‘Promise Keepers’ Founder Bill McCartney Has Passed Away
Promise Keeper’s founder Bill McCartney passed away peacefully in his sleep last Friday after a long battle with dementia. He was 84.
McCartney was a highly successful former University of Colorado coach who founded the Promise Keepers in 1990, an evangelical parachurch ministry revolving around 7 promises designed to guide men toward living with integrity in a community with one another.
- A Promise Keeper is committed to honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- A Promise Keeper is committed to pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.
- A Promise Keeper is committed to practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.
- A Promise Keeper is committed to building strong marriages and families through love, protection, and biblical values.
- A Promise Keeper understands that Jesus calls him to be His hands and feet, serving others with integrity. He purposely lifts up the leadership of the church and his nation in prayer.
- A Promise Keeper is committed to reaching beyond any racial, denominational, generational, and cultural barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.
- A Promise Keeper is committed to influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
At their peak in 1997, the Promise Keepers led an open-air gathering of nearly 800,000 people at the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
They have since seen a decline of their influence and prominence, cutting their staff from nearly 350 to 30, and their operating budget has fallen from a peak of $30 million to $2 million now.
A statement from his family reads:
Our father surrendered his life to Jesus at 33 years old setting a trajectory for our family and many others. We share his faith in Jesus and truly believe our Dad has been reunited in Heaven with his beloved bride and our Mother, Lynne Marie.
Coach Mac touched countless lives with his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and enduring legacy as a leader, mentor, and advocate for family, community, and faith. As a trailblazer and visionary, his impact was felt both on and off the field, and his spirit will forever remain in the hearts of those he inspired.
While we mourn his loss, we also celebrate the extraordinary life he lived and the love he shared with everyone around him. We are grateful for the outpouring of prayers and support during this time and ask for privacy as we navigate this difficult moment.
Details about memorial services will be shared in the coming days. Coach Mac deeply believed that investing in the local church was the most impactful way to transform a community. In honor of his legacy, and in lieu of flowers, we invite you to consider making a donation—beyond your regular tithes and offerings—to a local church in Bill’s name.
With love and gratitude, The McCartney Family
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