Christian Men's Movement Making a Comeback?

If it seems like it was another century, that’s because it was: almost twelve years ago Promise Keepers – then the most visible and audacious of Christian men’s organization – brought nearly one million men to Washington, D.C. to a rally called “Stand in the Gap.” The organization was hotter than the Jonas Brothers are today; okay, well maybe not that hot. The more men – and we are not talking “girly men” here – the Denver, Colorado-based Promise Keepers brought out to football stadiums and sports arenas around the country, the more buzz-worthy it became. And the more buzz-worthy it became, the more the mainstream media glommed onto its every move. The more the mainstream media publicized its work, the more its leadership crowed about its successes.

However, not long after unveiling ambitious plans for growing its operations, the organization imploded; leaders left – including PK founder, former University of Colorado head football coach, Bill McCartney -- staff was laid off, events were cancelled, and the organization’s ambitious goals were deeply downsized. While in 1996, more than 1.1 million men participated in events at stadiums across the country, by 2006, only 132,000 attended 18 conferences.

According to the Associated Press, “Tax forms … show[ed] steadily declining gifts, grants and contributions … - from $15 million in 2002 to $9 million in 2005, the most recent year for which figures are available.”

For some, the only visible evidence that the organization actually existed was a Promise Keepers mug or key chain buried in a trunk in the garage. Or, perhaps one might be able to hustle up a dog-eared copy of New Man, the group’s flagship publication.

Promise Keeper makeover?

ENDS

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