Christian crusade draws 8,000 men

The Promise Keepers encourage men to be dedicated husbands and fathers.

By SHARON TUBBS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 1, 2002

TAMPA -- More than 8,000 men packed the Sun Dome on Friday to sing praises to God and to learn how to strengthen their Christian lives as this weekend's Promise Keepers conference got under way.

Outside, rain and thunder roiled from the heavens, the downcast skies playing nicely with this year's theme: Storm the gates.

The gates of hell, that is.

"We envision men who are ignited and united in the church," said Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney, just as thunder sounded throughout the arena.

"You heard that storm up there? That was not a coincidence, men," McCartney said to rousing applause. "The Lord is ready to move!"

In its 12th year, Promise Keepers continues its mission, with conferences in 16 cities scheduled for 2002. Tampa is the first. Others include Miami later this month, Atlanta, Washington, Los Angeles, Dallas and Denver.

The national Christian organization for men is hailed by supporters as a spiritual revival and criticized by opponents as sexist, in part, because of its stance that men should be the heads of their households.

Local members of the National Organization for Women planned to protest the event outside the Sun Dome this morning, advertising a 9 a.m. news conference and picket.

Such is not new for Promise Keepers, said Ray Vialpando, director of U.S. Ministries. Sometimes, Vialpando said, Promise Keepers volunteers serve cookies to the protesters.

"Women are not our enemy," he said.

Promise Keepers has not been without its troubles. Attendance has slackened over the years. The organization now hosts its conferences in arenas rather than the football stadiums of its heyday.

Still, in Tampa, organizers said, the conference sold out its 8,250 seats as men, children, pastors, preachers-in-training and men searching for a vision made their way inside.

Joe Hostetler drove from Orlando. When he attended his first Promise Keepers event two years ago in Orlando, it changed his life, he said.

"I think one of the biggest things that was changed in me was shifting from work . . . to my family," he said.

Hearing speakers at Promise Keepers conferences talk about a husband's dedication to his wife and a father's commitment to his children inspired Hostetler, 50, to spend more time with his family, he said.

"You get dedicated," he said. "You get changed."

Jason Fulmer, 21, and Erik Rauch, 20, were part of a small group who attended from Grace Bible Church in St. Petersburg.

"It kind of refuels your life," Rauch said.

Fulmer, a first-timer at the conference, nodded. "It allows you to see that there's many people who believe the same as you," he said, looking around the arena as men shuffled by on the way to their seats.

Inside, James Ryle of TruthWorks Ministries spoke on stage, encouraging men that the way to success was to realize their spiritual vision. Jesus could show them that vision, Ryle said, "and show you a life that counts as a man, a noble man."

The two-day event, which will be broadcast on Christian radio station WKES-91.1 FM, ends at 6 p.m. today.

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