Contact: Jay Fordice, Luis Palau Association, 504-614-1572

PORTLAND, Ore., June 2, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- After nearly a decade of quietly working behind the scenes to reimagine city-impacting evangelistic efforts, Kevin Palau, president of the Luis Palau Association, has come out with a powerful new book telling the inspiring story of the local church in action. In an exciting, personal recount of his experiences with fellow leaders in Portland, Palau's book Unlikely: Setting aside our differences to live out the Gospel (Howard Books, 2015), shares how pastors humbly set aside their differences, came together in unity, and approached city officials with one simple question: How can we best help? Beginning June 2nd, Unlikely will be available wherever books are sold.

Kevin Palau is the oldest son of world-renowned international evangelist Luis Palau. Palau is also a lifelong resident of one of America's most unchurched and politically progressive cities: Portland, Oregon. It was here, in 2007, that Kevin Palau and a handful of pastors approached city officials and Portland's openly gay mayor to offer up the volunteer efforts of 15,000 local church members to serve the city's most critical needs. Thus began a plethora of collaborative partnerships that have served thousands of individuals and inspired church leaders in dozens of other cities.

What Unlikely unfolds is a story of churches and pastors, city officials and mayors, as well as the Portland Police department, non-profits, public schools, and state DHS officials, who set aside their differences and went to work, partnering to serve the city's most vulnerable citizens. Public schools are being transformed, foster kids and parents supported, and homeless families served through these revolutionary partnerships under the name of "CityServe."

In many ways, and in cities across the nation, the idea has caught on to become what many are calling a Gospel Movement -- a united, sustainable effort by churches and cultural leaders to transform their city by meeting critical needs and sharing the love and message of Jesus Christ.