Uruguay 2023 — Luis Palau Association

Saturday, November 18

Watch the final night of the festival from Montevideo, Uruguay. Pray with us for those who responded to the Gospel at the festival, that their faith would be strengthened! And pray that those who heard the Gospel would remember what they heard and continue to seek the Lord.

FRIDAY, November 17

Just like on Thursday, today Andrew was invited on two television programs to talk about the festival (Channel 4 and TV Ciudad).

Thursday, November 16

On Thursday morning, two television interviews were held with Andrew Palau, on two of the most watched stations in the metropolitan area. The first was on Channel 12 in the program “Informal Breakfasts”, which will be broadcast on Friday morning. It second was a live interview on “La Mañana en Casa” on Channel 10.

On both occasions Andrew spoke briefly about how God changed his life through the transforming power of Jesus Christ. He also invited everyone to go to the Festival on November 17 and 18 at Rambla Punta Carretas.

In the afternoon Andrew, Wendy, the team, and local pastors arrived at the Municipality of the city of Maldonado to meet with the Mayor, Enrique Antín. Andrew used the opportunity to share his testimony and faith in Jesus.

We held another Stories of Hope event for women this evening. Almost 250 women were in attendance, with more than 113 making a commitment to Christ. The program featured the singer Manuel Wirtz, the impersonator Martín Russo, and was hosted by Vero Effa.

Once again, Wendy shared her heart with those present… about the sadness, pain, and anxiety that had once consumed her. Then God did a work of transformation in her life! Many women were moved by her story and identified with the experience of pregnancy loss, but they took with them the message that, despite the loss, there is always hope in Jesus.

Wednesday, November 15

More than 1,200 women gathered to listen to Wendy share her testimony of transformation at our Stories of Hope women’s event. It was a powerful evening, with many tears as well as rejoicing.

“There is hope,” Wendy shared with the crowd of women. “God is a giving God! I love the women of Uruguay, but I could never give my son for you. But God did give His son for each of you! He loves you!”

Of the 1,200 in attendance, more than 225 responded to the Gospel by the end of the evening.

In the afternoon, Andrew and Wendy had the chance to meet with Esc. Beatriz Argimón, Vice President of Uruguay. They spent time talking about family, public service, faith, peace, and the many social problems facing Uruguay. As always, Andrew didn’t shy away from sharing his testimony and the power of Jesus to change lives, families, communities, and nations. Wendy also gave the vice president a copy of her book, Stories of Hope.

Andrew and the team spent time ministering to 185 inmates and 7 officers this morning. At the end of his message, Andrew asked those who wanted to receive Christ to come forward and kneel to ask Jesus Christ to change their lives. A total of 134 people prayed to receive Christ and were given a copy of the Bible! Praise the Lord!

As the team was leaving, the prison director said, “Thank you for coming to visit the prison population. These people are not visited by anyone. They are the forgotten ones of society.” She also praised the work of the evangelical Church for the life change that inmates experience when they receive Jesus as their Savior.

Tuesday, November 14

It was a beautiful morning here in Uruguay, sharing the love and hope of Jesus with incarcerated women! Many are so brokenhearted but God is meeting them right where they are, in their darkest moment.

With the help of musician Germán Barceló, they held a short program, including a message of hope from Wendy. Wendy had the opportunity to talk and pray for several inmates. She also prayed for the director of the prison, for her work, her family, and for the responsibility of leading an institution with more than 700 lives with deep rehabilitation needs.

Praise God! More than 61 women accepted Jesus Christ as a result of the outreach.

More than 300 people gathered at the Radisson Hotel in Montevideo to participate in the Business & Civic Dinner with Andrew Tuesday night. Dr. Roberto Canessa, a doctor who survived the Tragedy of the Andes, shared his testimony. In addition, there was music and testimony from Germán Barceló and Manuel Wirtz. After Andrew’s message, more than 40 attendees made a decision of faith.

