Standing Together in the Battle for Souls

I have a very special true story to share with you today, and it involves a former Army Ranger. But first some background . . . .

When I began giving apologetics presentations on biblical creation in Australia (1970s), some people in the church were actually rather discouraging towards me. For instance, they would tell me that the teaching of evolution and millions of years was so pervasive in the culture (and the church) that it would be hopeless to have any impact.

I remember one person telling me I should just concentrate on “getting as many people saved as possible without trying to deal with such issues as creation/evolution, because everything would get worse anyway!”

I’m glad I didn’t listen to those naysayers over 30 years ago! In fact, I recall telling one person something like this:

If you start digging a coal mine with a teaspoon, it will take a long time to dig a hole. But the more people who start digging with you, the faster and greater the hole will become.

And then I started to tell people something like this:

God’s Word is like a major weapon. For me it’s as powerful as a “nuclear bomb”—the more that we can see people motivated to stand on God’s Word and proclaim the creation/gospel message, the more the impact can resound around the world.

I am often reminded that God’s Word uses a lot of military-type imagery to help us understand the real spiritual battle we are in—and how Christians need to be actively involved.

Here are some Scriptures in this regard:

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:11–17)

When I have read passages about the Israelites conquering the Promised Land, I have noticed that they can also be a picture of what the Christian life is like. We are in essence soldiers for the King—the King of Creation (our Creator God). And just like the Israelites, we have our own Jericho and Ai battles.

I am also reminded that God told the Israelites that “the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little” (Deuteronomy 7:22, emphasis added).

The Lord has brought many special people to the AiG ministry who have worked hard to impact lives as God has blessed. They share my passion to equip people to stand firm on God’s Word and defend the Christian faith.

Ever since the Lord directed me into the creation-apologetics ministry, I have had a burden to produce as many resources as we can (books, DVDs, curricula, and so on) and get them into as many people’s hands as possible.

I firmly believed that little by little, as people are equipped with the tools and weapons needed in the battle, they would impact the current and coming generations.

I have found it so thrilling for all of us at AiG to hear testimony after testimony from people who have been impacted by the ministry.

And that’s what I have seen happening. After over 30 years of working hard to proclaim the creation-gospel message around the world, I have found it so thrilling for all of us at AiG to hear testimony after testimony from people who have been impacted by the ministry. Furthermore, they are now teaching their children and impacting their church and friends.

Yes, I’m glad I didn’t listen to the naysayers 30 years ago!

Indeed, we at AiG have done our best to obey the calling God has given us. And just look at the incredible impact of so many outreaches that God has blessed:

• the Creation Museum has had 2.25 million visitors since opening; and attendance this year is even higher than last years
• the future Ark Encounter expects up to two million visitors a year
• the AiG website has up to 2.2 million users a month
• over 850 radio stations carry our “Answers” program
• our resource department has produced numerous books, DVDs, and faith-building curricula—thousands of churches are using AiG’s Sunday school and VBS curricula . . . and there is much more I could list.

The impact is staggering!

I write all this as a lead up to just one of the many examples of how the Lord has used AiG to impact a life, who then impacts others. We’ve seen many of these domino-like examples in the culture.

It was over 20 years ago that the incredible rescue operation and battle in Somalia that has become famously known as “Black Hawk Down” occurred (the movie Black Hawk Down depicted the extraordinary event). It is recognized as one of the most intense battles ever fought by US forces.

Although several of his comrades died and dozens were injured in the city of Mogadishu as hundreds of Somali militia swooped down on the American soldiers, Buck Wilford, an Army Ranger, came away unscratched from this intense firefight.

Buck, who retired as a Green Beret, is now a church planter and pastor of a church in Ohio.

Recently, Pastor Buck visited AiG and the Creation Museum. Our staff as well as the Christian leaders attending our pastors’ conference had the privilege of hearing Buck give an account of his experience in Somalia. I must admit: after learning what he and his comrades went through, I felt physically exhausted, as I heard Buck replay that incredible battle.

Pastor Buck . . . told us how God graciously spared his life and used his experiences to bring him to a point of committing his life to Him totally.

But Pastor Buck shared something else. He told us how God graciously spared his life and used his experiences to bring him to a point of committing his life to Him totally—and to give him a burden for reaching the lost.

Buck also shared how the ministry of AiG had impacted him and that he is now using AiG resources to reach souls for Christ. He told us how the Lord enabled him to attend the debate I had with Bill Nye “the Science Guy” earlier in the year—and how that event was life-changing for him.

After Buck spoke about God’s blessings in his life and the role AiG has played in his ministry, the pastors and AiG staff rose spontaneously to give him a standing ovation. I then interviewed Buck on the stage so that we could learn more about the impact AiG has had on his life.

We recorded Buck’s unique and powerful testimony—along with my short interview with him—and it’s now on DVD. I would like to make that video available to you this month.

Pastor Buck is just one of multi-thousands of people who have been impacted by the Lord using AiG, and now these Christians are touching lives around the globe.

Just as we have seen with Pastor Buck, the Lord is using AiG to help equip thousands upon thousands of “soldiers”—all doing battle for our King. Your prayerful and financial support of AiG is crucial to enable this ministry—yes little by little—to influence lives for Him. Praise God, the impact is growing exponentially.

Thank you for supporting Answers in Genesis, as we stand together in the battle for souls!