As the year 2004 comes to a close, and the year 2005 brings new opportunities, we can only say with the psalmist, "This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes" (Psalm 118:23). For all these 34 years of ICR's existence, He has supplied every need and given such victories that we can only stand in awe of Him, and express our thankfulness and praise. Let me recap some of what He has done this year.
His financial supply has been consistent and sufficient. ICR has no endowments sitting in the bank, or major donors underwriting salaries and expenses, but each month He provides through the sacrificial giving of His children. This year has been a financial adventure, especially as we have added staff and increased research, but we are not now nor have we ever been in debt. With year-end giving He graciously allowed ICR to finish the year with all bills paid, "This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."
Strategies to communicate creation truth have shifted recently as America has changed. Large area-wide seminars are rare now, but opportunities to speak in churches, on university campuses, at conventions, on television and radio, and a variety of venues have perhaps increased. Total numbers are estimates only, but we have probably addressed over 50,000 people this year. The message has gone to numerous countries as well.
ICR's constant communication tool, Acts & Facts, is now more popular than ever. In spite of regular purgings, it reaches 130,000 homes, Days of Praise readers twice that many. The radio outreach has continued to expand, with our various programs aired on approximately 2750 outlets—maybe many more in Spanish-speaking countries.
A major overhaul of our website has begun which should significantly increase traffic. At present an estimated 7500 visitors click in each day on average, downloading a vast array of information. We sponsored two field-study tours this year, to Mount St. Helen's and Grand Canyon, respectively. Some of the 222 participants helped facilitate ICR's ongoing research projects. Three books were published, including The Ocean Book by Frank Sherwin; Miracles and For Time and Forever, by Henry Morris. Seems like there's an insatiable appetite for creation truth. "This is the Lord's doing."
In the ICR Graduate School, two students completed degree requirements this year, Peter Duncanson and Greg Copeland, each furthering creation knowledge with his research and writing.
On the scholarly side, ICR research enjoyed its best year ever. The RATE research on radioisotope dating achieved stunning victories, and several of the findings were presented in professional meetings. The nautiloid research has also continued. A technical paper on it has cleared peer review and should be printed within a few months. Plans to begin a new research initiative into the human genome are taking shape and should yield strong results. This is "marvelous in our eyes."
Another way in which God has blessed is the unity of staff and consistency of message. Every one here is a committed Christian and considers their job their Christian ministry. Each serves ICR as if they were serving God, as indeed they are. There have been no outbreaks of heresy or sinful failure. Corporate and personal prayer has been answered.
Finally, we recognize the larger family of financial and prayer supporters. We know you make the ministry happen. We thank you, but most of all we thank our Creator, for, "This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes."
