As believers, we are called to counsel others with the Word of the Lord in love (Romans 15:14). The effective application of this calling is directly related to our perspective of the Word of the Lord. If we have a high regard for God’s Word—its authority, sufficiency, and power—it will be ministered to those in need, leaving aside or eliminating any counsel that is not in agreement with what God has revealed.

In the first part of the article, “Biblical Authority and Counseling: Some Advice for Counselors,” I shared three pieces of advice that counselors should keep in mind when helping those who suffer and struggle with their sins.

I would like to share three more pieces of advice so that those of us who desire to counsel or be counseled understand the nature of the spiritual battle we are in and have the tools to serve those who are suffering.

Beware of the Deception of So-Called Neutrality

A fourth piece of advice is to renounce any supposed neutral stance. Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” This shows us that we are in a spiritual war where there is no neutral ground. There is no middle zone between the kingdom of Satan and the kingdom of God. This leads to the clear conclusion that neutrality represents opposition to Christ. No one can remain undecided between choosing Satan, who scatters and destroys, and choosing Jesus Christ, who gathers and builds.

We must make a decision because if we don’t choose, we have already chosen. We are already in opposition to the Lord. Either we live according to the kingdom of light or according to the kingdom of darkness (Colossians 1:13). So spiritually speaking, there is no neutrality or indecision. Those who do not choose Christ, choose against him. John MacArthur comments on this, “It is not necessary to oppose Christ to be against Him; it is only necessary not to be with Him.”1

When I speak of choosing Christ, I do not mean merely in terms of salvation of the soul but also aligning ourselves to proclaim, counsel, and teach everything that belongs to the kingdom of Christ as revealed in the Word of God.

Psalm 1 reveals the same fundamental idea when it shows us that there are two types of counsel—not three or more: the counsel of the wicked (or evil) and the counsel of God.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1–2

The counsel of the wicked is impious because:

1. It competes with God’s counsel, seeking to tear it down.
2. It is inspired by Satan.
3. It is delivered by those who rebelliously side with the devil.

God’s Word is clearly opposed to the counsel of the wicked. This divergence not only concerns moral issues, such as whether stealing is right or wrong, but also with counsel that shapes the story of individuals, families, and even nations. The psalm leaves no room for considering a third kind of counsel.

The counsel of God and the counsel of the wicked compete for human acceptance. This means that human beings do not have a strictly “neutral” counsel. In one way or another, we are all receivers of counsel. If we do not take God’s counsel, any other counsel is, in fact, from Satan. We cannot rid ourselves of dependence, and that dependence is either on the counsel of God or on Satan. We know that the whole world is under the influence of the evil one (1 John 5:19), under the sway of that counsel which opposes God’s.

The secular world tries to make us believe that we should remain in a supposed neutrality, that we should not rely on God’s Word as a foundation or presupposition. But whether they see it or not, they want us to rely on their atheistic, materialistic, and naturalistic presuppositions, which are opposed to the truth of God. This began in Genesis, where, in contrast to God’s counsel—which was simple, clear, true, and beneficial—Satan introduced a counsel that complicated, confused, and twisted the truth of God. Ken Ham comments on this:

“God’s people must abandon this false idea of neutrality! It is causing believers to basically hand their children and the culture over to the secularists.”2

This conflict manifests in the debate between creation and evolution, which ultimately boils down to the same fundamental question: What is the starting point? Is God’s Word the starting point for interpreting the evidence and understanding reality? Or is the word of men—with their atheistic, materialistic, and naturalistic presuppositions—the starting point for interpreting the evidence and understanding reality? Never forget, there is no neutral ground.

In scientific disciplines, there are no “raw facts”; they are always connected with interpretation. Yet they want us to believe in a supposed neutrality in scientific reasoning, devoid of commitments or presuppositions when interpreting facts or evidence. John Frame puts it well:

The desire for a 'fact' completely devoid of human interpretation, which can serve as an authoritative criterion for all interpretations, is an un-Christian desire—a desire to replace the Word of God with another authority.3

In counseling, something similar happens. There is a common cause between creationists and biblical counselors.4 When interpreting observations, we try to make sense of the information we have according to the commitments or starting points on which we stand. We are not neutral.

The basic or fundamental starting point has to do with the belief in God. This divides us into children of God or children of wrath—those who are with God or those who are against him. Atheists and unbelievers, who have the same facts as the children of God, interpret the facts without trusting in God’s Word—they don’t accept it, they don’t want it. A child of God interprets the facts according to what God says because they love God and worship him.

The implications of incorrect interpretations undoubtedly differ depending on the area of challenges we face. If the interpretation of facts is wrong in the work of a geologist trying to define the age of a rock layer based on materialistic commitments, it is not as impactful as when a psychologist attempts an intervention to help a person in tragic circumstances resulting from the sinful rebellion of their life, guilt, pride, and selfishness, or the bitter effects of chaos and destruction in the world we live in, as well as in the hearts of men.5

A fifth piece of advice is to be alert when observing interventions proposed by secular or integrationist counselors because they may be in opposition to the revelation of God and Christ himself. Let us not forget that the interventions by atheists are the result of interpreting observations through the lens of an unbelieving worldview, which does not recognize God and his Word. They also fail to consider the noetic effects of sin on the hearts of all men, including themselves, as they try to help others.

We must be cautious even when things are presented under the banner of “all truth is God’s truth” because we may be attributing errors to God that are not his and his revelation. While we acknowledge that all truth is God’s, the question arises: What is the foundation upon which we will determine if something is true or not? Be careful because we could be introducing errors into the framework upon which we build our Christian worldview, based on commitments that oppose the truth of God, even calling it “common grace.”

