Local residents and tourists driving up to the museum are in awe as they see it – a building with the dimensions and rough shape of Noah’s Ark! Life size models of animals are lined up, two by two, ready to board the ship. People enter the museum to a grand foyer, opening above them three storeys, to the roof of the ark. On each floor above are animated animals overhanging the edge, looking down, making their sounds, eating their food. In the center of the foyer is a huge, animated ancient animal, possibly a T-rex dinosaur or a mammoth.

This awe inspiring, thought provoking entrance is only the beginning of a mind opening experience in science and history. The centerpiece of the museum is a theatre showing in 3-dimensions, a movie of the creation of the earth and universe. This movie is 100% in agreement with the evidence seen in geology, biology, astronomy and other sciences. As people wait to enter the theatre they wander through an area of exhibits showing evidence that backs up what they are about to see.

A three storey, 33 meter long climbing area is set amongst giant ancient ferns, sabre tooth tigers, and other extinct animals. The interior of the museum is modelled after the interior of the ark, namely wooden beams, wooden walkways, many animal pens, sounds and some animal smells.

Approximately thirty exhibits on different aspects of science are on display, across the three floors, at any time. These exhibits change periodically, enabling new experiences for repeat visitors, season pass holders and lifetime members. One major display is a motion simulator ride through the global flood which shaped most of the earth’s surface as we see it today. Using less motion but equally educational is a journey through the history of science, hearing first hand the discoveries and beliefs of great scientists of the past. In the ‘laboratory of life,’ visitors work together as a team with massive computers in an effort to reproduce the evolution which supposedly has led from an ancient, lifeless world to all forms of life as they exist today.

To provide a fun, educational environment where all people can experience the truth in scientific and historical information. This information is expressed without the common evolutionary presuppositions found in most museums, school text books, and scientific journals. The evidence is presented and theories proposed based on the evidence. If a theory contradicts the evidence the theory is discarded, not the evidence.

What is the truth? Is there a truth that is always correct, never changes, is not relative? According to evolutionary science the age of the earth and the universe has changed many times. Currently it is estimated around 15 billions years, plus or minus 2 billion. The timeframe when dinosaurs roamed the earth likewise has changed many times. Dating techniques of rocks and carbon based materials (dead things) change and are refined, attempting to provide improved estimates. Truth is claimed but not actual as the understanding of the evidence changes. Nevertheless, it is claimed to be truth.

The natural world, the universe and biological life contain a wealth of scientific and historical data. The problem with any data is that the data needs to be interpreted. What theories can be extracted from this data? Do the theories correspond to the data? Is there additoinal data which the theories contradict? Are the theories told for what they truly are? Different experts from various fields of science interpret the data based on their own presuppositions (not truth but a held belief). Believers of evolution interpret data based on uniformitarianism. This means they believe the universe has come to the state it is currently by a long series of very slowly working random events. Others interpret the data based on a creation about 6,000 years ago followed by global, catastrophic flood about 4,500 years ago.

This museum presents and explores the data, the raw evidence, the truth, in such a way that visitors can see the evidence clearly, understand differing interpretations, and draw their own conclusions from the evidence and theories.

• The Museum of Natural Science and History (MNSH) will always present scientific and historical evidence in an unbiased, raw format. The theories presented in each exhibit must not contradict the evidence.
• A universe that is billions of years old and the evolution of life on this planet are two theories. They are not facts, although taught as facts in schools and presented as undeniable truths in books. The museum will demonstrate that there are other theories that explain the observed evidence more consistently, more completely. Presenting these two sides of science will allow individuals to develop informed ideas and beliefs by seeing the available options.
• The major theory presented in the museum is that of creation; that the universe has a recent origin (is young) and life did not evolve but was created.
• Observations in all fields of science provide the evidence of creation.
• Observations can only see the present, not the past. Fossils exist in the present, we find them now, we see the state they are in now. From this scientists extrapolate what happened in the past. This extrapolation is theory, not fact.
• The view that knowledge and/or truth may be divided under the categories secular and religious has no factual basis. It is a straw man argument and rejected.
• The days in the Bible, the book of Genesis, chapter 1, represent six [6] consecutive twenty-four [24] hour days.
• The Noachian Flood was a real event causing significant geological changes to our world.
• The museum will not attempt to deceive anyone in any way. We are open to critical thinking, serious examination of the evidence, by anyone who can do so in an unbiased way, without preconceived beliefs.
• The museum will be a member of the CCCC (Canadian Council of Christian Charities), to ensure proper accounting principles are followed. This will be implemented once the museum is ready to open.
• All employees of the museum are born again believers in Jesus Christ and active members of a church local to their place of residence.
• Each employee believes the theories, mission, vision, and values of the museum.
• Employees working in each exhibit understand and are able to explain the evidence presented in the exhibits and the theories based on that evidence.

