c. 1997 Religion News Service
WASHINGTON _ Here a sampling of quotes from participants at the Promise Keepers”Stand in the Gap”assembly and why they came to the event:
“I came out to pray for the nation and to pray for revival in our own hearts and to identify with the sins of the nation … the turning away from God. We no longer identify God as the main focal point of our nation. We’ve forgotten who established this nation. And I’m here to say to God, `First of all, start with me, make me new.’ So that when I go back, I can help others find Christ and help get their lives straightened out.” _ Mike Lindell, 37, Church on the Move, Yakima, Wash.
“I just came here to praise God and to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.” _ Clyde Hutchins, 31, Frazer United Methodist Church, Montgomery, Ala.
“I wanted to see all these Christian men gather together to worship at one time. … I’m excited.
_ David Price, 40, Enon Baptist Church, Gilmore, Texas.
“The main reason I’m here is to realize that we are all brothers in Christ and we all have to love one another … and above all bring peace and harmony. My biggest goal … is to bring back the tradition that the man is the head of the house, not the boss. … To take our respective role in the home, the community … to bring love and peace among the brothers.” _ the Rev. C.L. Thornton, 51, Trinity Baptist Church, Lexington, Ky.
“It’s a gathering I wanted to be a part of … it’s a gathering of men of God in one accord, praying and humbling themselves before the Lord. … It’s awesome.” _ Vada Crosby, 36, Assemblies of God, Hartford, Conn.
“The important thing is that men go back to lead their families. … I just know that Promise Keepers is the vehicle to do that.” _ Aaron Hall, 27, full-time student, Denton Bible Church, Denton, Texas.
“We’re all disciples of Christ and we are commanded to go out and labor with all the brothers _ believers and non-believers alike. When we do that, we are unified as one, we are one body. To go out and serve the world, that’s our calling.” _ D.J. Jantz, 48, salesman, Fort Worth, Texas.
“Many of us have thought of individuals as less than we are … through teaching, family tradition, whatever. … And we have to change that incorrectness in our thoughts and in the lives of our families.” _ Walter Mayfield, 54, physician, Corinth Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, Ga.
“In order to serve the Lord, I just felt the need to be here.” _ Danny Brownlee, 53, a Baptist from Mt. Pleasant, Texas.
“The community is in decline and I believe it’s going to take men to bring the community together. … We have to get out of our church and branch out into the community to make a difference. This I believe is just a start and I believe it will do a lot of good for mankind.” _ Jess Urtado, 39, mortgage banker, Faith Community Church, West Covina, Calif.
“I think the Promise Keeper concept is to initially bear fruit in our families. … As far as going out into our communities, that’s a commission from God. I agree with that.” _ Jeff Nelson, job counselor, Broadway Christian Church, Mattoon, Ill.
“By my coming here it shows my family how genuinely sincere I am about rebuilding God’s kingdom … and sharing this time with these men will be real meaningful. I’ll never forget it.” _ Kurt Jacobson, 41, salesman, Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill.
“It’s awe inspiring to see all these people coming together to gather around a good thing.” _ Erika Hines, a 26-year-old non-church-going observer from Silver Spring, Md.”I want him (son Jonathan) to know its OK to be bold for Christ in public. There’s so many forces at play that can distract children and even men.” _ Dennis Smith, Christ the Redeemer Episcopal Church, Centerville, Va.
DEA END RNS
