BRIDGEPORT, CT — After years of preparation and prayer, CT CityFest with Andrew Palau culminated in a free, 2-day, evangelistic festival at Seaside Park in Bridgeport on August 27 and 28.
Hosted by the Luis Palau Association and more than 175 churches, businesses, and nonprofits, this region-wide campaign has been focused on serving Southwest Connecticut through evangelistic gatherings and community service initiatives. Like all Palau festivals, much care and attention was given to church unity, community service, training in personal evangelism, and clear public proclamation of the Gospel.
“So many people are struggling right now. They have questions about God. Is He real? Does He care about me? Is there any hope for me?” shared Andrew Palau. “That is why we’re here in Connecticut, to let everyone in the region know that God is real and He is good! He loves you and He wants the best for you. He sent His son, Jesus, to die for you so that you may have life! There’s nothing more important or life-changing than that reality. This is good news – the best news! That is what CT CityFest is all about.”
In an effort to expand the reach of CT CityFest, local leaders led multiple outreaches and gatherings throughout the region in the lead up to the festival. Events included a RE:NEW gathering for the Christian community, training events for local church goers, worship nights, an evangelistic luncheon for young professionals, and two evangelistic gatherings for women led by Andrew’s wife, Wendy Palau.
All this culminated in the 2-day festival at Seaside Park in Bridgeport on August 27 and 28 featuring award-winning artists TobyMac, Lecrae, We Are Messengers, Blanca, Megan Duke, Zenzo, and Impact Music. Amanda Mammana, a recent semi-finalist on America’s Got Talent, also made an appearance. On both days Andrew Palau shared a clear Gospel message from the main stage and invited the crowd to commit their life to Christ. In addition to the 22,000 people who attended the festival, more than 47,000 people tuned in for the livestream online in both English and Spanish.
The two-day festival also included a family fun zone (in partnership with Kids Blitz), stunt demos from professional BMX and FMX athletes (in partnership with The Stunt Dudes), and multiple presentations of the Gospel from individuals throughout the day.
Many notable Connecticut leaders put their name and energy behind CT CityFest. In addition to the 175 partnering churches, Allan Houston from the New York Knicks and Aaron Boone from the New York Yankees acted as the honorary co-chairs for the campaign.
The mayor of Bridgeport, Joe Ganim, and governor of Connecticut, Ned Lamont, shared a few words with the crowd from the main stage on Sunday. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and City Council President Aidee Nieves also made an appearance at the festival.
“There is a special blessing in Bridgeport that is now generational” said Joe Ganim, Mayor of Bridgeport, referencing the long-term impact the Palau Association has had on the region.
“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Governor Ned Lamont as he greeted the crowd. “Thank you for everything you’ve been doing. It’s a great day out here today.”
This event marks 21 years since the Palau Association first came to Bridgeport, Connecticut. The campaign in 2001 was led by Andrew Palau’s late father, evangelist Luis Palau, and established many long-term relationships within the community. In 2015 the Palau Association returned once again, as part of their historic New York City campaign which included festivals in Central Park and Times Square. Many of the churches and leaders involved in CT CityFest were involved in these previous efforts and were the initiators for this new initiative to reach the next generation with a message of hope.
With CT CityFest acting as a catalyst, the movement has also been providing opportunities for the churches of Southwest Connecticut to set aside differences and unite in service. In an effort that has come to be known as CityServe, the churches are focusing on several areas of need including foster care and adoption, education, and food insecurity. It is the hope of the local leaders that this collaboration and partnership will have a long-term impact on the region.
For more information about CT CityServe with Andre Palau, visit www.cityfest.org.
While local leaders continue in this effort, the Palau Association will move on to support similar campaigns in cities across the globe. Upcoming festivals include Cairo, Egypt; Buenos Aires, Argentina; San Jose, Costa Rica; Nairobi, Kenya; and Klamath Falls, Oregon.
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 played a key role in the ministry of the Luis Palau Association (LPA), which was started by his father, evangelist Luis Palau. Andrew has been instrumental in building the LPA model for citywide outreach as an evangelist, director, and key team leader. He has guided campaigns, led church relations efforts, trained thousands of believers in friendship evangelism, and proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ in person to hundreds of thousands of individuals around the world through evangelistic campaigns. Andrew’s festivals have brought him and the Palau Association into partnership with thousands of churches in cities throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, the Caribbean, and the United States of America. Andrew’s weekly radio broadcasts are heard by millions of people on thousands of radio outlets around the world. He is also the author of multiple books, including Secret Life of a Fool, a retelling of his personal journey to faith in Christ, and What is Christmas?, a groundbreaking evangelistic book published in China in 2012.
CONTACT: Jay Fordice, 503-341-2297, jay.fordice@palau.org
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