SPRINGFIELD—Proclaiming and applying the teaching of apologetics ministry excellently within the local church was at the heart of the “Foundations for Growth” conference March 22 here at South Creek Church.
The luncheon and conference for pastors and other leaders featured four speakers who took turns addressing the perversion of science and the secularization of America in the hope that God would use the intentional teaching of creation science as a means of advancing the gospel. The keynote speaker, Rod Butterworth, spoke 56 minutes to that end.
Butterworth is president of both the Creation Ministries of the Ozarks (CMOTO) and the Creation Experience Museum in Strafford (which has been visited by almost 2,000 people). His message was on “The Only Foundation,” referring to our bedrock as Christians.
“Christ is truth, and He is the foundation of all truth,” said Butterworth, who began his talk with several Bible verses.
He said he chose to do that to counter what Satan has been doing in the world. As it relates to science, the idea that there is not a Creator is one of Satan’s biggest lies. He reminded his audience that this is being taught in public schools.
“Satan is doing a real good job of deceiving Christians into compromising the truth of God’s Word,” Butterworth said.
Justin Nelson, who serves as a pastoral advisor to CMOTO, said the conference was about providing education and resources as well as partnering with churches. Nelson is a member of the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board and worship pastor at South Creek Church.
“We’re asking pastors to teach the Bible for what it is—a real historical document about God’s relation with man,” Nelson said. “It is historically accurate. It is geologically accurate and scientifically accurate. You don’t have to be a scientist to know and understand that.
“It means you have to be able to dig more within the text. You have to be able to explain things that we gloss over all the time.”
CMOTO seeks to partner with churches, schools, and other organizations. For more information, call (417) 736-3773 or visit www.cmoto.org.
