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PORTLAND, Oregon (April 9, 2003) -
Next Generation Alliance®, a ministry of the Luis Palau Evangelistic
Association, hosted the second annual Proclamation Evangelism
Network e-School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from March 19-23.
About 180 people attended, including a number of international
evangelists, representing more than 64 ministries.
"This year the conference had a greater percentage of young
evangelists, college and seminary students," NGA director
Dr. Tim Robnett said. "There were many discussions about
'the will of God for my life' as these young people discussed
their desires in relation to evangelistic ministry."
Noted evangelists such as Dr. Luis Palau, Robert Coleman of Gordon
Conwell Seminary, and Bob Reccord of the North American Mission
Board brought messages of encouragement and challenge. Dr. Palau
challenged the delegates to keep advancing the gospel through
new methods focused on each new generation. Dr. Coleman refreshed
and stimulated the conferees by holding high a gospel grounded
in the Word of God. Ron Luse brought a passionate address to reaching
the teenagers of our day. Pastor Bob Coy reminded the evangelist
of their partnership with the church in fulfilling a biblical
model of evangelism. Dr. Reccord spoke powerfully to the need
of being holy in all dimensions of our lives. Evangelist Steve
Wingfield brought a message of urgency for the evangelistic task.
Evangelist Dan Owens equipped the delegates with a clear presentation
on the vital role of the counselor in the evangelistic festival
model. And Mark Anderson brought the conference to a close with
a challenge to move strategically in preaching the good news to
America.
A wide variety of workshop topics were offered such as Building
a Successful Campaign Organization, Family Issues for the Evangelist
and Spouse, Communicating Effectively with Secular Audiences,
Financial Development and Organizing a Proclamation event.
NGA planned the conference in conjunction with Beachfest, Fort
Lauderdale, to give attendees a behind-the-scenes look at a new
model for mass evangelism. During the last day of the conference,
attendees participated in Beachfest as counselors.
"It would have taken us 10 years to learn what we have
learned through eSchool these last two years," Dana Kahkonen
said. She and her husband, Will, are with World Hope Ministries
based in Sevierville, Tennessee. "We knew where we wanted
to go; this conference has given us the tools to get there,"
she said.
"The most amazing thing I've learned is how blessed and
honored I am to be at this conference with these men and women
who are the cloud of witnesses for my generation," seminary
student Jamie Bawulski said.
Proclamation Evangelism Network (PEN) is an alliance of evangelistic
ministries committed to "doing nothing apart that can be
done better together". It is a coalition of ministries from
across America working together in the common purpose of proclaiming
the gospel.
PEN will host our third conference at the Billy Graham Center
in Wheaton, Illinios in June 2004.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (March 25, 2003)
-- Two days before Beachfest with Luis Palau began, America went
to war with Iraq. Throughout the March 22-23 weekend, Luis Palau
turned the news uppermost in Americans' minds to an eternal angle.
"There's a war going on in Iraq," Luis Palau said Saturday
night to the crowd packed from sidewalk to surf on Fort Lauderdale
Beach. "But there's also a war going on in America. It's
a spiritual war. A battle between light and darkness."
The 1,102 churches involved in Beachfest with Luis Palau were
more than willing to join the spiritual battle. And war in Iraq,
it seemed, wouldn't keep this city away from the festival. "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," The Miami Herald reported. It
was also a new record for Luis Palau on U.S. soil, with police
estimates of 200,000 Saturday, and 100,000 Sunday--despite an
early afternoon thunderstorm.
"Determining crowd size at this level is difficult, but
it's exciting for us as a team to know we had our first and second
largest crowds in the U.S. back-to-back this weekend," said
Andrew Palau, Beachfest director. During the weekend created to
introduce Jesus Christ to the community, children, teens and adults
filled and overflowed the six city blocks of beachfront taken
up by Beachfest activities. Umbrellas and blankets staked family
spots from the main stage at the south end to the extreme skate
park at the north, while children brushed up on their athletic
skills in the Miami Dolphins Sports Zone or bounced in the inflatables
in the VeggieTales Children's Area. The day was about having fun-but
Palau gave no apology for the event's purpose.
