Creation Study Center Announces New Resource for Churches

For the first time ever a seminar on creation, produced for and by Seventh-day Adventists, is now available for pastors and lay leaders. The program is called Origins and has been two years in the making.

Previously, when a church wanted to present science-based materials on creation, they had to go to non-denominational ministries like Answers in Genesis. The problem with this is that our Adventist church doesn’t hold the same beliefs on all topics — like the age of the universe or eternally burning hell. Through the Origins seminar program, these topics are addressed from the Adventist point of view.

Great efforts were made to lessen worries about the technical science concepts being presented in the seminar. Several “how to” videos were produced, including trailers for congregations and even an invitation suitable for Facebook and other media. The kit contains about 18 videos, a sample of a Participant’s Guide, a Coordinator’s Guide and lecture scripts.

 The program includes six lectures, complete with word-for-word scripts:

  1. The first topic, “Origin of the Debate,” explains why popular science and Christianity seem to be at odds, especially as it relates to creation versus evolution.
  2. The second topic is the “Origin of Humankind.” It takes a hard look at the candidates presented as human ancestors in the fossil record while also sharing the royal ancestry view of humankind, as recorded in the Bible.
  3. The third topic is the “Origin of the Oceans” and covers the flood of Genesis and the fossil record.
  4. The fourth examines the “Origin of Dinosaurs.” Surprisingly, the study of dinosaurs has shed much light favorable to creation.
  5. The fifth topic explores the “Origin of the Earth,” where the more difficult subject, the age of the earth, is considered. The age-dating of rocks is explained in layman’s terms and also explains why it might not be as reliable as it is presented to be. Also included in this lecture is the topic of decay as examined through a Biblical perspective.
  6. The final topic is the “Origin of the Universe,” where the larger questions of ultimate purpose and destiny are discussed. The Big Bang is highlighted along with the “Big Crunch” which some believe is how the universe will eventually conclude. This is the lecture that addresses the topic of hell and why Charles Darwin felt it was such a “damnable doctrine.” The video features It Is Written’s John Bradshaw, giving an excellent response to the popular view.  

The Geoscience Research Institute in Loma Linda was heavily consulted and their key scientists were interviewed for the videos. SermonView produced high-quality slides plus a variety of marketing tools to advertise the meetings. AdventSource, the North American Division’s major resource ministry for pastors and churches, is handling the distribution of the seminar itself. Those interested in obtaining the seminar or having questions should go to: creationstudycenter.com/origins. 

While the emphasis of the entire Origins series is all about our beginnings, it closes with a hopeful view of endings, intentionally designed as a possible “bridge event” that could partner with a follow-up prophecy seminar. It could be teased as, “We’ve studied how things started. Would you like now to study how things end?”

As Adventists, we are called to share the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14 to a world that has largely forgotten its Creator. With the new Origins seminar, we can share solid, scientific evidence for this great and hopeful truth.