Evangelist tells Christians to ‘wake up’

Christianity made America prosperous for centuries.

But now it needs to be revitalized in order to stay relevant in the 21st century, Dr. Luis Palau, the world-renowned Christian evangelist, said Saturday morning in his keynote speech at the Quad-City Prayer Breakfast at the RiverCenter, Davenport.

“We have to radically come back to God and truly surrender to Christ,” Palau said.

Citing a biblical verse from Jeremiah 29, he told the audience to “pray for the city, because if it prospers, you prosper.”

More than 1,000 residents, church and local leaders attended the 12th annual prayer breakfast.

“We wish times were better,” Palau said. However, “now is the only time we’ve got.

“We’ve got to wake up. We’ve got to do something for a new spiritual awakening,” he said. “You cannot have the fruit without the root.”

He singled out the European Union as an example of what can happen when Christian countries go astray.

“Europe is a terrible example for anyone who goes over there and wants to find a Christian culture,” he said. The European churches and cathedrals are empty — “they don’t even know what a Christian is.”

Palau cited South Korea as an example of how embracing Christianity can inspire economic development.

In South Korea “we saw a nation go from being poor and miserable and oppressed to being free (and prosperous,)” he said.

South Korea’s economic progress started with individuals converting to Christianity, he said.

“The ethical and moral transformation of individuals begins to show pretty quick after you give your life over to Christ,” said Palau, 71.

The individual Christian begins to demand justice, which then transforms the business and political culture of the country. It typically takes two generations for the transformation to happen, he added.

China is beginning to follow the same example, he said.

“Now, there’s over 100 million followers of Jesus Christ in the People’s Republic of China,” said Palau who recently co-authored a book on Christian spirituality with an atheist Chinese cabinet minister.

Soon the world will see a million Chinese Christians worshipping in Tiananmen Square, he said. The Chinese government “knows it’s coming.”

Organizers said Saturday’s event will help energize the local Christian community.

“It’s a chance to encourage our community to pray,” said Tom McGovern, a board member of Thy Kingdom Come Ministries. “I think the Quad-Cities is a better community because of this breakfast.”

The prayer breakfast brings all the Christian denominations together, he said. “The breakfast part is really out of convenience to bring people together — to share in a meal.”

Speakers in the past have included U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole. R-N.C. and former presidential candidate and Christian talk show host Pat Robertson, he said.

“Luis Palau would be the most evangelical we’ve had,” McGovern said.

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