SEVEN: Celebrating 25 Years (Summer 2020) - Issue 72

MEN / GOD / LIFE SUMMER 2020 / ISSUE 72 NEWSSTAND PRICE CDN $4.95

25 YEARS

Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter

FEATURE

GOD DID THIS 2 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

HOW GOD USED A HANDFUL OF HUMBLE MEN TO LAUNCH PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

BY FRANK STIRK

SUMMER 2020 SEVEN 3

“God did this. All we had to do was do as we IT WAS SEPTEMBER 1993.

Tom Iwama, a family doctor from Surrey, BC, was sitting alone among 50,000 other men inside the packed-out Folsom Stadium at the University of Colorado in Boulder. They had gathered for the Promise Keepers’ annual conference. In just three years since its founding, the men’s ministry was catching fire across the United States and around the world. When he learned about the conference, Iwama— already burdened by the lack of men’s ministries in most Canadian churches—felt God was calling him to attend.

“I was there all by myself, because I didn’t know anybody else that would go with me,” he says. “And I’m sitting in this hot stadium with 50,000 other guys listening to speakers and worshiping with them—and out of the blue I felt a very strong stirring in my heart that God was asking me to bring a ministry like Promise Keepers to Canada to go across the nation.”

Wanting to obey God’s call and not knowing what else to do, Iwama ordered videotapes of the six conference speakers. Back home, he gathered together seven other men who, along with their wives, committed to pray that a nation-wide ministry to men would be birthed. Every two weeks, they met at Iwama’s church to watch one of the conference videos.

“At the conclusion of these six meetings— and we didn’t know what we were doing, we didn’t know anything about marketing or promotions or anything—880 men showed up, all by word-of-mouth,” he says. “We really saw real transformation. I knew this really was a move of God. He just needed somebody to say ‘yes’ to get this thing started.”

Meanwhile, in Ontario, other men were resonating with the Promise Keepers message. In around 1991, London entrepreneur Randy Collins and his church’s men’s ministry pastor attended a PK training seminar in Detroit. They came back in tears. “A lot of it had to do with our relationship with our fathers,” he says. “Not that we had bad relationships with our fathers, but there seemed to be a lot of guys in our age group who were yearning for recognition from them. And Promise Keepers recognized that.”

It was also at a seminar in Detroit—and for a similar reason—that Kirk Giles was first introduced to Promise Keepers. “My Dad [Jim Giles] and I got involved in the ministry, because God actually used Promise Keepers to reconcile our relationship,” he says. “We started

4 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

volunteering back in 1995, just as the ministry was starting in Canada.”

Today, Kirk Giles is the president of Promise Keepers Canada.

Back in British Columbia, Iwama was wondering what to do next in light of the unexpected response to his six videotapes. PK USA advised him to plan a conference for people with a heart to lead a men’s ministry in their churches. He did, and “going out on a limb,” he says, he ordered three hundred leadership packets based on the calls he was getting from pastors across Metro Vancouver. The conference took place at Broadway Church in Vancouver.

“When we opened the doors, we had no registration, no way of knowing how many men would come,” Iwama

were told. And when we yield, He works.”

recalls. “I had three hundred leadership packets ready to go—and close to a thousand guys showed up. They came from Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairie provinces, from all over Canada.”

The next step was to bring some structure to what had suddenly become a national men’s movement. That meant forming a board of directors. Iwama recruited Roger Poirier, a logistics expert formerly with GM; Brian Warren, a recently-retired CFL all-star linebacker with a calling from God to become an evangelist; Ross Maracle, a television evangelist from the Mohawk First Nation in Ontario; Ken McGeorge, a hospital CEO in Fredericton, New Brunswick; and Bill Rutherford from Calgary, who became PK Canada’s first president. Iwama became the board’s first chair.

“We got together and the next thing we knew, we were running our own conference,” he says. “Red Deer, Alberta, was our first. We had no form of registration, and once again we didn’t know how many people are coming— and that stadium of maybe 6,000 was packed out.” Then came conferences at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, the Saddledome in Calgary, as well as in Edmonton, Saskatoon, Hamilton, and Fredericton. “The ministry exploded far beyond what anybody could do. It was a movement of God.” Collins recalls vividly the Hamilton gathering at the Copps Coliseum. Around 13,500 men showed up. “With our prayer team, we anointed every seat in that stadium.

Touched every seat. We asked God for the Holy Spirit to be there and fill that place. There was so much ministry happening all over that place. It was a beautiful, beautiful time,” he says.

“God did this. All we had to do was do as we were told.

And when we yield, He works.”

“The timing was right,” says David Sweet, an early PK supporter. “A good friend of mine and I were already doing men’s ministry in different churches all around southern Ontario. The Lord had prepared men’s hearts to really get serious about their faith. And as the old proverb says, ‘When the student is ready, the teacher arrives.’”

In September 1995, Promise Keepers Canada was formally launched with a worship service at Queensway Cathedral in Toronto, becoming PK’s first international affiliate. Initially it was headquartered in Langley, BC. In 1997, it relocated to Burlington, Ontario, when David Mainse, the founder of Crossroads Christian Communications and 100 Huntley Street— and “a friend of the ministry from the get-go,” says Iwama—gave them office space in his building.

