Chris Underwood has wanted to bring Answers in Genesis to Highland Baptist Church, Florence, for more than two years. It seemed like an unlikely goal as Answers in Genesis, an apologetics ministry dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and effectively proclaim the gospel, normally only conducts conferences in cities much larger than Florence, but where there’s a will there’s a way. On Feb. 28–29, Highland Baptist will host its first Answers in Genesis conference.
“Christians need to be equipped to answer both those who are skeptical and those who are genuinely seeking truth,” said Underwood, associate pastor for education and senior adults at Highland. “This conference will help them do that.”
With morning and evening sessions on both days, the conference will address a variety of topics from dinosaurs to Noah’s flood using Genesis to “relate the relevance of a literal Genesis to today’s world,” according to Answers in Genesis’ website.
“If Genesis 1–11 are not true, then nothing about our faith is valid,” said Underwood, emphasizing the importance of conferences such as this one. “Jesus Himself testified to the veracity of Genesis (chapters) 1–11 several times during His earthly ministry with respect to marriage, salvation and God’s sovereign purpose in creation and redemption.”
Conference speakers will be Terry Mortenson — historian of geology, theologian, speaker, author and researcher — and Ken Ham — president, CEO and founder of Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum.
While the conference is free and open to all ages, Underwood suggests it will be most beneficial for those over the age of 10. On Feb. 29, however, Ham will lead two sessions designed for children and adolescents. Child care will be provided for children up to three years old and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The schedule for the conference will be:
Feb. 28
9 a.m. — “Genesis & the State of the Culture” (Broadway Fellowship Campus)
9 a.m. — “Dinosaurs: Have You Been Brainwashed?” (youth/college session)
10:15 a.m. — “Genesis & the State of the Culture”
6 p.m. — “One Blood, One Race”
7:30 p.m. — “Millions of Years: Where Did the Idea Come From?”
Feb. 29
9 a.m. — “Dinosaurs for Kids” (grades K–6)
11 a.m. — “Science Confirms the Bible” (grades 7–12)
6:30 p.m. — “Communicating the Christian Message in a Secular World”
8 p.m. — “Noah’s Flood: Washing Away Millions of Years”
With the exception of the 9 a.m. “Genesis & the State of the Culture” session Feb. 28, all sessions will take place at the church at 219 Simpson Street in Florence. The 9 a.m. “Genesis & the State of the Culture” session will take place at Highland’s Broadway Fellowship campus at 3215 Huntsville Road in Florence.
For more information on the Answers in Genesis conference, visit answersoutreach.org/Florence16. John Brock is pastor of Highland.
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