News Room
Admin Group
Joined: 07/25/2004
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6560
|
Posted: 07/23/2015 at 10:51am
|
IP Logged
|
|
|
NY CityFest draws thousands to New York City’s Central Park
Capping a week of major evangelistic gatherings, Luis Palau shares
the Gospel in the heart of one of the most influential cities in the
world NEW
YORK CITY, NY (ANS – July 20, 2015) -- In New York City’s iconic
Central Park, world evangelist Luis Palau shared the Good News of Jesus Christ
with thousands of people representing multiple languages, ethnicities, and
cultural backgrounds in an extraordinary display of the diversity of the Body of
Christ. It was a fitting capstone to NY CityServe & CityFest, a historic
campaign that brought together 1,700 churches and reached 180,000 people in
person through more than 115 events in one of the most influential cities in the
world.
Luis
and his son Andrew partnered with local pastors Gabriel Salguero and A.R.
Bernard, former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, and musical guests
Amanecer, Israel Houghton, Mandisa, Rescate, Matt Redman, Hezekiah Walker,
Marcos Witt, and TobyMac to put on a high energy program. Surprise guests to
take the stage during the night included musical artist and good friend Chris
Tomlin as well as New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“This is such a beautiful scene of people coming together under a common
cause,” de Blasio said in his greeting from the stage. “CityFest is now part of
our history. You are showing how much communities of faith contribute to civic
life.”
After the brief words from the mayor, the entire pastoral committee for the
festival joined him on stage and prayed for him publicly.
The
Central Park event was just one of many evangelistic events throughout the five
boroughs of New York City under the umbrella of the campaign. On July 7, Luis
Palau, Andrew Palau, New York Times Bestselling author Eric Metaxas, “America’s
Got Talent” finalist David Garibaldi, Third Day, Newsboys, and Latin a cappella
group Amanecer joined the ranks of legendary performers who have graced the
stage of the iconic Radio City Music Hall. Thousands of people packed into the
music hall to hear the Good News in one of the most storied venues in the
country.
“I’m so inspired that the Good News has reached our city,” Brooklyn pastor
Wilson Delgado commented at the event. “I thank God we get to witness this.”
Jennifer Jones Austin, head of the Protestant Welfare Agencies of New York
City and member of the NY CityServe
Executive Committee, also spoke from stage at Radio City Music Hall, sharing
about the impact that local believers were having through the campaign, which
included a service initiative—NY CityServe—that mobilized hundreds of Christians
to love the city through ongoing, long-term service projects.
“CityServe has come to New York City much like God sends his angels,” Austin
commented. “How fortunate we are that Luis Palau has brought CityServe to New
York City.”
Then on Friday, July 10, hundreds of people packed around a stage set up in
the center of Times Square where Luis Palau and Andrew Palau shared the Gospel
multiple times and invited people into a relationship with Jesus. TobyMac,
Mandisa, Amanecer, Matt Redman, and Marcos Witt performed between messages.
“This is a really good event,” shared William, a follower of Christ who had
come to take part in the Times Square event. “A lot of people who didn’t know
about God, they’re going to know about God as our Lord and Savior.”
“We want all of New York City to know that God loves them, and will save them
from their sins,” Luis shared from the stage, his words audible from nearly
every corner of the square and his face plastered on six of the famous Jumbotron
screens that make Times Square so famous. “I’ll give you an opportunity, right
here in Times Square, to give your heart to God!”
At each invitation, hands shot into the air throughout the crowd as NY
CityFest counselors—wearing black T-shirts if they spoke Spanish and orange if
they spoke English—wove throughout the crowd to pray with those who had made
decisions. One advertising executive, still in his business suit, heard the
noise in Times Square as he left his office. He wandered down the street, came
upon the festival, stuck around for the message, and met with a counselor to
commit his life to Christ. “I wasn’t expecting this,” he shared with the
counselor. “Who knew I would come across such an amazing event, and amazing
message, on my way home from work.”
At Radio
City Music Hall and Central Park, the scene was much the same—between the three
evenings, thousands of people made documented decisions to follow Christ. In
total, more than 10,000 individuals registered decisions for Christ throughout
the entire campaign.
While the final week of events marked an end to the major evangelistic
gatherings through NY CityFest, the Palau team plans to continue working in New
York City for several years with the goal of continuing to build long-term unity
among churches and encouraging the Body of Christ.
“This is more than a moment, this is a movement,” Gabriel Salguero said of NY
CityServe & CityFest. “We’re asking how the Church can be a healing presence
in New York City.”
Photo captions: 1) Luis Palau shares a stirring Gospel message in Times
Square, New York City (Luis Palau Association, 2015). 2) Luis Palau and Matt
Redman greet the crowd in Central Park. (Luis Palau Association, 2015). 3) Luis
Palau shares the Good News with hundreds of people at one of New York City's
most iconic landmarks, Radio City Music Hall. (Luis Palau Association, 2015)
Andrew Palau sharing the Gospel at the Summer Stage in Central Park on May 30,
2015. (Luis Palau Association, 2015).
About the Luis Palau Association:
After arriving in America in 1960 from his native Argentina, Luis Palau is
more intent than ever to follow his calling to spread the powerful word of God
throughout the world. Whether on stage speaking to massive crowds at his
festivals; through his radio messages heard daily in 48 countries; or in counsel
and prayer with leaders from the local church to the White House, Palau remains
one of the world's most effective and compelling spiritual communicators. He is
joined in the ministry by his two sons Andrew, and Kevin, who is President of
the ministry. For more information, please go to http://www.palau.org
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories and news releases
with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
Source: Assist News
Service
|