40 Days & 40 Nights of Christian Music Features Dozens of Major Acts, But Missing One

The award-winning group Cain, best known for the hit song "Rise Up," and popular singer Crowder will be top highlights at the themed attraction south of Cincinnati. The Grammy Award-winning group Casting Crowns will close out the festival. Abraham Productions has organized these multiple concerts Monday through Saturday at 4 p.m. daily. A special music and praise service will be held each Sunday, also at 4 p.m. Concert attendance is free with regular admission to the Ark Encounter for that day.

At the same time, organizers are mourning the loss of three of the members of the Gospel quartet, The Nelons. Slated to perform August 12 at the Ark, three members of the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame quartet were among seven people killed in a plane crash in Wyoming on Friday: Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler.

Amber Nelon Kistler, her parents Kelly Nelon Clark and Jason Clark, and surviving group member Autumn Nelon Streetman (far right).

The musical roster features artists who will perform Contemporary Christian, Worship, Southern Gospel, Country and Bluegrass Gospel, Inspirational, and other musical styles over 40 days and nights at the attraction’s huge 2,200-seat Answers Center. Musical performances will also be held at the Creation Museum, 45 minutes away in Petersburg, on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:45 a.m. (free with museum admission that day).

In addition, outdoor concerts will be held during the day at Noah’s Village at the Ark Encounter, Monday–Saturday, with the main-event concerts at 4 p.m. in the Answers Center. On Sundays at 4 p.m., the Ark’s resident artists TrueSong will lead a special worship time along with speakers from Answers in Genesis, operators of the Ark and museum.

Music artists and groups include:

• Cain
• Casting Crowns
• Crowder
• Mac Powell
• The Isaacs
• Triumphant
• The Inspirations
• Karen Peck and New River
• TrueSong (the Ark’s resident artists)
• And dozens and dozens more. For a full lineup of artist by date go to www.40DaysOfChristianMusic.com

The hugely popular group Cain returns to 40/40 in 2024.

Cain declared: “We’re coming to the number one Christian attraction in America. The Ark is amazing and we want you to join us for this incredible event. The Ark Encounter attracts more than one million guests a year.”

Music enthusiasts will also hear from speakers such as Ark founder and popular speaker Ken Ham, plus dynamic speaker Ray Flynn, President/CEO of Abraham Productions, and other guest speakers.

Flynn declared: ”While the passing of my three friends in The Nelons quartet has cast a shadow over the start of the 40/40 festivaI, I can rejoice in knowing they are with their Heavenly Father. And as is taught at the Ark Encounter, we know why terrible tragedies like this can occur if we believe the Bible’s teaching in Genesis chapter 3. We live in a fallen world. But it still hurts. We ask prayers for the surviving member, Autumn Nelon Streetman.” A replacement group is to be announced.

Ham pointed out: “Millions of people across America love the various styles of Christian music we offer. Abraham Productions, the Ark Encounter, and the Creation Museum present a unique combination of award-winning groups.” Ham added: “The Ark and Creation Museum are the top family friendly Christian destinations in America. Festivalgoers can tour the life-size Ark, explore the beautiful grounds, take their children or grandchildren to the playground and carousel, and meet the zoo animals.”

Abraham Productions is well known for producing large Christian music events, such as “Singing in the Sun,” a 6-day event with 30 major artists and national speakers, held in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and also co-hosts the musical cruise experience, “Crystal Caribbean Christian Cruise.”

Daily admission to the Ark Encounter gives free access to all the concerts and speakers that day and allows guests to explore the Ark. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, concerts are free to Creation Museum ticketholders for the musical events held there.

Admission prices, discounts, hotel options and additional details are available at www.40daysofchristianmusic.com. Tickets can be purchased through www.arkencounter.com or by calling the Ark Encounter at 800-721-2298.

The “40 Days & 40 Nights” music festival at the Ark is sponsored by the Museum of the Bible, along with IllumiNations12 VC, Destiny Rescue, Singing News, and Singing at Sea, and is produced by Abraham Productions. At 510 feet long, the Ark is the largest timber-frame structure in the world. Built according to the dimensions in the Bible, the Ark features three decks of striking teaching exhibits. Nearby is the high-tech VR Experience.

Answers in Genesis is an apologetics (i.e., Christianity-defending) ministry based in northern Kentucky, near Cincinnati. For more information on the two attractions, visit http://www.creationmuseum.org and http://www.arkencounter.com. AiG will be opening attractions in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Branson, Mo., in the spring of 2025.

*The festival’s 40 days, 40 nights name is a nod to Genesis 7:4 and the number of days it rained during Noah’s Flood.