Answers in Genesis: What’s in a Name?

First of all, let’s consider names. Names are very important, and names have power—in many ways, names define us. When God created in Genesis 1, for instance, he named the day and night. He named Adam and instructed him to name the animals. Adam gave the name “Eve” to his wife as she was to be the mother of all the living.

The legal entity of what is now Answers in Genesis was established in December 1993 under a temporary name—Creation Science Ministries. However, one of the main agenda items for our first in-person board meeting in 1994 was to establish the permanent name of the organization. That’s when—after much discussion and prayer and for many reasons (many of which I will outline below)—we came up with the name “Answers in Genesis.”

By the way, this year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Answers in Genesis’ forming! Praise the Lord.

Now, Answers reflects the importance of apologetics, and Genesis reflects our stand on biblical authority from the very first verse—and shows that Genesis 1–11 is the foundation for all doctrine, the rest of the Bible, and our Christian worldview.

Genesis 1–11 is foundational to everything—every doctrine, the gospel, everything!

Recently, Martyn Iles, a well-known Christian leader, told me that when he’s answering questions about moral issues like gender, marriage, etc., he says, “The answer’s in Genesis.” Then he added, “Actually, the answer’s always in Genesis.” And that’s true, it is! Genesis 1–11 is foundational to everything—every doctrine, the gospel, everything! Which means, the name “Answers in Genesis” will always be relevant no matter what the issue or what’s happening in the church or culture. Wow! God certainly led us to the right name.

(By the way, we invited Martyn back to speak this year at our Answers Homeschool Experience, May 8–12, as well as our Answers for Pastors & Leaders conference, October 3–5.)

Recently, a pastor friend of mine in Australia wrote to me in an email, “Martyn certainly [is] an important voice as he was one of the few public Christian voices willing to engage in the issues that were affecting people. He has been a real breath of fresh air to Christianity in Australia as in my . . . years of living here I’ve never seen such a clear and bold Christian voice who can engage both the culture and the church at the same time. And for someone with the biblical convictions that he has to have such a prominent impact in Australian society has been such a blessing.”

By the way, Martyn sent me this email a couple of years ago:

AiG had a major impact on me when I was growing up—I still remember a great big VHS series of talks by you and several others which sat in our TV cabinet. . . . The things I learned then are still with me today.

And what he learned, which is still with him today, is that the answers are always in Genesis!

Yes, names are important.

Secondly, pictures and illustrations are powerful. I’m sure you’ve heard the adage “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

Actually, ideas that are quite complex, or even multiple ideas, can be conveyed through one illustration. That’s why I use so many illustrations in my presentations. It helps me convey many important points that would take much more explanation and time if I didn’t use those illustrations.

I am going to share details of another aspect of the Answers in Genesis ministry that I believe will not only excite you but will also encourage you concerning the phenomenal impact of this ministry. This concerns names, logos, and how we brand all the various outreaches of this special ministry God has raised up for this time.

Did you know we have over 200 logos for the many different aspects of what we do through AiG? Logos are core representations of our brand. Our brand is the uniqueness of what we do. Each logo helps communicate specific parts of all that makes up our overall brand. All of our logos are like sections of a spiderweb anchored to a center, which is the “mother ministry” of Answers in Genesis.

As I go through seven of our major logos, you will see how important names and logos help us maintain our mission and vision. This graphic not only shows these seven major logos but also over 50 (of the 200) of what we would call our major logos and outreaches. Every time I look at these, I’m amazed at the impact AiG has had over the last 30 years in so many areas and I’m in awe of how God brought all the special people to this ministry to enable this to happen.

Answers in Genesis

At that 1994 board meeting, we made the commitment that the AiG ministry would be positioned as an evangelistic biblical authority ministry with an apologetics thrust. The word Answers with capital A is a defining “wordmark” of the ministry. The 1:1 logo is an open book that represents the Bible—our biblical authority emphasis, and 1:1 reminds us that we proclaim the authority of God’s Word from the very first verse. And of course, the word Genesis is there, as Genesis 1–11 is the foundation for everything.

Creation Museum

As our first attraction, the Creation Museum was designed to make our main teaching messages come alive with clarity for the public. The font is meant to give a feeling of science and technology as we want people to understand that true science does confirm the Bible’s history, and we can answer today’s so-called scientific attacks on God’s Word. The Creation Museum’s emphasis is one of definitive teaching/education for all ages.

Ark Encounter

We pray most of all that they have an encounter with Jesus Christ and trust him for salvation.

The Ark is a big tourist draw from around the world. Cultures all over the world have heard of Noah’s ark and the flood. At the bottom of the word Ark, we see waves across the letters representing the global flood. The dove with the olive branch is a reminder of salvation, celebrating how God saved land animals and eight people who entered the one door of the ark to be saved. It’s also a reminder of the new world after the flood. The word Encounter means that we want people to come and have an encounter with the Ark, and in doing so have an encounter with God’s Word and the gospel. We pray most of all that they have an encounter with Jesus Christ and trust him for salvation.

Answers Academy

As a major component of our education program, our Answers Academy (K–12) Christian school’s strategic plan is to impact Christian schools and homeschools nationally and internationally with the importance of teaching a true biblical worldview (less than 6% of Christian schools teach a truly biblical worldview). As part of this, we are producing biblically based worldview curricula and eventually online programs to help Christian schools and homeschools around the world. The logo has a torch with three flames coming out of the open Bible, representing the active shining of the light of God’s Word to generations so that they, in turn, can shine the light. The three flames represent the Trinity. There are seven lines on each side, representing the creation week and the 7 C’s of History (Creation, Corruption, Catastrophe, Confusion, Christ, Cross, Consummation). The cross in the torch is a reminder that the message of salvation is the central aspect of Scripture, and the open Bible serves as a reminder that Scripture is foundational to our worldview and all doctrine.

Twelve Stones Curriculum

This is connected to Answers Academy and our educational department as we produce biblical worldview curricula for all levels in Christian education. The twelve stones come from the twelve stones of Joshua’s day and have the same meaning to remind the next generation of the truth of God’s Word. The stones are constructed as a cross as the gospel is the central message of God’s Word. The Bible is the foundation. And note the red ribbon, which is really a permanent bookmark, reminding people of the importance of reading and studying God’s Word over and over again.

Answers Bible Curriculum

AiG’s unique, powerful, four-year, chronological Bible curriculum (teaching apologetics, doctrine, worldview, and the gospel from Genesis to Revelation) is for church and homeschool. This curriculum is a resource for the church to help equip the family and thus all generations with the truth of God’s Word.

Answers TV

Once again, we use the Answers wordmark to connect to the apologetics and biblical authority ministry of Answers in Genesis. The use of TV shouts “television media!” This is our unique, God-honoring, family-friendly, Christian streaming service for all ages.

Now that’s just seven of our main outreaches! And we have another 50+ major outreaches. And that’s not all, as we have over 200 logos! Isn’t it amazing to see all that God is doing through this ministry? Thank you for being a part of this big family, shining the light brightly in such a dark world.

You can see from all we do why we need God’s people supporting us prayerfully and financially. We continue to push the edge to reach as many people as we can, and we couldn’t do that without your help.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.