE]

I wish W had asked the nation to pray and fast as he was sending troops to battle.

This article brings wonderful news.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Plunk

[pollywog]

Same here!!! We had 32 here in Los Angeles....in our home!!
PRAISE GOD !!!!!!!!!!

[pollywog]

He is WONDERFUL, EVANGELICAL, and DYNAMIC. A VERY HUMBLE MAN of GOD......

[maranatha]

Oh, wow! God love you.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I am not blaspheming the holy spirit at all. Palau does not need an enormous flag to carry out the work of the holy spirit. The enormous flag, not the prayer or the assembly, is the show biz.

[Marysecretary]

I apologize for offending you, HiTech. Please accept my apologies. M

[HiTech RedNeck]

No problem. Love to you and God bless. The love of Christ is too precious to waste over a matter of a big flag.