When Charles "Chas" Morse joined the U.S. Air Force in 1983, he intended to serve for about four years. Instead, he stayed for 26. "My wife, Patti, and I saw that there was a great mission field in the Air Force," he said in a recent interview. He was sent immediately overseas and had many opportunities to share Christ and serve in various ministries.
Creation ministry, he said, has always been a passion. "It always points me back to the Word of God and its credibility. It also points me back to the Creator, who is also our Sustainer and our Redeemer."
Chas first heard about the Institute for Creation Research through his father, who was a member in the 1970s. "He was actually an engineer who worked with the space program," he said. "When the space program was cut after Apollo 17, a lot of engineers were laid off. It was really a tragic thing."
While he looked for a new job, Chas' father volunteered his expertise to ICR. "He spent all his time doing research for [Henry M. Morris]. And my dad would go around and speak at colleges and debate science teachers."
Chas attended Christian Heritage College, now San Diego Christian College, and graduated in 1980 with a degree in Christian education. He studied at Dallas Theological Seminary before joining the Air Force. While in the military, he received a masters degree in management from Bellevue University in Nebraska in 1996, and another in 2000 in military studies at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, eventually retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
In 2005, he met Dr. David Wismer, Chairman of ICR's Board of Trustees, who asked that he become a board member. "I was kind of pulled back into the creation arena, remembering the classes I had with Duane Gish, Gary Parker, Henry Morris III, and of course Dr. Morris the founder from my Christian Heritage days. As a board member, I was able to promote ICR in different venues that I've been exposed to in the military."
He most recently served in Korea for two years, after which he planned to retire from the military. When deciding what to do next, he called ICR CEO Henry M. Morris III and asked how he could be more involved in the ministry. "I thought it would be really cool to serve on the staff of ICR. So I called him and said, 'I don't really know where I could fit in the organization, but if you'll have me, I'll come and we can figure it out.' "
As it turns out, Dr. Morris did have a place open and asked Lt. Col. Morse if he'd like to come on board as Director of Events. "And so here I am," he laughed.
When asked about his goals, he said, "Our focus is to promote ICR and take the research and science and get it into the hands of pastors and science teachers." Pastors, and to some degree science teachers, he said, seem to be afraid to speak on the subject of creation because they don't know that science is on their side, and they fear ridicule and persecution. So, sending speakers and materials to events such as pastor conferences, Association of Christian Schools International conferences, and others is important to equip pastors and teachers with the evidence and science that support the concept of a young earth that was created by God. "That way, they can then go and equip their congregations and students," he said.
Chas will be able to transfer some of his military background into his current work. "It's all about working with people and bringing groups together and executing a strategy," he said. "Spiritual warfare is the same, except more serious. Your enemy has been doing this for about 6,000 years."
* Ms. Dao is Assistant Editor at the Institute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Dao, C. 2010. New ICR Director of Events: Charles Morse. Acts & Facts. 39 (3): 6.
