LOUISVILLE ENDURES FLOODS, UNLEASHES 12,000 MEN

Place and Date: Louisville, Ky., Sept. 23, 2006

Food raised, blood given, “put your hand on the man’s shoulder next to you”

As September thunderstorms raged outside,an estimated 12,000 men gathered at Freedom Hall for Promise Keepers’ 2006 conference, “Unleashed - Releasing the Raw Power of Your Heart.” The graphic image of the “Unleashed” conference is a bolt of lightning. Church-based men’s groups, fathers and sons, friends and strangers came for spiritual encouragement and direction.

In a Saturday morning food drive, attendees contributed an estimated 7000 pounds of non-perishable food for Kentucky Harvest, feeding the hungry.

Louisville “Unleashed” conferees donated more than 40 units of blood at a Friday afternoon blood drive conducted with the Louisville chapter of the Red Cross. At four Promise Keepers conferences in 2006, a total of 213 units of blood were donated.

Promise Keepers president and CEO Dr. Tom Fortson encouraged men personally after recovering from a bout with an E. coli infection in July. “I never imagined that my hospital stay would be, for me, the ‘green pastures’ (Psalm 23). I have a story to tell: God is good no matter where you are. You have a story to tell as well,” said Dr. Fortson. “We want you to leave here free and unleashed to tell your story.”

Bishop Joseph Garlington (Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, www.ccop.org) addressed men’s neglected hearts and dormant talents. “The mistakes of a righteous man are more precious in the sight of God, than those who refuse to trust Him.”

Oregon pastor and Vietnam era Green Beret Stu Weber reminded men that they will need a Helper to keep promises, God the Holy Spirit. “Like my friend in the Pentagon on September 11, when you see that wall of fire and temptation coming down the hall at you, you can rely on a faithful God.”

Missouri camp director Joe White closed the conference with a message titled, “Releasing Your Potential.” From a wheel barrel, White shoveled dirt over a huge “seed,” demonstrating a servant lifestyle. “All my heroes are foot washers. I am third. That’s the kind of life I want to live. God is first, others are second. I am third.”

Real men sing real loud!

Big Daddy Weave (www.bigdaddyweave.com) came up from Mobile, Ala. to play the after-lunch concert at Louisville’s Promise Keepers event. The crowd joined immediately as they presented songs from their new Fervent/Curb Records release Every Time I Breathe. Urging the men to jump, they included the youth group favorite “Undignified.”

The weekend’s house band, PK7 played songs from their latest release on Integrity Music, Unleashed, a blend of classic hymns and new praise and worship songs.

Friday at Freedom Hall

“The first place my adoptive parents brought me to live my new life was Paducah, Ky., so it’s really important for me to be here,” said Dr. Bob Reccord, a noted author and Bible teacher (www.madetocount.com). At Reccord’s invitation to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, some 250 men and boys responded by praying at the front of the five-foot stage.

The men prayed: “Father, I’ve come home. I have turned from my sin, and I accept your forgiveness. Today I start my new journey as your son.” In the background, the 1865 hymn “Jesus Paid It All” took on a fresh relevance.

Grand Rapids pastor Rob Bell closed the first night of the conference with a video from his Nooma series (www.nooma.com). Challenging men to accept God’s call on their lives, Bell said, “(Jesus) must have faith in us,because He leaves it all in the hands of his disciples. us!”

“Pastor of Ceremonies” is nationally known high school motivational speaker Reggie Dabbs. “The day comes in your life when you have to respond to the raw power of God in your heart.”

Promise Keepers next year

Next year Promise Keepers meets in Nashville on July 20-21, and in Cincinnati on Sept. 7-8, 2007. Promise Keepers moves west for the next three weekends to close its 2006 season (Spokane, Sacramento, Glendale, Ariz.). Details for upcoming “Unleashed” conferences are available at www.promisekeepers.org, and registration is available by calling toll-free 1-866-PROMISE (866-776-6473).

Promise Keepers’ mission is to ignite and unite men to become passionate followers of Jesus Christ through the effective communication of several promises to God, his fellow man, family, church and the world. This year is Promise Keepers’ 16th year of conference ministry.