A young Luis standing with his father, Luis Palau Sr., outside their home in Ingeniero Maschwitz, Argentina (1937).
Luis (center) with his mother, three of his sisters, and his little brother.
After hearing Billy Graham on the radio, Luis prays that God would help him become an evangelist like Mr. Graham.
Luis meets Patricia Scofield while both are studying at Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, Oregon. After their marriage in 1961, the two join an extensive missionary training program through Overseas Crusade.
Luis first serves as a Spanish interpreter for Billy Graham during a campaign in Fresno, California in 1962. The two quickly become friends and continued working together for many years.
Luis, Pat, and three of their boys in Latin America.
Luis with son Andrew playing the piano.
Luis preaching at his first major outdoor campaign in the Plaza de Bolivar in Bogota, Colombia, 1966.
Luis and Pat with their four sons, Kevin, Keith, Andrew, and Steven.
For many years Luis hosted live, call-in television programs called “Night Talk” in festival cities where he would answer tough spiritual questions and concerns from callers.
Luis preaching in Monterrey, Mexico, 1966.
Luis recording radio programs in Acapulco, Mexico in 1964.
Luis speaking with youth during a campaign in Bulgaria, 1991.
Of his wife of sixty years, Pat Palau, Luis reflected, “Pat is gifted beyond words. Hers was not a passive, naive, or weak sacrifice. It was chosen, committed to, and followed through with elegance.”
Luis preaching in Romania, 1990.
Luis has been a regular guest on television programs throughout Latin America, the UK, and the US, speaking to the spiritual issues facing society and individuals.
Luis being interviewed by Dan Rather, 2008.
Luis spoke in 75 countries with more than one million registered decisions for Jesus Christ.
In 2008 Luis returned to his hometown to lead a major evangelistic campaign in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The effort brought together thousands of churches, tens of thousands of believers, and hundreds of thousands of individuals for the two-day festival in the heart of the city. It proved to be one of Luis’s most historic and memorable campaigns.
One of the largest USA festivals took place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 2003. The festival drew more than 340,000 people.
Luis and Pat Palau at Love Alaska Festival in 2014.
Everywhere Luis went he struck up genuine conversations with people about the hope of Heaven and promise of abundant life here and now.
In his final months, Luis frequently reflected on the words of a mentor from his youth, asking others, “Do you tremble at God’s Word?”
Vietnam Festival, 2011— in over sixty years of ministry, Luis preached the Gospel in 75 nations.
Luis preaching in Times Square, New York, in 2015. This event was part of a massive, three-month campaign to saturate New York City with the Gospel. Luis and the team partnered with more than 1,700 local churches to hold hundreds of evangelistic outreaches during the summer of 2015.
The recent festival in Eugene, Oregon gathers thousands to hear the Good News from Luis’ son Andrew Palau.
Luis Palau’s legacy of evangelism continues on to the next generation.
Luis praying with other pastors and leaders in preparation for a festival.