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Over 2,200 people gathered at the W.O.R.D. Center this past weekend for the Creation or Evolution Summit, which was hosted by the Granite Bay Hilltop Church and Amazing Facts International. Attendees came from as far away as Ireland to better understand the scientific and biblical foundations of their faith.
Speakers for the weekend included Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International; Clifford Goldstein, author of Baptizing the Devil; Walter Veith, Ph.D. in Zoology; and Rich Aguilera, president of One Mustard Seed.
Though each speaker covered very different subjects, each gave solid reasons for believing in God as the Creator who made our world in six literal days.
Many audience members expressed appreciation for the weekend and its impact on their faith. “I’ve been in public schools all my life, so I’ve never had an opportunity to hear the scientific support for creation,” said Zugey, a recent college graduate living in the Sacramento area. “Listening to these presentations has totally changed my perspective on our origins and strengthened my faith in God and the Bible.”
Building Faith Locally and Abroad
Weekend attendees came to the Creation or Evolution Summit from near and far. Some came because of the invitation of a church member or from advertising at the local community college. Others saw the giant inflatable stegosaurus in front of the W.O.R.D. Center! Still others saw online ads or received an email from Amazing Facts.
Brian and Shauna from Yakima, Washington, received an email about the event and made a family road trip. “It was all really good,” they enthused. “Our kids liked Rich Aguilera, and we all enjoyed the variety of speakers. They each added a unique perspective that was helpful for us.”
Patrick and Aline from Kildare, Ireland, made the Creation or Evolution Summit part of their recent trip to the United States. “We’ve learned so much this weekend,” Patrick said. “Pastor Doug’s testimony was instrumental in bringing me to the Lord. So getting to meet him in person was a blessing.”
The livestream recordings of the event have already received over 60,000 views since the weekend. They are also posted on social media and the AFSummit.org website. Each program will also be repackaged for television and posted in multiple languages online.
“People will be watching these presentations for years to come,” said Pastor Doug. “This is clearly a topic that people are interested in. I know it was immensely productive in reaching people’s lives.”
About 400 people stayed for a prayer breakfast Sunday morning with Pastor Doug and Dr. Veith. The Granite Bay Pathfinder Club hosted the occasion. Says Pastor Doug, “I am so proud of our church members and Amazing Facts staff for all their hard work for this weekend.”
Why Talk About Creation and Evolution?
Until the middle of the 19th century, most Westerners believed that God created the world in six literal days. Then Charles Darwin and other scientists began promoting a naturalistic view of origins that denied God as the author of creation. Their new theory directly opposed the biblical record of creation in Genesis 1 and 2 and denied the worldwide flood recorded in Genesis 7.
The Creation or Evolution Summit sought to demonstrate that one can faithfully believe the biblical creation account while also engaging with modern science.
It also highlighted the important implications for Christians who believe in the three angels’ messages. The first angel’s message includes a call to “worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7).
“We are being called back to worship the Creator who made all things,” says Pastor Doug. “To reach non-Christians and atheists who are genuinely seeking truth, we need to provide them with logical answers and scientific evidence that supports the Bible’s account of creation.”
Solid Reasons for Faith
The Creation or Evolution Summit speakers presented solid scientific and intellectual evidence supporting the biblical account of creation. “We have different styles of presentation,” shares Pastor Doug. “Walter is more cerebral. Cliff is more philosophical. Rich is animated and did a great job keeping the kids engaged. But we all pointed in the same direction—to the glory of God and the reliability of His Word.”
Goldstein’s presentations built a solid philosophical foundation for believing in God as the Creator. Dr. Veith presented challenges regarding irreducible complexity, the Cambrian explosion, gaps in the geological column, the lack of intermediary fossils, among other things. Aguilera’s dramatic presentation on creation held the attention of young and old alike. Rich also gave an engaging presentation on Sabbath afternoon for over 150 children aged 8 to 13.
“Before I was a Christian, I used to feel sorry for people who believed in creation,” says Pastor Doug. “I felt like there was no purpose for my life and often contemplated suicide. Then, I lived alone in a Southern California cave and began to realize that the beauty I saw could not have happened by chance. Discovering the God of creation in the Bible gave me hope and a purpose.”
“I think all of us want to believe in the truth,” Aguilera adds. “None of us want to be deceived, yet the enemy is out to deceive us. He is trying to hide the truth from us. That’s why I’m thankful that God gave us the Bible so we can know the truth.
“I can honestly say I’m at the stage of my experience where not just the existence of God, but the existence of a God of love is the most obvious truth I know,” Goldstein concluded. “It’s like the veil is torn, and the reality of the Creator’s love screams out at me.”