But almost as soon as PK Canada was born, it nearly died. As a fledgling ministry, it was very much in the shadow of its American partners and their emphasis on big stadium events. (In 1996, they staged twenty-two conferences across the US that drew more than a million men.) PK Canada followed that model with events at hockey arenas. The problem was that between the high cost of running these events and no real donor base, they generated little or no income.

In October 1997, things went from bad to worse. At Stand in the Gap, a “sacred assembly” that Promise Keepers hosted in Washington, DC, that drew an estimated one

SUMMER 2020 SEVEN 5

million men, founder Bill McCartney announced that beginning in 1998, all their events would be free admission.

That was the first the Canadians present had heard of it.

PKC reluctantly followed suit. “We didn’t have many options,” Giles says, “so we made all of our events for free even though we didn’t have the cash to do it. We lost a lot of money.”

In 1998, McGeorge, who had moved into an interim role as national coordinator replacing Rutherford, was introduced to Ron Hannah. He had recently left the corporate business world and was seeking a ministry opportunity.

McGeorge asked him to study PK Canada’s financial woes and propose solutions. Hannah says it soon “became obvious that the ministry was virtually bankrupt and had outstanding debt to various suppliers.”

“PKC had a large following of men who loved the ministry, but other than attending a conference, there was no followup ministry happening,” he says.

All it offered was a monthly speaker cassette tape that sold for $25.00.

Around the same time, the board named Sweet to serve as president. “The first two years were really tough,” he admits. “There were some days I wondered how, without help from the Lord, we were going to get through it.”

But together with Hannah, they developed a plan to pull PKC back from the brink. “We realized,” says Sweet, “that we really needed to focus on equipping local churches rather than the big events. We still had some, but we realized that we were supposed to be a resource ministry, not a big-event machine.”

They replaced the tapes with WiseChoices materials— including New Man magazine, SEVEN’s predecessor—that would be free to men who could not afford it, while trusting the Lord, says Hannah, “to move the hearts of other men who could afford it to not only cover their own cost but, where possible, cover the costs of another brother who was in need.”

“Over the course of the following months and years,” he adds, “the WiseChoices program grew to several thousands of monthly members, and revenues far exceeded the cost.

So much so that it became a key to providing the monthly revenue to help run the ministry.”

Sweet left the ministry in 2004 to pursue a career in politics. He is now the MP for FlamboroughGlanbrook in southwestern Ontario. Hannah replaced him as president, serving until 2009 when he retired. Then Giles took over.

“I can remember praying in those difficult early days,” Giles says, ‘God, let this ministry last long enough for all of my sons to be able to experience what it’s like to be surrounded by Godly men.’ Two years ago, I brought my youngest son to his first Promise Keepers event, and I remember having it hit me like a ton of bricks, this sense of how God answered this prayer I prayed all those years ago.”

“There were some days I wondered how, without help from the Lord, we were going to get through it.”

6 SEVEN SPRING 2020

/ FRANK STIRK is a journalist living in North Vancouver, BC. He is the author of Streams in the Negev: Stories of How God is Starting to Redeem Vancouver (Urban Loft).

Pursue information knowledge wisdom.

Information and knowledge are abundant.

Understanding is deficient. Filtering information into what is right, what is good and what is useful requires understanding. True understanding means knowing God. That is wisdom.

Toronto campus & online www.tyndaleseminary.ca

SUMMER 2020  SEVEN  7

PK PODIUM

WHO COULD HAVE IMAGINED?

FEATURES

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF GOD'S GOODNESS

02 God Did This

BY KIRK GILES

13 Impactus 18 PK Conferences

T

wenty-five years ago marked the birth of the ministry of Promise Keepers Canada. I remember attending the official inauguration of the organization in Toronto. Several months later, I found myself serving on staff as an Administrative Assistant to my dad. We worked out of the basement of his home, and I would spend multiple days each month, sending newsletters to men by fax (for those not familiar with what this is — Google it).

How do I even begin to reflect on 25 years of this ministry and over 24 years of my own life? Please forgive me for not writing a typical column.

In many ways, this is going to be a personal reflection that I hope will be an encouragement to you.

First, God alone deserves every bit of credit for what has happened in and through this ministry. We could never have imagined multiple years of hockey arenas filled with men who are hungry to hear from God. When we started, we never would have thought that a hockey arena is nothing compared to the tens and hundreds of thousands who would encounter Jesus via online video messages. In our darkest moments, when there was no human way for us to continue, God has been merciful and kind and has given us everything we need to keep advancing this mission.

What has made this ministry so special is the people. Staff, volunteers, prayer supporters, and donors — most who do not even know each other — have built an incredible network that has impacted the lives of more men

8 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

24 Behind the Scenes than we would have ever thought was possible. Everywhere I go, I meet men who tell me stories of how God has used the ministry of Promise Keepers in their life — whether that was in the early years or last year. This type of spiritual fruit is a reflection of faithful men and women who have sacrificed so much for God to use them in this kind of way.

From the bottom of my heart, I am so grateful for each person on this journey with us. You have and are making a difference that matters for eternity.

