The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association (LPEA) has held its fifth festival in Mendoza, Argentina on 11-12 March 2005. The huge evangelical event has followed four previously successful gatherings in the area over the past four years.
LPEA reported that more than 120,000 people had heard the Good News of Christ in the province of Mendoza by the end of the festival, and among those, thousands confessed their new public commitments to Christianity.
The Association stated, "As the clouds opened up over Festival Mendoza and the rain came down, the people stood firm, as if to bathe in the blessing from head to toe. It was a poignant picture of God’s mercy, poured down for all."
The whole nation of Argentina seemed to focus on the huge Christian festival as national radio networks, as well as news channels gave top coverage to the gathering. The country’s newspapers also ran the event as its front-page headline, and government officials from all over the country came to join the special experience.
The LPEA reported, "In the city, though small in number, witnessed God's power to turn hearts toward heaven and headlines toward the Gospel."
The governor of the Mendoza province invited the LPEA to return to Argentina for Festival Mendoza, and the LPEA expressed their delight by saying it was "thrilled to see God continue to open doors for us to proclaim the Good News throughout this hurting country."
During the previous festivals held by the LPEA in Argentina, the organisation reported that tens of thousands have committed their lives to Christ. In 2004 Beachfest Argentina took place and more than 310,000 gathered. Even more amazingly, in 2003 the Buenos Aires Festival of Hope saw approximately one million people attend. The LPEA concluded, "The nation is showing its hunger for hope and a new beginning."
