Luis Palau was an influential evangelical Christian evangelist who was born in Argentina in 1934 but later immigrated to the United States. He preached the gospel for over 50 years and was known for his massive evangelistic campaigns that drew hundreds of thousands of people. Palau had a gifted ability to communicate biblical truths in a simple yet compelling way. He authored over 50 books and reached millions through radio, television, and the internet. Though he was criticized by some for his associations with high-profile individuals like Billy Graham, he remained faithful in proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ throughout his life.
Palau’s Early Life and Conversion
Luis Palau was born in Argentina in 1934. His father was a businessman who died when Luis was just 10 years old. This forced the family to move to Uruguay to live with relatives. As a teenager, Palau questioned the Catholic faith he was brought up in and considered himself an atheist. However, while attending a Methodist camp, he heard the gospel and gave his life to Christ at age 15. Palau was mentored by Ray Stedman, a pastor from California who encouraged him to study God’s word and share his faith. At age 19, Palau began preaching on the streets of Uruguay and seeing many convert to Christianity.
Palau’s Ministry and Evangelistic Crusades
In 1960, Luis Palau moved to the United States to attend seminary. He pastored Spanish-speaking churches in California and Oregon. Then in 1978, he launched the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association to coordinate large-scale evangelistic festivals around the world. These events featured preaching, music, and counseling to call people to faith in Christ. His first festival in Buenos Aires in 1978 had over 100,000 attendees. He would go on to host crusades in Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America, often drawing over 250,000 people. Notable crusades included one in Kingston, Jamaica in 1986 with over 1 million attendees and another in Lagos, Nigeria in 2000 which had over 1.6 million people. Though sometimes controversial for their methodology, these events impacted multitudes for Christ.
Palau’s Media Outreaches
In addition to his live events, Luis Palau utilized various forms of media to share the gospel. He hosted both English and Spanish radio broadcasts that aired worldwide. His radio program Luis Palau Responde (Luis Palau Responds) featured call-in Bible questions. In the 1980s, he launched television programs that were eventually broadcast to over 40 countries. Palau also authored close to 50 books, with his autobiography being translated into over 70 languages. His book Out of the Desert tells the story of his conversion. In later years, Palau’s ministry used the internet to great effect, launching websites, social media outreach, email newsletters, and online training to advance evangelism.
Palau’s Passion for Unity and Mentorship
Luis Palau had a passion for unity among believers and would often work across denominational lines. He partnered with Catholic and mainline Protestant churches to host festivals. In 1999, Palau and Pope John Paul II held a joint conference in Rome focused on unity and cooperation between Catholics and Evangelicals. He was also mentored early on by Billy Graham and would later serve on Graham’s evangelistic team, often being called his “Spanish-speaking counterpart.” In mentoring other evangelists, he co-founded the CityServe Network to train church leaders. Palau was known for mentoring young preachers of various backgrounds.
Palau’s Final Years and Legacy
In his later years, Luis Palau continued to preach the gospel despite declining health. He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018. On March 11, 2021 he passed away at the age of 86, leaving behind his wife Pat, his sons Keith and Andrew, and his legacy of evangelism. At the time of his death, his radio broadcasts reached over 31 million people worldwide monthly. His crusades impacted tens of millions of individuals with the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. He was committed to the Great Commission until the end. The Luis Palau Association continues its evangelistic work today.
Palau Preached Salvation Comes Through Christ Alone
At the heart of Luis Palau’s preaching was the core biblical message that salvation from sin only comes through repenting and believing in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He preached that all men are sinful before God (Romans 3:23), deserving of death and separation from God. But that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). Palau stressed that no one can earn salvation through good works. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9). He called all people to turn from sin and trust fully in Christ’s atoning work on the cross.
Palau Focused on Christ’s Resurrection and Deity
Key to Palau’s gospel message was the resurrection of Jesus Christ proving His deity and victory over sin and death. Palau preached Christ crucified, buried, and risen again on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Jesus’ resurrection authenticated His claims to be the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world (Romans 1:4). Palau also emphasized Jesus’ divine nature as fully God and fully man. Jesus claimed, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30) and Palau affirmed Christ as the divine Savior. He warned against false gospels that denied Jesus as God incarnate. Salvation was only through belief in the Jesus of the Bible.
Palau Called All to Repent and Receive New Life
Hand in hand with trusting in Christ’s finished work, Luis Palau called all people to repentance. He preached that faith involves turning from sin and turning wholeheartedly to God (Acts 3:19). When asked how to be saved, Palau pointed to the Bible’s call to “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2:38). Palau taught that believers are given new spiritual life through Christ and called to obedience. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Good works flow from grateful hearts changed by God’s grace.
Palau Urged Bold Witness and Life Transformation
Luis Palau urged all believers to boldly share their faith and live changed lives. Though a gifted preacher, he stressed that all Christians have a mandate to share the gospel and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). He encouraged Bible study, prayer, holiness, and relying on the Spirit to be effective witnesses. Palau also called Christians to live out their faith through acts of service, fighting injustice, and meeting practical needs. Faith was not just about conversion but about life transformation into Christ’s image. Palau sought to model integrity in his ministry and family life.
