Harrisburg Homeschool Conference

From Saturday, May 7, 2005

It was a busy/draining day. We got up at 5:30 am so we could get an early breakfast and to the Farm Show complex by 7:30. I spoke at 10:00 and then again at 3:00, after which I rushed to the airport to catch my flight home. Even though I only spoke twice, I feel like I've spoken all day, because I DID! Soon after I arrived people started coming to me and giving testimonies about the messages, the ministry, asking questions—this happened all day—I didn't even have time to get lunch. I'm drained—but it was so good to hear how God is working in the lives of so many families. Thank you, Lord, for the encouragement.

I tried to write notes to myself during the day so I could have you all share in the blessings. Here are some highlights:

• A Calvary Chapel pastor and his wife thanked me for the ministry of AiG. He purchased many copies of our "4 Big Questions" book to use in witnessing to college students. He said the questions of evolution and millions of years come up all the time. It is a blessing to meet pastors that are so behind AiG's message.
• A lady told me how much Friday's messages meant to her 18-year-old son. She said it gave him a real sure foundation for his faith, and that it was good for him to hear the Christian faith defended by someone else. She also said that scandals in the Christian world had a negative effect and she was thrilled with the integrity of AiG and what that means to her son. A humbling reminder that so many (including young people) look up to those of us in Christian leadership, and how vital it is to maintain the highest of integrity in every area. We need to be "squeaky clean."
• A teenage boy asked me how to defend that the days of creation were ordinary days. He told me his mum didn't believe in six literal days, but he does (because the Bible states this) and he wanted to know the arguments he could use to convince his mum. My heart went out to this young man. I find the younger generation is hungry for the truth--they see the inconsistencies in compromise.
• One lady became a little emotional (on the verge of tears) as she told me that her five-year-old had just committed his life to the Lord after they read together the book "A is for Adam." When they got to the page with an illustration representing the "Lambs book of Life," there read the question that asks, "Is your name in the Lambs book of life." After reading this, the boy said, "I want to make sure my name's in the Lamb's book of life." So the mum and this young boy prayed.
• A man who works at the NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (Maryland, USA) told me they had Mike Riddle speak there last year. He was very complimentary of Mike (who is now a popular speaker with AiG) and his presentations.
• A couple told me that they were "turned on" by our ministry because of the answers we give re: dinosaurs, etc. They asked their pastor what to do with dinosaurs, and he told them they fit in a gap between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2 (the classic Gap Theory compromise position). However, they came across AiG's materials and said the answers made sense. Now they are using our materials to witness to others! They said they gave a copy of one of AiG's DVD's to their pastor, but he won't look at it.
• A man told me he saw me on the Public Broadcasting System national television network here in the US quite some time ago. This was a special series on evolution. I was interviewed for the final program in this series. The producers only used a tiny bit of what they filmed of me, but it's interesting that even a tiny mention is often used of the Lord to reach people.
• A young lady told me she was at Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake, New York 13 years ago when I gave a series of lectures to the students. (I have been going to Word of Life every year for 15 years or more now.) This lady is now married with children. She thanked me for what she learned that week and said it equipped her to bring her children up with the correct foundation. When I was teaching to that group of young people 13 years ago, I wasn't just teaching this young lady, but her children who would be born years later. What an encouragement...and what a reminder that I'm getting OLDER!
• A lady told me she was going to use our "7 C's" curriculum as the basis for a Vacation Bible School program. She said she was going to take up an offering from the children and send it to AiG for the Creation Museum. She said the amount of money probably won't be much, but she so wants the children to be a part of the museum! You know, the NUMBER ONE question I received at this conference (and just about anywhere I go now) is,"When will the museum be open?" I explain that we pray it will be in 2007, but it depends on funds. (We need over $2 million quite soon to stay on track for that faith opening date. Please pray!)
• This same lady showed me a picture of a "dinosaur skeleton" she made with concrete and buried in her back yard so her church's young people (about 20 children) could dig it up and she could talk about dinosaurs, using our materials. Who knows how many exciting things like this are happening across the country and around the world.
• An engineer purchased videos so he could reach the non-Christians in a church youth group. He said it is so important to reach these kids now, and he sees the creation message (dinosaurs, etc.) as a strategic means of doing this. Sadly, he told me his pastor does not agree with the literal creation position, so he's doing this without the support of his pastor.
• One lady stopped at the booth and said, "While my husband was dying of cancer I read the 'Walking Through Shadows' book and it really helped me." We never know how the Lord is using our resources.

One of the comments that I heard so many times I lost count, came from people who are trying to reach the youth and families in their church using our materials, but the pastors do not agree with our position. This is so sad, and is what we have seen across the nation. There are many thousands of pastors who stand with AiG, but sadly, when you consider that there are around 400,000 churches in the United States, they are in the minority.

Well, I'm writing this while waiting for my plane at the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania airport. We are just about to board. I am so looking forward to getting home. These past six weeks have been extremely busy. When I get home tonight, I will be able to say, "I don't have to fly again until Tuesday!" Well, that's another story. Will update you later on what I'm doing then.

Keep praying--thanks for stopping by