Howdy from the Big D!  Here is an update from Duffy Johnson-Palau Festival Director

Day number 1 for Celebrate Freedom ’08 is in the books!  With a day filled with 100 degree heat and gusting winds up to 30 miles a hour, it left our staff a little wind blown and sunburned.  Fantastic performances were given by the BMX and Skate teams, unfortunately due to high winds the FMX guys were unable to give it a go (please pray for the temperature to be reasonable and the wind to die down so our guys can jump).  Walls went up today for some Habitat for Humanity homes, rappers rapped, comedians produced laughter, and Family Fun Zone performers cheered, danced, and jump-roped for Jesus today.  The many lives changed for Christ today provided a great start for our weekend!  (Read on for some of the stories.)

Luis gave a great Gospel message today and stirred many hearts including:

A precious little 5/6 year old girl who had her eyes glued to Luis the entire message.  When the audience prayed with Luis she joined in the concert of prayers.  After the prayer was over she turned around and looked at her Daddy and said “Daddy, I did it, I prayed for Jesus to come into my heart.” The father beamed with joy as she made a decision for Christ to be her Lord and Savior.

A lady named Jamie whose brother committed suicide just a few weeks ago is having a hard time going to church after this tragic event.  She had been wrestling with God knowing that her brother wasn’t a believer.  She was having difficulty in dealing with his fate and God’s goodness.  Tonight she found the hope that she had lost and kindled a friendship of a believer who committed to walk with her and be a friend/sister in Christ.

Thomas, an unemployed man who lost his job and moved here for a new start.  After 5 months of not finding any work he was feeling hopeless, tonight he heard a Gospel that provide a hope and a future.  He embraced this word from the Lord and tonight went home with a new found life and start, unlike what he ever thought it would be.

We have high hopes for a great tomorrow!  Please keep the staff in your prayers to be encouraged as conditions onsite have been challenging as we are operating in a compact area and very windy conditions.  Please pray that people will come out and invite their friends, that the Lord will be glorified in every aspect, and the Kingdom will be advanced.

Posted in Andrew Palau News