Some have suggested that the manifestation of common grace is found in the writings of Freud, Skinner, Rogers, and others. But be careful because although God allows us to know his creation, he will not establish systems that compete with his Word—remember that his Word tells us that we are either with him or against him. There is no neutrality.

For example, in terms of the revelation that God has determined to give, theologians have recognized that there is general revelation (through creation) and special revelation (the Word of God). Psalm 19 states that “the heavens declare the glory of God,” implying that certain aspects of God are revealed in what we call general revelation. Likewise, Romans 1:20 affirms this doctrine, stating that certain divine attributes are clearly seen through creation:

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:20

This general revelation is not duplicated in special revelation (the Scriptures). Rather, special revelation expands on more aspects of who God is, his plans and purposes, and his redemptive plan, among other things. It also gives key revelation regarding human beings, their anthropology in both material and immaterial terms, and their relationship with the Creator and creation, especially concerning their souls and spirituality.

So when we examine the starting points of the beliefs underlying secular counseling models, we find clear rivalry and opposition to the Word of the Lord. Once we understand this, we can be sure that God in his “common grace” is not providing rival counseling models that compete with biblical counseling. God does not contradict himself in this way.

Under the umbrella of common grace, we cannot shelter false teachings such as:

• Freud, who claims man is not responsible for his sin.
• Rogers, who claims man is inherently good and doesn’t need external help.
• Skinner, who claims man is just an animal, without value, freedom, or dignity.

These (among others) cannot be elevated to the level of being products of God’s common grace because they are systems filled with errors, falsehoods, and anti-Christian teachings. Can you imagine God proclaiming that problems can be solved without Christ or in a mix that opposes Christ?

We must reject those models that claim to have the ability to do (without or against the Scriptures) what the Scriptures proclaim can only be done for the glory of God and the good of men.

As advice, the clear invitation is to not focus on studying secular models (although we should understand what they propose) but to know the Word of the Lord abundantly and deeply.

Let Us Seek God and His Word.

Psalm 1, as a counterpart to the danger of following the advice of the wicked, urges us to actively follow the advice of God:

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2

A sixth piece of advice is to walk each day in greater dependence on God and abandon the tendency toward autonomy.

Those who seek God as the Psalm indicates undoubtedly have clarity about the dependence that humans have on God. They recognize the degree of their need and appreciate the source of their true life and freedom—God and his Word. Let us remember that from the very beginning, man required counsel. Humanity was created to be dependent on its Creator, created to know God and gain wisdom from him. This helps us understand that the purpose and meaning of life, as well as the reality of our existence, are fruits of God’s grace and power. We are dependent on God, and we do not find in ourselves what we need but in the right relationship with the Lord.

In Genesis, God spoke to man even before the fall, so the Word of God is the source of the knowledge of God, self-knowledge, knowledge of relationships with others, and knowledge of creation. It is the source of knowledge of our functions but also defines the limitations that humans have. Man, male and female, was made to be the image of God (Revelation 4:11) and to be a dependent being on him (Acts 17:28).

Any attempt at autonomy and independence is destined to fail and manifests a direct rebellion against the Creator. Every time we try to live on our own, whether due to the sinful inclinations of our heart or the wrong counsel of men, we will inevitably reap failure in due time (Galatians 6:7).

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Without it, life is absurd; it loses its meaning, purpose, and function. General revelation will not provide this sustenance, and we will end up falling into relativism, which makes no sense and drains our energy. That is why the Christian counselor must radically dedicate themselves to the study of the Scriptures and prayer, or they, too, will be deceived. Thinking theologically from God’s truth allows us to reject pagan thinking and practices when counseling others.

Let us not forget that we depend on the Creator and Sustainer for everything we are, have, and know. Let us live thankful for the revelation he provides for our lives and to help others—from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.

I remember the first time I heard “The Relevance of Genesis for the Present World.” It was in 2015 at an Answers in Genesis conference in Córdoba, Argentina. I felt like my mind exploded and my heart leaped as I saw the beauty and authority of the Word of the Lord as the starting point for a Christian worldview.

As an engineer, I was passionate about gaining understanding and answers to topics like creation versus evolution. However, over time, after studying these issues and teaching them, I began to understand more profound and broader implications of biblical authority.1 For example, all the matters related to biblical counseling because of the human need in a world affected by sin and its consequences.

I have seen firsthand the consequences of sin in my own heart and in the lives of those with whom I’ve shared the Christian life over 20 years, pastoring in a local church. Therefore, although I do not pretend to express everything that could be said, I would humbly like to share “some advice for counselors.”

An Ancient Battle

A first piece of advice is to remember that although we know all of Scripture is central for the edification, encouragement, and comfort of the believer (2 Timothy 3:15–17), Genesis—especially the first 11 chapters—is the historical foundation on which all our doctrine is based, either directly or indirectly.

In this historical narrative, we learn about the origins of all created things, everything that came into existence by the Word of God (Hebrews 11:3). We see that everything was made good and beautiful (Ecclesiastes 3:11), according to God’s eternal purposes and for his glory. Here we find, for example, the origin of marriage, the foundation of identity, and the purpose of humanity in relation to the Creator.

In the beginning, humankind lived in a correct relationship with God and creation. This was so until God’s counsel was intentionally challenged in the temptation of the serpent to Eve. Genesis 3 narrates that key moment when the Word of God was attacked.

