Ken Ham's Blog, page 463

Overflow Crowds in Milwaukee!

What a thrill to see such interest in the AiG conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,  at Brookside Baptist church. On Sunday morning, 1,700 people attended when normally 900 turn out for the Sunday services.  On Sunday evening, the auditorium filled, the overflow room for 500 people filled, three more overflow rooms were packed, and people stood in the lobby. Here are some photographs:

Part of the main auditorium

Part of one of the overflow rooms

The crowded lobby

The Senior Pastor, Sam Horn, and me

The church sign

Speaking to people after the second service Sunday morning

Dr. Jason Lisle speaking

Interview at the church

We do praise the Lord that the hunger for the messages the Lord has laid on our hearts is growing astronomically across the nation. Lots of great testimonies from people, too.

Today I speak to two school assemblies and then Jason Lisle and I speak for the two evening sessions. I then go on to Dunbar (way up north in Wisconsin) to speak at a conference at Northland University. We are a bit concerned at the impending snow/ice storm/blizzard on the way Monday and Tuesday, so please pray for this situation.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Encouragement

I thought today it would be good to be reminded of the tremendous number of encouraging comments we have received by email, phone, and letter—just this past week alone—regarding the spiritual battle that AiG is involved in.

Below is just one as representative of these comments. We thank you so much for such encouragement, but most of all we praise the Lord. I often think about Noah and the fact that only his family believed him. There are thousands upon thousands upon thousands who support AiG—thank you.

Just read your Jan 27 entry re: the CNN interview. Wanted to say THANK YOU SO MUCH for all you do! I can't even imagine what you are subjected to from Biblical "scoffers". Know that there is an army out there praying for you, promoting your ministry, and supporting you when and however we are able! I believe God will use that interview to draw many seekers to the Truth.

Thank you for your faithful persistence. What an amazing, God inspired project. I'm already planning to bring families as soon as you are open. God bless you big time!

– Mike, Colorado

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

The Christian Post on the CNN Debate

If you haven't read the article from The Christian Post on the informal TV debate I had on CNN with Barry Lynn from Americans United for Separation of Church and State about the Ark Encounter project, then I urge you to do so.  Here is an excerpt from the article:

When asked if the theme park was a ministry or purely a business venture, Ham responded, "Well, actually the Ark Encounter is a profit organization that's set up to give a particular view of biblical history. It's really a park about biblical history centered around Noah's Ark."

He continued, "So it's going to be financed by a number of businessmen as well as … Answers in Genesis, [which] is a member of the profit organization."

And the economic incentive, he noted, is that it will bring the state an estimated $250 million in the first year.

So "if it's a religious-themed business, why should it be treated any differently than any other business?" Cooper posed to Lynn.

"I'd be hard pressed to find anyone who looks at this project and doesn't see this as a ministry," Lynn maintained. "And that's precisely what's wrong with the government of Kentucky, the state helping to subsidize."

Clarifying the issue, the founder of AiG reemphasized again and again throughout the interview two points: First, Answers in Genesis is just a member of the for profit Ark Encounter LLC.; and secondly, the government of Kentucky is not subsidizing the Ark Encounter.  Through the state's Tourism Development Act, which is nondiscriminatory, any tourist attraction can apply for incentives regardless of the message.

You can read the entire article at:

ChristianPost.com/article/20110128/church-and-state-issues-flood-noahs-ark-theme-park

In Wisconsin

Today I am in Wisconsin for the AiG conference in Milwaukee this weekend and then on to Northland International University (also in Wisconsin) to speak at a conference.  You can find out more details at:

AnswersInGenesis.org/outreach/event/6862

AnswersInGenesis.org/outreach/event/6933

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Teaching Sunday School and Child Abuse

AiG researcher Dr. Georgia Purdom recently wrote two blog posts that I encourage all of you to read. In the first blog post she stated the following:

Last week I wrote a blog about the John Freshwater case, and in closing, included the following statement:

I teach Sunday school for first through third grade, and over the next few weeks we'll be discussing dinosaurs, radiometric dating methods, natural selection, and mutations. I teach them that what they learn in public school in regard to historical science concerning these ideas is not the truth.

Well, Dr. Richard Hoppe, a former professor at Kenyon College (near Mount Vernon, where the Freshwater case took place), posted a blog regarding my statement on the well-known atheist blog Panda's Thumb. He writes:

That's child abuse of a very high order, worse even than Freshwater's because the children are so much younger.

So I'm practicing child abuse by teaching children the truth of God's Word in church! This is a very serious charge that we are hearing more and more when it comes to teaching children about biblical authority and its application to historical science. I'm sure many people who have truly suffered abuse as children would beg to differ with his definition (and at least one person did in the comments section).

