Evangelistic Festivals Outmoded? Portland Doesn't Think So.

Servant Evangelism | Christianity Today "How Luis Palau, thousands of volunteers, and a gay mayor are trying to transform Portland." Luis Palau held an evangelistic festival in his home office's community of Portland, OR. Uniquely, he had the support of the homosexual mayor of Portland and other desperate groups that would normally not be linked with an evangelistic event of this kind. Of particular interest, this festival was wedded to servant evangelism and meeting the needs of the community. According to the CT article the response was overwhelming. I have been suggesting this for a couple years now. Festival evangelism uses an attractional model: create an interesting event that attracts a crowd, i.e. a music festival with other celebrities, and properly place a gospel presentation as a part of it. What I find interesting about this Portland event was the attraction was the opportunity to serve and make a tangible impact in the community. That's unique. I'm not sure how much longer this festival model of evangelism will work but wedding it to the opportunity for mass service to the community may breathe some new life into it.