I genuinely believe I am one of the great beneficiaries of this ministry.

Most of what I have learned about being a man is because of the work of Promise Keepers Canada. I believe so much in this mission because my life has been changed.

As you read this edition of SEVEN, join with me in celebrating God’s goodness.

This edition of SEVEN will also be our final one. The realities of COVID-19, plus a vision God has been giving us for the future, have played a part in this difficult decision. This ministry is just as committed to the mission for the next 25 years as we have for the first 25. We are grateful for the past, but we “press on toward the goal” God has placed before us.

COLUMNS 08 // PK Podium

DEPARTMENTS 10 // The Pulse 22 // Power Play

EDITORIAL Questions and comments regarding editorial can be sent to ssukkau@promisekeepers.ca, or mailed to Promise Keepers Canada at the address provided.

DESIGN DEVON WAGENAAR Devon J Andrew Design Inc. djadesign.ca PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA 210-3027 Harvester Road

/ KIRK GILES is the president of Promise Keepers Canada. However, his most important roles as a man are husband to Shannon and father to Carter, Joshua, Sydney and Samuel.

Burlington, ON L7N 3G7 (905) 331-1830 info@promisekeepers.ca

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THE PULSE

BITS / BLIPS / BEATS / BLURBS THE LATEST NEWS FROM PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA

BITS / BLIPS / BEATS / BLURBS

CHURCH NETWORKS With Bi ll Innes

10 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

/ PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA continues to chase a God-given vision to reach more men and help them become the Christ-followers their families and communities need today.

To that end, Promise Keepers Canada is seeing organic growth of 35 Leadership Networks, each representing on average eight churches that regularly connect and disciple men to lead men’s ministry in their unique local contexts.

National Community Relations Manager, Bill Innes, says they aim to add 25 new networks by next year, pressing in towards the vision of 100 networks across the country, representing 1,000 church bodies.

“The fruit has been outstanding,” Bill says, watching the momentum build across Canada as disciples make more disciples, building each other up during live and online workshops, as well as engaging the Blueprint resource as a framework for leadership training and discipleship.

The Leadership Network exists to move ministry to men from random events and social gatherings to intentional training that shapes men to be like Jesus. >> Discover the framework that is being described as “the absolute best I’ve seen.” at Promisekeepers.ca/blueprint

ONLINE SMALL GROUPS / WHAT IF EVERY MAN had the opportunity to encounter other men who shared similar experiences, struggles, questions, and together, in a safe environment, find encouragement and practical hope? Promise Keepers Canada launched online small groups with this goal.

In the online small groups, men can discuss pressing issues such as pornography, mental health, healthy work-life balance, prayer, becoming a better husband and many other topics planned for the future. Online small groups provide Christ-centred, God-honouring, and hope-filled guidance through healthy discussions with other men. A Promise Keepers Canada facilitator guides the discussions.

Sometimes, guest speakers join the group and share their own experiences on the matter and how God has helped them.

As a ministry, it has been very encouraging to hear feedback from men like Ken: “Thank you both for your ministry. This small group feels like the most significant group I’ve connected with in a long time. I look forward to the fruit that will come out of this and the opportunity to connect with you both further. This has been long overdue for me!” >> Check out our website for new and upcoming opportunities to join our online small groups!

ONLINE WORKSHOPS / TO REACH AND MEET MEN wherever they are, Promise Keepers Canada started the Online Workshops. In the God’s Vision for Men and Becoming a Better Dad workshops, both conducted separately through a closed Facebook group, we made available video-based content and facilitated online discussions and interactions. The people who participated were able to engage with everything at their own pace and schedule. Over four weeks, they completed their training.

Online Workshops have a mixed demographic of men across the country, bringing a fantastic interaction and experience to the group. >> Check out our website for upcoming Online Workshops!

FROM KIRK'S BLOG 5 STEPS FOR PEOPLE WHO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PRAY / DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO PRAY? If you do, please know you are not alone. Many people are challenged by the idea of talking to someone they cannot see, and others are completely overwhelmed and afraid to say the wrong thing. I love prayer, I believe strongly in the need for us to pray, but I have not always found prayer to be something I am naturally good at.

At a Promise Keepers Canada Men’s Conference in 2018, I heard a teaching on prayer by Rick Reed (President, Heritage College & Seminary). In this session, Rick helped me begin to once again wrestle with how to pray. He took us through the Lord’s Prayer in a way that helped to bring these familiar words to life.

Since that time, I have been coming back to the prayer Jesus used to teach his disciples how to pray. This was always the purpose Jesus had in mind when he taught this prayer.

Here are some points I have been learning that have helped to strengthen my prayer life... >> Continue reading at: kirkgiles.com

BIG QUESTIONS MEN’S MINISTRY LEADERS MUST FACE / COVID-19 has changed how we do life, even if it feels like life is returning to some type of “normal.” Think about how we would have felt in February if we had to line up outside grocery stores, wear face masks, and wash our hands every thirty seconds. For most churches, men’s ministry has come to an end for the summer months. But I believe there are some big questions men’s ministry leaders must face now so they can be prepared for what could be coming as we look to the fall months.

