Festival Evangelism Returns to the Grand Strand

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June 16, 2008

Evangelist Andrew Palau brought a two-day festival of music, action sports and family fun to South Carolina’s Grand Strand over the weekend with more than 19,000 in attendance. “BeachFest” was a partnership with area churches, local businesses and close to 1,000 volunteers who assembled a free, family-friendly festival on the grounds of the former Myrtle Square Mall.

Top performers in contemporary Christian music performed, including TobyMac, MercyMe, Mandisa and Hawk Nelson. Lindz West, frontman for the British group L7, provided emcee duties. In addition to the main stage, the 55-acre site offered a massive action sports venue, a family fun area, and a vast array of food and drink choices.

As with all Palau events, the Gospel message was presented multiple times. The Livin It® action sports demos included performances and testimonies by nationally ranked athletes from Riders for Christ (freestyle motocross), Protown BMX, Untitled (skateboarding) and the Walking on Water surf ministry. Video superstars Bob and Larry of VeggieTales hosted the Family Fun Zone where the Good News was presented from a child’s perspective.

This was the first Andrew Palau festival to be held in the United States. Palau, who recently returned from a similar festival in Bucharest, Romania, has directed and spoken at many evangelistic festivals presented by his father, global evangelist and author Luis Palau. He has been instrumental in crafting the “festival format” of music, sports and family activities that have drawn historic crowds from south Florida to South America.

“We were so blessed by the local churches whose congregations faithfully prayed for their friends who then came to BeachFest and heard the Good News,” said Palau. “We’re grateful for the support of our financial and prayer partners, the media, and the tireless volunteers who did everything from counseling to picking up trash.”

Palau spoke at multiple venues throughout festival week, and was even “slimed” at a local church’s version of Nickelodeon’s famed “You Can’t Do That on Television.” By the end of the festival, more than 500 people had recorded documented decisions to follow Christ. The Palau ministry will assist in local follow-up to assure that the new decision-makers get a solid start in their walk of faith.

Palau will next appear at festivals in Dallas, Atlanta, and his hometown of Portland, Oregon.

Pre-Festival (June 9, 2008)

At the invitation of local area pastors, media representatives, and church leaders, Andrew Palau is bringing the Good News to the Grand Strand region this Father’s Day weekend.

Uniting church leaders across denominational lines, equipping believers in friendship evangelism, and preparing churches to disciple new believers, BeachFest with Andrew Palau will likely prove the most significant evangelistic opportunity in Myrtle Beach in quite some time.

The two-day family-friendly festival offers something for everyone in typical Palau festival style. It will feature nonstop activity and some of today’s most popular Christian bands. Hawk Nelson and MercyMe will perform live on the main stage Friday evening, June 13. Saturday evening will feature a performance by American Idol’s Mandisa and a signature high-energy stage show by TobyMac, whose live concerts are known for the very best in hip-hop, dance and rock.

A highlight for teens, some of the world’s best Livin It® skateboard, BMX, and freestyle motocross athletes will converge to demonstrate their skill and share their stories of life-change through Jesus Christ. Surfers and wannabes won’t want to miss pro surfers Noah Snyder and Jesse Hines down at the beach both days of the festival as well.

Fun and entertainment for every age can be found in the Family Fun Zone, complete with high-fives from VeggieTales stars Bob and Larry. Kids will love the inflatables, face painting, a hilarious ventriloquist, colorful crafts, and so much more. A sports area will welcome kids of every age to test their athletic skills.

Luis Palau first shared the Good News in Myrtle Beach for BeachFest at Broadway in 2002, leaving the community ready and eager six years later for another great festival.