Four years after the passing of evangelist Luis Palau, his legacy is alive and thriving as the Gospel continues to impact the world—most recently in Latin America at the Palau Santo Domingo Festival, where thousands of believers were activated to bring their friends and family to hear the Gospel. More than 1,000 local churches partnered together to make this outreach possible. This festival was the culmination of months of preparation as the local church equipped and motivated Christians to be bold in their witness. It was a citywide movement with a heart to ensure that all of Santo Domingo heard the voice of God.
This campaign marked the Palau team's first return to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, since Luis Palau's last visit in the 1970s. Some of the local leadership committee members had come to faith during that campaign and were now instrumental in bringing this new generation of evangelistic outreach to life.
Andrew was honored to meet with the top leaders of the nation, even sitting down with the president of the Dominican Republic as a warm welcome to the festival at the start of the week.
Despite forecasts of rain, the first night of the festival launched under a clear, moonlit sky—an answered prayer for an unforgettable night of worship, testimony, and transformation. Families, children, and young people flooded the historic grounds of Faro a Colón, filling the air with anticipation. The celebration kicked off with vibrant performances from renowned artists like Jameson Ramírez, Kike Pavón, Ingrid Rosario, and Redimi2, leading the audience in an explosion of praise.
The second night of the festival was a powerful finale, drawing more than 50,000 people over two nights for an unforgettable proclamation of the Gospel. A sudden downpour on Saturday evening couldn’t dampen the spirit—Ingrid Rosario led worship with only a piano as thousands lifted their voices in praise.
The most powerful moments of each night came when Andrew Palau took the stage, opened the Bible, and shared his personal journey from emptiness to the life-changing hope found in Jesus. “You were never created to be alone,” he declared, calling attendees to embrace their identity in Christ. Across the crowd, hands were raised as many made decisions for Jesus—many with tears of repentance and renewed faith.
Mayor Dio Astacio honored Andrew Palau with the key to the city, a recognition of the lasting impact of Palau’s ministry. Andrew gratefully accepted it on behalf of the local churches he had come to serve.
Throughout the week, the Gospel reached every corner of the city. In addition to festival events, special outreach efforts focused on key sectors of society. Andrew and Wendy visited both men’s and women’s prisons, sharing messages of hope and restoration with inmates, underscoring the commitment to minister to those often overlooked. At a special gathering with national police cadets, they shared a message of purpose and transformation. Through an intimate dinner for entrepreneurs and professionals, business leaders were encouraged by Nike designer Wilson Smith and his testimony of faith, culminating in a powerful invitation from Andrew to live fully for Christ. The festival’s children’s event and health fair extended love to thousands, meeting both physical and spiritual needs.
Media played a key role in amplifying the message, as Andrew and Wendy were featured on some of the most influential television, radio, and digital platforms throughout the week, extending the reach of the Gospel to an even wider audience.
A particularly moving moment took place at the women’s dinner, where a woman named Suzanna found herself deeply touched by Wendy’s testimony. Struggling with the pain of infertility, she listened intently as Wendy opened the Word of God and shared her story. As Wendy invited her to pray together, tears streamed down her face. She wasn’t alone—dozens of women responded to the Good News that evening. That night, Suzanna surrendered her life to Jesus. The transformation was undeniable, her face beamed with joy as she shared her decision with Wendy, and later with Andrew as they were leaving. Now, she is eager to share her story and newfound faith with others.
As Palau continues its mission, this festival stands as a testament to the unstoppable movement of the Gospel in Latin America. The work is far from over—God is on the move, and lives are being transformed like never before.
To see highlights from the Palau Santo Domingo Festival, visit www.palau.org/santodomingo.
While local leaders continue in this effort, Palau will press forward in supporting similar campaigns in cities across the globe. Upcoming outreaches include campaigns in Curahuasi, Peru (April); Tirana, Albania (June); Reno, Nevada (August); Harare, Zimbabwe (September); and Rosario, Argentina (November).
You can learn more about Palau and their worldwide work at www.palau.org.
ABOUT PALAU
Palau exists to proclaim the Good News, unite the Church, and activate believers worldwide. We’ve had the great privilege of sharing the Gospel far and wide for more than 60 years—and the legacy lives on through the next generation of evangelists, Andrew and Wendy Palau. By God’s grace, we reach millions each week with a message of hope in Christ—through in-person festivals, digital outreaches, collaboration with a global network of evangelists, City Gospel Movements, and our Hope with God radio program.
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 Palau, he has been instrumental in building the Palau 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.
Andrew is also passionate about raising up other evangelists through a global network spanning 71 nations, offering encouragement and insight to nearly two thousand emerging voices. He and his wife, Wendy, live in Portland, Oregon, close to the world headquarters of the Palau ministry. They have three children, Christopher, Jonathan, and Sadie.