Ark Encounter Opens To Thousands
By PNW Staff July 11, 2016
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Ken Ham, of Answers in Genesis, has had a taste of what Noah must have felt like as he struggled against the winds of secularism and liberal ideology to keep the faith and spread the gospel.
As God and the Bible are pushed out of classrooms and the media marginalize Christianity more every day, the slide into atheism and hedonism has at times looked all but inevitable.
Yet perhaps, like a ship bobbing on a wave-tossed ocean of dissent, Ham's newest venture might be the salvation so badly needed.
A new American landmark was opened in Williamstown, Kentucky on July 5th, 2016 to a crowd of about 8,000 enthusiastic donors who attended the ribbon cutting.
They were followed by thousands more visitors two days later when it opened to the public on July 7th, a date chosen for the seventh verse of the seventh chapter of Genesis when Noah's family boarded their ark.
The main attraction of Ark Encounter is its full-scale replica of Noah's ark built as close to the original specifications as possible. According to Ark Encounter's website, "As the largest timber-frame structure in the US, the 510-foot-long full-size Ark is designed to be family-oriented, historically authentic, and environmentally friendly."
For those who doubt the Genesis account, the Ark is a striking statement to the veracity of the Word of God in both its structure and its sheer size as it measures 510 feet in length, 85 feet in width and 51 feet in height.
Though it does include a zoo, the Ararat Ridge Zoo, that holds a variety of animals such as Tibetan yaks, kangaroos, emus, lizards, alpacas, donkeys and sheep, Ark Encounter adds to Noah's original design a restaurant that seats 2,100 within its walls as well as a gift shop and extensive historical exhibits that teach Biblical truth as they recreate scenes of ancient history.
No live dinosaurs could be found for the debut opening of Ark Encounter, but life-size sculptures are included. Ham estimates that, based on market research, the attraction should see up to two million visitors per year.
Ark Encounter is not motivated by profit or a response to climate change but instead helps to continue the mission to evangelize and spread the Good New of salvation through Christ.
Ham stated in 2014, when construction began on the impressive structure, that a major reason for rebuilding the ark today is to proclaim the message of salvation that, just as Noah and his family had to go through the doorway to be saved, we also need to go through a 'doorway'.
The Lord Jesus is our 'Door', the only way to be saved. In keeping with this larger purpose, the many thousands of curious non-Christians who visit Ark Encounter will be educated on Biblical truth in a way that is hard to ignore and it's impossible to predict how many could come to Christ through the message of the park.
Ken Ham, himself, addressed this evangelical aspect on the Answers in Genesis website on the opening day of Ark Encounter, "I believe this project will be one of the greatest evangelistic outreaches of our day.
Millions of people, many of them unbelievers or unchurched Christians, will come to Northern Kentucky to tour this family-friendly, Christian attraction where they will learn about Noah, his family, the animals, the Ark, the Flood, and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are excited to see how God uses this project to make an impact for eternity.
Criticism from atheist groups attempted to forestall the opening, but it is hard to see how it could have any significant impact when viewed against the immense scope of the project.
With production quality that rivals that of Disney World and Hollywood, Ark Encounter promises to inspire and contribute to the salvation of millions in the years to come, but Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis aren't stopping with the story of Noah.
In future years, the 800-acre park will see its next great project in the Tower of Babel, followed by a walled city attraction. Today, the imposing Ark sits solitary on the flat landscape, as if pulled from the pages of history.
Standing next to such a work of construction, one cannot help but marvel at the skill and ingenuity it took to build such a boat thousands of years ago and, in so doing, feel that much closer to God.
