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Church and Parachurch Ministries Need Each Other What About Promise
Keepers?
God is breathing new life into men's groups across North
America. To do it, He is raising up a variety of sources of
encouragement and energy to revive and renew a men's movement
far larger than any one denomination or parachurch organization
(para means "alongside of"; a parachurch ministry is
one that comes alongside of churches to help them fulfill their
God-given task). Promise Keepers (PK) is a non-denominational, parachurch
ministry started in 1990 that God has used mightily to re-ignite
men's ministries in many local churches across the United States
and Canada. Wesleyan Men, which specifically serves just one
denomination—The Wesleyan Church—and Promise Keepers have
been cooperating since 1994 to bring men, regardless of their
religious backgrounds, to a saving, personal faith in Jesus
Christ and to strengthen their commitment to Him. The basis of this relationship is a mutual respect each
organization has for the other's role and a shared vision for
effective men's ministries in local churches. Neither
organization has authority or control over the other. Neither
organization is required to sell nor officially endorse the
other's curriculum or resources. While PK and Wesleyan Men
operate independently, both recognize and value the unique role
and contributions of the other. Wesleyan Men was formed in 1968 at the time of The Wesleyan
Church's birth through the merger of two previous denominations.
Its primary goal has always been to call men to faith in Jesus
Christ and equip them for loving service in His name. Promise
Keepers' primary objective is to promote men's ministry—not
its own organization—in local churches through the
establishment of small groups and an overall strategy for men's
ministry. Promise Keepers offers stadium events, leadership
conferences, and other resources as entry points to local church
men's ministry. Promise Keepers is not a replacement for local
chapters of Wesleyan Men; it is a tool to help build them. Wesleyan Men provides a proven, effective structure for leading a men's ministry in long-term service and growth. Promise Keepers provides significant motivation and encouragement for men to become more active in their local church. The following chart illustrates some other strengths each organization brings to this shared relationship.
Wesleyan Men welcomes PK as a partner in ministry. Promise Keepers conferences and training events offer a rallying point and annual highlight for many Wesleyan Men chapters. Thousands of Wesleyan Men attend PK's stadium and training events. The enthusiasm PK inspires and the leadership skills it teaches help many Wesleyan Men return home more fully committed to serving the Lord Jesus Christ in their local churches. They also give our members incredible opportunities to reach out to nominal believers or unchurched men and to call them to responsible Christian discipleship and involvement in the local church. The high respect Promise Keepers holds for the authority of pastors and local church leadership is evident in all of its printed guidelines and is consistent with Wesleyan Men's emphases. Promise Keepers trains "Ambassadors" and "Point Men" to start men's ministry in local churches. Both are required to have their pastors' appointment and endorsement. Ambassadors relate to several churches at a time in a city or county to promote Promise Keepers. This is similar to the role of the district Wesleyan Men director. PK's Point Men are the equivalent of the president of each local chapter of Wesleyan Men.Wesleyan Men should use the same wise judgment and discernment in working with Promise Keepers as they would with any parachurch group. They will find many worthwhile ideas and activities to support, while recognizing that their own church's beliefs, purposes and priorities deserve most of their group's energies and loyalty. |