This is the first in a series of posts addressing these questions. >> Continue reading at: kirkgiles.com

SUMMER 2020 SEVEN 11

THIS IS ME TV MATT CLINE: GIVING UP AN NHL DREAM / A TOP NHL PROSPECT, Matt was told by his agent, “You will get drafted”. But after an unexpected injury put his hockey career on hold, Matt was left to try and understand who he was, and when or if he could get back on the ice.

During his pain and disappointment, God started drawing him into a deeper relationship. That began a journey of recovery from an addiction to pornography, as well as hope and discovering who he was, and what he was meant for.

Matt reminds us that our problems, failures, and even successes don’t define who we are — God does. >> Watch this episode and others at: Thisismetv.com

PODCASTS PARENTING: NAVIGATING EVERYTHING

With Bre tt Ullman

/ PARENTS ARE LEARNING a whole new set of skills right now. At the best of times, there are a lot of responsibilities on a parent, but the season we find ourselves in has magnified and multiplied the responsibility and opportunity that are before us as parents. In this podcast, we talk with Brett Ullman about his new book Parenting: Navigating Everything and some of the ways we can strengthen ourselves as parents. Brett Ullman travels North America speaking to teens, young adults, leaders and parents on topics including sexuality, mental health, men, dating and media.

Topics covered include: + Types of parenting styles + How to deal with times when mom and dad have different parenting styles + Practical steps to build good communication with your kids + How to not be overwhelmed by all the responsibilities you have as a parent

DAD TIRED

With Jerrad Lopez / BEING A DAD is filled with all kinds of challenges today. There is one extra layer of calling for Christian

dads—be the spiritual leader in your family. But who really knows what it looks like to be a spiritual leader?

In this edition of the podcast, we will discuss this responsibility with Jerrad Lopes, the author of Dad Tired and Loving It. Some of the topics we look at include: + How can a man practically start to lead his family today? + What does discipleship look like for a dad who is trying to raise his kids to follow Jesus? + What’s the difference between Gospel parenting and just raising kids who have good morals?

LAUGH LIKE A KID AGAIN

With Phil Ca llaway

/ WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME you had a good laugh?

In the stress-filled, challenging days of a pandemic, we can find ourselves so overwhelmed by the realities of life that we have lost our sense of joy. When we were all children, life seemed a lot simpler and we were able to laugh a lot more.

In this edition of the podcast, our guest is Phil Callaway from the radio program Laugh Again. Listen as we talk about what it looks like to become adults who learn to laugh like kids again. Phil has experienced many challenges in his life, but he keeps coming back to the power of a good laugh to help our souls. >> Find these and other podcasts at: promisekeepers.ca/podcast

12 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

FEATURE

IMPACTUS

PRESSING INTO A NEW NAME / A NEW CALLING

BY KIRK GILES

SUMMER 2020 SEVEN 13

EVERY MAN WANTS HIS LIFE TO COUNT. I have never met a man who tells me he hopes to fail as a husband, father, worker, or any other number of responsibilities we have. We all want to know our lives have a clear purpose and have made a difference. But how do we get there on life’s journey?

Some of us are working hard to be good men, but we do not know if what we are doing matters. Some of us are stuck because we have failed, or we are afraid to fail, so we never realize our full potential.

Other men are content to not take life too seriously but end up leaving a trail of brokenness around them. There are men who always need control and power, and they also leave a trail of broken lives.

We have our toys and our technology, but they never really

14 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

satisfy because we always need whatever else is new.

We are at best overwhelmed and, at worst, confused about what it means to be a man. We have very few coaches to point us in the right direction.

Twenty-five years ago, the mission of Promise Keepers Canada began.

Our primary focus was to call men to gather at major men’s conferences and challenge them to live out the 7 Promises of a Promise Keeper. Many men will say that some of their most impactful spiritual moments have come at these events. God has been faithful to use these conferences to shape the lives of more men than we can possibly count.

Three years ago, God began to show the leadership of Promise Keepers Canada something new.

We have prayed and listened. We debated and prayed some more. As a ministry, we are convinced God is calling us to something new and more significant than we could have imagined 25 years ago. I wish I could bring you into the multiple stories where God confirmed this was the direction He wanted for men and for us. As a team, we are convinced God wants to multiply His mission for the hearts and lives of men, and it is time to go.

We are excited to introduce you to Impactus. The meaning of this Latin word is to “press closely into something.” Jesus once told us, “I am the vine; you are the branches.

Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

(John 15:5)

Impactus is all about equipping men for a life of purpose and godly impact.

Do you see what Jesus is saying to us? If we want our lives to count, the only way is to press into our walk with Jesus and receive Him pressing His life into ours. Through Jesus, we get clarity of what it means to be a real man (Romans 8:29). He gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). As men, if we want to know our lives have a clear purpose and have made an impact— we need to press into the things that matter most. We need to take hold of the eternal life that is ours (1 Timothy 6:12) and train ourselves for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8).

It is time for a new generation of men to press in.

Impactus is all about equipping men for a life of purpose and godly impact. It is a new name that will stand side by side with the name

Promise Keepers Canada. But it is so much more than a name. This new step as a ministry will reach and support more men than we have ever been able to before. We are no longer primarily about one large men’s conference in a year. Instead, we are standing with multiple generations of men like you who want to build a life that matters.

