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Promise Keepers is a Christian organization founded by former college football coach Bill McCartney. Promise Keepers is probably best known for the large men’s conferences they have held since their founding in 1990. Promise Keepers is a non-profit organization and not affiliated with any specific denomination or church. Additionally, while they are primarily a United States organization, they do have branches in other countries, as well.
The primary mission of Promise Keepers is to be “a Christ-centered ministry dedicated to uniting men through vital relationships to become godly influences in their world.” The gospel is always preached at the men’s conferences. Their organization emphasizes seven promises, the first of which is “A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit” (see more at their website). The rest of the seven promises promote fellowship, purity, strong marriages, local church involvement, unity, and evangelism.
Promise Keepers has received criticism from many fronts. The radical feminists and homosexual activists oppose the organization for predictable reasons. But there are detractors from within the church, as well. Usually, the criticisms involve claims of ecumenicalism, watered-down theology, and promoting Charismatic error. Of course, the gospel must be the center of any ministry organization, and, if Promise Keepers maintains the gospel message (which it appears they do), then they are doing the work Jesus commanded them to do in Matthew 28:19–20. The Lord knows we need strong, committed men in our culture who love their wives, nurture their children, and follow God.
