Men Give Patriotism a Prayer for Success

Prayers for the leaders of a nation in crisis and its fighting men were recurring themes at a gathering Saturday in Anaheim of Promise Keepers, the Christian organization that travels the country exhorting men to find God and become better fathers and husbands.

While much of its rousing evangelical message and emotional music was similar to that of past conferences, Promise Keepers organizers and speakers this weekend spoke more frequently of patriotism and national service. Indeed, a key draw was free admission for all members of the armed services.

“I lost track of how many times we sang ‘God Bless America’ and that Bruce Springsteen song,” said Harlan Bromley, 74, of Mesa, Ariz.

The two-day event at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, which ended Saturday, drew 13,500 men each day. It was the 14th stop in a 16-city tour that was expected to draw more than 220,000, organizers say.

This year’s conference theme, “Turn the Tide,” took on added significance after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. “It’s absolutely where we are with our country: We need to stem the tide,” said Ray Vialpando, director of U.S. Ministries for Promise Keepers. “Especially as Christian men, we need to step up and be ready to serve--our Lord, our family, our community, our military.”

Some attendees, however, said the event was more somber than previous ones. They said spirits were dampened by news of ground assaults in Afghanistan and security fears at home. Because of such worries, people were barred from bringing bags into the conference.

“The central message is still Jesus Christ, but there’s a big difference in how this conference feels [compared with] other ones,” said James Pino, 54, of Apple Valley. “There’s sort of a second theme about men in the service, about leading them to Jesus Christ before they go into combat. I think it’s made things more somber. Usually, there’s more jubilation.”

While foreign conflict was on the minds of many, some participants said they came to hear about more domestic matters.

“I just got married and I’m looking for some guidance in managing my relationships,” said Rick Crosby, 31, of Las Vegas. “I just stopped being a bachelor four months ago, so I’ve had this huge change.”

Talk of Marriage Has Positive Effect

Crosby, a juvenile probation officer, scribbled notes and suggestions on the empty pages of a large Bible he held. “It’s good to hear all these men talk about marriage,” he said. “It’s good to hear that it’s been all right for them.”

Promise Keepers, founded by former University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney, has drawn more than 4.5 million men to events over the last decade, leaving many macho worshipers unexpectedly in tears and seeking repentance for a sinful life.

Now in its 11th year, the sometimes controversial men’s evangelical group emphasizes leadership roles in the family and society.

After Promise Keepers’ boom years, which included a national rally in 1997 that drew a reported 1 million men to Washington, dwindling attendance and financial woes caused the organization to temporarily lay off its entire work force of more than 300 in 1998 and restructure the operation.

It began holding events at sports arenas instead of large outdoor venues such as the Los Angeles Coliseum, cut expenses and shifted some of the work to hundreds of volunteers from local churches. As a result, the 130-employee organization has “never been more financially stable,” Vialpando said.

And the move to the indoor arenas, where weather isn’t a factor, has added spiritual depth to the conference because speakers can more easily interact with participants.

Ted Youmans, a 41-year-old Santa Ana attorney who was attending his fourth Promise Keepers conference, said the air-conditioned Pond offered a “much different, more intimate dynamic” than football stadiums and summer heat. Either way, though, he calls the conferences “mountain-top experiences.”

“At no other event do you have that number of men who are so openly and passionately expressing their beliefs,” he said. “It’s something men crave, though we don’t often admit it.”