ICR's commitment to education comes through in just about everything we do. The late founder of ICR, Dr. Henry Morris, discerned that our long-range strategy for the creation/evolution conflict had to be education, not legislation or litigation. The hearts and minds of people need to change if any lasting transformation is to be realized.
In that spirit, several educational activities have been launched. The tours that we lead to various locations of geologic interest might not seem educational at first, but ask someone who has attended. Always, the emphasis is on understanding the area in a way that can then be communicated to others. In this way, ICR has permanently impacted thousands of "creation evangelists."
Over the years ICR has taken willing learners to Yellowstone National Park, Mount St. Helens National Monument, Yosemite National Park, Israel, and England, with each tour incorporating numerous visits to other state and national parks. All of these areas are sites of ongoing ICR research, which the tours have helped facilitate.
Our flagship tour, however, has always been to Grand Canyon. It was started in the early 1980s to continue our research there and to teach ICR graduate students. For many years, various faculty members led hiking, rafting, and bus tours, accommodating every level of activity. Unfortunately, escalating restrictions on tours (and ICR's growing notoriety as the leading creation voice) has forced us to scale back. This year we were limited to a bus tour only.
But what a tour! No one was disappointed. Learning on site beats classroom lecturing any day. Each area stood out in glorious splendor, allowing tour members to acquire stunning photographs. Most participants "loaded their guns" for future ministry, but some who came on the tour were skeptical of creation. Judging by their subsequent correspondence, they left with all their questions answered.
Each day was punctuated by sincere Bible teaching and packed with sweet Christian fellowship. From the Sunday morning "church service" on Grand Canyon rim to times of testimony on bus rides between stops, God's presence was felt. It was truly a spiritual experience for us all (even ICR "veterans") and will long be remembered.
As we parted we prayed for each one, knowing all of the "students" were more fully equipped for fruitful ministry in the days to come. And so the creation movement forges ahead, with swelling ranks of trained and armed warriors for the battles we face.
If you haven't been on an ICR creation tour, we would love to have you join us someday. But even if you can't come on tour, you can still train as a "creation warrior" for the spiritual battle in which all Christians are engaged (Ephesians 6:12). As my brother, Dr. Henry Morris III, says in our cover article this month, ICR has been updating its various ministries in order to reach more people with the creation message. If you have an Internet connection, drop by our redesigned website and explore our new Evidence section. Even better, tell your friends, family, and church about the many resources we offer. And please consider joining us with your prayer and financial support as we invest today for tomorrow's harvest.
* Dr. Morris is President of the Institute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Morris, J. 2008. Reflecting on Grand Canyon. Acts & Facts. 37 (7): 3.