Palau Preached Future Judgment and Christ’s Return
As an evangelist, Luis Palau soberly warned unbelievers of future judgment. He preached that Jesus Christ ultimately returns to judge all men and separate sheep from goats (Matthew 25:31-46). Those who reject Christ face an eternity separated from God. But those who believe in Him look forward to resurrection life in a new creation (Revelation 21:1-5). Palau proclaimed, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2b). He called for readiness for Christ’s return, living holy lives, and urgency in evangelism while there was still time.
Palau Had a Burden to Reach Lost People
Above all, Luis Palau had a deep apostolic burden to reach lost people from all nations with the gospel. His passion to share Christ flowed from understanding the destiny of the unsaved. Palau declared: “Hell is real and terrible. There is no greater anguish than to be separated forever from God.” He was gripped by Paul’s anguish for unbelieving Israel (Romans 9:1-3) and Jesus’ tears over Jerusalem prior to judgment (Luke 19:41-44). This compassion birthed a lifetime of evangelistic crusades to rescue the perishing across the world.
Palau Utilized Mass Events and Media for Evangelism
In order to reach as many as possible, Luis Palau eagerly utilized technological means for evangelism. His festivals featured cutting-edge staging, audio, and video to draw crowds and proclaim the gospel in engaging ways. He embraced radio, television, films, and internet tools to expand his reach. Some criticized these methods as overly flashy. But Palau believed he had to appropriately contextualize the unchanging message of the Bible to most effectively reach each culture and generation. While his techniques were controversial at times, the focus remained on calling people to repent, believe, and be saved.
Palau Built Strategic Coalitions to Advance the Gospel
Though firmly evangelical in doctrine, Luis Palau willingly built coalitions across denominational and faith lines to further gospel advance. He partnered with Roman Catholics on initiatives while maintaining his Protestant convictions. Palau worked alongside other evangelists like Billy Graham tounderscore unity in proclaiming the biblical Christ. His festivals involved churches across denominations cooperating together for evangelism in their city. Palau believed that external conflicts distracted from the central mission ofreaching the unsaved. While avoiding compromise on essentials, he focused on cooperation to win lost souls.
Palau Integrated Social Concern and Evangelism
While Luis Palau’s central mission was evangelism, he also encouraged social concern as part of Christian witness. He called believers to reflect God’s heart for the poor and defend human rights. Palau stated: “The gospel produces men and women who are concerned for the needs of others. Christianity is anything but a religious philosophy of ‘me first’.” The Palau Association engaged in humanitarian work like drilling freshwater wells internationally. Palau contended that genuine conversion inevitably leads to care for others, especially the vulnerable and society’s outcasts.
Palau Mentored Other Christian Leaders
Part of Luis Palau’s lasting legacy was his mentoring of countless Christian leaders globally. He founded the CityServe Network which trains pastors and ministry leaders for effective urban evangelism. Palau served as a spiritual father to various younger evangelists such as Nick Hall, Will Graham, Andrew Palau and others. He equipped future generations by modeling personal integrity, financial transparency, passion for the lost, and perseverance in ministry despite obstacles. Countless pastors and missionaries influenced by Palau spread his torch worldwide.
Palau Stayed Christ-Focused Amid Criticism and Controversy
Throughout his high-profile ministry, Luis Palau faced criticism from both theological conservatives and liberals. Some evangelicals questioned his ecumenical associations or methods of large-scale events. Others rejected his calling people to faith in Jesus alone. Palau tried to maintain gospel focus despite disputes about techniques or secondary issues. He aimed to remove obstacles that kept people from hearing the Good News. Palau sought accountability and remained engaged with critics, while avoiding endless controversy. Convinced of his biblical mandate to preach Christ, Palau pressed on to reach multitudes.
Palau Remained Active to the End Despite Failing Health
Even after his lung cancer diagnosis in his 80’s, Luis Palau continued to minister actively until the end. Though his health declined, he still provided gospel teaching through written articles, radio broadcasts and videos. Palau modeled perseverance and faithful finish, remarking: “I’m not slowing down because I’m getting older; I’m speeding up because I’ll be dead soon.” Weeks before passing, he shared his personal testimony on camera, still desiring to point people to Christ. Palau lived with gospel urgency until death silenced his voice. His single-minded mission never wavered.
Palau Leaves a Legacy of Evangelistic Passion for Generations
When Luis Palau died at age 86, he left an enduring legacy of passion for evangelism and commitment to Scripture. Raised up by God with remarkable preaching ability, Palau maximized every opportunity to herald the gospel. His single-minded devotion to bringing lost people to Christ birthed decades of far-reaching ministry. No other contemporary evangelist except Billy Graham matched Palau’s longevity and global impact. While some methods were debatable, Palau’s unwavering devotion to the Great Commission was unquestionable. His fervor for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and desire for everyone to know Him live on through those he influenced worldwide.