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1–5)

This is an attack in two phases and becomes the paradigm for how Satan tries to distort and deny the Word of God. I agree with what Joe Owen comments on this:

Although more could be said about how the serpent (actually misused) the Word of God, we can generally say that the way he deceived Eve was a two-phase attack:

1. Attack on the content of God’s Word.
2. Attack on the purpose of God’s Word.2

With the first question (“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”), Satan attacks the content of God’s Word and questions its good counsel. Satan, with just a hint, leads Eve to think that what God proposes may not be so beneficial or might have some complexity or hidden intention. Satan was very clever and subtle in this first phase to not directly contradict God’s revelation and intentions (he simply introduces doubt).

The second phase of Satan’s attack is to deny what God says (“You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”)

Thus, Satan attacks both the content and the purpose of God’s Word. He aims to undermine the trust that we should place in God’s Word.

The second phase of Satan’s attack is to deny what God says.

A second piece of advice is to be very aware of Satan’s strategy! Satan has never stopped using this strategy! Of course, if something works, why stop using it? This method has proven effective. He continues to work at corrupting the truth and ultimately denying it in a kind of progression.

This ancient battle has unfolded throughout history, and not everyone realizes this struggle, which is based on the foundational question of what authority defines and interprets reality. Ken Ham comments on this:

Throughout the centuries, God’s Word has been under attack in different ways in different periods of history, and God’s people have had to deal with these attacks while contending for the faith. We must ask ourselves: What is the Genesis 3 attack in our time in history? What is the “Did God really say?” attack of our day that will be used to make people doubt and finally not believe God’s Word?3

A third piece of advice is to be careful not to think that you are immune to this strategy. One could come to believe that we are not at risk of being deceived like what happened in Genesis regarding matters that the Bible addresses. Scripture is clear about the nature of this spiritual battle (2 Corinthians 10:3–5), and that reminds us of our deep need to depend on and return continually to God and his Word (Ephesians 6:10–18). In this way, we can protect ourselves from the deception that seeks to attack both the content and the purpose of the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 10:12).

This strategy of attack is aimed at the foundation of our Christian worldview: the Word of the Lord. The Apostle Paul warns the Corinthian church about this risk!

For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:2–3)

We do not always realize the nature of this battle or the intricate structure of thoughts and assumptions that shape our understanding of reality. Therefore, Paul expresses his fear and at the same time warns believers about the risk of being deceived into believing lies and not faithfully believing the truth revealed by God. In this battle, there is no middle ground. We must either have God’s Word as our starting point or the word of men as the final authority for interpreting reality. Join us in Part 2 for more advice for counselors.

Without a doubt. Today, we face a “battle” for the throne. There is a significant array of false gospels fighting to take the throne and be the authority for humankind. These false gospels are built on flawed foundations and offer empty hopes of integral help. They stem from unbiblical worldviews, the result of erroneous metanarratives attempting to compete with the true story of redemption.

The secular worldview—with its flawed response to questions like “What is man?” and “What is his need or problem?”—dominates not only secular environments but even some churches. It employs a naturalistic and evolutionary anthropology that does not glorify the Creator and ultimately brings ruin to mankind (Romans 1:21–32).

If we want to help mankind, we must always be prepared to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15), based on the counsel God has revealed in his Word from the very first verse.

Therefore, if we want to help mankind, we must always be prepared to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15), based on the counsel God has revealed in his Word from the very first verse.

Since When Does Mankind Require Counsel?

Second Peter 1:3 states that divine counsel is sufficient for everything mankind needs for life and godliness. But chronologically, Genesis is the historical account that shows humanity depending on divine counsel, even before the fall (Genesis 2). Humanity was created for God (Revelation 4:11) to depend on him (Acts 17:28) and his counsel (Isaiah 30:1; Psalm 1:1–2). We were not created to be autonomous or independent!

The author of Ecclesiastes says, “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). This means that life without divine counsel becomes vain, absurd, and meaningless. If humanity wants to correctly answer the important questions of life (Where do we come from? What is the purpose of our lives? How should we live? Where are we going?), it must interpret facts within the framework of divine counsel.

From the beginning, man was created to be directed (Psalm 32:8–9), sustained (Matthew 4:4), and transformed (2 Timothy 3:16–17) by divine counsel (“In the beginning was the Word . . .” John 1:1). This is not intrinsic to human nature but comes from outside ourselves.

This reveals a risk. What happens when the counsel man receives and accepts is flawed or insufficient? Remember what happened in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve followed Satan’s counsel.

If God’s Word Is Not Followed, Ruin Is Inevitable.

Satan continues trying to seduce humans into believing his deceitful counsel by promoting supposed autonomy, which is ultimately destructive. Satan, the father of lies, seeks to deceive through hollow philosophies and deceptive reasoning (Colossians 2:8). A prime example of this is secular views of origins, which has even infiltrated the church.

The attack from evolutionists on the biblical narrative of Genesis is not merely about God as Creator but also about the implications: If God is the Creator, he sets the rules. He is the universal Lawgiver, the source of the moral law that governs all creation.

Evolutionists have misinterpreted the facts.

Evolutionists have misinterpreted the facts. Their errors extend beyond geology, cosmology, and biology to anthropology. They misdefine humanity and its problem, as well as the means, cause, and purpose for which everything exists.

This attack is rebellion against the truth. It seeks to suppress the truth by their unrighteousness (Romans 1:18–25). This rebellion, which rejects God as Creator and Lawgiver, has led to the gangrene of relativism (2 Timothy 2:16–18). We live in a world without a firm standard for life’s choices and decisions. We desperately need a reliable source of authority—a source of counsel that enables us to live and live abundantly (John 10:10; Romans 5:17).

