He was born in Argentina but moved to Portland, Oregon, in his mid-twenties to enroll in a graduate program in Biblical studies.

"One of the world’s leading evangelical Christian figures,"[1] he was known for his strong appeal to young people, and for his efforts to reach out to secular leaders to address issues like homelessness.

[2] Palau's ministry employs 70 people in their headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, and another 25 around the world which include offices in Buenos Aires, Argentina and London.

[8] Within a matter of years after his father's death, because of poor financial management by relatives, Palau, his siblings, and his widowed mother were left nearly destitute.

Palau was forced to leave his education at a British-run boarding school and began working as the sole provider for the family at a bank in Córdoba, Argentina.

[8] After receiving $100,000 as seed money in 1970 from Billy Graham, in quarterly payments of $25,000,[13] Palau worked to build up his ministry in Oregon through the 1970s.

[citation needed] Eurofest '75 was co-sponsored by the Billy Graham organisation and was held in Brussels, Belgium, at the Palais du Centenaire and the Heysel Stadium from July 24 until August 2, 1975.

[11] In 1999, a writeup in a Portland weekly newspaper noted that Palau had assembled an 80,000-member audience in "the nation's least-churched major city."

It also noted the contrast with the previous large revival, led by an aging Graham, which drew larger numbers but not as many young people as Palau's.

[3] In that year he was noted for being "at the forefront of efforts to make evangelism more active, contemporary and accessible to a younger audience,"[14] and his ministry's annual budget was estimated at $11 million.

[18] Palau addressed 500 Christian pastors in March 2008, joined by Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams, in the buildup to the August event.

A November 2018 article in the Beaverton Valley Times referred to the Cedar Mill Bible Church as Palau's "home base".