We will continue the tradition of the Promise Keepers Canada men’s conferences, but Impactus will: + Reach generations of men who primarily learn and interact online. + Open the doors to helping men around the world to know and follow Jesus.

What does this all mean?

Later this summer, you will see Impactus.org launched with incredible tools to equip you for a life of purpose and godly impact.

We will be adding new content every day to coach you in different areas of life. When you go to promisekeepers. ca, it will automatically redirect you to Impactus.org.

Bookmark this site and come back regularly — share it with other men to help equip them.

In addition to the conferences and workshops we have come to know with Promise Keepers Canada, Impactus will provide online live events, workshops, and small groups for men. It will also continue to feature new videos, podcasts, and more!

We will begin to use the Impactus name instead of Promise Keepers Canada for many resources that can be used online and beyond the borders of Canada. In short, we have been limited in how we can serve men globally, but we have heard many people in other countries ask us for help. Now, we will be able to

keep serving the men of Canada as our home but be prepared to partner with other countries to help men walk with Jesus.

The Promise Keepers Canada conferences this year are scheduled to use the theme name of Impactus.

The journey of these events will help you understand more of the heart and vision behind the name. Bring some men with you.

I know for some of you who may be long-time supporters or friends of the ministry, it may feel like a loss to not be focused entirely on the name Promise Keepers. This is something I can personally relate to. I have invested my life in the ministry of Promise Keepers Canada for twentyfour years. I know what it feels like to be impacted by something in such a profound way and to feel like there is a radical change happening. Let me say two things God has taught me in this journey. First, this is not the end of Promise Keepers Canada — it is the next chapter. Second, this has never been about Promise Keepers Canada.

From day one, this mission has always been about Jesus. A name is a means to an end of accomplishing His mission.

We are living in very uncertain days, but we have never been more confident that God wants to help more men have a life of purpose and godly impact.

Let’s press in together to God’s vision for being a man.

/ KIRK GILES is the president of Promise Keepers Canada. However, his most important roles as a man are husband to Shannon and father to Carter, Joshua, Sydney and Samuel.

SUMMER 2020 SEVEN 15

IS CO

Equipping Men for a Life of

Visit promisekeepe

OMING

f Purpose and Godly Impact

ers.ca/somethingbig

MEN. GOD. A LIFE OF IMPACT.

PK CONFERENCES: A Family Aff air 18 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

WITNESS TO THREE GENERATIONS OF FAITH

BY STEVEN SUKKAU

O

ver the past 25 years, a unique phenomenon has quietly been occurring at Promise Keepers Canada conferences: sons, fathers and grandfathers have been meeting God together as three generations of faith. Men say it’s been an incredible return on their eternal investment, even if their spiritual enemy caught on and put up a doomed opposition.

The tangible evidence of a heritage of faith was clear for Larry

FEATURE

Dyck, a long-time attendee and supporter of Promise Keepers Canada going back to the beginning.

He recalls bringing his two sons and son-in-law together with his late father to the Canadian conferences.

“I’ve seen so many people touched by the glorious gospel of our Lord and Saviour through these events: lives changed, and men encouraged to lead their families in paths of righteous living.”

Not only has the inter-generational bond grown, but he’s seen his children’s marriages blessed and strengthened at PK seminars.

“I am a strong believer that if we invest in the right

things and lay a good foundation, we will reap the rewards that come from it. This is a real ROI.” Among the many stories of sons and fathers worshiping and witnessing faith transformations, former staffer, Jeff Stearns, shares his faith journey that pulled together three generations: When my oldest child, Ray, was about 10 or 11, he wanted to come to a conference. He had begun hearing stories for years and wanted to do what dad was doing. The problem was I was working at the events, and there was no way I could watch over him as well. I wasn’t convinced he would be able to make it all the way through — that he would want to go home.

I asked my dad if he would be willing to take Ray. That way, they could leave early or go for walks if Ray was bored.

That started an annual tradition. Every year, Ray and my dad attend the conference together.

10 or 11 is young for the conferences, so it was good Ray and my dad could go for a walk when Ray got bored. But I was surprised how much Ray did take in and how quickly he started sitting through all the speakers. I would get the run-down after and hear what they liked about the different speakers. They loved Lennett Anderson’s energy and passion, The Skit Guys’ ability to blend humour and emotion with profound truth, and the way so many of the speakers were down-to-earth and able to present ideas in an engaging and practical manner.

“I’ve always been excited to go to Promise Keepers, especially when I was younger because my dad and grandpa would always go, and I looked up to them,” Ray Stearns explains. “They were my role models... examples of what a man should be.”

He recalls one conference where an altar call was given to anyone who wanted to go deeper with God, giving Him their all. Ray took the opportunity, and he says it became a pivotal moment in shaping his faith.

Now in university, Ray brings friends to the conferences together with his grandfather.

“I love that they have this shared experience,” Jeff says.

SUMMER 2020 SEVEN 19

“Let us do our part to exalt our Lord and consequently our nation.”

take our focus off of God and preparing to receive his blessings. And instead, we get caught up in the cares of this life, consequently robbing us of our time with God and creating negativity in our lives, possibly even “They worship together, talk about the speakers, have meals together and hang out. It has been a blessing to both of them and helped them be closer to each other.”

