Are You Branson Bound?

Now is the time to plan and act. Time is running out to get big savings on your registration for AiG’s national “Proclaiming the Faith” family conference in Branson, Missouri, this July. You see, if you register by April 30, you receive a 20 percent conference discount.

Our first national conference in Branson a few years ago was very well received, and our participants greatly enjoyed a the family-friendly attractions in Branson, so we decided to do it again! So think about spending your summer vacation with AiG in beautiful Branson and also take in some great Bible teaching. Guest speakers include Todd Friel and Mark Spence. They will be joining me and your favorite AiG speakers, so you can be encouraged and equipped to proclaim your faith.

On July 16–20 there will also be unique sessions and workshops for women, teens, and children—as well as inspirational music from John Elliott and Buddy Davis. Special discounts are also available for Branson attractions like Sight & Sound theaters, Mystic Caverns, and Silver Dollar City (voted number one theme park by Travel Guide).

Special Dedication

Many of those supporters who donated toward the AiG observatory project will gather here tonight for a special observatory dedication. AiG has received a number of donated telescopes over the years. One of the telescopes we now house in the new observatory has great historic significance: the Johnsonian telescope. A scientist named Lyle Johnson, who was a Christian and creationist, invented this telescope in the 1940s. It was eventually used in NASA’s Moonblink program (1964–1966), and now we have the original! Johnson’s invention was so innovative that telescopes based on his design are known today as “Johnsonian telescopes.”

The Johnsonian telescope was being used at a Christian camp (“The Wilds”) in North Carolina. Not having the qualified astronomers to use and maintain the telescope, the camp, with the permission of the Johnson family (Mr. Johnson passed away in 1996), offered it to the Creation Museum. We look forward to continuing the legacy of Lyle Johnson in using this telescope to tell others about God's glory (Psalm 19:1) and the gospel message.

Here are some photos of the Lyle Johnson Observatory (the roof is constructed to slide over the deck to expose the telescopes it houses (the first one is the Johnsonian). A number of other telescopes are also used as part of the Creation Museum's Stargazer’s Nights to teach people astronomy from a biblical perspective.