Grass-Roots Men's Ministries Growing
Promise Keepers' Success Spurred Movement in Churches
By Caryle Murphy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, February 6, 2005; C01

In the 1990s, Marty Granger was swept up in the fast-growing Christian evangelical men's movement called Promise Keepers. He helped organize its 1995 event at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and two years later joined 600,000 men on the Mall for a six-hour revival meeting that was one of the country's largest-ever religious rallies.

Today, Promise Keepers' national profile has waned, and Granger has become more deeply involved in grass-roots efforts by churches to aid men's spiritual development. As a founder of the Washington Area Coalition of Men's Ministries, he provides books, speakers, training and encouragement to congregations that want to offer activities designed for men, whether it's a 6 a.m. weekday Bible study or a Saturday morning sports-and-prayer outing.

Granger illustrates a trend that scholars and church activists say accelerated after the Mall rally: Spurred by the example of Promise Keepers, men's ministries based in churches are proliferating.

"Where did all the men go that were on the Mall that day in 1997?" asked Granger. "They essentially went back to their local churches and began to ask the right question: 'What now?' " As a result, he said, "we're seeing much more attention being paid to the needs of men in the local church."

The Mall event, called "Stand in the Gap: A Sacred Assembly of Men," marked the height of Promise Keepers' national prominence. Since then, the Denver-based group has weathered serious financial problems and an identity crisis, emerging as a leaner, lower-profile organization. But the model it provided for men's ministry has endured, experts say.

"It's like when you first light a grill and there's an explosion, but even after the fire dies down, the coals burn hot," said Robert Andrescik, editor of New Man, an Orlando-based evangelical Christian magazine. "That's what is happening in the Christian men's movement these days. You don't see the flame so much anymore, but the coals are still burning hot."

This is evident at area churches, especially evangelical ones, where the staff often includes a "men's pastor," and "men's ministries" encompass a range of activities.

At Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, for example, which sent about 500 men to "Stand in the Gap," men's activities are a priority. Every Thursday at 6 a.m., "Reveille" draws about 100 men for an hour of biblically infused discussion. There's also "the MOB," or "the Men of the Bible," a Tuesday night Bible study. And once a month, "God's Weekend Warriors" gather for breakfast, prayer and two hours of good works, be it volunteering at a homeless shelter or rebuilding a charity's warehouse.

Promise Keepers also was a catalyst for the National Coalition of Men's Ministries, an association of nearly 100 groups devoted to making churches "relevant to men," according to coalition spokesman Brett Clemmer.

But although men's ministries have multiplied, more are needed, some area pastors say.

"Men are very confused today about what it means to be a man," said Burke Community Church senior pastor Jack Elwood. "While women are encouraged to be all you can be, men don't know what they want to be. . . . Are they supposed to be a helper or a leader?"

Men's ministries "help men come up with a vision . . . that's bigger than just get a paycheck, go through life, get married, have kids and die," Elwood said. "A lot of men . . . wake up in their forties and say, 'Is this all there is?' I've been ministering to men for 30 years. . . . This is more and more evident to me as a pastor."

Men's attendance at church has been dropping in recent years, a trend that worries church leaders because "studies show that children come to church in higher numbers when their fathers are involved," said the Rev. Henry G. Brinton, senior pastor at Fairfax Presbyterian Church.

Attracting men to church means having "goal-oriented activities" and "hands-on work," Brinton said. "When men are pushed or even made uncomfortable by a challenge, they respond in a positive way. The key to success is not to lower the bar . . . but to build challenges into the life of the church that cause them to respond."

National coalition spokesman Clemmer added: "We say that women relate face-to-face and men relate shoulder-to-shoulder. In other words . . . men prefer space and activity, and they . . . develop their relationships through shared experiences -- not necessarily, or at least not first, through talking."

As a result, effective men's ministries often involve sports activities that precede prayer, spiritual reflection and sharing concerns. "The activities make it easier to talk about the main issue," Clemmer said. "They make guys comfortable."

Officials at Promise Keepers, which has reached about 5.6 million men in more than 14 years of ministry, say that helping churches develop men's ministries was always part of the movement's work and remains a priority.