He explains, “As a dad, I want to see my kids walking in Jesus’ footsteps. Having my dad model that for them, as he modeled it for me, just further helps that goal. There are so many negative role models online. It is good to see kids shown real examples of being a godly man.”

While our culture seems content to keep generations isolated from each other, attendees say there’s something special about men from different age brackets united in worship of their Heavenly Father.

“Each generation has their own strengths and weaknesses. The same goes for each stage of life. When we isolate from each other, we miss out on helping each other grow and put ourselves at risk of an unbalanced, weaker faith. But when you are able to bring multiple generations together, you benefit from the combined experience and wisdom. That goes both ways. Spending the conference weekends together has helped both my dad and Ray grow as Christians, to benefit from the insights they both bring,” Jeff says.

Dyck adds the events themselves have been a drawing card for many of the employees at their Manitoba-based trucking company as well.

“Traditionally, we invite as many as are interested to come along with us. We’ve also created awareness of the ministry at our workplace so that if people are interested, they can take advantage of the resources available there and or at home.”

However, where PK events have been a light in the darkness, the darkness has sometimes pushed back.

Sometimes the opposition has shown up as increased temptation, or challenges and mistakes meant to steal joy. “It seems the enemy will go to extreme lengths to

20 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

compromising our witness.

He recalls one conference (Men of Purity) where the Lord showed up in a spectacular way, but the spiritual warfare seemingly pushed through into the natural realm.

First, one of his company trucks was having issues during loading. Then one of their best drivers had a wreck.

And then he hit a fence at Home Depot (a skilled big rig driver with an immaculate record driving into a fence with his daughter’s tiny VW Jetta, no less!).

Yet, whether evidence of the enemy’s work to keep his family from attending the PK Conference or not, he says they didn’t let the consecutive setbacks phase them.

“I can say, “Praise God!” that this conference alone was a chain-breaker for many and a huge encouragement to myself and all involved.”

The PK daily devotionals have also been a constant source of encouragement.

“They focus on many different themes that deal with the day- to-day challenges men in Canada and around the world are facing. I’ve had the privilege of sharing many of these with people I think would be encouraged in their faith walk. It seems that the Lord often has themes that the Holy Spirit emphasizes to either call us back to worship or holy living.”

In Proverbs 14:34 it says that righteous living exalts a nation and sin is a reproach to any people. “I believe that God speaks to us through His word, the Bible. Promise Keepers is dedicated to following the teachings of Christ and leading men to a rewarding, fulfilled life,” Dyck says.

“Let us do our part to exalt our Lord and consequently our nation.”

/ STEVEN SUKKAU works in radio on the prairies of Southern Manitoba.

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POWER PLAY

TOYS / TOOLS / TECHNOLOGY FROM HERE TO THERE AND FUN ALONG THE WAY

BY SANDY MCMURRAY

FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION of PowerPlay, we’re looking back to a simpler time. Back in 1995, Michael Jordan had just returned to the NBA after his sudden retirement two years earlier. The Internet was becoming “a thing” and we were hearing about these DVD contraptions that would save us the hassle of rewinding our VHS tapes before returning them to Blockbuster. (And in 1995 you might’ve been returning Toy Story, Apollo 13, Braveheart or Die Hard with a Vengeance).

On TV, someone in your household was probably watching ER, while at the theatre you might’ve seen Forrest Gump, which would go on to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

The Atlanta Braves became World Series champions that year, and the New Jersey Devils took home the Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, here’s what the 1995 edition of PowerPlay would’ve looked like and what was flying off the shelves at the time a ministry called Promise Keepers Canada was just getting started...

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GEORGE FOREMAN’S “LEAN MEAN GRILLING MACHINE.” The most amazing thing about the George Foreman grill isn’t necessarily the fact it’s sold more than 100 million units worldwide, or that it’s still in production today selling for as low as $30, but rather the man who put his name to the nifty little product.

Invented by Michael Boehm after walking around malls in the 1980’s and noticing none of the grills cooked meat on both sides at the same time, the grill would owe its massive success in part to Foreman’s innate salesmanship and the name he made for himself as one of the most successful boxers in history.

Even more inspiring is how those fortunes were used to fund his ministry work after becoming an ordained minister.

It was in 1995 that his “lean mean machine” would hit shelves, and people started grilling meat on both sides simultaneously.

And the rest is history.

WINDOWS 95 Windows 95 was a gamechanger, with a little help from the bizarre 30-minute “cyber sitcom” featuring Jennifer Aniston and Matthew Perry who were household names at the time thanks to the popularity of Friends. In Toronto, the CN Tower was covered in a 100 m banner for the occasion. Altogether Microsoft’s $300 million marketing campaign helped rocket the software launch to one million copies shipped in just four days and eventually taking more than 57 percent of the market share for desktop operating systems.

Features like the Start menu and taskbar continue to this day but were first introduced to the world in 1995.

EBAY It’s hard to imagine a world without eBay, or AuctionWeb as it was first known. But pre-1995 folks would’ve had to travel the country to buy collectibles, used appliances or, like the first item sold, a broken laser pointer.

