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Evangelist Luis Palau is ��ݮ��Ƶ’s 2022 Charles W. Colson Conviction and Courage Award recipient. Palau’s son, Kevin Palau, accepted the award on his late father’s behalf at ��ݮ��Ƶ’s 92nd Missions Conference on March 16, 2022.

Biola President Dr. Barry H. Corey presented the award, which is awarded to people who are committed to advancing Christ’s kingdom through evangelism, discipleship and Christian worldview training and those who defend religious freedom and advocate for the weak and defenseless.

“Luis Palau was a remarkable evangelist, a powerful speaker, teacher and author who impacted billions of people for the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Corey. “Paired with his courageous and obedient service to the Lord right up until his passing, he embodies what Biola's Charles W. Colson Award represents. We are honored to celebrate him posthumously and present this award to his family, fittingly at Biola's 92nd Missions Conference.”

Palau reached hundreds of millions of people for Christ throughout his lifetime. He was born in a small town just outside of Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1934. By the age of 12, Palau accepted Christ into his life and shortly thereafter began sharing the gospel with people both in person and through his radio broadcast. Palau’s voice was heard in great numbers throughout his life as he spoke at numerous conferences, rallies and campaigns.

“I would have gladly had a business or been a lawyer, either one,” Palau said in an interview released by K-Love radio after his passing. “The real commitment of my life was to win people to Jesus Christ. There is nothing greater in the world.”

Palau’s commitment and calling on his life was to reach people and introduce them to Jesus. Palau held rallies in a variety of locations, including communist countries such as the Soviet Union (1989) and Beijing, China (2004). He held 500 campaigns and festivals in more than 80 nations, partnered with tens of thousands of churches, and spoke to 140,000 people at Portland’s waterfront park (2000).

Palau’s legacy has impacted the hearts of millions and the continues to carry the Christian faith to all nations, led by his two sons, Kevin and Andrew. In his book, , he shared seven words (Delight, Surrender, Burn, Focus, Serve, Unite and Proclaim) that changed his life, his family’s life and now, through his work, the lives of many.

The 2022 Charles W. Colson Conviction and Courage Award honors Palau’s commitment to and passion for spreading the gospel to many ears in many nations.

Honoring Palau at Biola’s Missions Conference seems only fitting due to his life’s work. The conference is currently the largest student-led Missions Conference in the world. Every year since the foundation of this mobilizing movement, Biola’s Missions Conference has sought to educate, equip and inspire students to embrace their role in the completion of the Great Commission. Speakers, bands, worship, cultural events, global awareness and other activities bring the nations to Biola’s campus. Palau’s son, Kevin, will also be presenting in a breakout session at the conference.

Written by Jocelyn Huffman, media relations assistant. For more information, please email media.relations@biola.edu.