And the attacks don't stop there. Dr. Hoppe began his post with speculations about my professional achievements:

She has a Ph.D. in molecular genetics from the Ohio State University and was for a time on the faculty at Mt. Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio. (Interestingly, she left MVNU after 6 years, about the time when tenure decisions are made in most institutions. I know nothing specific, but it's always fun to speculate.)

Dr. Hoppe can stop speculating because the truth is (1) the university where I taught didn't have a tenure system and (2) I did receive a promotion from assistant to associate professor after five years with the university. This is merely an ad hominem attack that has no basis in fact.

You may read the rest of this blog post here.

Dr. Purdom then wrote this blog post in this continuing saga:

As I wrote on Tuesday, a comment I made in a blog last week has received a lot of attention from the atheists. I thought I would share a few additional comments that were made in response to the Panda's Thumb blog with my comments following.

A "fellow" Sunday school teacher wrote:

teach

As a Sunday School teacher myself, I think that her use of that time to teach about radiometric dating and mutation to be theologically horrifying to say nothing of intellectually dishonest. Even if by some off the wall chance she were telling them the truth and "presenting both sides equally" (which I am sure she is not), Sunday School is neither the time nor the place.

This was followed by a comment from Mike:

Mike in Ontario, NY replied to comment from teach

Exactly! Why isn't she spending that precious time expounding on the loving, merciful, and forgiving nature of the Christ? That's what bugs me the most about mainstream evangelicalism. Even as a non-believer, I could still get down with *that* message. But I never hear it from them, and haven't since the mid 1970's. Instead of trying to put the Christ back in Christmas, it would be better to put the Christ back into Christianity, eh?

My question to "teach" would be: why isn't Sunday school the time and place to teach kids truths from God's Word? I thought that was the whole point of our current Sunday school system! For many children (especially those from non-Christian homes) this may be the only time during the week that they are hearing and learning from the Bible. Sunday school is an ideal place to equip children with answers that prepare them to defend their faith. I suspect the real problem for "teach" is what I am teaching, and not when and where I am teaching it.

In response to Mike I would say that I am teaching them that Christ is loving, merciful, and forgiving. However, why did Christ choose to be loving, merciful, and forgiving? What am I guilty of? To get the answer we have to go back to Genesis 3 and understand the history of the Fall of man. The real, historical Adam and Eve sinned, and because every person is a descendant of them, we all have a sin nature. Because of the history that happened in Genesis, we need the real, historical Christ to save us from our sins. Christ showed His love, mercy, grace, and compassion by dying on the cross for us, taking our punishment and paying the price for our sins. He also resurrected and will one day return and set up a new heaven and earth, and those that have received Him as Lord and Savior will live with Him for eternity.

I can't possibly expect my students to understanding the good news of the New Testament without first understanding the bad news in the Old Testament. Think about it this way: if the first three chapters of Genesis do not present true history then we don't need the rest of the Bible, which is focused solely on the coming, life, and coming again of Jesus Christ!

I encourage you to read the rest of this blog post.

More and more we are observing increasing attacks on those ministries like AiG who stand on the authority of God's Word beginning in Genesis:

Secularists are using the term "child abuse" over and over again. I believe this is a deliberate ploy—if they say something enough, they think their repetition will convince more and more people to believe it regardless of the truth.
We are seeing more and more attacks from those within the church who compromise God's Word with evolution/millions of years.

Pray for the Lord to open people's eyes to the truth of His Word and the gospel in both the secular world and the church.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

CNN Debate Last Night

As I was writing my daily blog last night, we decided to also use it as our main web article for today on the home page of www.AnswersInGenesis.org. Below are the first few paragraphs:

Last night I was in a PBS-TV studio in Cincinnati to participate in a debate on the Anderson Cooper 360 CNN program. My opponent was Rev. Barry Lynn, head of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. The debate centered on our Ark Encounter project—featuring a full-scale, all-wood Noah's Ark in northern Kentucky—and the sales tax rebate for which we believe the Ark Encounter qualifies.

The debate, which was recorded, lasted about 15 minutes. I am writing this piece about an hour before the actual airing of the Anderson Cooper 360 program, so I don't know if the producers will edit down the segment or not.

Let me say at the outset that Mr. Cooper was professional and fair in allowing both of us time to answer his questions. This was contrary to the time I was interviewed on Fox's "O'Reilly Factor" when a guest host was sitting in—I think it was the worst interview I have ever had on American TV as the guest host was unfair and treated us poorly). So my "hats off" to Anderson Cooper for the way he moderated the debate, and I hope the editors working on the piece over the next hour will preserve that balance. This was my second time on Mr. Cooper's program, by the way—he had a guest host the first time.