The story goes founder Pierre Omidyar contacted the buyer to confirm he understood the laser pointer was broken.

The buyer explained simply, “I’m a collector of broken laser pointers.”

It was then Omidyar realized he had a multi-billion dollar company on his hands.

However, it would be the popularity of a bean-stuffed toy that would fuel eBay’s meteoric rise…

USB Intel was the first to introduce the groundbreaking Universal Serial Bus. While those sound like three random words smushed together, the USB quickly became the most convenient way to physically transport data in your pocket. To this day, the device is still considered the most successful invention to store, transfer, and access data, not to mention connect a myriad of peripherals like mice and controllers. Now if someone could explain exactly how this bus that universally transports serials works…

BEANIE BABIES You likely remember these little bean-filled animals: you were either trying to find them as the most popular toy that Christmas, or you or your sister received them (or begged for them!). The collectible critters were known for the exorbitant prices they carried by rabid collectors, as creator, Ty Warner was known to randomly retire certain dolls. This would artificially send prices sky-high, some even going for thousands of dollars on the newly minted eBay. In fact, the fortunes of eBay and Beanie Babies would become so intertwined that when eBay went public, one of the risk factors detailed in the report filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission was the online auction’s dependence on the continued strength of the Beanie Babies market.

Beanie Babies would set you back anywhere from $4.99 to $42,300.

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DVD Like CDs, the move to digital video discs was all about data. The new format allowed film studios to store up to 10x more data than videotapes, while offering high resolution and clearer audio output. While it would take a few years before the medium took off, DVDs offered yet another advantage over their VHS predecessor: bonus features!

Finally, cinephiles could annoy their friends and family by forcing them to rewatch the latest movie with the DVD commentary, or the special behind-thescenes featurette on how they built the miniature village that explodes in the second act. Why watch the movie when you can watch a movie about the movie?

The first DVD players could set you back up to $600.

SONY DISCMAN While the Sony experimented with several varieties of CD players, it was the D-Series Discman that would cement the brand as king of the 90’s music scene. The Discman boasted Mega Bass technology and the gold standard of antishock protection that was essential on bike rides, running or sitting at the back of the bus. It’s hard to imagine now, but CD’s were a huge leap forward in terms of audio quality and convenience (skipping songs, no rewinding or turning over the tape!)

In 1995, a Sony Discman would put you back around $350. But there was no better way to listen to Michael W. Smith or DC Talk when you were on the go.

/ SANDY MCMURRAY writes about games, toys, and gadgets at funspot.ca.

FEATURE

D N I H E B M E L B A T T E G R O F UN

26 SEVEN SUMMER 2020

S E I R EMO

H T

E H

S E N E C S

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O

ver the past 25 years, thousands of men have gathered to hear from inspirational speakers, see God move in their lives, and experience strongholds being pulled down. All to unleash their God-given destiny into the world.

Behind the scenes, volunteers and staff have worked to make sure each event was memorable and life-changing, but what many don’t see is the fun and goofy moments that stay burned in our brains. We thought it was only fitting to share some of the best behind-the-scenes moments as we look back and reflect on 25 years of Promise Keepers Canada.

RICK VERKERK

DIRECTOR, CONFERENCES

Promise Keepers conferences produced many memories over the years for me. Some great God moments, some poignant memories, some funny memories.

Here are a few top 3 lists of memories overseeing conferences for the last 15 years:

WHY I DO WHAT I DO 1. Because of the attendees Nothing gets better than hearing so many men worship, seeing so many men making a commitment to the challenges from speakers, seeing dads and sons together, seeing the same guys attending year after year, and receiving emails of how they had an encounter with God at the event that changed their lives.

2. Because of the speakers Every one of the speakers has been passionate about teaching men how to be a godly man. Each speaker has unique presentation talent to accomplish this, but all have been committed to presenting the content assigned to them with one objective in mind - help men grow in their faith.

3. Because of the volunteers I look forward to serving with the people who sign up to serve the attendees, many who return year after year. I especially enjoy working with the local leadership teams at each event. Without them, we cannot host conferences.

There are many others, too, who created great memories for me at conferences — musicians, production people, host facility staff. All of them have been a blessing to attendees, Promise Keepers Canada, and especially me.

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EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED Being prepared for the unexpected at an event is part of good planning. Some experiences seem funny now but certainly weren’t when they occurred.

Here are the top 3 in reverse order for me: 3.

Scheduled to lead two sessions at an event in two days’ time, a speaker informed me that he was too sick to travel. This happened just before I boarded a plane to travel to the location. With no time to replace him, I had to write both sessions beforehand — one on the flight and another at the hotel. Since then, I always have messages ready to go for every event, just in case.

2.

A speaker arriving at airport border security didn’t like the questions he was being asked about why he was entering Canada and became hostile. Not a good idea, as he ended up in a detention room. Allowed one phone call, he called me. I told him to ask the officer if I could speak to him. I heard what the officer needed for proof, I faxed the appropriate paperwork, and the speaker was granted entry. I always take speaker contracts with me, especially for the non-Canadian ones!

1.

