Several years of prayer and preparation led to more than 50 churches in Klamath County, Oregon coming together for Greater Klamath CityFest with Andrew Palau this past Memorial Day weekend.
Working to serve the region and proclaim a powerful message of hope in Jesus, this historic effort brought together thousands of Christians from throughout Klamath County and led hundreds of individuals in personal commitments to Jesus Christ.
The campaign – led by evangelist Andrew Palau and his wife, Wendy – featured gatherings throughout the region, including dinners, mini festivals to prisons, a youth outreach, and multiple school assemblies. All this led up to the free, one-day festival at Klamath County Fairgrounds on May 27 featuring award-winning artists Newsboys, Ryan Stevenson, and Marisol Park.
In addition to the first-rate musical line-up from mainstage, the family-friendly festival included a massive children's area, complete with a gaming tent, petting zoo, carnival games, pony rides, and a mechanical bull. A program for kids in the afternoon (in partnership with Kids Blitz) and action sports demonstrations (featuring The Stunt Dudes) helped round out the day's activities. Andrew Palau highlighted the evening by sharing a clear Gospel message from the main stage and challenging those in the crowd to give their life to Jesus Christ.
"Nothing brings me greater joy than partnering with other faithful believers to lift up the name of Jesus in a community," said Andrew Palau about the campaign. "We have seen such a tremendous response to this Gospel message across the globe. And it was no different here in Klamath Falls. From the prison outreaches to the evangelistic dinners, all the way to the festival itself, the number of people who heard the Good News message and responded was overwhelming. The promises of the world are so futile and fleeting. Yet the Good News – God’s gift of new life – is complete and life-changing. It does not disappoint. What an honor to share it with those in need."
In total – including all events and gatherings – CityFest organizers estimate more than 13,300 people were reached in person through the campaign, representing an astonishing 20 percent of the population of the region.
With Greater Klamath CityFest acting as a catalyst, local churches have also been serving the Greater Klamath region in a unified service effort. In an initiative that has come to be known as CityServe, the churches are focusing on several areas of need, including homelessness, youth and family, and cleanup and restoration. The city has seen an enormous impact through this campaign and will continue to see it grow in the days ahead.
"The show of unity across 53 churches has been phenomenal," said Doug Kirby, Klamath CityFest Co-Chair. "It's caught the attention of the wider community who are recognizing the mighty force of a unified Church body. Revival has begun and has changed the trajectory of our Greater Klamath Region for all generations. CityFest is a once-in-a-lifetime experience – it's challenged each one of us to be more like Jesus Christ."
While local leaders continue in this effort, the Palau Association will move on to support similar campaigns in cities across the globe. Upcoming festivals are in the works in Kenya, Egypt, Uruguay, the United Kingdom, and several cities throughout the United States.
You can learn more about the Luis Palau Association and their worldwide work at www.palau.org.
About Andrew Palau:
For more than 25 years Andrew Palau has shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with millions of individuals around the world through festivals, digital media, and the printed word. In his role as evangelist for the Luis Palau Association, he has been instrumental in building the LPA model for citywide evangelistic outreach to every sector of society. He has led hundreds of citywide campaigns on six continents, with notable festivals in Washington, DC; New York City, New York; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Manado, Indonesia; Cairo, Egypt; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bogota, Colombia; San Jose, Costa Rica; Kingston, Jamaica; Lilongwe, Malawi; Abidjan?, Cote d'Ivoire; and Manchester, England.
Luis Palau Association
Newsboys