In an otherwise dull and declining spiritual climate, church leaders in Scotland moved forward with hope and faith. Their hearts for sharing the love of Jesus Christ – and winning their country back to its Gospel roots – compelled them toward Highland Festival with Luis Palau on June 19-20, 2009.
In the weeks leading up to the culminating large celebration in Inverness, mini-festivals took place in a number of the smaller communities across the Highlands (including Thurso, Buckie, and others).
You can help meet the budget that remains. You can join the Luis Palau team in affirming and following up with those who responded to the Good News of Jesus Christ. Together, we will see Scotland alive again with the Gospel!
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(Inverness, Scotland) Highland Festival with Luis Palau culminated in Inverness, Scotland on June 20 after two weeks of more than 60 outreach events in more than a dozen towns throughout Scotland’s Highlands. Local pastors praised the Palau outreach for the unity it created among participating churches and for saturating the Highlands with the Gospel message. Most of the sparsely populated towns impacted by the campaign have not witnessed such a large scale effort since Palau’s previous Scottish campaigns that ran from 1979-1981.
“You can definitely sense the secularization and lack of church attendance,” said the Argentine evangelist, the grandson of Scotsman Robert Balfour. “I have asked young people ‘do you go to church?’ and they look at me like I’m from another planet.” But just as he noted 30 years ago, Palau said, “Scotland is once again dry tinder, ready to catch fire for the Lord.”
The Highland Festival involved more than 100 churches – that’s more than half the region’s total church population – representing nearly every denomination. Together with Palau, his son Andrew, and a team of partner evangelists, these churches made a profound impact through a combination of preaching, music, skateboarding, sports, and good, old-fashioned fun. An estimated 5 percent of attendees made a commitment to Christ.
“What a great blessing we have seen through Highland Festival with Luis Palau,” said Lord Mackay of Clashfern, honorary chairman of the campaign and, until recently, the third most powerful person in the United Kingdom’s government as Lord Chancellor. “Never in recent history has there been such a widespread evangelistic effort that touched so many people of all ages in so many locations throughout the Highlands.”
Leading up to the final event, an outdoor festival in Inverness on June 19-20, were eight mini-festivals in nearby towns, more than 40 outreaches at schools and prisons, a tea for women held at the personal castle of well-known Christian businesswoman Anne Gloag, a business leaders’ luncheon, and two evenings of traditional music and preaching at an indoor theatre. By the end of the culminating festival, officials estimated approximately 20,000 people had been reached with the Gospel message – representing 10 percent of the population of the surrounding area and marking a significant step forward for evangelism in the region.
“The number of people reached is tremendous for Scotland’s Highlands,” said Palau, also noting that the clear message of God’s salvation was also broadcast throughout the entire United Kingdom via BBC4 and through press stories. “I am encouraged! But even more, we are excited for the unity, collaboration, and vision this campaign has given the local churches. Christian leaders want to continue this work.”
Palau’s worldwide festivals also include widespread community service initiatives, now known as Season of Service campaigns. In Inverness, thousands of pounds of food were collected through a partnership with Blythswood Care. “It is obvious that the recession and resulting unemployment is hitting parts of the Highlands very hard,” said Blythswood chief executive James Campbell. “The food bank will tide many hundreds of adults and children over, when otherwise they would face the prospect of real deprivation.”
“We are praising God through this entire campaign,” said Palau. “We give thanks to our prayer partners who interceded on behalf of the people of the Highlands and gave to make it all possible. We continue praying that this is just the beginning of what God plans to do in this area.”
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View photos from some of the mini festivals that have taken place in Scotland.
SCOTLAND’S HIGHLANDS TO BE REACHED THROUGH WORLD EVANGELIST LUIS PALAU’S CAMPAIGN
Highland Festival with Luis Palau includes nearly 50 evangelistic events over two weeks
(Inverness, Scotland) In an otherwise declining spiritual climate, an excitement is burning today in Scotland. More than 100 churches have come together to partner with world evangelist Luis Palau for a far-reaching campaign with the goal of winning Scotland back to Jesus Christ.
“I have a tremendous love for Scotland,” said Palau. “My family in Argentina became Christians back in the 1940s through the witness of missionaries from this area. Today, it is an honor for me to partner with the churches and believers there.”