An attendee, who afterwards claimed that the Holy Spirit encouraged him to “worship bare” during a music set, walked to the front of the auditorium and started taking his clothes off. Clad only in briefs and socks, he proceeded to worship, arms raised, right in Andrew’s line of sight. When the set ended, he calmly put on his clothes and walked away. Despite the disruption, Andrew never missed a note or word. He and I still joke about this experience many years later.

IAN NAIRN

COMMUNITY RELATIONS MANAGER, SPECIAL PROJECTS Unquestionably the most memorable God moment for me over the past 23 years occurred at a God’s Design for Manhood Seminar with over 100 men led by Steve Masterson.

Throughout the many years of that seminar presentation, men were given the opportunity to publicly bless their sons, grandsons, and sons-in-law with a blessing that echoed God, our heavenly Father’s blessing of his son, Jesus, as recorded in Matt 3:17 and Luke 9:35.

As I remember it, one man stood alone at the end of a long line of fathers, sons, and grandsons clustered together along the sidewall of the church. He had been there for well over half an hour. Tall, broad-shouldered, and with a slight tinge of grey in his hair, he stepped to the mic: I suppose you’re wondering why I’m standing here by myself. I have been watching you, men, proudly introduce your boys, telling them and the rest of us how much you love them. Your stories and powerful words of blessing have pierced my heart.

I want to respond to Steve’s challenge this weekend to be a godly man and take responsibility for my sin. I am embarrassed to admit to all of you that I have had sex with more women than there are men in this room today. However, more embarrassing than that is that twenty years ago, I had an affair with a woman in this community and fathered a son. I am ashamed to admit that over all these years, I have never had the courage to tell him or anyone else that he is my son. That young man is here in this room today. I want to make things right between us.

Brian, I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to tell you that I am your Father. Please forgive me. I cannot begin to imagine how difficult this is for you to hear right now. I know it may take

many years before you would even want to speak to me.

However, I would like to make a promise to you in front of all these men. If you would let me, I want to do everything I can to make it up to you.

To be the kind of Father you should have from this day forward.

I know it is a lot to ask, but if you would be willing to give me that chance, I am wondering if you would join me on this stage.

At the back of the sanctuary, a young man hesitantly rose from the two seats he needed to adequately support his obesity. Head hung low and visibly shaken, he hesitantly began the journey up the centre aisle to meet his dad for the very first time. As he came up to the platform, my stomach turned a knot as he awkwardly stumbled, attempting to negotiate the three small steps that would lead him to his Father.

Thankfully, the unfamiliar man who said he was his Father quickly reached out a helping hand.

Standing before him now, as 110 men watched,

Above barely a whisper, Brian said, “I forgive you.”

SUMMER 2020 SEVEN 29

MARC BRÛLÉ

FORMER PROMISE KEEPERS CANADA WORSHIP LEADER AND BOARD MEMBER

Brian struggled to keep his head from dropping and his eyes from averting those of his Father. Once again, this previously unknown Father confessed his sin and asked for forgiveness.

Above barely a whisper, Brian said, “I forgive you”.

Those three words took my breath away. As I glanced around the room, many men were wiping tears from their eyes with the back of their hands or the sleeves of their shirts. It was an incredible sight! My eyes then returned to the platform to see tears flowing as Brian buried his head into his dad’s chest upon receiving a huge bear hug.

I must admit, I can’t recall the exact words his dad spoke after that, but it was evident to all of us that this Father wanted everyone to know that this was his son and that he was absolutely committed to healing the brokenness he had caused!

One thing I do remember, and which is indelibly etched in my mind, is the sight of Brian grinning from ear to ear as, with heads held high and arms tightly wrapped around each other, he and his dad walked shoulder to shoulder off the platform to a standing ovation. At that moment, it seemed to me that the heavens had opened, and, frankly, part of me wished it would never end.

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I have had the great privilege of serving Promise Keepers Canada in various capacities over the last 25 years.

I was the National Worship Leader for twelve years (the early years), served on the Advisory Board, was on the Board of Directors for four years, and currently serve as Pastor to the President.

It’s been quite a journey, with twists and turns, highs and lows. Yet the greatest joy has been seeing men commit their lives to Christ and themselves to Christlikeness.

Then there are the embarrassing moments. We all have them. Here’s mine.

We were in Kamloops, BC, and I was tasked with not only leading worship at the event but also speaking a session on worship. I was excited and nervous, given it was the first time I was speaking at the conference and not just leading worship and emceeing.

So off I went, leading the worship set with about 1,100 guys there. Then we moved into the message time. I spoke with heart and passion, all the while not being aware that something was off. I finished my message. We finished the evening.

As I walked off stage, the video producer said to me, “You have no idea how hard you made my job tonight. I had to do all my video from the waist up since your zipper was down!” Yep, I led worship, with no instrument to hide behind, and preached a message with “great openness”!

I opened the next morning session with statements like, “When I said I was being open with you, I didn’t realize how much!” And, “This was not the version of hanging out together I had in mind.” We all had a good laugh, as we can all relate. I’m thankful it was a men’s conference!

I pray the PK Canada will have many more great years with good fruit, and a few humorous moments to remind us all that we are human.

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