International evangelist Luis Palau, who recently announced he has lung cancer, was honored with the prestigious 2018 NRB Hall of Fame Award on Tuesday at Proclaim 18, the NRB International Christian Media convention in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Luis Palau is a model Christian evangelist and Gospel broadcaster who has had a monumental impact on the world for Christ,” said Dr Jerry A Johnson, president and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters. “Honoring Luis with this prestigious award is especially poignant coming in the very week of the funeral of Billy Graham, the world-renown evangelist with whom Luis has so often been compared.”
Luis Palau. PICTURE: NRB
Dr Johnson added, “NRB loves Luis Palau and we pray fervently that the Lord will grant him healing, even while we praise God for how He continues to use Luis through this illness to advance the Gospel.”
The National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame stands as a witness for current communicators, a showcase of warriors for Christ who live exemplary lives of valor and compassion, blazing trails and leaving paths for succeeding generations to follow. NRB’s most prestigious award is presented to an individual NRB member for invaluable contribution to the field of Christian communications, exhibition of the highest standards, and evidence of faithfulness in Christ. Mr Palau was one of two individuals selected to receive this year’s award.
The Hall of Fame Award is one of 26 awards that will be presented during Proclaim 18, which takes place from 27th February to 2nd March at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville. Also honored with the Hall of Fame Award this year was Dr Billy Kim, emeritus pastor of Central Baptist Church in Suwon, South Korea, and longtime Christian broadcasting pioneer.
Mr Palau and his ministry have shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with tens of millions of people through evangelistic events and media over the past six decades. He has spoken in 75 countries with more than one million registered decisions for Jesus Christ. He has authored close to 50 books, contributed articles on issues of faith to countless publications, and counseled business leaders, political leaders, and heads of state around the world.
This year, Mr Palau celebrates 66 years of Christian broadcasting, having started in 1952 at the age of 18 with a seven-minute daily radio program at a local radio station in Argentina. Today, in addition to Palau’s radio outreach, his evangelistic festivals have produced some of the largest audiences ever recorded in cities from south Florida to South America. His ministry also includes an alliance of evangelists called Next Generation Alliance that allows partner evangelists to collaborate, draw guidance, and resources from Palau’s vast experience, and become equipped to reach the world for Christ. More than 650 evangelists are currently involved in NGA.
Recently diagnosed with cancer, Mr Palau was unable to attend Proclaim 18. Accepting the honor on his father’s behalf was Andrew Palau, who also presented a video tribute.
