Field Report

by Kathy Ross

What's a vacation without an outreach? Not as much fun as a vacation with one! The Ross family took a brief break from snorkeling, surfing, hiking, kayaking, etc., to present reasons for faith in Christ to nearly 400 islanders and vacationers in Kauai. Rick Bundschuh, a former associate of the Rosses at Sierra Madre Congregational and now pastor of one of the fastest growing churches in Hawaii, coordinated the event, held in a hotel ballroom. (You may recognize Rick's name from the cover of Destination Creation and Brain Frying Ideas from the Bible.) He was thrilled with both the size and response of the audience, which included college students, priests and pastors, a Buddhist scholar, a retired professor, and a wandering school dropout from New Zealand who said she was "stunned awake" by what she heard.

This fall, as school buses rolled, Hugh took to the skies, traveling to Albuquerque, Seattle, Vancouver, Huntsville, Colorado Springs, and Prince George, between closer-to-home outreach and training events. While in Colorado he received word from Focus on the Family that his interview with Dr. Dobson, which aired in August, sparked more letters and calls than any other Focus broadcast that month. Some, of course, berated Dr. Dobson for supporting an old-Earth interpretation of Genesis, but the vast majority-well over 10,000-expressed interest in receiving further information about RTB.

Several volunteer apologists, including Alan Graas, Marj Harman, Dr. Mike Strauss, Sharon Strauss, and Rob Vandewater spoke in a variety of settings this fall, and I addressed a women's retreat in the local mountains.

From Australia

The Creation Science Foundation Journal, edited by Dr. Andrew Snelling, published Dr. Otto Helweg's article, "How Long an Evening and Morning," (which first appeared in Facts & Faith, vol. 9, n. 3, 1996) along with two replies by young-earth creationists and Dr. Helweg's reply to their replies. We anticipate a lively response to this exchange in a country where the creation vs. evolution debate has sparked extreme polarization.

From Canada

A letter was sent this fall to all our Canadian constituents, announcing the incorporation of RTB Canada as a non-profit society with tax-deductible status. This new ministry branch enjoys a growing mailing list and handled all the materials for outreach events in South Delta (near Vancouver) and Prince George, northern British Columbia.

From South Africa

David and Liz Block remain active in outreach and materials distribution, not to mention their research and teaching professions, as they and their son, Aaron, joyfully prepare for the arrival of two new family members-yes, twins!