There was disappointment when San Diego was bypassed as the site of a national Promise Keepers conference. This year’s only Southern California conference will be May 2-3 in the Los Angeles Coliseum.
However, the local Promise Keepers Task Force has remained steadfast to pointing men in the right direction. Several “Wake-Up Call” local events have been scheduled, including April 5 at Rancho Bernardo Presbyterian Community Church and April 19 at New Venture Christian Fellowship in Oceanside.
Each Saturday night rally will be from 7 to 9 p.m. and will feature keynote speakers: Miles McPherson on April 5 and Rev. E.V. Hill, Jr. on April 19.
“Promise Keepers is a Christ-Centered men’s ministry with a focused purpose: to reconcile and unite men, regardless of race, so we can model Christ-likeness in our own sphere of influence,” said Estean Lenyoun, local task force chairman.
“Isn’t it true that our wives and children, churches and communities, are desperate for men of integrity? Integrity is defined as ‘a firm adherence to a code of moral values, utter sincerity, honest, candor, not artificial, not shallow, and no empty promises’! Our commitment to be keepers of our promises is based upon God’s own covenant-keeping nature.”
“Entering this new year of ministry, we’re convinced that He is calling us to a deeper relationship with Himself and with each other. Consider this year’s conference theme: ‘The Making of a Godly Man.’ Becoming that man will mean a recommitment by each of us to the basic disciplines required to truly walk with Him.”
Promise Keepers, the men’s organization that, since 1991, has drawn more than two million men to stadium conferences throughout the U.S., announced its 1997 conference in late January.
It includes two California venues: May 2-3 at the Los Angeles Coliseum and June 27-28 at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno.
The Denver-based Christian organization, founded by former University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney, challenges men to increase their commitment to faith and family as well as their integrity in career and finance. This year’s theme for the 19 stadium conferences is “The Making of a Godly Man.”
Promise Keepers has been the focus of intense media attention as it has packed out stadiums in more than 25 cities with men from virtually every race and walk of life. The New York Times reported of the 1996 Shea Stadium conference, “The men listening raptly to the words from the stage were white, black, Hispanic and Asian, reflecting the organization’s call for interracial harmony.” “ABC World News Tonight” reported that Promise Keepers is “on message” in Peter Jennings’ 1996 Person of the Week profile of Bill McCartney. U.S. News and World Report wrote that “at the most personal level, Promise Keepers changes lives.”
Promise Keepers will also convene a historic gathering in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, Oct. 4 which may be the largest gathering ever held on the Capital Mall. Hundreds of thousands of men are expected to participate in this day of personal repentance and prayer for the nation. “We will be on our knees in humility and on our feet in unity,” said McCartney. The rally is titled “Stand in the Gap.”
Those interested in tickets for 1997 conferences may call (800) 265-6023 or visit the PK web site: www.promisekeepers. org.
E.P. News and Staff Reports