The Bible says “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Noah Webster, in Websters Dictionary defines faith as “Loyalty or allegiance to a cause or a person; …” (one of the definitions).

Blind faith is a belief in something for which there is no evidence. For example, some people believe in Santa Claus without any evidence to support that belief. Blind faith is a bad kind of faith. Each of us was created (or evolved) to have a mind, enabling us to think critically. One can examine an idea, look for evidence to support the idea, and look for evidence that shows the idea is flawed and false. Based on this analysis one can intelligently decide to have faith in the idea or reject the idea.

A belief in a God is a form of faith. For some, it is blind, in that they have never done any critical thinking, never looked at evidence for or against the existence of God. A belief in evolution is a faith. Again, for some, for most, it is a blind faith. Most have never seriously researched the theories of evolution, never read books that use scientific evidence to support evolution, and equally important, have never read books that refute, deny the theory of evolution and back up the denial with scientific evidence. Thus most people have a blind faith in evolution.

In the Bible a group of people called the Bereans were commended for the use of their intelligence. They were told ideas about God and they did research, they studied the Bible to see if these ideas were consistent with what the Bible said (Acts 17:11). Likewise, all people should read, learn, research and think about their faith in whatever they believe. What a person believes has a great impact on how that person lives their life. Each of us should live our lives based on evidence leading to an understanding of the truth, not blind faith.

The Museum of Natural Science and History seeks to present scientific and historical evidence, present theories that fit with the evidence, and thus open people’s minds to discover the truth and hopefully live their lives thereafter based on that truth, and not blind faith.

Ed Van Gennip was born in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. He spent most of his youth on the family farm, raising hogs. He also worked for his father in the family painting business. His love for computers began in high school when he first saw a ‘PC’. This led to the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor’s Degree in Math, majoring in Computer Science, with a minor in Combinatorics and Optimization, as well as developing practical experience by participating in the coop program. He graduated with honours.

Upon graduation he began a career at IBM Canada, working in the Toronto laboratory as a software developer where he worked for 28 years. The first 14 years he was a developer on various projects. The latter 14 years have been in management, managing various aspects of software development, release, testing and support. After 28 years Ed took early retirement enabling him to focus entirely on the museum project.

Ed’s wonderful wife is Nancy. They have three children: Robert, Matthew and Lyndsey, all in their twenties.

Growing up in rural Ontario in the 70’s and early 80’s meant few TV channels. Watching nature shows, learning a little about geology and the animal kingdom was common. This happened through shows like “The Wonderful World of Disney” and “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom”, and magazines like “National Geography”. He also attended a Bible believing Christian Reformed Church. The Bible says God created everything in six days. While never thinking too seriously about it, Ed did feel that the ideas of evolution never made sense. Along with an interest in computers, the Lord has blessed Ed with an aptitude in math and an interest in science – physics in particular. This led to some courses in physics and astronomy at university, along side the math and computer courses. These course professors did not promote evolution and the science taught did nothing to confirm it either.

After years of slowly deteriorating health, and 22 months on the transplant waiting list, Ed had a liver transplant on June 20, 2000. You can read the book he published by clicking here. It can be purchased by clicking this link, which takes you to lulu.com. In the Bible, about 800 years before Jesus was born it says “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) Later, as Jesus hung on the cross his side was pierced with a spear. My side was pierced, cut open, when my liver was removed and replaced. Jesus’ side was pierced to confirm he was dead. He died that our wrongs, our sins, would be forgiven and we can one day live forever with God. This really hit home to me when I realized someone died for me, to give me their liver, so that I might continue to live on this earth, in this life. A huge difference is that the person who died for me did not do it willingly but died in some form of accident. Jesus died willingly. How amazing, how loving, is that?

