“Morning of Prayer on February 4—Judge to Hear Creation Museum Case”

(Florence, Kentucky) The hearing on the lawsuit against Answers in Genesis and the Boone County Fiscal Court —over the court’s approval of AiG’s rezoning request on land for a Creation Museum—will be held this Friday, February 4, 2000 (location still to be determined). AiG is asking its supporters worldwide to be in prayer that morning.

The forces opposing AiG’s rezoning had the former judge remove himself from the case for alleged potential conflict of interest on his part. (The judge once owned a parcel of land that AIG had a real estate agent examine about three years ago.) This obvious delaying tactic forced the postponement of an October 15 trial date and saw the assignment of a new circuit court judge, Hon. Douglas M. Stephens, to hear the case.

The county commissioners (i.e., the Fiscal Court) of Boone County had voted 3-1 on May 6 to approve AiG’s rezoning application on 47 acres of land fronting I-275 (at exit 11) and a few miles west of the Cincinnati Airport (in Boone County). The lawsuit to stop the rezoning—naming AIG and the Fiscal Court as defendants—was spearheaded by a couple who are not neighbors, but live over two miles away; another couple, living near the site, are also plaintiffs.

AIG, which is to build a 95,000-sq.-ft. facility—with the museum and associated rooms making up about half of the building—will leave most of the 47 acres in its current park—like setting. It would be the home to a museum that would present a walk—through history of the world from a Biblical perspective. It would also house AiG’s headquarters. Since 1996, secular humanists and other opponents have aggressively attempted to censor the project, including resorting to spreading false rumors (e.g., calling AIG a ‘cult,’ and likening AIG president Ken Ham to Jim Jones, Adolph Hitler, and Charles Manson).

Even with the lawsuit, AIG is excited about the tremendous opportunities that the museum will afford, including opportunities to present evolution—free information concerning the history of the Earth and the universe. Since the May vote, exhibit planning and architectural drawings have been done. The stubborn opposition and blatant efforts to censor AIG only strengthens its resolve to see this legal battle to its successful conclusion, and is asking its supporters to pray now and through February 4.