Such debates/interviews can be very difficult to do and are quite stressful, to be candid. Imagine the setting:

I am in-studio by myself.
I have to look into a camera, as bright lights shine in my eyes.
My opponent (Barry Lynn) is in a different studio; he can't see me and I can't see him.
I have an earpiece, though, and I can hear Rev. Lynn
Barry Lynn and I can't see Anderson Cooper; he is in the CNN studio.
You can't refer to any notes—you have to look into the camera the whole time
You need to remember to smile (I think I forgot that, except for maybe at the very end!)
It can be hard to know if the voice you hear in the earpiece is the interviewer or the debate opponent.
Anderson Cooper had an attorney in-studio with him

I really don't know how this debate will come across until we see the finished product when it airs in about an hour. And we understand that the debate might be edited down for the time available. As usual, you think of things you wished you had said—and sometimes you "kick yourself" for not remembering something. But, we try to do our best. Also, you don't know the questions ahead of time and, of course, you don't really know what your opponent will say. You also have to think quickly on your feet (well, I was seated!) and respond the best you can. Sometimes you would like to reply to a number of items, but you only really have time to make one or two points.

You can continue reading the piece in its entirety at: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2011/01/27/clergyman-opposes-ark-encounter

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Who Said This?

Everyone is entitled to have their own beliefs and their own spirituality. . . .

The big difference is that the dogma of the church can be so hateful and divisive. It's stuck in the stone age. We don't live in the stone age anymore. The church is losing people left, right and center because people are fed up with the rhetoric that they're giving them.

This quote is said to be from famous musician Elton John in an Associated Press article. The article states:

Sir Elton John is "fed up" with being a treated like a "second-class citizen" in the U.S. That's why the 63-year-old gay singer said he took a stand last week during a performance at a private Beverly Hills fundraiser for the ongoing legal challenge to California's gay marriage ban. The outspoken British piano man, who became a parent to a baby boy on Christmas Day with partner David Furnish, added that "as I get older, I get more angry about it."

Well, the church does need to be "divisive" on this issue and at the same time be unified. We need unity on God's Word in regard to the only definition of marriage—one man for one woman (Matthew 19:4–7, plus Genesis 1). If this creates division then it is the right sort of division, and is a result of standing uncompromisingly on the Word of God. And remember, one of the primary purposes of marriage is to produce "godly offspring" (Malachi 2:15). The only family to produce offspring is to be that of one man and one woman.

You can read the entire article at this link.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Wisconsin Gets A Triple Dose of AiG

What a time to speak at conferences in Wisconsin! It's winter and very cold up there! But this month, AiG has three forages into Wisconsin.

First, Dr. Terry Mortenson and Dr. Jason Lisle spoke at Northland International University. This is one of the very few Christian universities that take a stand on Genesis and the authority of Scripture as we do at AiG. You can find out more about Northland at: http://www.ni.edu/

Terry and Jason taught a course in biblical creationism and creation apologetics for their graduate school. Here is the report Terry sent me:

Thanks for praying for the course at Northland Int'l University in frigid, snowy northern Wisconsin. It was an excellent time as first I and then Dr. Jason Lisle each gave 14 hours of lectures to 34 men and a couple of women in full-time ministry. Most of them were pastors (from all over the USA) and a few were missionaries in Latin America or the South Pacific. This course was part of their studies to get an M.Min. or D.Min. degree.

Many of them had not studied the question of origins much before they started reading the 1100–1500 pages of books we assigned them to read before the lecture week. They were very attentive and asked good questions. Most of them grew up believing Genesis and many commented that they had no idea how much compromise there is in the church today regarding Genesis 1–11. They were also shocked to see some of the video clips or quotes from compromised theologians and Bible scholars that they have previously been helped by through their writings.

A youth pastor who had not studied this issue before said that he now realized that he had a lot to learn and he needs to teach his youth on this subject.

A Christian school principal who also teaches AP biology likewise said that although he has taught his kids some on this topic, he needs to do a lot more and make sure the other teachers do the same to equip the kids with the knowledge to defend against the false ideas they will get in Christian and secular universities. He shared that one of their school's brightest students had gone off to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he lost his faith in Genesis (he had not been taught adequately to defend that faith). Then he went to Bethel Seminary where he got more compromise. Now his life-calling seems to be to show that "young-earth fundamentalists" are wrong.

