Andrew Palau, son of renowned international evangelist Luis Palau, is set to preach to as many as 50 men, all failed asylum seekers, at Gatwick’s Tinsley House immigration removal centre on Sunday.

Run by the UK Border Agency (part of the Home Office), the IRC can hold up to 400 men, women and children awaiting deportation.

The Luis Palau Association is now in advanced discussions with both Tinsley House IRC and nearby Brook House, which houses women, to put on a regular programme of Sunday sermons, given mainly by local evangelical preachers and clergymen.

The address at Tinsley House is one of the highlights of Palau’s 10 day mission to southern England, which begins on Friday. He will also speak at events in Tonbridge, Haywards Heath, Chesham, Brighton, Burgess Hill and Marlow, together with other evangelists.

Palau and his wife Wendy hit the headlines a few months ago when they walked away from a plane crash in Kingston, Jamaica, with barely a scratch.

As part of the mission, a skateboard and bicycle stunt team will travel to many schools, where they will give high-octane stunt displays and share their testimonies. Following that, Palau will present a message about making positive lifestyle choices encompassing issues such as bullying, drug and alcohol abuse.

Noel Tredinnick and musicians from the All Souls Orchestra will perform, after which Palau will share his story of coming to faith, aged 27, following a life of alcohol and drug abuse.

Nigel Gordon of the Luis Palau Association commented: "We are delighted Andrew is coming to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to people across southern England later this month.

"We are sure his talks, together with the action sports, music and other entertainment, will prove a big hit over the next few weeks."