That's right -- Promise Keepers (PK) has added a Burger King touch to its marketing strategy.
In mid-February, PK mailed out its "Go the Distance with PK in 2000" color brochure, designed to promote PK's 2000 conferences, and to solicit PKers to become "Real Life Monthly Partners" -- Translation: to become regular monthly givers to PK.

As an incentive to become a Real Life Partner (because, as PK claims, "Real Men need help!"), free, when a partner sends in his first monthly gift, is PK's "Real Life Training Kit" ("a $15 value"). The goodies included in the Kit are:

1) Collectable Real Life Tin Box ("a great witnessing tool");

2) Real Life Audio Resource (tapes of PK conference speakers);

3) Real Life Training Guide (booklet giving "... the practical help you need to help you keep the Seven PK Promises" -- "inspired teaching" from the likes of Jack Hayford, Tony Evans, Gary
Smalley, etc.);

4) Scripture Rep Cards (seven Scripture memorization cards, one for each PK Promise, plus two more sent each month a gift is received); and last, but not least,

5) Real Life Action Figures.

The Action Figures are little, rubberized, GI Joe-like red, blue, yellow, and green men in various athletic poses "... to remind you of the truth behind the Scriptures that talk about 'finishing the race.'" PK encourages you to, "Display them with your Real Life Training [Tin] Box and you have a surefire way to talk to your friends and colleagues about God."

Perhaps with the overall declining interest in PK, PK's leadership thinks it needs to appeal to a more juvenile-minded audience.

Can you imagine a mature adult (let alone a "Christian" adult) displaying his Real Life Tin Box, with Action Figures appropriately positioned around it, in order to create opportunities to "talk ... about God"?

[Editor's Note: Two years ago Promise Keepers had to lay off much of its staff, but a bailout allowed it to recall them. In another major restructuring, it has now closed its eight regional offices, resulting in more layoffs. PK says this is not a sign the end is near and plans 15 "Go the Distance" rallies this year from June through October (down from as many as 22 conferences in previous years, as well as being held in much smaller size venues). Also, PK recently decided to return to charging a conference registration fee ($69), claiming conference attendees have been asking for a return to a fee-based conference. PK says this year's "Go The Distance" program "will feature dynamic speakers, dramatic testimonies on Friday night, and a specific message to fathers, sons, and youth on Saturday. Live music will be provided by the Maranatha! Promise Band and a noted Christian recording artist will present a lunchtime concert on Saturday."] [Source: http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Letter/v9n2.htm#Promise Keepers' "Action Figures"!