Washington, D.C., Baptists join evangelism efforts

WASHINGTON — An estimated 50,000 people attended Luis Palau’s Oct. 8–9 “Great Music and Good News” D.C. Festival on the National Mall, sponsored by the Luis Palau Association and supported by 899 churches and 3,500-plus youth and adults who were trained in friendship evangelism during the buildup to the weekend.

The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCMD) was intricately involved with the D.C. Festival from its inception, said Thom Thornton, BCMD consultant/specialist for evangelism and collegiate ministry.

Festival organizers say there were 1,560 documented decisions to receive Christ or rededicate to Christ, bringing the total to 2,300-plus for the festival week, which included Operation Compassion, a ministry that mobilized area Christians to do community service.