Recently, I hosted a visiting pastor from a large church at ICR’s Discovery Center. As I guided him through our Dallas museum, one conversation affirmed how important ICR’s mission is—not only to proclaim the scientific evidence that aligns with Scripture but to educate, equip, and encourage church leaders in their calling.
We stopped at one of my favorite exhibits: Noah’s Ark. The entrance is framed by a sign that says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9). It’s a powerful reminder of the salvation Noah and his family experienced through the Ark and parallels the eternal salvation offered through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesus Himself draws this connection in Matthew 24:37: “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” And Peter echoes the historicity of the Genesis narrative as he recounts “when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water” (1 Peter 3:20). Truly, the global Flood was a real, catastrophic event with deep theological and spiritual significance.
Standing before the Ark entrance, I could see in the pastor’s eyes that he was impacted by this truth. As we continued the tour, however, he presented a question that stopped me in my tracks. With genuine curiosity and excitement, the pastor asked, “Does ICR teach about the other civilizations of humanity that survived the Flood as well?”
My knees almost buckled, not because I was shaken in my belief, but because this evidenced how even faithful church leaders can be misled by unbiblical narratives. I gently and confidently replied, “The Bible tells us that none but Noah and his family survived this event. We at ICR believe that the Bible is true and accurate.”
By the end of his visit, this pastor was not only encouraged but energized. He began making plans to return with his church’s leadership team, eager to share about ICR’s faith-affirming scientific research.
The need to exhort pastors in biblical accuracy is more urgent than ever. In a world filled with compromise and confusion, church leaders must be rooted in the authority of God’s Word from the very first verse. It’s our joy and responsibility to come alongside these shepherds and provide resources to help them stand firm and boldly lead others.
The enemy has long deceived God’s children by sowing doubt and distorting Scripture. But thanks to your faithful support, ICR has the scientific muscle, intellectual prowess, and research capabilities to combat these threats. We remain unwavering in our mission to defend the truth of God’s Word, proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and provide biblically sound scientific education to leaders and laypeople alike. As ICR hires a critically needed Ph.D. biologist to augment our pioneering efforts, please consider increased prayers and generosity to help us cover this new expense.
To our friends of the ministry: thank you. Your prayers, gifts, and uplifting words are a vital part of ICR’s mission. Every life touched, every leader equipped, every church encouraged—it’s thanks to you, standing with us. Together, we’re pointing the world to the glorious Door of salvation, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Stage image credit: Susan Windsor
* Mr. Gadberry is the director of development and donor relations at the Institute for Creation Research.