By Thomas C. Hanson
LOS ANGELES--I wasn't looking forward to spending nearly 14 hours May 2 and 3 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at the Promise Keepers conference on The Making of a Godly Man.
When I got there several things were missing--most notably a football game. However, I'll do almost anything to avoid wearing a suit and tie, so this turned out to be my kind of worship service.
WCG men were out in force in Los Angeles and at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, with whom we were linked by a large screen television for part of one service.
The following week more than 70 WCG men attended the stadium event in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 9 and 10, according to pastor George Hart. Five responded to the altar call.
What happens at the stadium events is an example of what is happening in our fellowship as men, women and children are being transformed by their love for Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit is working mightily in our fellowship as we bear the fruit of our doctrinal changes.
Paul Sniffen, coordinator of
Pasadena men's ministry, said he hopes that congregations will consider getting
involved with Promise Keepers and forming their own men's ministries.
A Promise Keeper is committed to
1. Honor Jesus Christ
2. Pursue vital relationships with other men
3. Practice personal integrity
4. Build strong marriages and families
5. Support his pastor and church
6. Demonstrate biblical unity
7. Influence his community
Clergy seminar for men
Becoming an Agent of Revival: Ignite your passion for ministry, and your love for God
The Heart of a Godly Man
The Heart of a Godly Man: Captured by Christ, Greg Laurie.
Purity of Heart: Living Clean Before God, T. Garrott Benjamin.
The Disciplines of a Godly Man
The Disciplines of a Godly Man: Motivated by Grace, Max Lucado.
Personal Financial Integrity: How to Get Out of Debt, Paul Edwards.
Out of Isolation: Why a Men's Small Group? Bruce Fong.
The Influence of a Godly Man
A Man in the Workplace: Balancing Character and Competency, Tom Addington.
The Influence of a Godly Man: A Servant Who Leads, Isaac Canales.
Embracing Reconciliation: Living Out the Great Commandment, Jack Hayford.
Godly Men: Hope for Our Times, E.V. Hill.
You can contact Promise Keepers at P.O. Box 103001, Denver, Colorado, 80250-5001, telephone them at 1-303-964-7600 or visit their web site at www.promisekeepers.org
* May 30-31: Birmingham, Alabama, and Kansas City, Missouri
* June 6 and 7: Knoxville, Tennessee
* June 13-14: Buffalo, N.Y., and Washington, D.C.
* June 27-28: Fresno, California, and Miami, Florida
* July 18-19: St. Louis, Missouri
* July 25-26: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Aug. 15-16: Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Sept. 19-20: New York City
* Oct. 4: Washington, D.C., Stand in the Gap
* Oct. 24-25: Dallas, Texas
Bermie Dizon, an associate pastor of the Pasadena church, attended Promise Keepers with his son, Ben Gibson Dizon, 10, and his cousin, Admer Roberto.
"As a father I felt great joy in seeing my son connecting with God and worshiping Jesus," Mr. Dizon said. Ben said it made him feel special for his father to take him to Promise Keepers.
Once during the event the ministers were asked to stand, and those around them laid hands on them and prayed. "Tears came down my eyes as they prayed for me," Mr. Dizon said.
Admer, a nurse in a Los Angeles hospital, was not a religious man before Promise Keepers. But by the second day he was a changed man.
Admer later asked Mr. Dizon how he could serve Jesus Christ more and is interested in serving on a medical mission.
"I know someone who was once blind, but now, because of Promise Keepers, he sees," Mr. Dizon said.
Mike Coker (right) was one of nearly 2,500 men who accepted Jesus Christ at the Promise Keepers event in Los Angeles. Mike grew up in the WCG but had not attended for several years.
Mike attended the event with his brother-in-law, Mike Arguien, and his brother Dale. Mike now attends the WCG regularly and is counseling for baptism. He seeks daily to make a difference for God's kingdom and has begun to invite others to Promise Keepers and to church.
Mike was hesitant to respond to the altar call, but his brother-in-law told him: "If you want to go down, I'll go with you. Without a word, Mike headed for the stage. I saw an excitement and rejuvenation in him that I haven't seen in a long time."
Mike Rasmussen is a veteran of several Promise Keepers events. He is shown above with wife, Julie, and their sons, Kurt (left) and Grant.
Julie said "things have changed incredibly in our relationship" since Mike began attending Promise Keepers. "He is more concerned about taking care of my needs. He was always a good dad, but he worked a lot. Now he's home more and is more attentive to the boys. When they're in bed, instead of finishing up what he needs to get done he holds me more and talks to me more. This makes me want to give to him all the more."
Curtis May
Brad May
Curtis May (right), pastor of the Pasadena and Honolulu, Hawaii, churches, was one of the pastors who received those who responded to the altar call. The first group who came to him were a man, his brother and their elderly father and uncle. "We all wrapped arms around each other. What an experience--the crying, tears of contrition, tears of joy, tears of hope." Mr. May, who attended the event with his son, Brad, said that Promise Keepers helps build bonds between fathers and sons. "We have to perpetuate righteousness in the family, so it is highly important for fathers and sons to build right relationships under God."
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May 20, 1997, WN, page 5