MONDAY, November 13

We wish you could have been with us at the pastors and leaders gathering in Montevideo, Uruguay! God was faithful to draw many people to unite around the Gospel.

Uruguay is the most secular nation in Latin America—with the highest suicide rate. But God is bringing hope to the hopeless this week because of the partnership of friends like you! Will you pray with us for the local leaders and believers as they prepare and invite many to the festival this weekend?

Thanks for praying… we just landed in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Can you believe it has been 20 years since Dad was here for the last festival?

We have so many great friendships here… the churches are working hard and remaining unified in putting this festival on. And in such a challenging part of Latin America toward the Gospel! It’s a blessing to witness and be a part of.

Pray for us and we will update you here on all the events happening this week. We are excited for all the opportunities!

We appreciate you!

—Andrew and Wendy

Friday, November 10

The year is rapidly coming to a close, but we’re not slowing down.

Right now, our sights are set on Uruguay in South America. At the invitation of the Uruguay Pastoral Alliance, the Palau Association has committed to serve Montevideo, Uruguay (population: 1.76 million) through a unified, area-wide evangelistic festival.

And I’m believing God for a tremendous outpouring of His Spirit.

You may not know much about Uruguay. For years it has prided itself as the most advanced and secular nation in Latin America. In fact, Uruguay has the highest percentage of those nonaffiliated with religion compared to any other nation in South America.

Yet the last few years have shown where this secular mindset leads – what truly happens when you remove God from a culture.

As of today, Uruguay is the leading Latin nation for suicides. And every year, the numbers only continue to rise. Uruguay needs to hope of Jesus!

While the local Christian community is small, there is a solid group of faithful churches and believers who want to impact their region with the Gospel. And they’ve asked for our help to lead them in the effort.

Working with, through, and for the local Church, this evangelistic campaign will proclaim the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ on a citywide, nationwide, and continent-wide scale.

And the festival is almost here! Wendy and I–along with a handful of key team members–are headed there now.

Through your partnership, this campaign will . . . .

Unite churches under a common purpose,
Train thousands of believers in evangelism and discipleship,
Form strategic partnerships with corporate and civic leaders,
Reach major sectors of society (including women, men, business leaders, students, people in prison, and more) through special affinity events,
Initiate an ongoing commitment to evangelistic outreach and community service,
Reach hundreds of thousands of people in the heart of Montevideo, Uruguay with the Gospel through a strategic two-day evangelistic festival,
And extend the reach of the festival even farther through an expansive media campaign.

We see a future for the people of Uruguay . . . one filled with peace, hope, and the truth of God. But we need your help to make this possible.

As I mentioned, the Christian community in Uruguay is very small. They are passionate, and are giving their all. Yet even in their sacrificial giving, there is no way the Church in Uruguay can accomplish this effort on their own.

The only way we will be able to shake this nation with the Good News of Jesus is if we have the full partnership and participation from friends like you.

I can’t wait to see how God will use this campaign to bless the people of Uruguay! Together . . . with the local churches . . . we will be sharing the Good News through a special business and civic leaders dinner, outreaches to prisoners, gatherings for women, community service projects, and of course, the festival itself.

Will you please pray fervently that God would protect each and every one of the outreach efforts planned?

As you pray, would you also please consider giving a financial gift to help with the costs associated with every element of this campaign – from the training to the promotion, to the production, and all the way through to the follow up? It is a massive effort. One that is only possible with the help from friends like you.

You can give a gift today at the button below.

Thank you for your prayers and faithful partnership. Thank you for putting God first, for sharing His Good News, and for trusting us with your resources.

God is blessing your partnership. He is using you to bring glory and honor to Himself. And He is pleased when He sees your heart for the lost.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

—Andrew Palau

John 4:35 – “Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”

GIVE TO REACH THOUSANDS IN URUGUAY

Praise God for how He moved in Uruguay!

Our time in Uruguay: