Participated in PK back then, attended the big meeting in Texas Stadium in 1994; one of the greatest worship experiences in my life.

PK struck a nerve and a need back then. It woke churches up to the fact that we must gear some ministry energy towards men. Now we have male-oriented churches, Mark Driscoll, etc. Is is not entirely possible that it was something that was needed, blessed, and fulfilled its purpose? does a ministry have to always continue forever? Churches have life spans, certainly a parachurch would have one also. Sometimes churches and ministries die because they’ve fulfilled God’s will for them. Coach McCarthy needs to answer the question: does PK need to continue (using Kingdom resources) in order to fulfill God’ s will, or is this about “not letting it die”? Watch the ego here.

Learning a lesson all over again in the wake of Hurricane Ike…

Meet a need and people will come...they don’t care what color you are...denomination you are...or what your background is…

You find the need and meet that need and people will flock to you.

Attended PK conference in Charleston, WV last week.  McCartney is going to announce that women are invited to next year’s 20th anniversary event.

I attended PK in Denver in 95 and volunteered there in 96, then attended in San Diego a few years ago.  With slightly different emphases and nuances, the messages were all the same - all focused on “The Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper.” Good stuff, and the message needs to be repeated often (one, so we start applying it; and two, so people who haven’t heard it before have a chance).

All that said, I think the days of the stadium-filling PK conferences are (probably ought to be) over.  If PK will continue to have a meaningful existence, it probably needs to slide into more of a partnership with local churches’ men’s ministries to provide training and resources.  I realize that could take even more PK staff at the local level around the country - possibly diverting resources from the churches.  But I think we are moving toward greater (dare I say) ecumenical collaboration among churches, and PK could be a galvanizing factor in that.  For example, why should several churches in a city each have a men’s retreat with a few dozen men involved?  Why not get those churches to cross some of their denominational boundaries and join together for one retreat with a couple hundred men?  Not only could there be the motivational sessions on being a good husband and dad, but also round tables helping us understand our various doctrinal positions from a perspective of openness and grace.

Promise Keepers could get down to brass tacks with men on many of the issues that divide us, and so bring us together in real ways that enable us to truly show the world that we are all Christ’s disciples, evidenced through our love for each other.

Attended a PK once 13 years ago, then one three years ago and MY! How it has changed. It was seriously a corporate, merchandising, pump-you-up event. It seemed like the leaders were just trying to keep a good thing going.  It’s the same with nearly any new idea.  People get all excited about it, but lose interest when the bottom line happens: 78 percent of the time, holding each other accountable, being a man, praying for each other, MAKING time to encourage each other to righteousness, etc....is boring, hard methodical work.  People in the western world lose interest when it doesn’t sparkle or make you tap your toe.

PK met a need, then successfully copied by Women of Faith, etc.  With the expansion of female-focused efforts in the church, in politics, in the business world and in society, PK might do better if they partnered with such enterprises as BassPro, NASCAR, Home Depot / Lowes, Cabela’s ... and infused their energy in non-traditional ways that the church could still (comfortably) embrace.

I think the problem with anything like this is missing the take away for the local church. How does this help the church sustain men’s ministry the other 364 days a year? There is energy and it is a good rally with good teaching (I really enjoyed it) but one event a year does not drive a movement. I think PK would be more successful if they worked with local church pastors and trained and equipped them to do men’s ministry in the church, the whole teach a man to fish concept or at least do the events in churches and help them to launch men’s small groups like Kenny Luck does with Everyman Ministries. Just a thought.