The musicians focused their attention on the young crowd, encouraging them to make decisions for Christ and to make an impact for Him in their communities.

"We were made to change this world," said BarlowGirl lead singer Alyssa Barlow. "We were made to tell people about God. We were made for something so great."

Festival organizers also used sports to get the attention of the young crowd. After Palau's message on Sunday evening, former Tennessee Titans wide receiver Chris Sanders was interviewed on stage about his relationship with Christ. Sanders compared his spiritual journey to one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history, when the Titans came up one yard short of winning the Super Bowl in 2000.

"What I want to say to you today is that if we run God's plays, we won't fall a yard short," Sanders said. "I don't want to just call myself a Christian. I want to live according to what God says."

The free-flowing, yet carefully timed festival also featured "extreme" sports, such as bicycle, skateboarding and motorcycle stunts. Each "Living It" extreme sports show, produced by actor Stephen Baldwin and Palau's son, Kevin, ended with a Gospel presentation.

Bob Mortimer, a frequent guest at Luis Palau events, also shared his personal testimony. A double amputee since a car accident as a 21-year-old, he described how God turned his handicap around and has used it for His purposes.

"No matter how many times you have fallen, no matter how many cars you have wrecked, He loves you anyway and cares about you," Mortimer said. "Twenty-seven years ago I gave my life to Jesus Christ. I said, 'Jesus take my life.' With a simple prayer, like many of you prayed tonight, I became a whole man. I have no legs and only one arm, but I know what makes me whole isn't in my shoes, it is in my heart - Jesus Christ."

The $2.25 million needed to produce the festival was raised entirely by local businesses, churches and individuals. None of the 90,000 festival attendees was asked to make a contribution and no collection was taken at the festival to recoup costs.

The Luis Palau Evangelistic Association has five more festivals planned this year - including one in Cairo, Egypt in November. The next festival will be in Dallas, June 29-30.

© Copyright 2007 Baptist Press