c. 1998 Religion News Service
UNDATED _ Here is a time line of the rise of Promise Keepers, the evangelical Christian men’s movement headed by Bill McCartney:
1990: Former University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney founds Promise Keepers, meeting with 72 men in Boulder, Colo.
1991: 4,200 men at the University of Colorado
1992: 22,000 men at the University of Colorado
1993: 50,000 men at the University of Colorado
1994: 278,600 men at seven stadiums nationwide
1995: 727,342 men at 13 stations nationwide
1996: 1.1 million men at 22 stadiums nationwide
1997: 658,379 men at 18 stadiums nationwide; hundreds of thousands gather in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 4 for”Stand in the Gap”rally
1998: On Feb. 18, Promise Keepers officials announce layoffs of entire 345 paid staff as of March 31 and plans to operate using volunteers; 19 regional conferences tentatively planned
2000: McCartney hopes to gather men on steps of 50 state capitols to demonstrate their faith in Jesus and commitment to denominational and racial reconciliation.
DEA END RNS