A missionary in Latin America told me that he is training national pastors who are the fruit of C.I. Scofield's ministry and that he has a task in weaning this national pastors from Scofield's compromise via the gap theory which he taught in the marginal notes of his famous study Bible.

So, these grad students in ministry are better equipped to teach the kids and adults in their ministries and it is exciting to think of the ripple effects of this course in their diverse ministries scattered around America and the world.

This Sunday and Monday, Dr. Lisle and I will be speaking at a full AiG conference in Brookfield, near Milwaukee. This conference includes Sunday services and school assemblies on Monday night, as well as sessions on Sunday and Monday evenings. You can find out the details on AiG's outreach website.

From Milwaukee, I then travel on to Northland International University where I will be speaking at their "Men's Heart Conference." On their website they state the following:

Join us for Men's Heart Conference on February 1–4, 2011. This year's theme is "The Gospel to a Changing World." Please take note of our great lineup of dynamic speakers who will address topics directly related to your ministry. Workshop tracks on preaching, counseling, current issues, and leadership will encourage and rejuvenate your spirit during those cold winter months!

You can find out more about this conference on their website or this page of our outreach site.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

AiG Wins NRB Award

Answers in Genesis was thrilled to hear the news that it had won the "Best Television

Mixed Media Campaign Award" from the National Religious Broadcaster organization (NRB).

The NRB stated the following on its website:

Answers in Genesis (AiG) will receive the NRB Best Television Mixed Media Campaign Award for the I Am Not Ashamed national media campaign during the February 26th Television Reception at the NRB Convention & Exposition.

Their statement continues:

"Answers in Genesis plays a key role in calling Christians to live out their faith boldly and scripturally," said NRB President & CEO Dr. Frank Wright. "Using all forms of traditional and social media, their I Am Not Ashamed campaign is helping believers fulfill their calling in Christ."

You can read the entire news release at this link.

Answers in Genesis will also receive two other NRB awards.

I personally would like to thank our dear friends at JDA (Joseph David Advertising) for their very talented and dedicated staff who continue to win awards for AiG with their creative advertising/marketing for the AiG ministry and Creation Museum. JDA is also in charge of the entire marketing program for the Ark Encounter project!

At AiG and Creation Museum, we have always tried to be as professional and first-class as possible in presenting the message of truth from God's Word to the world. This in itself has had in impact on the media and the general public. I remember when the Creation Museum opened, a well-known atheist leader in America wrote about a concern that the Creation Museum was so professional, so well done, that the worry was that kids would believe it! I had to smile when I read that. The secular world, of course, markets its message to billions in a professional and creative way to get people to take notice. Surely we as God's people need to do things as well as what the world does—in fact, we should strive to be better as we have a message to share that will effect each person's eternity.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

Recent Comments

I thought you would be interested in some recent comments we received.

By email:

Your ministry has changed the way I did RE [Religious Education], my understanding of the Bible, and the way I home school my children. [With] all of the disappointments that have come your way over years especially from Christians, thank you for carrying on. Thank you to you and your family.

From Facebook:

Ken:  When you were at Hampton Park [Greenville, SC] a little over a year ago at the chapel for the elementary-aged students, I was sitting in the back (I think Mally was on one side of me) with a friend and her young preschool-aged boy. He was very attentive, obviously following what you were saying, raising his hand, etc. We don't give credit to young children like we should of how much they really do understand because sometimes they can't explain what they do "get" very well yet –kind of like when babies start understanding us but yet they can't speak clearly.

From an 8 year old by email:

My name is Talon. I am 8 years old and love the Lord and dinosaurs. I really like and appreciate your ministry. Currently, I am writing a book about evidence of a Creator and the dinosaurs He created. Where can I get pictures of dinosaurs for my book?  Thank you in advance for your time and response,  Talon, Founder and Owner.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken

AiG Website Grows in Popularity

AiG's "mother" website and other sites belonging to AiG have had significant growth in 2010. You may be interested in these stats based on Google analytics (which is the standard many people use for such calculations):

www.AnswersInGenesis.org

had more than 10 million visits in 2010
had more than 5 million unique visitors

www.CreationMuseum.org

had more than 1 million visits

www.AnswersVBS.com (for AiG's increasingly popular Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs

had more than 100 thousand visits
had almost half a million pageviews

With the two new web properties, www.IAmNotAshamed.org, and ArkEncounter.com, that brings our total visits on all properties up to 11,718,537 total visits for 2010. The total time spent on all of our sites combined for 2010 comes out to approximately 65 years!

Praise the Lord for continuing to bring people to our sites for answers to today's questions about the Bible!

And thanks to the dedicated web team who work long hours to make all this happen.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,

Ken