It is essential to note that while general revelation leaves humanity without excuse regarding God’s existence, it is insufficient to comprehensively address human need and glorify God. We need his special revelation. We need all of God’s counsel from the very first verse.

The Genesis of the Authority of God’s Word for Counseling

Most counseling books focus on New Testament passages to guide the church in providing counsel for humanity.

• Ephesians 4 speaks of the biblical process of change and contrasts God’s counsel with human counsel, highlighting the futility of the unregenerate mind.
• Romans 6 teaches about dying to sin and becoming servants of righteousness.
• James 1 addresses resisting temptation and the consequences of unrepented sin.
• 2 Peter 1 confirms that everything we need for life and godliness has been given to us through the knowledge of God who revealed himself.

These are very important pieces of advice, but it is also very important to understand that the origin of counseling was developed in Genesis. It is the foundation of all of God’s special revelation. It is the foundation of all the counseling we need.

What Does Genesis Provide as the Foundation for Counseling?

• We are told that God created everything in a wonderful, amazing way! We are informed that God is capable of bringing all things into existence through his Word and shaping them in six 24-hour days (Genesis 1). This should fill us with awe, lead us to worship, make us give thanks, and trust because the One who can help us is the Almighty God.
• In it, the authority of the divine counsel is established above alternative counsels, such as Satan’s counsel (Genesis 3).
• God presents himself as the supreme authority, as the Creator of all. Therefore, God’s counsel stands above all other counsel.
• We see the counselor (God) in sessions with his counselee (Adam), even before the fall.
• In Genesis 1, we clearly see the position of God and man. We are not autonomous; we did not create ourselves (Psalm 100:3). The Lord is our God. We belong to him, by him, and for him—to him be the glory forever (see Romans 11:36).
• We witness the first of many rejections of divine counsel (Adam and Eve preferred a different counsel than the one given by God).
• We see the beginning of the effects of the curse of sin (Genesis 3–11), which increases the need for biblical counsel.
• Despite the disastrous consequences of sin, we see the hope of redemption given by God in his gospel. (Genesis 3:15 prophetically announces that Jesus would come to redeem what was lost.)

This is part of everything God has given us in the first chapters of Genesis.

Another important aspect to consider about the origin of counseling is that the account in Genesis must be historically true because how could we maintain our trust in the entire Word of God if the first chapters of Genesis are not true? How could we use the entire Word of God in counseling if it were dubious in any part?

Satan knows that if trust in the historical narrative of Genesis falls, trust in the rest of Scripture will gradually fall as well.

Genesis 1–11 is the portion of Scripture that has been most attacked. Satan knows that if trust in the historical narrative of Genesis falls, trust in the rest of Scripture will gradually fall as well.

What Would Happen if the First Chapters of Genesis Were Not True?

If the teaching of Genesis 1 and 2 is not reliable, why should we believe anything else in the Bible?

• If there were no creation as described in Genesis, why should we believe what John wrote in John 1:1–4, 14?

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

• Why should we believe what Paul says in Colossians 1:13–18, which presents Christ as the Creator and Sustainer of everything?

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

• Why should we believe the words of Peter in 2 Peter 3:11–13?

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

God will destroy the entire universe that he created in the beginning. He has the power to destroy everything quickly, just as he has the power to create everything quickly (Genesis 1).

It is therefore necessary to have the same determination that the Apostle Paul had before the elders of Miletus:

I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house. . . . I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. . . . For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. . . . Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:20–32

For Paul, all of God’s counsel is useful for admonishing (counseling) believers! Paul valued all Scripture (from the first to the last verse) as the authoritative and sufficient source for counseling, edifying, and glorifying God.

¿Cuál es tu identidad? No need to run to an online translator! This means “What is your identity?” which is the theme of our 12^th annual Día Latino outreach on October 18–19, 2024.

For the past 12 years, the Creation Museum and (since its opening in 2016) the Ark Encounter have held a special event for our Spanish-speaking neighbors in the US and abroad. Each year, interpreters throughout the exhibits receive a multitude of guests, who engage in a time of worship and learn from a special guest speaker. And 2024 will be no exception!

On Friday, October 18, we are anticipating hundreds of Spanish speakers in the Creation Museum. At the start of the day, a Spanish-speaking volunteer will greet them, and they will have the option to see the popular planetarium program Created Cosmos in Spanish.

Throughout the day, they can enjoy all the museum has to offer (while having the option of interacting with an interpreter at each major exhibit station), participate in a workshop on apologetics in biblical counseling with Arturo Valdebenito (engineer, ACBC-certified biblical counselor, and AiG speaker), then sit down with their families in Legacy Hall to hear an interpreted talk by Martyn Iles titled Living in Babylon.

Then, on Saturday, October 19, we expect even more Spanish speakers at the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY. Our guests will also be greeted by a Spanish-speaking volunteer on their way to enjoy the numerous attractions and exhibits. They will also have the option of a buffet at Emzara’s Kitchen, but with a bonus—the buffet will add a few popular options throughout many Spanish-speaking regions. Finally, after a full day of family fun and learning, our guests will sit in the Answers Center for a special talk from our Founder CEO, Ken Ham. His talk, Divided Nation, will be simultaneously interpreted. After a short break, they will enjoy a time of worship with the praise band from Aliento de Vida, a church in Queens, NY, and learn from a panel about identity. This panel will serve to answer questions for parents, leaders, and young adults on what it means to be made in the image of God and what our Creator has revealed in his Word about his design by making us either men or women.