"Of all the things churches try to do . . . ministry to men is one of the hardest, because men are inherently and doggedly isolated," said Promise Keepers national spokesman Steve Chavis.

Promise Keepers was founded in 1990 by former University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney and his friend Dave Wardell, a Christian activist.

Their idea was to help men be faithful to their Christian ideals by offering the tangible, emotional support of their peers, principally through two-day gatherings in outdoor football stadiums. In the organization's peak year of 1996, 1.1 million men attended 22 such events.

Participants were asked to commit to keeping seven promises: honor Jesus Christ; pursue "vital relationships with a few other men" for spiritual support; practice "spiritual, moral, ethical and sexual purity"; build strong marriages and families; support churches; reach beyond racial and denominational barriers; and commit to influencing the world in line with Jesus's command to make disciples of all nations.

The organization was criticized by some denominations and women's groups for what they saw as encouragement to men to be the dominant leader in their family, consigning women to a submissive role.

Flush with the success of "Stand in the Gap," McCartney talked of expanding overseas. At the same time, the movement stopped charging entry fees for its stadium events, which sent it into a financial tailspin. Chavis said the organization's staff, once about 500, is down to about 100.

It also began using smaller indoor arenas instead of stadiums as attendance dropped. In 2003, when only 172,000 men went to 18 arena events, McCartney resigned as president and Thomas S. Fortson Jr. was named his successor.

Fees, currently $89, were reinstated in 2000, but attendance began to pick up only last year, with 179,000 men going to 18 events, according to the group's Web site. This year, 20 events are planned; the closest one is in Philadelphia in June.

The movement also recently announced that it is bringing back its ambassador program, in which regional representatives connect with churches, offering help in rejuvenating or starting men's ministries.

The ambassadors are men such as Harry T. Fogle, who is a liaison with churches in Carroll County, Md., where he is an assistant superintendent of schools and a member of Sunrise Community Church in Westminster.

"Promise Keepers has been the fuel that kept my fires burning," said Fogle, who attended "Stand in the Gap" and who has bought his ticket for this year's event in Philadelphia on June 24 and 25.

"Through Promise Keepers, I'm able to make contact with a lot of men who attend church but who don't understand what it's all about," Fogle said. "It gives me an opportunity to share with them in an open and honest way the issues of life and how the Bible can be used as [the] guide to direct their path."

Dwight Benjamin, a network administrator for Prince George's County schools and a member of Cornerstone Peaceful Bible Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, said that he is less active in Promise Keepers now but that the movement had a lasting personal impact on him.

"It opened me up to a different concept of men's fellowship," said Benjamin, one that involves "challenging one another, becoming accountability partners, confessing to one another."

Recently, Granger and five friends set up a Web site, I-was-there.info, with the aim of finding every man who was at "Stand in the Gap." The goal, he said, is to see if there is sufficient interest in restaging the Mall event on its 10th anniversary. If so, "we're going to give that to Promise Keepers as a gift," Granger said.

Spokesman Chavis said Promise Keepers is not trying to stir up interest in another Mall rally.
"It was a moment in time," he said. "It was special."

© 2005 The Washington Post Company 

The following material  from this page is reproduced below:

    The Promise Keepers Statement of  Faith

    The Marriage Covenant

    Selected testimonials from individuals who have participated in the Promise Keepers

    A link to the Promise Keepers home page
 

1.We believe there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

2.We believe that the Bible is God's written revelation to man, and that it is verbally inspired, authoritative,
and  without error in the original manuscripts.

3.We believe in the deity of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, death on the cross to provide for our redemption, bodily resurrection, and ascension into heaven, present ministry of intercession for us, and His return to earth in power and glory.

4.We believe in the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit, that He performs the miracle of the new birth in     unbelievers and indwells believers, enabling them to live godly lives.

5.We believe that man was created in the image of God, but because of sin, was alienated from God. Only through faith, trusting in Christ alone for salvation which was made possible by His death and resurrection, can that alienation be removed.
 

