McCartney moves from men's movement to effort to support Messianic Jews

(RNS) Promise Keepers founder Bill McCartney has announced a new effort to reach out to Messianic Jews.

McCartney, who resigned in 2003 as president of the Denver-based evangelical men's ministry, said "The Road to Jerusalem" movement aims to link evangelical Christians with Jews who believe Jesus is the Messiah.

The former University of Colorado football coach hopes to change the approach of Christians who support the "unbelieving Jews" of Israel while avoiding "believing Jews" in the Messianic Jewish movement, The Denver Post reported.

McCartney plans to hold a Dec. 3 gathering for the new group near Palm Springs, Calif. It also will send speakers to churches and plan tours of Israel, said ministry President Raleigh Washington, also a former executive of Promise Keepers.

"Our goal is to convince the church we've been silent," Washington said. "We've not been arm in arm with Messianics."