Promise Keepers pledge to move from stadium rallies to the marketplace_53104

Posted: 5/28/04

Promise Keepers pledge to move
from stadium rallies to the marketplace

By Adelle Banks

Religion News Service

DENVER (RNS)–Promise Keepers officials intend to change the focus of their Christian men's ministry after a survey they commissioned found most men do not consider matters of faith a top need or challenge in their lives.

Thirteen percent of 415 Christian men surveyed by Barna Research Group said faith or spirituality represented one of their top challenges.

By category, family matters and careers figured higher on these men's lists of “top-of-mind” needs and challenges they are facing.

Forty-two percent cited issues related to family or children and 39 percent mentioned money or career issues.

Promise Keepers President Tom Fortson said the Denver-based organization is changing from a “movement” to a mission to have Christian men be a greater influence in society.

“It's time to get out of the arena and into the marketplace,” Fortson said. “We are calling Christian men to change society by living under biblical authority and teaching others to do the same.”

When asked about spiritual needs, the survey found 36 percent of the men either weren't sure of any or couldn't identify one. Sixteen percent said being closer to God was a spiritual need for them.

Overall, 42 percent of men said the church is doing an “excellent” job at generally meeting their needs as men. But smaller percentages gave the church high marks for helping them in such areas as influencing others for Christ, holding them accountable for their thoughts and actions and developing deep, personal friendships.

In the lowest rating, 20 percent of men said the church was doing an “excellent” job in helping them with their job or career.

Asked if they would turn to Christian friends to help them in a crisis, 42 percent said they would.

Researchers also found that 31 percent of the Christian men surveyed said they were actively involved in a small church group that met for Bible study, prayer or accountability.

The 415 men who described themselves as a “committed born-again Christian” and/or an “active churchgoer” were surveyed by telephone last summer by Barna Research Group, which is based in Ventura, Calif. The margin of error for the findings is plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Promise Keepers plans to hold conferences in 18 cities between June and November, including a June 25-26 gathering in Dallas and an Aug. 27-28 meeting in San Antonio.