Kentucky pastors, families enjoy Ark Encounter on day of encouragement

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. (KT) – Pastors, staff members, spouses and their families from the North Central Region were treated to a day at the Ark on Tuesday.

The one-day encouragement event drew about 200 to the spectacular Art Encounter for lunch, an encouragement with Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Gray and a day of exploring the Christian theme park.

Ken Ham, the founder of the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in northern Kentucky, welcomed the group. He said many nationalities, including some who would never go through a church door, and multiple religious denominations visit every day. He said about 30% of those who come are not believers but they see and hear the gospel on the visit.

“The purpose of the attractions is to preach the gospel and equip people to raise up godly generations and witness to others,” Ham said. “It’s a place where families can learn and have fun at the same time. We see people saved at these attractions. We get testimonies of people saved here.”

He relayed one of those testimonies where a man said his son-in-law was saved after experiencing the Ark Encounter. “The man said, ‘I was saved early in life, being raised in a Christian home, so it was nothing exciting, but my son-in-law was saved on the Ark!”

The pastors who poured into a large banquet room were encouraged and appreciated the gesture from the KBC, which paid for admission and provided a lunch.

“It was great,” said Sam Smith, pastor of Hays Fork Baptist Church in Richmond, who was there with wife June. “This is the umpteenth time I’ve come to the Ark but each time has its focus. When you come here for the first time, you’re overwhelmed by the size.”

North-Central Region Consultant Andy McDonald said it was about encouragement and showing appreciation to pastors and their families for the work they are doing in churches.

“We wanted to encourage these pastors for all they do,” he said. “It’s not an easy job. This was set up to encourage them and their staffs. We only get to do this because of the Cooperative Program.”

Gray spoke to the large group about expecting hope in hard times. Kentucky churches in the west and east have been hit with natural disasters and every church experienced the difficulty of COVID, he said.

“How do you respond when times are hard?” he asked.

Using 2 Corinthians 7:5-6, he shared about the hard times that the Apostle Paul endured. “Ministry can bring hard times,” he said. Gray also mentioned other great men in the Bible, like King David, who were depressed and cried out to God.

Gray told the pastors that God’s people get depressed and are sometimes overwhelmed. It’s understandable and natural for that to happen. But, he said, God comforts depressed.

He said God’s people also get depleted, rundown from doing ministry. They get physical fatigue, the pressure of troubles, people problems and personal fears. The good news, though, is that God’s people get delivered, Gray said.

“If you’re a child of God, you’re going to get delivered from your troubles,” he said. “God will see to it.”

Paul needed to hear from Titus for the comfort that came to him. “God will come to you in your trouble,” Gray said.

He encouraged the pastors that they are vital where they are serving and they would be missed if they were gone.

“You matter where you are,” Gray said. “We need you to be healthy, to take care of yourself and be a light. We need you. Kentucky needs you. The Kingdom of God needs you.

“You have reason to hope.”