Promise Keepers

August, 2008
Steve Pain
Director of Promise Keepers

   My brothers in Christ. In this next chapter that God is writing, I see that there is a move awaiting us. We have been meeting on Sunday afternoon for at least 5 years now. I believe God is about to shift Sundays to Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30. He has been saying to me that more men will be able to meet with us based on the time factor. On Sundays some men have needed to spend more time with their families, and so they should, God is all about family, and we all belong to that family. Please pray with me on this so that I am hearing from God and not Stephen on this. In September some of us will be going on more of the adventure to the bank Atlantic Center for this year’s Promise Keepers Convention.

The following is taken from the Promise Keepers website.

The Manhood ‘08 program is aimed at equipping men to get a handle on their life and mission, amidst a shifting culture that is sometimes outright hostile.  Promise Keepers
intends to deliver the message that a real man loves God more than anything else and is willing to progressively receive his help in becoming more like Jesus in how he thinks, lives, and relates to others this side of heaven. So, how are you doing in your daily walk? Are you responding in the Spirit or in the flesh?

Six Sessions to Help Equip Men for Battle
Friday Evening - 6:30 to 10:00 pm
Session I: “The Battle for Eternity”
Session II: “The Battle for Truth”

Saturday - 9:00 am to Noon
Session III: “The Battle for Godliness”
Session IV: “The Battle for Freedom”

Saturday Afternoon - 1:30 to 4:00 pm
Session V: “The Battle for Priorities”
Session VI: “The Battle for Influence”

For more information, call Stephen Pain (also known as Major Pain) at 762-1879

“Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.” Proverbs 19:20
“You are what you are because it is what you want to be.” Will’s Dad
*The Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper:

1. 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.
2. A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.
3. A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.
4. A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection, and biblical values.
5. A Promise Keeper is committed to supporting the mission of his church by honoring and praying for his pastor and by actively giving his time and resources.
6. A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.
7. A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Good Shepherd’s Promise Keepers meet every Sunday in the Youth House, 4:30-6:30 PM, for a meal, fellowship and ministry. Our Promise Keepers are also active in a variety of “help” projects. Men of all ages are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it,and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16

Promise Keepers has essential components.

The first is the annual Promise Keepers conventions held each summer in Florida and other states. Each year the theme changes, but the 7 Promises do not. Thousands and tens of thousands of men and teenage boys attend, and countless lives are changed for the good, which translates to stronger families, churches and eventually communities, states and nations. Outstanding speakers lead these conventions. The conventions are under girded with prayer, often by women of faith before and during the convention.

The second essential component of Promise Keepers is found in the local church. As men return from conventions reborn or renewed, they are helped to incorporate the 7 Promises (see February issue of The Lighthouse) into their own lives.

We have an active group of Promise Keepers (P. K.) that is part of Men’s Ministries here at Good Shepherd. It exists to help one another fulfill the core values (7 Promises ) of P. K. These men and youth also are active in many other ministries throughout the church as they discover and now exercise their Spiritual gifts within the body of Christ. Opportunities for service abound.