Just imagine walking into the atrium of your church and seeing Triceratops prorsus, Albertosaurus sarcophagus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Thescelosaurus neglectus, Droaeosaurus albertensis, and Ichthyosaurus roaming in a rendition of the Garden of Eden. This past June, thousands of kids got to experience the particular thrill of encountering the wonders of God’s creation, both past and present, at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas.

Dr. Jack Graham, senior pastor at Prestonwood, commented:

Creation Expo is the most creative Vacation Bible School we have ever done. It has been a great way to teach kids about God the Creator through the inspiring sights and sounds of God's most awesome creations—the heavens, the human body, and some of the largest creatures to ever roam the earth. For the 6,500 children attending, many of whom are unchurched, this will be a VBS they will never forget. I am grateful for the Institute for Creation Research and the help provided to develop Creation Expo.

What a pleasure it was for ICR to help Prestonwood launch “Creation Expo: What Really Happened?” the week of June 13 for their annual Vacation Bible School. Close to 7,000 children made their way through the doors of Prestonwood’s Plano and Prosper campuses and were greeted by enormous models of dinosaurs.

Children and parents alike were mesmerized as they viewed exhibits of dinosaurs, space, the Flood, and the human body. Through daily lessons, activities, special speakers, and mini-museums, children were taught about the vastness of God’s creation and how science is a tool that can be used to demonstrate the Bible’s accuracy.

Beginning with “A Big Bang or a Big God?,” volunteers taught the six days of creation and emphasized the importance of God’s Word as a reliable and accurate source of truth. Each day’s lessons took on a different aspect of creation, filled with God’s Word, life applications, and activities that catered to the learning styles of all types of students.

The mini-museums highlighted each day’s teaching emphasis. Children embarked on Noah’s Ark in the Fall and the Flood museum. They imagined through sight and sound what it would be like to be on the Ark for 378 days, what type of faith Noah needed to heed God’s warning 120 years prior to the actual Flood, and God’s covenant with mankind after the Flood to never again destroy the earth with water.

The Witness of Heaven museum simulated a shuttle ride into outer space to gaze at supernovas, the planets, and a depiction of the three heavens. The Dino Dilemma museum taught students about the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth with men, and sought to counteract the inaccuracies contained in movies, textbooks, and evolutionary histories.

Finally, the Amazing Body museum allowed students to take a look at the intricacies of their bodies and to truly ingest the fact that God is their Creator and He made each one of them according to His plan for a specific purpose.

Parents and volunteers alike offered positive reviews and comments regarding the week. Class volunteer Stacy Sutherland wrote:

It’s times like this that I am reminded of how much I still have to learn about God and His Word. No matter how old we get, we all remain life-long learners. The girls in my group….were stunned to learn that some of what they have learned just isn’t Biblical. They loved connecting what they have been taught in school with what they have been taught in church.

Sharayn Leverett, parent of two attendees, wrote:

I am so glad the staff chose to take this challenge and teach these kids about the Bible in a new way, and reinforce our teaching at home.

Sondra Saunders, Diana Pendley, Nancy Newton, and the rest of Prestonwood’s Children’s Ministry staff spent tireless hours working to make this Vacation Bible School one that students and parents would not soon forget. Nancy Newton, Director of Vacation Bible School for Prestonwood, expressed appreciation for ICR’s help in developing the Creation Expo VBS:

With a grateful heart to the ICR staff as we stand shoulder to shoulder in this cultural war that seeks to destroy the authority of Scripture. We join with you in soul and spirit and purpose.

Thank you, Nancy, and the staff of Prestonwood Baptist Church. We are honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with you!

* Dr. Forlow is Education Specialist at the Institute for Creation Research.

Cite this article: Forlow, R. 2011. Creation Expo VBS Reaches Thousands. Acts & Facts. 40 (8): 18-19.