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Evangelist builds toward dream of Festival in China

Evangelist Luis Palau has invested years building relationships in China so that one day he can go in to do an open-air festival with the government's approval, reports MNN.

His son Kevin Palau calls it a labor of love. "So far, the answer is a polite 'No, not yet.'" Palau's efforts have gradually led to more opportunities to preach. Right now, their team is getting ready for a March 20 campaign at the Chong Yi church in Hangzhou, a church that seats over 5,000 people.

With a long history of friendship with the church, the potential to reach thousands more is huge. Kevin explains, "They're hoping to use some screens and overflow outdoors and have 20,000 people listening to the Good News. Dad would share it just like he would at a festival anywhere, with an open opportunity to respond to the Gospel."

Luis Palau festivals have produced some of the largest audiences ever recorded in cities from south Florida to South America.

Pray for open doors. Kevin urges fellow Christians: "Pray that as Dad keeps building relationships with government officials, he would have the chance to keep challenging them for greater freedom and to allow God's people to worship and especially evangelize."

The way is being paved. The senior Palau co-authored a book titled, "A Friendly Dialogue Between A Christian and An Atheist" -- an idea proposed by atheist and former spokesman for Communist China's Cabinet Zhao Qizheng -- in November 2005.

In it, he states, "My dream would be that every Chinese person would find peace with God through Jesus. That's my dream. We all know we're going to die, and the interesting thing is that Jesus offers the absolute assurance of eternal life to every sinner who repents and believes in Him."

Zhao, in response, said: "I, too, have a dream. My dream is that the exchanges between religious believers and non-believers will become an important part of contemporary culture. The United States and China are both great nations. The United States is the largest developed country in the world, and China is the largest developing country in the world. We should make a more active effort to promote the exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples...It should include religious dialogue and dialogue between religious and non-religious people."

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TAGS: China evangelist Luis Palau open-air festival Kevin Palau Zhao Qizheng Chong Yi church

[02/16/2010]

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