Believing that God, in His wisdom and providence, has established  marriage as a covenant relationship, a sacred and lifelong promise, reflecting our unconditional love for one another, and believing that God intends for the marriage covenant to reflect His promise to never  leave us or forsake us,

We, the undersigned, do hereby reaffirm our solemn pledge to fulfill our  marriage vows. Furthermore, we pledge to exalt the sacred nature and permanence of the marriage covenant by calling others to honor and  fulfill their marriage vows.

In the presence of God and these  witnesses, and by a holy covenant, I,

 ______________________________
 Husband’s Name

 joyfully receive you as God’s perfect  gift  for me, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse,   for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love you, to honor you, to cherish you and protect you, forsaking  all others as long as we both shall  live.

 ______________________________
 Husband’s Signature

 In the presence of God and these witnesses, and by a holy covenant,   I,

 _____________________________
 Wife’s Name

joyfully receive you as God’s perfect gift  for me, to have and to hold from  this day forward, for better, for worse,   for richer, for poorer, in sickness and  in  health, to love you, to honor you, to respect you, forsaking all others as long as we both shall live.

 ____________________________
 Wife’s Signature
 

Witnessed this day,
 ______________________________________________
 

 ______________________________
 Witness
 

_____________________________
Witness

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. -Psalm 127:1

Mrs. Jeanne Coleman
Woodstock, GA

Testimony:

I just had to write and say thank you, thank you, for your ministry, and the time you spend promoting Promise Keepers, but mostly thank you for coming to Atlanta last summer. My husband attended your rally and came home a changed man. He has always been a good man but last June he became a new man.

Before PK he was sort of lukewarm in everything. Weve been married 10 years and I always knew he loved the Lord but he never really showed it. He used to come home from work and sit in front of the TV, but now he comes in, gives us all hugs and kisses and asks about our days. I really didnt expect it to last but last it has. He reads the Bible daily and prays out loud more.

He takes an active role in our childrens lives and most of all, I can see his love for Jesus shining through all that he does. He is a changed man. While I loved him before, I love him more now.

About two weeks after the rally, I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers with a letter. He apologized for not being the kind of husband he needed to be and he promised to be the kind God intended, and the spiritual leader of our household.

I thank God for working in his life and I thank all of you involved in the PK ministry. I just wanted to give you a wife's perspective on PK. Thank you so much. May God continue to work in your lives and may you continue to be a blessing to others.
 

John R. Falk
Carnelian Bay, CA

Testimony:

I returned home today from the 96 PK Oakland event. When I say I returned home I do not mean it simply in the
physical/geographical sense of the term, but I use the term to convey so much more. I have returned home, meaning that I have rediscovered and rededicated my life to Christ. I also use the term to convey the fact that I have, for the first time in eight years of marriage (with three beautiful children), actually come home, meaning that I am physically, mentally, and emotionally available  to them. My children have always known they have a papa, now they are experiencing the reality that they have a father. My wife has always believed she had a husband, but now she knows she has a mate. About the only two things that didnt change in my life as a result to the Oakland Conference were my name and shoe size. Well even my shoe size might have changed a bit,  for now I carry a lighter load because I know that Jesus uplifts me, cares for me and loves me. Your ministry is truly anointed and inspired from above. Thank you for showing me the road home.

I have made a personal commitment to wear my wristband until I am living the life of a Promise Keeper. Not just talking the talk, but walking the walk. My hope is that in time I will be a PK Ambassador spreading the word within my community more formally than I have done to date. The seeds you have sown in these days are going to yield a crop in which the Lord will rejoice. I was empowered, as well as humbled, by the strength and wisdom that I was privileged to see, hear, know and experience at this watershed event in my life.

John R. Falk
Carnelian Bay, California
 

Becki Bozart
St. Helens, OR

Testimony:

My husband first learned about Promise Keepers several years ago. He has always been a good Christian man, but really felt challenged and stretched by Promise Keepers. He went to the Seattle PK conference, even though he hates crowds, and said it  was a very meaningful event in his life.

As part of a men's fellowship group, he would attend meetings every other week. One day, I was having a rotten time with kids, work, house, and all the responsibilities of a wife and mother. There was a good, tender-hearted movie playing in our little local movie theater, one he knew I really wanted to see. He suggested that he watch the kids and get them to bed while I went down and enjoyed a movie. I protested, knowing it was PK night. I will never forget his reply as long as I live.

