Honestly, there are many ways God is bringing good from this terrible situation, even among students and educators, and ICR is experiencing some of it within our own ministry. In response to the closure of schools and transition to distance learning for students across the world, we have begun offering FREE, online, LIVE creation science presentations that connect with current news events and provide a biblical perspective as the world continues to change around us. These presentations are offered by our own team of scientists, who are gifted experts in their respective fields.3
As students continue to learn from their places of residence, many continue to ask challenging questions about faith and science: How do dinosaurs fit with the Bible? Did God use the Big Bang to create the universe? Was the Genesis Flood really global? We’re meeting them right where they are to provide solid, faith-building answers to these questions and more.
After extending this offer via email and social media a couple of weeks ago, we were pleased to receive more than 100 inquiries in just a few days! The beauty of a virtual classroom is that it’s not limited to a particular geographic location. In fact, one of our first responses was from an educator in the Caribbean island of Trinidad. ICR geologist Dr. Tim Clarey spoke to their students using Zoom technology, bringing creation truth and the latest science news to a country thousands of miles away from ICR.
We’ve also received enthusiastic requests from Southern California, Florida, Minnesota, Texas, and Washington State, and multiple inquiries arrived from educators—and even churches—in France, Australia, Brazil, and the United Kingdom as well.
Here are a few encouraging comments we recently received:
“I was literally sitting down to prayerfully plan how best to teach my fourth grade class about the age of the Earth from a biblical worldview and searching for the best resources when your email came into my inbox... Thank you SO much for offering this service.” - Jenna R.
“I am a homeschool mom who saw your opportunity for the ICR classroom presentations, and I'm interested in what you are offering! Thank you in advance.” —Christine A.
“I am a homeschool mom who directs the Challenge 1 Classical Conversations program for 7 students, grades 9–11. I have been a gigantic fan of your ministry for a least a decade now! Sign me up!” —Tania T.
“Thank you for all you and ICR do to use your expertise to uphold the truth of the Bible.” —Lorrel L.
“Thanks again so much for offering to do this for us! My students will be ecstatic!” —Misty L.
“Thank you for your proactive and creative input on ways to keep the congregation engaged and for your desire to share the information gleaned from the work of the Institute for Creation Research.”—Fred S.
“I have a 7-year-old at home who LOVES science, and we so enjoy ICR. I am very interested in this class! Thanks!” —Carrie M.
“I have been a gigantic fan of your ministry for at least a decade now! This opportunity sounds amazing! Sign me up! We have recently been covering the forces in creation….I think having a guest speaker join us on Zoom would be amazing!” —Tania T.
“We are a small evangelical church in Cornwall UK. We hold the Scriptures as divinely given and certainly Genesis 1, vs. 1. If you are able to bring something to encourage the fellowship that would be good. Thanks and every good blessing to you.” —Pastor Geoff C.
“I am a co-op teacher for a large homeschool group in San Antonio, Texas and would greatly welcome a guest speaker....I am a creationist and teach from a biblical worldview. Many of your resources are used in my classroom, especially Unlocking the Mysteries of Genesis and the entire DVD Series Pack....We have studied creation vs. evolution this school year in an attempt to gird the students with a firm defense of their biblical worldview before they leave for college....I would be thrilled, as would my students, to have an ICR expert in the fields we have been studying! Thank you again for your offer.” —Carol S.
“I am a homeschool mom who saw your opportunity for the ICR classroom presentations, and I'm interested in what you are offering! Thank you in advance.” —Christine A.
“I am a homeschool mom who directs the Challenge 1 Classical Conversations program for 7 students, grades 9–11. I have been a gigantic fan of your ministry for a least a decade now! Sign me up!” —Tania T.
“Thank you for all you and ICR do to use your expertise to uphold the truth of the Bible.” —Lorrel L.
“Thanks again so much for offering to do this for us! My students will be ecstatic!” —Misty L.
“Thank you for your proactive and creative input on ways to keep the congregation engaged and for your desire to share the information gleaned from the work of the Institute for Creation Research.”—Fred S.
“I have a 7-year-old at home who LOVES science, and we so enjoy ICR. I am very interested in this class! Thanks!” —Carrie M.
“I have been a gigantic fan of your ministry for at least a decade now! This opportunity sounds amazing! Sign me up! We have recently been covering the forces in creation….I think having a guest speaker join us on Zoom would be amazing!” —Tania T.
“We are a small evangelical church in Cornwall UK. We hold the Scriptures as divinely given and certainly Genesis 1, vs. 1. If you are able to bring something to encourage the fellowship that would be good. Thanks and every good blessing to you.” —Pastor Geoff C.
“I am a co-op teacher for a large homeschool group in San Antonio, Texas and would greatly welcome a guest speaker....I am a creationist and teach from a biblical worldview. Many of your resources are used in my classroom, especially Unlocking the Mysteries of Genesis and the entire DVD Series Pack....We have studied creation vs. evolution this school year in an attempt to gird the students with a firm defense of their biblical worldview before they leave for college....I would be thrilled, as would my students, to have an ICR expert in the fields we have been studying! Thank you again for your offer.” —Carol S.
Current technology makes learning about creation science and how it links with today’s news more convenient than ever before. If you’re a parent, teacher, or even a ministry leader facing the challenge of transitioning to a distance learning program, please know that ICR is here to meet your educational needs related to biblical creation. Our ability to teach creation truth around the world during this difficult time is a silver lining in the wake of COVID-19.
To learn more about this opportunity, go to ICR.org/virtual-classroom
References
1. Covid-19 Educational Disruption and Response. UNESCO. Posted at unesco.com, accessed April 15, 2020.
2. Map: Coronavirus and School Closures. Education Week. Posted at edweek.org March 6, 2020, accessed April 22, 2020.
3. Consider the following topics and how ICR scientists can link today’s news to creation science learning: Dr. Tim Clarey teaches on earthquakes in Idaho and Utah, plus the importance of Mount St. Helen’s eruption 40 years ago; Dr. Randy Guliuzza explains the origin of coronavirus (and how it causes COVID-19), plus what we are continuing to learn about how animals learn; Professor Frank Sherwin explains parasitism and diseases (like COVID-19) as an effect of creation’s fallenness; Dr. Jake Hebert teaches the real science behind the “global warming” alarmism, plus news about asteroids and what the moon is doing these days; Dr. Jeff Tomkins explains the real facts about bones displayed at evolutionary museums, as well as some of the latest news being published in scientific publications; and Dr. Brian Thomas teaches about dinosaurs and how they have soft tissue that surprises evolutionists—and includes the latest news on that. If it’s in the science news and it’s relevant to Christians, ICR’s team in on the case!
*Charles C. “Chas” Morse received a master’s degree in management from Bellevue University in 1996, a master’s in military studies in 2000 from Maxwell Air Force Base, and a Master of Christian Education from ICR’s School of Biblical Apologetics. After retiring from the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel, Mr. Morse joined ICR in 2009, where he presently serves as Director of Events.