The panel will include Dr. Georgia Purdom (PhD in molecular genetics), Laura González de Chávez (director of Aviva Nuestros Corazones—Revive Our Hearts for Latin America), Laura Perry-Smalts (author of Transgender to Transformed), Dr. Víctor Tiburcio (pastor of Aliento de Vida in NY, founder and CEO of Aliento Visión television network, and founder of UNILIMI University in NY and North Carolina), Abby Owen (AiG speaker and co-author of Why Did God Make Me a Boy and Why Did God Make Me a Girl), and yours truly (Joe Owen, director of the Languages Department, International Outreach at AiG, author of Gender & Sexuality, and co-author of Why Did God Make Me a Boy and Why Did God Make Me a Girl?).

On both Friday and Saturday, our guests will have access to numerous resources in Spanish. Whether tailored to adults, youth, or children, each one offers answers to refute

the lies of today’s secular movements and ideologies, which attempt to compete with and replace what Scripture offers as the only truth.

As you can see, this event will not only offer biblically sound entertainment and learning for the whole family but also provide a space where guests can get answers on how to raise their children and minister in a world darkened with confusion and sin. And as in all our attractions, exhibits, resources, and conferences, Christ will be exalted by pointing our guests to the hope that is only in his gospel.

I encourage you to help us spread the word! You can write to us at info@respuestasengenesis.org or call us at (859) 727-5438 if you have any questions or would like promotional material to share with your Spanish-speaking neighbors, coworkers, and family.

It is a privilege to serve the Lord through what we do at Answers in Genesis. During the last few weeks, Joe Owen and I visited several churches. We were blessed to serve in the western United States (Oregon) and southeastern Canada (Toronto). But I consider the highlight of this tour to be sharing with a group from Florida who visited us at the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter.

How encouraging it was to see the firm conviction of these pastors and church leaders. They again traveled over 15 hours to have a biblical worldview training time together with their youth—again! Yes, 2017 was the first time they did this, just one year after the Ark Encounter opened to the public on July 7, 2016.

Today, in 2024, these brothers continue to invest with great wisdom in passing on biblical convictions to the next generation. These biblical truths, they say passionately, not only allow them to know our living God but also shield them against current ideologies. I had time to talk with pastors and leaders about their work and how they believe no effort and prayer should be spared in preparing young people in apologetics. They want the young people to be able to give a biblical answer about their hope in Christ to all who ask for it (1 Peter 3:15) with humility and meekness.

We are so grateful for the honor and privilege of supporting the local church—we do not take these opportunities lightly.

Although we are generally more visible as expositors, many in our ministry are committed to the same thing. They all serve Christ and faithfully express it in serving the church and reaching the lost. Our International Outreach Ministry Coordination Supervisor is an example of that. Maria del Pilar Pierce took care of so many details with great diligence—she was at 1,000% (one thousand percent), as we say in my country (Chile).

It was an intense two days. Of course, training the next generation requires loving them and serving them systematically by teaching them the truths of the Lord’s Word. Wednesday was a full day at the museum; it was like walking through the pages of the Bible. There was a lot of content and a lot of clear and didactic learning, but it was also entertaining. They participated in our 4D cinema and the planetarium. They were also impressed by the exhibition on the sanctity of life (Fearfully and Wonderfully Made), The 7 C’s of History, Borderland, and many other world-class exhibits.

But that was not all! On Thursday, we continued the trip at the Ark Encounter.

On this occasion (and taking advantage of the fact that I was in Kentucky), I was able to accompany them and explain each section of the Ark step-by-step. Three groups of 40 people (at three separate times) were exposed to the biblical truth of the global flood and the gospel.

It wasn’t all teaching—we also had time to share and laugh. We had lunch together at Emzara’s Buffet, a huge (award-winning) two-story themed restaurant offering a variety of delicious main courses, salads, and desserts. It was a great time!

While some visited other areas of the park, such as the zoo and our virtual reality experience, I explained to the group walking with me that the Ark is a visible reminder of the judgment and mercy of our Lord and the truth of his Word. I encouraged them to stand on the authority of God’s Word and not to forget the Lord. Surely, this huge Ark is much more than a world-class tourist attraction—it is a monument to the truth of God’s Word and a reminder that, just as there was a global judgment on wickedness in the past, another judgment will come: the final judgment. It was also a reminder that God, in his grace and mercy, has provided a way of salvation. Just as all those onboard the Ark had to pass through the one door to be saved, so we have to pass through the one Door, Jesus Christ, to be saved (John 10:9).

I think it is good to ask ourselves where else young people will learn (with such impact) how observational science confirms what the Bible teaches. Where else will they be encouraged to think about the gospel within the context of a historical and scientifically verifiable book? Where will they better understand that the Bible is not a legend but the true story of everything—their own story? Where will they be able to connect the relationship of science and biblical truth in such a didactic and content-driven way?

At Answers in Genesis, we want to be a tool for local churches to train the next generation. Many written and audio-visual resources are available. But without a doubt, visiting the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in person leaves a firm impression in the hearts of believers and even non-believers. We want to always serve, honor, and respect the local church, which is the visible manifestation of the church—the bride of Christ—of which we are a part.

Visit us, and let us serve you and help you lay a foundation on the authority of God’s eternal Word. Don’t forget, this is a place to train the next generation.

If you are planning a retreat or church camp at any time or would like a tour and a talk in Spanish during your stay, please contact us in advance, and we will do our best to serve you during your visit.

Answers in Genesis (AiG) is a creation apologetics ministry that has always had a worldwide focus. We not only celebrate what God is doing through AiG in the US but also in many other parts of the world for his glory.

On October 19-20, 2019, the Latin American ministry of AiG held its first Mega Conference in México.

Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, October 16, Dr. Danny Faulkner, AiG astronomer, shared biblical astronomy at the Christian school “Colegio Gracia Dei” and at the church “Iglesia Bíblica Vida Nueva” both in Querétaro, México.

On Thursday, Dr. Faulkner and I went to the “Instituto Tecnológico Nacional de México” (National Technological Institute of México), one of the most well-known tech colleges in México. Dr. Faulkner spoke about design in astronomy and, based on Psalm 19, compared to cosmological and astrophysical observations. Being a public college, we didn’t know how things would go. The auditorium packed out! Students had to make three additional rows of floor seating in front of the platform and had to fill up the sides either sitting or standing. Also, the Dean and Director of the institute sat in on the platform for the entire presentation.

After the talk, we held a round of Q&A. Just as we had answered many good questions, the Director told us that children from another Mexican state, who arrived in a few buses, were visiting the university’s planetarium. The Director asked if Dr. Faulkner would mind speaking to them. We were not expecting that honor!

That afternoon, we travelled to Tamascalapa, in the State of México, one hour north of México City to set up for the Mega Conference and to receive the rest of the AiG staff who was flying in.

On Saturday, October 19, Ken Ham, AiG founder and CEO, opened the Mega Conference with a talk on Genesis and the Seven C’s of History, then followed with One Race, One Blood. These topics are vital for every country and culture. They present a biblical message to equip the church and to challenge a lost world. It’s exactly what the human race needs (Acts 17:26). The audience of over 5,000 people was challenged to get equipped, and so it did! An impressive variety of AiG books were available in Spanish, and the attendees took advantage of it.

The conference continued with Dr. Danny Faulkner’s presentation on UFOs. This talk hit home because of the numerous rumors of aliens that pique the interest of so many people. He offered many biblical pieces of evidence of the habitability of planet Earth in creation and the tight connection to naturalism behind much of the alien hunts. Next, I shared about Genesis and Biblical Sexuality as the push for breaking every tie with biblical marriage is worldwide. There is great confusion within the church about how to deal with the barrage of propaganda forced on her. The attendees received sound, biblical, and firm teaching provided with compassion as well. Finally, to end the evening, Capt. Barry Wilmore, an active astronaut with NASA, shared videos and pictures from the International Space Station and explained how what he has experienced shows him the glory of God as Creator.

The next morning, the conference closed with Dr. Faulkner sharing about the growing Flat-Earth movement and how Scripture and science refute this growing fad. He was careful to show how this is harming churches and is only supported by a twisting of Scripture. Finally, I finished with a talk about apologetics with a gospel focus.

What a privilege it was to have Ken Ham, Dr. Danny Faulkner, and an active NASA astronaut in México to show love, to encourage, and to challenge the church with her doctrine of creation (1 Timothy 3:15). I believe it is safe to say that most Christians have experienced how the world sometimes shows more creativity and attention to detail to promote its false worldview. It is very refreshing and challenging to see Christians bringing a well-prepared conference, with expert speakers, and world-class technology to present a defense of the Christian faith. Even though we depend solely on the power of the gospel to save, we cannot use that as an excuse to be lazy. I am grateful with the leadership of Answers in Genesis for investing in Latin America, with the bookstore and cafe (Papiro52), and with ICIAR (Iglesia Cristiana Interdenominacional AR) which hosted this conference and invested in front-line technology, chairs, building, etc. to get the gospel message to thousands of people.

The large turnout for our first AiG Mega Conference in México is just one example of the need for creation apologetics in Spanish-speaking countries. Only in the last month, our AiG team has taught in two stadiums in Perú, had a formal debate at the National University of Colombia, Bogotá, Campus, and spoken to thousands of people in the cities of Bogotá and Medellín in Colombia. Even though, as I write this, the news is full of terrible things happening in many Latin American countries, the Lord is doing great things in Latin America in His church. It is a great time to come alongside these countries as our family in Christ and serve. It is a great time to be with Answers in Genesis.

Thankful for your prayers,
Joe Owen

I recently participated in a series of conferences throughout Chile, South America. We went through the cities of Chillán, La Serena, and Santiago with Dr. Stuart Burgess, a university professor in England and spacecraft designer for NASA and ESA (European Space Agency), as well as with engineer Arturo Valdebenito of the Sapiencia Foundation in Chile. God opened the doors for us to proclaim the infallible Word of God at various universities, schools, and churches for which I am very grateful. He also provided some unique opportunities as we did ministry. We were granted the privilege of a private meeting with the mayor of Chillán, Sergio Zarzar, and the governor of Diguillín, Paola Becker Villa, attended one of the conferences.

Chillán’s City Hall in Chile with (from left to right) Prof. Luis Vigorou, Arturo Valdebenito, Prof. Fernando Escobar, Prof. Leonardo Uribe Hernández, Sr. Sergio Zarzar (mayor of Chillán), Dr. Stuart Burgess, Prof. Joe Owen, Sr. Diego Flores.

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A time of teaching and prayer with our distinguished hosts. Joe Owen talks about our ministry Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter to the mayor of Chillán, Sergio Zarsar.

Chillán’s Mayor, Sergio Zarzar, is a gracious gentleman. He comes from an Israeli family and was born in Bethlehem. He listened attentively to our message and then spoke to us about the veracity of the Scriptures and the tremendous impact the evangelical community has had in the area. From there, we were able to talk to him of the eternal hope offered by Another who was also born in Bethlehem. In the end, he allowed me to pray for him.

Starting the tour in Chillán. Dr. Stuart Burgess shares on Creation Design and how it has influenced his work when he designs.

