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Promise Keepers at Columbia, SC: men energized!
Blood drive, food drive, brotherhood and family values

Columbia, S.C., Aug. 4, 2007 – More than 7,000 men flexed their spiritual muscles at Promise Keepers this weekend. Emcee Reggie Dabbs entertained the crowd with godly charm, setting the stage for a morning of spiritual uplift and praise. Across the arena, fathers sat with their sons. Men huddled in prayer, giving their minds, hearts and plans to God.

The band PK7 (Integrity Music) stirred the crowd with songs of worship as men, young and old, white, black and Hispanic, unashamedly lifted their voices together to the heavens.

Community Impact

Columbia promise keepers made an impact on The Midlands with an “over-the-top” food drive on Saturday morning. The men donated 13,000 pounds of food for the Harvest Hope Food Bank and Lexington Baptist Church Crisis Ministries.

On their way into The Colonial Center on Friday, men donated 55 badly needed units of blood at two American Red Cross bloodmobiles. “South Carolina is a blood-importing state, so these donations are very important, especially in the summer,” said Cheryl Austin, coordinator for the South Carolina region.

Energizing words from the platform

Motivational speaker Rick Rigsby (www.rickrigsby.com) quickly fired up the crowd on Saturday morning, challenging the men to be godly men who make a difference in everything they do and in everybody they meet. “This is your opportunity, men of South Carolina, to walk beside another man, to do something special and be the man God called you to be.” Rigsby said. “Come together, shoulder to shoulder, and advance the kingdom of God.”

In tough-love comedy style, comedian Brad Stine challenged the crowd to end their “wussie” ways and become warriors. “Promise Keepers is a men’s group, for rough and tough men,” he said. In a testosterone-laced rant, Brad called on the men of Columbia to be like Jesus; compassionate, but also a man. Don’t be afraid to challenge others. “But, judge each other on where they are going, not where they are.”

Marriage and family advocate Dan Seaborn (www.winningathome.com), a native of Six Mile, S.C., dedicated his speech to his parents and grandparents. “Marriage is about God looking down from heaven and wanting to have the home be an example of what heaven is truly like,” Seaborn said. “Is your home a tiny reflection of heaven, or a tiny piece of hell? Don’t ‘snuff out’ your wife’s emotions. Fan her flame. Tell her she’s God’s daughter. Tell her you love her.”

Word of mouth

William Jacobs, 36, came with 43 fellow church members from Carolina Forest Community Church in Tabor City, N.C. William brought his son, 10-year-old Gabriel, to the event. “I want to do things to bring Christ in his life,” Jacobs said.

Aaron Brown, 20, and Marty Hubbard, 48, came with eighteen men from Pinehurst, N.C. For Aaron, seeing thousands of men at the conference reinforced his decision to be a Christian. “Sometimes you feel alone when you’re a Christian," Aaron said. "To see so many other Christians coming together lifts my spirits and shows that I am not alone.”

Friday at The Colonial Center

Opening keynote speaker was Bible archeologist Bob Cornuke (www.baseinstitute.org), noted for his explorations of miraculous sites mentioned in the Bible. Bob reminded the crowd, “Jesus performed miracles, and they put him to death.”

Speaker and author James Ryle (www.truthworks.org) closed the evening, blending lighthearted humor with a down-home-religion flair. He recast the Bible story of Philemon’s conversion, and his reconciliation with a thief through the delivery of a letter. “You’re the only one that can deliver your letter. No matter how far you’ve fallen, you have a letter from Jesus and God will read that letter, but you must deliver it.” 127 men “delivered their letter,” accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

On deck: Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2007 Promise Keepers conference season continues on Aug. 17-18 in Cincinnati at U.S. Bank Arena. The entire 2007 men’s conference schedule and reports are posted at www.promisekeepers.org.

(Chuck Walsh contributed to this report.)