May 12, 2002 was Mother’s Day, a week after Ed’s 40th birthday. He and the family were
visiting his parents for the day. His brother borrowed a video from his church, which we watched in late afternoon. The video was from Creation Science Evangelism (CSE)1. Kent Hovind was presenting the evidence for creation in 6 days, denying that it took billions of years as evolution teaches. This was the first time Ed has seen such information presented. It was the first time he became aware that organizations existed that taught about the scientific evidence in favour of creation, as well as the flaws in the science used to justify evolution.

Near the end of the video Mr. Hovind asked the viewers to decide what they believe based on the evidence they had just seen. He also said to those who already believe in Jesus and have seen the evidence, “what are you doing with this evidence?” What are you doing to share this good news? Instantly, as Mr. Hovind said this, a picture, a vision, formed in Ed’s mind. No voice, just an instantaneous ‘statement’ to build a creation science museum. The image included what to build, how large, and what to include in it. Ed spent the next few days creating a 40-page Powerpoint presentation with information about the museum. Since that day Ed has been slowly but steadily working towards this vision.

In March 2003, Ed and family were vacationing in Florida and they visited Kent Hovind at CSE in Pensacola. They toured his park and took him to lunch explaining the vision. Mr. Hovind warned Ed it would be a lot of work with a lot of resistance from the evolutionary establishment. During the summer of 2003 we listened to some Ken Ham2 lectures. We met with him and again explained the vision. Mr. Ham suggested Ed forget the idea. It would be a lot of work and there would be a lot of resistance. Both of these suggestions galvanized Ed to persist.

Ed enrolled in Liberty Seminary3 in the fall of 2004. He studied at night while continuing to work full-time, spending time with his family, and being involved in his church. He graduated with a Master of Arts, specializing in Religion, cum laude, in the fall of 2008. Having a stronger foundation in God’s word, he is now continuing with the original vision, to create a creation science museum.

The museum will be three floors, built in the standard dimensions of Noah’s ark, as recorded in Genesis chapter 6. This is 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. This maps to about 100,000 square feet of space in which to present the ideas of creation science and evolution science, side by side. This aspect is very important. Nowhere do you see evolutionary theory presented with a recent creation theory side by side. Evolution is taught stand alone, as the only option. Similarly, but not quite so strongly, many Christians teach a six day recent creation but do not address the evolutionary ideas. Thus people on both sides are left wondering who is telling the truth. This museum will attempt to fairly present both sides of the story and thus allow the visitor to see the evidence, the theories and the assumptions underlying those theories. The visitor is then free to make an informed decision. The visitor is freed from the one sided arguments and dogma they so often hear. Ed trusts that once this is done God will be able to reach the visitor’s heart and mind and show them the errors of evolutionary teachings and open the door for them to come and see there is no contradiction between science and what the Bible claims with respect to our origin. This enables a believe in Jesus Christ and thus one will then be saved from their sins; saved from the consequences, the punishment, of those sins.

In August 2009 a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage set Ed back a month. Thankfully the Lord enabled a full recovery. All was well until May 2011 when Ed discovered a lump in his left hip. Tests indicated stage 2 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. CANCER! Again, the Lord carried him through chemotherapy treatments. It does not end there. In the fall of 2012 basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) was found on Ed’s chest. A ‘toonie’ size spot. It was burned and scraped off. A superficial type of cancer, and relatively easy to deal with. More recently, April 2013, Ed remains cancer free and continue to slowly but steadily move forward towards the goal, to build a full size, operational, Noah’s ark science centre/museum.

The health saga continues though as Ed had a second liver transplant on June 19, 2014. The disease in Ed’s body was destroying this liver. As the Lord has provided, after being on the waiting list for 17 months the right liver came available. Now, just over a year later Ed is doing amazingly well. He is in better health now than at any time in the past 20 years since all this began. The Lord truly has provided recovery and strength enabling Ed to work on the museum. Lord willing, no further health complications will cause setbacks to the project.

These events in Ed’s life have enabled him to realize personally the meaning of God’s Word, as given in the Bible. For example it says “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:30,31) Likewise the Apostle Paul says “But he[God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-11)

To learn more about Ed’s health issues and the impact on him physically, emotionally and spiritually, you can purchase his book “Born Again and Again – Living Thru an Organ Transplant“. Click the link to see more information and order the book.

1 http://www.drdino.com
2 http://www.answersingenesis.com
3 http://www.liberty.edu