"Becki," Brian said tenderly. "I believe it's more important to keep the promises than to go to the meetings. You need this break and I want to give it to you." I thank God for Promise Keepers, and I thank God for a husband who keeps his promises.
 

Chrissi Kemnetz
Arlington Heights, IL

Testimony:

You might think it strange that this testimony comes from a woman, but I have a story to tell to the glory of God. Please read
on!

I have been a Promise Keepers volunteer for the last two years when PK has come to Soldier Field in Chicago. Prior to my coming to Christ in 1990, I held strong feminist views, and didn't believe that God cared for or loved 'someone as bad as me'.

But God used my pre-Christian life to his glory on June 29, 1996.

Protesting outside Soldier Field on Saturday, June 29, 1996 were feminists, pro-choice/pro-death/pro-abortion advocates, and those involved in homosexuality. They held signs stating that Promise Keepers is "Anti-Women" and that PK wants to keep "Women in the kitchen and gays in the closet". I cringed when I saw that I had to walk through this group to get to my assigned area. One of the women became very aggressive when she saw me. She got right in my face and asked, "What are YOU doing here? They don't want YOU here!" I told her that I was volunteering as a way to serve God and my brothers in Christ. She became all the more hostile and raised her voice even more. I calmly said to her, "I'd be glad to talk to you if we can step to the side."

After we stepped to the side of the crowd, we talked for awhile, and I shared with her that I had been where she was only 5-1/2 years before. She found it hard to believe that God could change anyone's heart, let alone forgive them for their sins. I shared with her one of my favorite verses, "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come!" 2 Cor. 5:17. She started to cry, and asked if anyone could become new through Jesus. I shared with her the good news with a resounding YES! Right there in front of Soldier Field, with 65,000 men and a handful of protestors, Sarah accepted Jesus into her heart. She left her sign and her protestor 'friends' outside of the stadium and went home to start her new life as a child of God.

Before she left I offered Sarah my phone number with an offer to 'call me anytime you need someone.' She smiled and said, "Thanks, but I won't need it. God will always be there for me."

Thank you, Promise Keepers, for the wonderful work you do in men's lives. Thanks also for the work you do indirectly in women's lives. I will never forget my experiences as a PK volunteer!
 

Michael Palmer
Clinton, MI

Testimony:

I was always puzzled by the term "Born Again". When people would refer to a life-altering experience with God, I would think, "That's nice...wacko." I always contended that if a person lost themselves when they "found religion", they had gone too far. I thought I was a Christian, I thought I knew God, I thought I was assured a place in Heaven. But God was not a priority.

Enter Promise Keepers, 1997 in Pontiac Michigan. When I first heard of Promise Keepers, I had the wrong impression of it. I had a friend who had attended it in 1995 and raved about it. He invited me to go, but I declined saying "I'm very comfortable with my religion." A year later I had heard more about PK but still was not ready and when offered an invitation, I declined again. As the next year went by, I found myself being drawn to look into it more. I asked another friend if he would want to go and he agreed. From the time we ordered our tickets to the time we attended, my anticipation was growing. As I look back, it is clear that The Holy Spirit was grabbing me by my shirt collar and pulling me to the SiverDome.

By the time the weekend came, I was coming out of my skin. Also looking back, I knew I needed something. My soul was empty. I needed PK and more importantly, I needed Jesus. I was afraid that my excitement level would set me up for disappointment, but how wrong I was. I believe it was a combination of my need for Jesus, the work of the Holy Spirit and the pure message PK put in my face that evening, but suffice it to say, my life will never be the same.

My "rah, rah" friend and I grew up never so much as shaking hands, but we spent the night hugging each other and looking into each other's eyes to see our pain and suffering being released. I was an emotional wreck that evening. On our way home, the car was silent. We were speaking in broken sentences through the tears and sobs as we attempted but failed to put into words what we were both feeling. My wife was working late at the hospital, so I paid off the baby sitter and fell to the floor in the dark, begging God's forgiveness. I threw away a certain magazine and a few "R" rated videos that might as well have been "X".
The rest of the night I was curled up in a ball in the living room healing in the hands of God. The next day was another look in the mirror. But it was more exciting than tear jerking. I didn't lose it again until the following Monday, when I was driving to work and I popped in the PK cassette. I had to pull my car over for about 30 minutes, unable to compose myself.

