As we Americans celebrate our independence this month, it is good to reflect on God’s many blessings on this country. From its very beginning, America was founded on an expressed faith in God as both Creator and Sustainer—and the Lord blessed, raising up a mighty nation in the years that followed that first Fourth of July.
I’ve enjoyed thinking back over God’s countless blessings on the ICR ministry. From extremely small beginnings in 1970 to a ministry of worldwide influence today, it does seem that God may have called ICR “to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Many people have been reached for the Lord and His Word, and recently I ran across numerous letters of testimony to this effect while reviewing my older files. Some I have shared in the past, but I have so many more it seems a shame to keep them in dusty obscurity. So I’d like to share excerpts from some of them with you.
From a supporter in Michigan: “We are so thankful for this ministry the Lord raised up. We recall the impression Drs. Henry Morris, Duane Gish, John Morris…made on us at a church seminar many years ago. Although we considered ourselves ‘cover to cover’ Bible believers, something had slipped…on creation….What a blessing these stalwart men were to us, and we have tried to share the blessing of ICR with others through the years.”
A sweet lady from Pennsylvania included this note along with a generous (and most unexpected) gift: “Enclosed is a check which is the beginning of a tithe of my inheritance from my father. We would like to give this money to ICR in the hopes that other professionals like my father (he was a Harvard graduate and Harvard-trained physician) would not have their faith ruined by evolutionism.”
From a dear couple in Canada: “Your gracious thank-you note was certainly an encouragement to us. For many years my husband and I have benefited from the truths of creation taught by ICR. We would like you to realize how much we appreciate the folks at ICR and their fantastic work over the past decades. Praise to the Lord Jesus!”
Closer to home came the following letter from Texas: “The Book of Beginnings arrived yesterday—thank you to ICR and to Dr. Morris for autographing it!...By the time I reached page 23, I wondered, ‘What if there were no ICR today, and what if God had not used ICR…to influence the scientific and church community?’ I will continue to support the Lord’s Kingdom work through ICR as long as I am able.”
Of course, not all letters are so encouraging. Such was the case with a gentleman from California who wrote me with sincere and genuine concerns about ICR. After responding to his letter, I received his gracious reply: “Not so long ago you received a thrashing letter from me concerning wording and doctrinal views. I would like to humbly apologize for lashing out over that, and thank you for responding. As I said in my first letter, I’ve gleaned much over the years from the ICR literature, and this time was no exception. Thank you for all the service of you and your entire family.”
I admit to feeling a bit uncomfortable in writing about all this because it may sound like boasting. But I really mean it as a testimony of thanksgiving—thankfulness to God for His many blessings and thankfulness to our readers who, through their prayers and gifts of support, have shared in all that ICR has accomplished. As these letters confirm, God has used and blessed the ICR ministry—no doubt, He will continue to do so until Christ returns if we remain faithful to His Word. Please continue to pray for us.
* Mr. Morris is Director of Donor Relations at the Insti tute for Creation Research.
Cite this article: Morris IV, H. 2012. Testimonies of Thanksgiving. Acts & Facts. 41 (7): 21.