"In the midst of all the fun, the singing and clapping,
we all need some sobering up," Palau said. "You've got
to know where you're going when you die. Are you going to heaven?
The war certainly makes it easy to speak of eternal issues.
"I feel the Holy Spirit will draw them to Himself,"
Palau said. "People need to be ready for heaven." Thousands
of people indicated they wanted to be ready.
"We're receiving a stream of testimonies of changed lives
from the executive committee, churches, and involved believers,"
said Andrew Palau, "and that is what it's been about from
the beginning. "When Dad asked people to raise their hands,
indicating a decision for the Lord, a sea of hands--as far as
the eye could see--were raised, waving. Our trained counselors
met with many of them, and we're referring thousands to the local
churches for follow-up. Our counselors have done a tremendous
job, but our hope is in the knowledge that the Great Counselor
will finish the work He has begun."
Stephan Tchividjian, assisting pastor at Calvary Chapel Fort
Lauderdale, sees Beachfest not only as an evangelism opportunity,
but also as a rallying point for the Church. "We have a community
that has prepared for this for some time," Tchividjian said.
"Momentum has built; people are excited about the Body of
Christ coming together. The festival is a catalyst to continue.
It's an outstanding event, giving pastors ownership."
Beachfest extended far beyond Fort Lauderdale Beach. This was
Palau's first national festival, carried by radio broadcast on
1,400 stations, and sent via satellite to more than 300 "beach
parties" in 44 states and six Canadian provinces, with attendance
reaching 3,000 at the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, party.
Not only did Beachfest go from Florida to the nation--some of
the nation came to Florida. Fifty-three high school and college
teams from 17 states flew into South Florida for Beachfest. Nearly
300 came in up to a week before, exchanging their spring break
for community service. An additional 700 flew and drove in for
the weekend, volunteering to unload trucks, counsel decision-makers,
and pick up garbage. Six groups worked on a Habitat for Humanity
community, building houses. "We wanted to see service in
a tangible way," said Jessica Ramos, a student from Knox
College at the Habitat site. "As Christians, we tend to speak
a lot; this [project] is important because we can serve where
people really do need our help."
Saturday's "youth night" line-up included TobyMac,
Third Day, Jaci Velasquez, Mary Mary, and Pillar. Sunday's family-oriented
evening included Avalon, The Katinas, Hezekiah Walker, Blind Boys
of Alabama, and Jump5.
"It's always such an incredible experience, just knowing
what Luis Palau is doing," said David Carr of Third Day.
"[He's] not off where only Christians are-he's where the
people are. It's a very welcoming environment."
"This is the positive proclamation of the Good News,"
Palau said. "That's why we call it 'Good News'-so people
catch on, 'This is good stuff!'"
Media contacts: Craig Chastain (954.547.2862) or Kim Claassen
(503.614.1500)
Luis Palau news release Copyright(c)2003 Luis Palau Evangelistic
Association. All rights reserved.
KERALA, India (Mar 4, 2002)--Oppression
against Christians isn't easing in India. That's the message from
MissionEvangelism's Adrian Jones who just returned from preaching
in the state of Kerala where his life was threatened. "A
gang of men had sworn to kidnap me and kill me. So, when I got
to the crusade site, it was surrounded by police and soldiers
with machine guns. It was sort of a hair-raising time for the
team." Jones says religious freedom in India may be changing.
"The state of Kerala is getting ready to pass a no conversion
law. As I understand it, if you go in there on a tourist visa
they won't allow you to come in and preach at all. You can go
in on a preaching visa if they will give that to you, but they're
saying they won't give that to you either. So, the door is closing."
67-thousand people heard the Gospel -- nearly two-thousand people
made professions of faith."
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