Well here I am today. I have lost myself in my love for Jesus as I once said no one should do. My friend and I started a PK small group meeting. Five of us meet every other Tuesday with the same level of need for each others support.

When I try to explain to people who haven't gone to Promise Keepers or fully accepted Christ, I can see the same confusion I once had. I wish I could adequately describe how Jesus transforms every aspect of your life. He releases all of the burdens that the secular world forces upon you and allows you to live virtually free of worry and fear of misfortune.

I love Jesus. I pray all the time with my 2 year old son and my wife. I read the Bible cover to cover for the first time. I reject all thoughts of racism I once tinkered with. I cast out all forms of pornography no matter how subtle. I commit myself to Jesus completely and "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord". All of my priorities are different. When I listen to the radio, I listen to Christian radio. This was not me prior to Promise Keepers '97. I don't know the old me and I'm very happy with that.

My relationship with Jesus is intimate and honest. The glory goes to the Lord. But my thanks goes to Promise Keepers for reaching out to me and so many others. My friend and I will always be active in Promise Keepers. Although it's free in '98, we will pay above and beyond to support this great organization and will pay the way for any friend who will come and just give it a chance.

Thank you Jesus and thank you Promise Keepers. I will live the rest of my life knowing that I began to truly "live" at Promise Keepers in 1997.
 

Charles Decker
Dothan, AL

Testimony:

For ten years I worked for a law firm that required my every waking moment. When my first child was born I took files to the hospital so that I would not fall behind. On most Sundays I would take the family by the office after church so that I could check the mail and make the required appearance. When my father had a heart attack my partner wanted me to stay and work in the office instead of being where I was needed most (He rationalized that my father would want me to earn a living instead of wasting time sitting in at the hospital). I missed precious time with my wife and children, my baby's first steps were taken while I was preparing for a case.

I have a wonderful wife and she encouraged, actually insisted that I go with a group of men from our church to the Georgia Dome for a PK conference. I was reluctant. Worshipping in such a large group was difficult. The first night we were late getting there and the seats were bad. But the group went out to eat for a late dinner and we had a great time. The next morning the conference began to get my attention and the singing touched me. It was inspiring to hear the voices of over 60,000 men sing "How Great Thou Art" and "Amazing Grace". Then Coach Mac took the stage and held me accountable. He also encouraged me to forgive those who had made my life a living hell and to put aside those feeling of ill will that I was using to prop up my life. In the Georgia Dome, on my knees, I asked God to give me the power to forgive and to change.

I left the law firm. I opened up my own Christ-centered practice. Clients know that it is alright to pray in my office. We have been very blessed in that the practice has continued to grow. But with the growth there is still time to be with my family. My kids know their Daddy and I have time to play and call out spelling words. I take time off from work to go on field trips and visit the school. Moreover, my wife has found her husband again.

Since that first PK conference I have been to two more and made the trip, by car, to Stand in the Gap. Every time I go I make an effort to take someone else. And each time I pray that their life will change like mine did.
 

Gary Gilmore
Leonard, TX

Testimony:

I was in attendance at the Promise Keepers conference last weekend in Houston. I had come with 7 other men from Sherman Church of the Nazarene, including our new pastor. It was a real joy to fellowship in this environment.

I have attended all of the Dallas conferences, including the "rain out" in Denton, TX. Promise Keepers has been a tremendous blessing in my life and has been a source of God's healing in my life and marriage. I have been deeply touched and moved every year, but I had never taken what God had done with me and made any kind of public statement or stand.

This year, Gary Rosberg's testimony regarding his father's death, his own depression, and how his family was affected really hit home with me. I have been going through some extremely difficult trials, tests, and failures at work, but rather than sharing them with anybody (including my wife), I just dug deeper into "my own problems." I didn't let anyone in, and I almost totally alienated my wife. I, like so many others, figured that I could "fix my own problems." I had not prayed for God's guidance, I had not sought the council of other Christian men, and I had almost totally excluded God from my life.