That same day, we launched the tour in Chillán, sponsored by the Sapiencia Foundation. To our great surprise, in the front row sat governor Paola Becker Villa from the Provincia of Diguillín, to which the City of Chillán belongs. At first, she told us that due to other commitments, she could only stay an hour, but ultimately, she stayed for two whole talks and was highly fascinated with the content presented. Afterward in an interview, she expressed her gratitude. Until now she had not been able to find answers to many doubts she had concerning the Bible, but they were answered at the conference.

Governor Paola Becker Villa attending one of our talks by Answers in Genesis.

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Governor Paola Becker Villa reading the book The Lie, by Ken Ham, in Spanish as she waits for the talk to start.

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Governor Becker expressing her thanks for the talk that was given.

God is using Answers in Genesis as a tool throughout many countries of the world to answer people's doubts about the veracity and historicity of the biblical account of origins. We always take advantage of these opportunities to exalt the name of Christ, who offers the forgiveness of our sins through the gift of salvation, before the participants of our events and the readers of our material. As the Psalmist says, "I will also speak of your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame” (Psalm 119:46).

With all our blessings come also challenges. I want to take this opportunity to present you with two challenges and ask you, dear readers, a great favor.

The first challenge: Apologetics (the defense of the Christian faith) is growing not only in Hispanic countries, but also around the world, and every believer is responsible for how they use this information. Answers in Genesis offers tools to equip the Church and challenge the skeptics with a biblical gospel. Although we use lots of pieces of evidence, we always submit them to the authority of the Scriptures, since any evidence used to "authenticate" the Bible itself is submitted to the erroneous, fallible and clouded reasoning of man.

I recognize the hand of God in our ministry, but I can also discern the subtleness of more liberal and dangerous ideas used in apologetics that deny the authority of the Bible not only in Hispanic countries but also around the world. I pray the Lord may unite us in truth to carry the unadulterated message of the gospel (which is found in Genesis 1: 1 through Revelation 22:21) to a lost world. And if the history of the Church is to teach us something, it is that God only blesses these efforts whenever we return to his infallible and inerrant Word.

The second challenge is that we should not be ashamed of the Word of God (with all its historical affirmations: beginning with creation, the global flood, etc.) before a skeptical world. There may be a temptation for many to present a diluted form of the gospel that may seem more compliant and less dogmatic to a skeptical world, but the problem is spiritual, not intellectual. No person will be lost because they could not reconcile historical, natural, and spiritual claims of the Bible with a "neutral" intellect.

Participants in conferences of Santiago.

And the favor that I ask you is to pray for us. It is not easy to stand before professors and students in universities and present the gospel, while several of them are just waiting for the right moment to pounce and discredit the message. It is not easy to travel from city to city, country to country, and maintain a noble and humble spirit before so many people, in so many circumstances and, at the same time, attend to the families we leave at home. Please, pray for us as you are part of this essential team that brings before the throne of glory the work he has commanded us to do.

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:18–19)

Let us continue proclaiming the hope and light of the gospel in this fallen and darkened world with one common goal: Soli Deo Gloria! (To God be the Glory!)

Thankful for your prayers,
Joe Owen

One of the best investments that Answers in Genesis offers to the church in Latin America is training pastors and leaders. We currently teach intensive courses in Spanish in eight seminaries throughout five Spanish-speaking countries. Students receive anywhere from 12 to 40 hours of in-depth, biblical teaching on the Relevance of Genesis as well as on defense of a literal interpretation of Genesis 1–11. Students also receive answers to the most gnawing questions, learn about different popular theories of interpretation that undermine the gospel and how to respond with compelling arguments.

We have just returned from outreach at the Seminario Bautista Berea de Colombia (Berea Baptist Seminary of Colombia) near Bogota, the capital of Colombia. The seminary had invited AiG to hold a conference and to give a five-day teaching session for their students.

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The conference took place on Saturday, January 19, and, even though the seminary is about an hour drive from Bogota, more than 800 people traveled to attend the event. Then, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., we taught creation apologetics to a group of 115+ students, pastors, and leaders. It was interesting, as usual, to meet so many church leaders who had been influenced by secular theories and to see how that influence had affected the way they interpreted the first chapters of the Bible. We not only taught but also spent many hours answering doubts as eyes were wide open in astonishment. This kind of teaching on Genesis 1–11 was new to many of them, and they were excited about it! As you can see in the first video, many lives were changed, and now, we pray that this conviction can be passed on to the members of their respective churches throughout Colombia to take a stand of biblical truths.

Although extensive, the conference and training were not enough. That is why we are so thrilled to have distributors in Colombia who not only received resources from the US for those events but also printed 1000 copies of La Mentira (The Lie) by Ken Ham. These resources flew off the shelf! Now, coming home, I am very thankful to the Lord that those Christian leaders and pastors have a week’s worth of notes and an armful of AiG books in Spanish to use in equipping Colombian churches to take a stand on the truth: a stand on God’s Word from the very first verse.

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During the conference, we also witnessed how AiG is being used to minister! Michael, a third-semester seminary student, shared with us how he came to know the Lord in 2015 at AiG’s first conference in Colombia! Now, he is a full-time seminary student and is being equipped in apologetics so he can do the same for others!

Many who read this support Answers in Genesis, and some of you possibly are being moved to do so now. Please know that when you support AiG, the countless people throughout other countries thank you. People like Michael thank you too. Please pray for us.

En Cristo,
Joe Owen
Answers in Genesis Latin America

The Spanish version of Ken Ham’s radio ministry Answers with Ken Ham plays every weekday in radio stations throughout Latin America and is known as Respuestas Hoy. Starting this month, it is now being played every weekday throughout all of the Galápagos islands. What an opportunity! These 90 second teaching spots are played on a secular radio station only 5 minutes before the daily evening news.