More than half the region’s churches are involved, representing most denominations. Highland Festival with Luis Palau is anticipated to be the largest and most significant outreach since the Highland Revivals in the 1940s and 50s.
The mission spans two weeks and includes nearly 50 events that will culminate in Inverness. Starting June 8, Luis Palau, son Andrew Palau, and other partner evangelists with Luis’ Next Generation Alliance® will proclaim the Gospel in 8 towns and villages throughout the Highlands. They include Gairlock, Mallaig, Lochinver, Golspie, Buckie, Fort William, Thurso, and Forres. In addition, affinity events are planned specifically for women and business leaders, and thirty school assemblies will feature live action sports demos for youth.
On June 17-18, Luis Palau will speak at large indoor gatherings featuring traditional music performances by the All Souls Orchestra from London. The culminating outdoor festival will be on June 19-20 at Bught Park in Inverness. Performing artists include Delirious, Hillsong London, LZ7, and other musicians well-known in the United Kingdom. Local churches have committed to follow up with those who respond to the Gospel or have questions about the Christian faith.
In an effort to bless the community through this campaign, a massive area-wide food drive is being conducted throughout June, helping meet the needs of the community and replenish area food banks.
Luis Palau and his ministry have shared the Gospel with more than 1 billion people worldwide through events and media. His radio broadcast in both English and Spanish are heard by millions on over 2,600 radio stations in 48 countries. His festivals have produced some of the largest audiences ever recorded in cities from south Florida to South America.
Visit the Highland Festival Website
Over a two-week period in June nearly 50 evangelistic events will take place, including:
Publicity includes:
Please be praying that God will move in mighty ways throughout all of Scotland this June!
Please continue to pray for Highland Festival finances, as we are behind in the fundraising effort. You can help! Make a gift today and join with believers in Scotland to see this initiative go forward.
Pray for a potential festival in Edinburgh that may take place in June of 2011.
Inverness is a city of approximately 70,000 people in the Highlands area of northern Scotland. In this relatively small city, 110 ministers and elders turned out for the Church Leadership Meeting yesterday. Now, more than 70 congregations are on board, exceeding our original goal by 30 churches.
Thursday night, 130 people attended the fundraising dinner. This was up from the mere dozen people who were registered only three weeks ago! These people loved the festival concept. For such a conservative area (a number of churches don’t even allow instrumental music in their worship services), this is a huge answer to prayer that the festival model is so well embraced.
This morning, Luis met with a well-known Christian business woman and philanthropist, Mrs. Gloag. She agreed to host the Women’s Tea (an outreach event for women commonly known as the Women’s Luncheon in other festival cities) at her castle (yes, castle). This will be a real treat for the ladies, hosted by Mrs. Gloag, Lady MacKay, and Lady Sainsbury.
Tonight was the launch rally. A half an hour before the service began the main floor was filled. By the time the service started, nearly 800 people of all ages had gathered. There was plenty of white hair in the place, as well as a kid with a Mohawk. They all loved it. Luis was his usual humorous self, and the Scots laughed and laughed. The momentum here is amazing.
(Inverness, Scotland) Internationally-known speaker Luis Palau has formally accepted an invitation from more than 50 congregations and ministries to host a region-wide festival celebration this June. Taking place in cities and villages throughout the Highlands—from Inverness to Thurso—Highland Festival with Luis Palau includes a series of free, family-friendly events for all ages. Palau and his team—including speakers, Christian athletes, and musicians—will join with churches and parishes from all denominations as they share a positive message of faith and hope in today’s world.
In the weeks leading up to the culminating celebration at Bught Park in Inverness on 19 & 20 June, mini-festivals will take place in a number of the smaller communities across the Highlands (including Thurso, Buckie, and others). In addition, during the week of the festival in Inverness, Palau will host a series of special events at Eden Court, ranging from classical Scottish concerts to gatherings for businessmen.
The executive committee, chaired by Lord James MacKay of Clashfern and made up of ministers, businessmen and community leaders, has been working hard on the many details necessary to prepare for this community-wide festival and series of events.
In an effort to bless the community through Highland Festival, a massive area-wide food drive will be conducted to help meet the needs of the community and replenish area food banks.
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