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Promise Keepers stands with Jews; reaches out to poor

(August 1, 2009 – Boulder, Colo.)  Promise Keepers, in its 20th year of ministry, made a dramatic statement of solidarity with the Jewish people at large, and the many Messianic Jews in attendance at “A Time to Honor.”   After an afternoon of experiencing Jewish music and dance, and hearing about ancient and recent Messianic Jewish history, co-author of Two Minute Warning Rabbi Aaron Fruh (Knollwood Church, Mobile, Ala.) told the story of Jewish persecution in Nazi Europe.  Dramatically, Fruh asked Promise Keepers founder and chairman Coach Bill McCartney if he would “wear the yellow star” as a statement of solidarity with Jews.   With voice cracking under the emotion, Coach McCartney replied: “I say to Rabbi Aaron Fruh and to every Jew, I will wear the yellow star.  I will wear it with great humility, and with great resolve.  I’ll wear it like a warrior.  I understand the times, I know what to do about it, and it’s in my heart to stand with God’s chosen people.”  Thousands followed McCartney, and voluntarily received yellow stars of Jewish solidarity on the floor of Folsom Stadium in Boulder, Colo. “A Time to Honor” hosted close to 10,000 people, with thousands more participating via the Daystar television network, Denver Christian radio KPOF AM91, and globally on the Internet.  (The conference will soon be available for download at www.promisekeepers.org.) SATURDAY MORNING Women were welcomed and honored at the historically male-dominated event.  Finishing the rain-shortened Friday night session, family expert Gary Smalley opened the Saturday conference by explaining that the practice of honoring women comes down to patience, kindness, and generosity. “God’s love is the true transformative power,” said Smalley.   Phoenix pastor Tommy Barnett and Dallas pastor Tony Evans anchored the second “plank” of the conference, honoring the poor.  Barnett said, “God grows churches, people, and pastors when they minister honestly to folk’s needs.”  Rather than shutting people out of our little circle, Barnett said, “we should not turn our back on sinners, the hungry, the homeless.”  Pastor Barnett’s Dream Center in Los Angeles mobilizes people to “Adopt-A-Block.” (www.dreamcenter.org) Dr. Tony Evans challenged the audience to rethink how we address the issue of poverty.  “The content of the Gospel is narrow.  The scope of the Gospel is wide.”  Evans added, “Let men see your good works.”  Evans’ Urban Alternative has mobilized a national “Adopt-A-School” initiative. (www.ncaasi.org)   SPIRITUAL FATHERS OF THE FAITH Saturday afternoon at Promise Keepers celebrated the Messianic Jewish experience with modern praise music from R2J, Jewish vocal group Kol Simcha, Messianic music pioneer Joel Chernoff, the dance team Unit E, and a blast from authentic ram’s horns (called “shofars”).   Promise Keepers president Dr. Raleigh Washington, long known for his ministry of reconciliation, called peace between Jewish and Gentile believers “the top button on God’s shirt of reconciliation.”   Rabbi David Chernoff of Congregation Beth Yeshua in Philadelphia implored the many Christians to accept a measure of diversity.  “God is not calling us to be uniform.  But He is calling us to be united.  Christians, you have become spiritually Jewish, and we are on that olive tree together and equal.”  “As Messianic Jews, we found out that we are completed in the Yeshua (Jesus), not converted.  And more born-again believers are standing with us.” Promise Keepers made an appeal to support the impoverished Messianic Jews now living in Israel.  Promise Keepers and The Road to Jerusalem are directly administering the “HaTikva Project.”  Support for this project may be directed to: https://www.promisekeepers.org/donate.  Please record your donation as “HaTikva Project.”   The meeting closed with the Aaronic blessing, sung from the Book of Numbers chapter six. # # #