June 16 1997

ARTICLE TOOLS

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Promise Keepers has established affiliates in three foreign countries, and groups in another five nations are expected to come on board by the end of the year.

Affiliates of the burgeoning men's ministry have formed in three English-speaking nations: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. International efforts also are expected to take hold in 1997 in South Africa, England, Germany, Brazil, and Mexico. PK is developing relationships with men's groups in 40 countries in all.

PK is also considering developing a separate international ministry division that would include worldwide Christian leaders. Now only eight U.S.-based PK employees are involved in international efforts.

Becoming an affiliate is an 18-month process, which involves signing the PK statement of faith and mission statement.

"We encourage men to meet for prayer for at least six months," says Jim Young, PK international regional manager. "We want them to build relationships before structure."

There is no missionary strategy to export the formula of the Denver-based ministry. Wherever PK is starting outside the United States, representatives earlier came to visit PK stadium events or headquarters.

PK officials emphasize that nationals must do the training in local churches. "We're committed to making the replication as indigenous as possible," Young says.

NO STADIUMS: The concept of urban stadium gatherings, the hallmark of PK's U.S. success, has not been tested elsewhere.

"Our goal is not more men in stadiums, but more men in accountability groups," says Barry Cutchie, national director for PK Australia, based in Melbourne. So far, most PK Australia events have been nine-hour church conferences.

In New Zealand, "Share the Vision" rallies have been held in basketball arenas, ...