Recently, a reporter interviewed me for our area's other paper, the Cincinnati Enquirer. The paper wanted to profile the life and work of a person in the region.
Because of AiG's prominent place in this area and the museum's progress, the paper's editor believed it was time to print a feature on AiG's president.
During one of the interviews, the reporter asked me, "What is your favorite room or exhibit in the Creation Museum?" Now, we will have many startling exhibits: the lobby is going to be spectacular (it already is well on the way there); the animatronic dinosaurs will be outstanding; the waterfalls will be breathtaking; the special effects theater will be phenomenal-to name just a few.
My answer came very quickly-I really didn't have to think about it. I replied, "My favorite 'exhibit' will be the chapel-what we call the eighth 'C' of the museum."
You see, a major theme of the museum will be what we call the "7 C's of History." Visitors will walk through the history of the world as the Bible presents it-and as they experience the museum, they will discover answers to what the secular world is incorrectly teaching and see how the Bible's history is reality.
For example, when visitors see the exhibit of Adam and Eve being created, they will also hear the evidence against "apemen," and learn that the doctrine of marriage-one man for one woman-is based on the historical fact of the creation of Adam and Eve.
Also, the creation of animals will connect to dinosaurs-made on the sixth day alongside Adam and Eve. The Fall of man will connect to death, disease and suffering. The Flood will connect to fossils/the Ice Age. The Tower of Babel will connect to "races" (people groups) such as Australian Aborigines, American Indians and so on.
The museum will help future guests understand that the Bible's history concerning Creation (in six days), Corruption (entrance of sin/death), Catastrophe (Flood of Noah) and Confusion (Tower of Babel) is true and confirmed by observable science.
This sets up the presentation of the next three C's-Christ, Cross and Consummation. Because the history in the Bible is true, the gospel of Christ is true.
After this, visitors will walk through a chapel (our "eighth C"), where they can meditate on what they have just seen and heard. It is our desire to train chaplains to be able to talk with visitors in that chapel as to where they stand concerning Christ. We expect that thousands will be saved in this strategic room!
You see, I would not have started AiG and later set up a huge website (now with about 5,000 free articles) if we were just trying to teach against evolution-or just convert people to believing in creation. Whether one is an evolutionist or creationist, unless that person has been born again as the Bible teaches, he or she cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
At AiG we are unashamedly and unapologetically Christian. This is what I explained to the reporter from the Enquirer.
Another reporter (this one from a secular TV station) recently asked me, "Why, ultimately, are you in this organization?" I responded to her (she was not a Christian, based on the many comments she made) by saying: "Because everyone in the world is my relative, I want to see all my relatives in heaven with me."
I explained: "God's Word teaches us to take the gospel to everyone-that's why I do what I do. I want to see people saved-that's what it's all about." (Mark 16:15: "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.")
We constantly receive testimonies from people who have been saved as a result of God using our website, a book or DVD, radio program or a seminar. For instance, here are just a few of the testimonies received in recent weeks:
- In Wisconsin, the pastor announced at both worship services where I spoke that he knew of three people who were saved as a direct result of our Friday/Saturday conference-including a young girl, the daughter of one of the church staff.
- An email reported: "If it wasn't for your website, I don't know if I would be a Christian. There were tons of questions I had that no one could give me answers to. I started to think that if evolution was true, why should I believe in God? Your site opened my eyes and showed the Bible can be trusted." - C.T., Michigan
- "My
wife and I work with high school students in our church. One evening, a
question about evolution came up. Because I have been studying your
materials extensively, I was able to answer that question.
"The student who asked the question sat back-startled-and said, 'I get it!' with a big smile. After the lesson, she wanted to receive the Lord into her life." - R.Y., Arizona
- "The
Lord used me to give the creation message to my grandfather. After he
saw there were answers, and after much praying that the HOLY SPIRIT
would open his heart, he bowed his knee and, at 86, gave his life to the
Creator.
"You folks are trustworthy-I can't thank you enough." - D.P., Oregon
Wow! Aren't those thrilling? You can see why my favorite spot in the museum will be the chapel. Presenting the creation/gospel message is what AiG is all about.
We want the world to know that the Bible is God's Word-that its history is true-that its gospel message and morality are true-and that all need to be saved so when they die, they know they'll be in heaven with their Creator and Redeemer!
What a vital message!
As a "specialist" ministry, AiG, the world's largest apologetics outreach, is a strategic tool for the church in fulfilling the Great Commission. Because the teaching of evolution/millions of years has so permeated and negatively impacted the culture, God has raised up AiG to answer the world's attacks against the history in the Bible.
AiG's massive website, seminars, resources, radio outreach and Creation Museum are vital means of disseminating life-changing answers to a skeptical world and to engage the culture with the truth of God's Word-and to present the gospel.
To help ensure that AiG never loses sight of its mission, we just spent many months working with the board, staff and Christian consultants to come up with key statements to constantly remind each of us of what AiG is all about. (Staff members have copies of these statements at their desks as a daily reminder.)
I thought you would be interested in reading these for yourself and contemplating what God is doing through AiG.
Goal
- To support the church in fulfilling its commission.
Vision
- AiG is a catalyst to bring reformation by reclaiming the foundations of our faith which are found in the Bible, from the very first verse.
Mission
- We proclaim the absolute truth and authority of the Bible with boldness.
- We relate the relevance of a literal Genesis to the church and the world today with creativity.
- We obey God's call to deliver the message of the gospel, individually and collectively.
We also have a set of what are called "core values," which are: (1) we resourcefully equip believers to defend their faith with excellence; (2) we willingly engage society's challenges with uncompromising integrity; (3) we sacrificially serve the AiG family and others; (4) we generously give Christian love.
Here's a recent real-life result of how our core values and mission statement are being used by God to change lives. Our children's workshop leader (and curriculum developer, Stacia McKeever) shared the following with me:
"My workshops teach children (ages 4-6) the '7 C's of History.' We end with Christ, Cross and Consummation. I show an illustration (from A is for Adam) about the Lamb's Book of Life.
"We discuss how we can know for certain that our names are written there, and I challenge the children: 'If you'd like to know; please talk to your parents after class.'
"One of the mothers told me that her daughter, who had been asking questions during the previous week, came to her and said, 'I want to make sure my name is in there.' She then prayed with her daughter as she received Christ!
"That's why we do these outreaches. The AiG ministry truly is all about enabling people to trust God's Word so that they can see their need for a Savior and receive the gift of eternal life.
"That's why I'm so excited about our follow-up to the '7 C's' curriculum: an elementary-aged curriculum installment. We'll give young people answers to the questions of this age, provide them with a sure foundation, and enable them to share the gospel with their peers."
Thanks, Stacia. By the way, these "7 C's" follow the storyline of the museum.
AiG and its website are on the cutting edge of the battle for souls and reclaiming the culture with biblical truths. Your gift to this strategic evangelistic ministry will help confront the forces of evil and proclaim the gospel in this evolutionary culture. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2005/07/16/favorite-museum-exhibit