The fame of these islands reaches back to Darwin’s journey on the HMS Beagle in the mid 19th century where he observed the different sizes and shapes of finch beaks. Later, his observations were used as evidence to promote his ideas on the origin of all animals and man via evolutionary processes (molecules-to-man evolution). Since then, these islands off the coast of Ecuador would be known for their Darwinian association and are the destination of well over 200,000 intrigued visitors per year.9

Answers in Genesis is very honored to partner with a local ministry Radio Enfoque of Iglesia Bautista de la Fe to now fill the airwaves of these islands with true, biblical, and scientific teaching on origins without the naturalistic slant. These radio spots are designed to undo false arguments of origins and to provide real, biblical answers that show people that Genesis 1–11 gives us both the inerrant account of God for origins and the historical foundation for all Christian doctrines, whether directly or indirectly, which includes the gospel. Yes, this teaching not only points hearers to the Creator of the universe but also to his redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.

This is only one of the ways that God is using AiG’s new Latin American headquarters to challenge the church on a worldwide scale to trust in God’s Word from the very first verse and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to all tribes, tongues, and nations.

This past week, students at the esteemed Río Grande Bible Seminary in Edinburgh, Texas, were equipped with more than eight hours of training on creation apologetics to start out first semester of 2018. This is a Spanish-speaking seminary that holds a long tradition of equipping ministers from all corners of Latin America to carry the torch of the gospel to the next generation.

Río Grande Bible Seminary Students

Joe Owen of Answers in Genesis–Latin America (which recently opened as a headquarters for Spanish speaking ministry of Answers in Genesis in Mexico) not only gave a textual, historical, and scientific defense of a literal interpretation of Genesis 1–11 as historical narrative, but spent much time focusing on the relevance of Genesis as the historical foundation, whether directly or indirectly, for all Christian doctrine. At one point he asked, “so how many believe that diseases like cancer, suffering and death are all part of the pre-Fall creation?” At that point the light turned on and with eyes wide open, they shook their heads in the negative.

The campus at Río Grande is just simply impressive! Joe’s thoughts about the seminary were that the staff work hard not only to theologically prepare their students for ministry but also he noted their pastoral heart for the spiritual wellbeing of every one of them. Answers in Genesis considers it a privilege to have partners in ministry like Río Grande Bible Seminary who take a firm stand on God’s Word from the very first verse.

A lot has happened here at our Hispanic International Outreach Ministry this past year, from successfully celebrating our fifth Día Latino to ending the year with opening our new Latin America offices in Mexico. Along the way we have seen God work in all these amazing and positive changes, allowing us to look back in awe at 2017 and sum it up in one word—blessed.

Among our blessings, the Lord allowed us to open up two new Facebook pages to promote the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter to our Hispanic community.

• Facebook.com/CreationMuseumLatino
• Facebook.com/ArkEncounterLatino

Check us out and Like us!

Among our privileges and challenges we can count sharing God’s Truth in different Latin American countries. God has continued not only to open doors to spread his gospel in secular universities, and knock down many intellectual strongholds that have risen in the Hispanic culture, but also to open the eyes and ears to a people thirsty for the truth in their own native language: Spanish. We have been privileged to join God in his work for many years now. He continues to provide opportunities for us to go into many countries in Latin America and share the message of Answers in Genesis—that Jesus is the only door by which we can be saved and that the use of apologetics can knock down any roadblock that might hinder this message. We are deeply humbled and honored that we are able to partake in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15).

We have been privileged to join God in his work for many years now.

May this new year be one that is continuously marked by our service for his kingdom, and may the cry of our hearts always be Soli Deo Gloria. For he alone is worthy and for him alone do we labor in this world.

We give 2018, filled with endless possibilities, to our Lord so we may exalt his name around the globe and follow wherever he may lead. We thank you for your prayers, and we covet them for this new year.

—The Hispanic International Outreach Ministry

One of the many outreaches that the Creation Museum has is our yearly Día Latino where hundreds of Spanish-speaking guests travel from all over the US and parts of Canada to enjoy a family experience that the Creation Museum gives to guests throughout the year, but in their own language.

At last year’s Día Latino more than 35 Spanish-speaking scientists and other Spanish-speaking volunteers traveled from other states and were positioned throughout the Creation Museum to give summaries of each room of exhibits in Spanish as the guests made their way through the Seven C’s of History tour. Also, scientists and employees of Answers in Genesis were stationed in key locations to give translated workshops for families as they made their way through.

After lunch, almost 800 guests filled the museum’s Legacy Hall to enjoy a concert of biblical creation music from Answers in Genesis’ first Spanish CD, sung by Herald Iglecias, who flew in from Honduras just to sing at this event. After enjoying Spanish renditions of Buddy Davis’ “Behemoth is a Dinosaur” and “D is for Dinosaur,” Joe Owen shared a lecture about Dinosaurs and the Bible. There were other activities in Spanish like a Snakes Alive workshop and video presentations in Legacy Hall and the Special Effects Theater, all in the Spanish language. See the action for yourself below!

We are very grateful for the turnout, but it is now time to pray and roll up our sleeves for this year’s upcoming event! October 1, 2016, will be our Fourth Día Latino! And this year, there will be even more activities and surprises for our guests!

One of the exciting aspects of the Creation Museum’s ministry is the “reach” of the outreach as we are given the privilege to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, while unashamedly standing on the authority of God’s Word to the different people groups and languages around us!

Find out more about Día Latino 2016.