During the conference, Gary Rosberg asked us to bow at our seats, hold our cupped hands out to God, and ask him to show us our sins. I couldn't even bear to look at what God was showing me -- my hardened heart and my forgotten vows to my wife and especially to God. I suddenly realized how much I had hurt God and my wife of 15 years. Immediately, I began to confess my sins and ask forgiveness, and Praise God! I have begun anew!!

All during our ride back home, God kept telling me to make my decision count this time by making a public statement - a public stand for Christ. I shared a little of what had happened at the conference that night with my wife, but God would not let me reveal it all. He had a better plan…

We went to church on Sunday morning, and I asked the pastor if I could give my testimony during the service. He agreed. In fact, he opened the service just before prayer time to all of the men who had gone to Promise Keepers. As the men began to confess and give thanks, the Holy Spirit came down all over that place.

Then it was my turn. I could not hold back the sorrow of my guilt and pain. As I began to share the circumstances and events that had unfolded, I began to feel a release and a peace that only come from God. I confessed my sins, apologized for my failures as a man, and asked my wife to forgive me - SHE DID!!! As I recomposed myself, I took out the marriage vow certificate that PK passed out on Saturday. In front of the whole congregation, I read it, signed it, and asked my wife to sign it - SHE DID!! I also asked all of the men who went to PK to come forward and sign as witnesses - THEY DID!! As they were signing I asked them to hold me accountable - and THEY SAID YES!!

I can't say that I'm making an incredible, immediate change, but with God's leading, the help of my PK brothers, and my wife's understanding, input, and prayer, I am changing for the better, and I owe it to God's leading of an obedient servant… Gary Rosberg.

Your brother in Christ,

Mike Hottel
 

 Scott Shier
Foresthill, California

Testimony:

First, I would like to say "Thank you" to the Promise Keepers staff for all of their hard work and dedication.

I recently attended the PK conference in Sacramento, CA, and prior to the gathering, the Lord put it on my heart to take someone with me, although I wasn't really sure who that person would be.

On one of my visits to the chiropractor, my doctor commented on the shirt I was wearing (a PK shirt), and I asked him if he had ever been to a Promise Keepers conference before. Well, one thing lead to another, and I sensed that this was who I was supposed to take. Unfortunately, I didn't have any tickets, and the Sacramento event was sold out, so the mad scramble to find tickets started. I called everyone, even radio stations, trying to find tickets. Finally a friend found one - and it included a meal and a tape, too! This ticket I gave to the doctor so he could start listening to the praise and worship tape. I had a funny feeling that, if he knew I didn't have a ticket myself, he might back out…so I searched on. When the night before the conference arrived and I still didn't have a ticket, I made a plan.

I decided to drive down early, find a ticket, and meet the doctor there, but the Lord said "NO." OK, I'll drive down early, miss work, find a ticket, and drive back to meet the doc - "NO." Alright, Lord, I'll go to work, drive down with the doctor, and on faith alone get a ticket while walking to the door - "YES."

When I finally came to a place of peace that this was the way it was going to happen (which took about 30 minutes), the phone rang. A friend of a friend heard that I needed a ticket, and it would be waiting for me at the stadium will call! Thank you, Lord, for enlarging my faith...(Isaiah 54:2)

The next day we drove to the conference. On the way there, doc started telling me about his life and his church - how he was the only one in his family who attended church during his teen years, how hard he and his wife were looking right then for a church, and how his brother was a minister. I started thinking that maybe I had made a mistake, that this wasn't who I was supposed to take to the conference. But the Lord put a peace in my heart that he was the right one. Once inside the stadium, we found our seats. The first speaker, Franklin Graham, was awesome, and when he called for people to come and receive Christ, doc was leading the charge to the front...THANK YOU, LORD! During the break he called both his wife and his brother in Texas to tell them that he had recommitted his life to the Lord...Praise God!

Promise Keepers  --  This link will take you to the official home page for the Promise Keepers