Reasons To Believe - Cincinnati, OH Chapter

Meeting Notes for 2004

January 10, 2004

  • Welcome – Jack Chapin
  • Speaker Introduction – Kyle Witten
  • Speaker – Dr. Robert DiDilvestro, Professor of Human Nutrition, Ohio State University
  • "Is It Unscientific To Say That God Started Life?"
  • Attendee Introductions
  • Question and Answer Session

Old Business

  1. Chapter Formation
  2. Timeline

New Business

  1. Pass out and Review Chapter Bylaws, Statement of Faith, and Membership Applications
  2. Officer Nominations:
    1. President – Jack Chapin
    2. Secretary – Kyle Witten
  3. Officer Elections:
    1. President – Jack Chapin [unanimous vote]
    2. Secretary – Kyle Witten [unanimous vote]
  4. Discussion of Chapter Webpage
    1. Hosting on Reasons To Believe Website
    2. Private hosting
      1. Would not be officially affiliated with Reasons To Believe.
      2. Would be similar to other websites run by Reasons To Believe Volunteer Apologists:
        1. www.swordandspirit.com
        2. www.lordIbelieve.org
    3. Lane Coffee appointed as a Chapter Officer, Webmaster by Chapter President.
  5. Discussion of email forums
    1. An unmoderated private discussion list will be created.
      1. Membership restricted to chapter members, RTB Volunteer Apologists, and other official representatives of Reasons To Believe.
    2. A Yahoo! Forum will be used for announcements regarding future Cincinnati RTB events.
      1. Will make it easier to send email notification to interested parties.
      2. Will automate the unsubscription process for maximum compliance with new SPAM laws.
  6. Discussion of requirements to become a RTB volunteer apologist.
    1. J.T. Widmer interested in apologist training.
    2. Inquiries as to current requirements will be made with home office and the information forwarded to J.T. when available.
  7. Discussion of Answers in Genesis event, Ken Ham speaking, Lakeside Park Christian Church, Lakeside Park, KY, 1/25/04.

Charter Members, Reasons To Believe - Cincinnati, OH Chapter

  1. Members
    1. o Darrin Ashworth
    2. o Joe Auciello
    3. o Jack Chapin
    4. o Lane Coffee
    5. o Daniel Dyke
    6. o Roger Kolloff
    7. o Jeff Ward
    8. o John [J.T.] Widmer
    9. o Kyle Witten
  2. Benefactors
    1. o George Breuer
    2. o Todd Kolloff
  3. Core Group Not in Attendance
    1. Hugh Henry
    2. Rachel Wolf

March 20, 2004

  • Opening Remarks: Jack Chapin - Report on his testimony at the Ohio State Board of Education's Intelligent Design hearing.  
  • DVD Presentation: Unlocking The Mystery of Life. Everyone very much enjoyed this months' presentation of the DVD entitled "Unlocking the Mystery of Life." This video took an extremely complicated topic and "put the cookies on a low shelf" so everyone of us could enjoy the evidence for God's design of living organisms. It was hard not to have tears well up in our eyes as evidence of God's loving handiwork was portrayed so vividly on the screen. Some of us present were old enough to have been taught biology when scientists said the living cell was like a "blob of protoplasm ... kind of like a blob of Jello". Viewing intricate biological machines working at microscopic levels, which allow each moment of life, makes the science statements of only a few decades ago sound like the blathering of witch doctors. Much thanks to Illustra Media for putting this video together. Also, thanks to scientists and philosophers like Michael Behe, Dean Kenyon, Jonathan Wells, Phillip Johnson, and others who have courageously put their careers in jeopardy to speak the truth about the controversy concerning the Theory of Evolution through books and videos such as "Unlocking the Mystery of Life."
    The Q&A session lead by Jack Chapin, Kyle Witten and Lane Coffee, that followed the video was  lively and everyone present was excited about the upcoming visit and presentations in May when Dr. Rana will be our featured guest speaker.
  • New Business: Discuss possibility of Chapter Book Table at the West Ohio UMC Conference in June - Ed Beale

May 22, 2003

  • Opening Remarks: Jack Chapin  
  • Prayer: Dan Dyke
  • Introduction: Kyle Witten  
  • Presentation: Dr. Fuz Rana "Who Was Adam?" The Chapter was honored to have Dr. Rana be the presenter in May. He arrived to set up before the meeting with Ken Hultgren, RTB Chapter Coordinator and some of the early birds had the fun of grabbing lunch at the local Skyline Chili restaurant with Fuz and Ken before the meeting. For Fuz, who lived in Cincinnati while on staff at P&G it was nostalgia. For Ken it was a delightful culinary first time experience and we have the photos to prove it.
    Dr. Rana gave a first rate presentation and the Q&A afterward was great. No one wanted the meeting to end ... but we probably wore Fuz and Ken to a frazzle. Praise God for their efforts to spread the Gospel and new reasons to believe.
    Thanks to all of the Chapter members and supporters who made not only this event possible, but also the events that have happened in the region affording Dr. Rana opportunities to speak publicly. From radio interviews to church and university presentations, every opportunity was VERY important to building peoples' faith giving them new reasons to believe.
    Thank you Dr. Rana and all of the staff at Reasons To Believe for generously sharing your time and taking time from visiting family during your trip to Ohio.  
  • Q&A:  Dr. Fuz Rana
  • Closing Prayers:  Dan Dyke and Rachel Wolf

September 11, 2004

  • Opening Prayer: Dan Dyke
  • Introduction and Opening Remarks/Announcements: Jack Chapin
  • Main Program: The Privileged Planet DVD. This month we viewed the recently released video entitled The Privileged Planet. This video, based on the book by the same title authored by Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay Richards, was FANTASTIC. For those who have not had a chance to read the book or view the video, the quality in content and presentation is first rate. The authors take the viewer (through first rate graphics and video effects) on a tour of the the solar system, galaxy and universe that goes well beyond Intelligent Design. The question put to the viewer is to consider why we should all be in a position to be able to view the handiwork of the Designer. We were fortunate to get the video so promptly. It was just barely on the market and our copy arrived just days before the Chapter meeting. Thanks to Pastor Ed Beale for ordering a back-up copy just in case mail services were slow to Jack Chapin.

November 6, 2004

  • Opening Remarks: Jack Chapin
  • Presentation: Jody F. Sjogren, M.S. [Medical Illustrator/Aviation Artist; illustrator for Icons of Evolution], Darwin, Design, and the Origin of Life. Jody Sjogren gave a wonderful presentation to the Chapter which helped all to better understand the intricacies of Intelligent Design Theory and the shortcomings and outright deception of Darwin's Theory of Evolution. Her interest as an aviator and her talents as a medical textbook illustrator and military aircraft illustrator have given her insights to Intelligent Design Theory which go well beyond ANY other textbook on the subject. She adeptly and accurately spoke to design discovered through molecular biology. Shortly thereafter she discussed design at the macro level, holding us all in rapt attention as she drew parallels between technology of jet aircraft intakes and the nasal orifices of the peregrine falcon to perform the same function in high speed attack maneuvers.
    As a bonus to the group, during the Q & A that followed, it was fun to talk to her about the experience of being the illustrator of Jonathan Wells' book "Icons of Evolution". It was also wonderful to see the military aircraft artwork that she has in her portfolio ... some of which she had on display and for sale to Chapter meeting attendees.
    Thank you Jody for a very insightful and informative presentation!
  • After the presentation, Professor Dan Dyke lead us in an awe filled prayer to a Creator who so lovingly crafted the created order to work together so perfectly ... down to the very last detail.