Luis Palau Festivals Meets Washington, DC Bureaucracy

With Charmaine and Dr. Palau

Your Business Blogger met Luis Palau as he was giving a talk on the DC Festival coming up this weekend in the Nation’s Capital on October 8 & 9. The expected attendance is 100,000.

“What was the biggest logistical challenge of having the Festival here in Washington, DC?” I asked Dr. Palau.

I was thinking of security, or porta-potties, parking or potable water.

Or first aid. Or coordinating 900 churches.

Communications, stage management. Who speaks how long. (Ego management.)

Nope.

Luis Palau in Portland, OR

No, I was wrong.

I forgot about the bureaucracy in Your Nation’s Capital.

Dr. Palau’s biggest challenge was not as pastor sheparding his flock, but as master politician sheparding a parade permit.

1 permit; 82 agencies.

82 sign-offs.

He had to get 82 signatures on the permit.

This is why his organization uses a two-year lead time to conduct the Festivals.

The next time you get push-back on a capital budget request, remember Luis Palau’s staff standing in the lines of 82 department of motor vehicle-like government agencies.

You might appreciate even the “inefficiency” of your company’s approval process.

DC Festival is free on The National Mall. Recent Festivals have attracted 850,000 in Buenos Aires and 300,000 in Fort Lauderdale.

Luis Palau began his ministry as an interpreter for Billy Graham. His evangelical events feature Christian entertainment, Gospel music and extreme sports(!).

President Bush is scheduled to deliver a video greeting.

Eric Baldwin will be on video introducing his brother, Stephen Baldwin.

Entertainment includes: Steven Curtis Chapman, CeCe Winans, Yuri, Dave Lubben, TobyMac, Kirk Franklin, Third Day, Jumps, Jaci Velasquez, Kutless, Tye Tribbett & Ga..

Full Disclosure: My wife Charmaine met Luis Palau three decades ago in Korea — one of her clients is a sponsor of DC Festival.

This is an unpaid endorsement.

Thank you (foot)notes:

Mudville Gazette for Open Post.

Visit Traffic Jam at Outside the Beltway.

See Basil’s Blog for Picnic Lunch.