If you were familiar with evangelical culture in the ‘90s, then you probably remember Promise Keepers. The men’s ministry, which was founded by former collegiate football coach Bill McCartney, was known for its revival-style arena events that brought together tens of thousands of Christian men.
After largely falling out of the public eye before the millennium, the ministry is back with new leadership and a renewed vigor to inspire men to live with integrity and mobilize them to answer God’s call to be Changemakers in His name.
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“I think we can agree that we’re in a very different time now than we were in the 90s when it was formed. I mean, they had their issues then, but we’ve really got some issues now,” Promise Keepers CEO Shane Winnings recently told The Washington Times’ Higher Ground. “The need to have something that can equip Christian men to face the issues of the day and just to become stronger and, you know, who God made them to be, that’s so necessary.”
The former police officer-turned-missionary was chosen to lead the ministry at the beginning of 2024 and feels called to reach the men of this generation — especially in the midst of growing attacks on faith and family.
“Our vision is to equip men to live boldly in this hour. And my heart really is that Philippians 2 call of being a light in a twisted and perverse generation,” Pastor Winnings revealed. “I want to help men rise up and not just survive through the day, but actually thrive and shine as a light for Christ.”
The gender identity crisis is one such issue fueling the cultural chaos. In fact, the Afghanistan veteran calls it “a demonic agenda” that is not only affecting our kids but men and women as well.
“It’s like, we’re blurring the lines of the distinct roles that God created, a male and a female, a man who’s going to lead, a woman who’s going to be led in love by her husband,” he noted. “All of those things seem to be out the window now. And so really, it feels like we’re the minority to stand on biblical truth and say, ‘Hey, I still believe [there are] only two genders.’”
But beyond the concept of male and female, Pastor Winnings also sees many men struggling with finding fulfillment in their roles as husbands, fathers, and strong men of God in general. That’s why he hopes to inspire men to become humble leaders who have integrity and follow God’s example in every aspect of their lives.
“I want men in today’s culture to want to be a promise keeper, and in a world that’s looking for identity, our identity in Christ is the only thing that truly matters,” he said. “It’s the only thing that’s never going to fade away. You know, everything else is going to pass away, but Christ is eternal and He’s alive and we are alive in him if we’re Christians. And so, I want men to know their identity in Christ.”
The key to reaching those men, Pastor Winnings says, is getting them to the point where they “die to themselves” and “only care about God’s opinion.” When that happens, true transformation begins—not just in the men, but in their families, their communities, and the nation as a whole.
“If you win the man, you win the family,” Pastor Winnings concluded. “Statistics show that when men step up, it makes a huge difference. And consequently, when men are absent, crime increases, homelessness increases, grades drop in schools. I mean, history shows the impact that a man has on a family. And I’m very passionate about that.”
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Marissa Mayer is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her work has been featured in Christian Post, The Daily Signal, and Intellectual Takeout. Mayer has a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Arizona State University.
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