by Mike Riddle
Why Creation Training Initiative?
Three Scriptures are at the heart of what Creation Training Initiative (CTI) does. All three are about evangelism and discipleship.
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,
commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2:2)
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready
to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope
that is in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Peter 3:15)
For over three decades my wife (Lesley) and I have been traveling across America teaching and speaking on creation, apologetics and Christian education.
I have spoken in a Christian seminary where the professors boycotted my presentation. I have spoken in a Christian College where the professors were angry that I dared to speak about a literal, historical creation account. I have been in Christian schools where high school students cannot confidently share the Gospel and moral relativism is endorsed. I have also heard too many heartbreaking accounts from parents who raised their sons or daughters in the church, sent them off to college, only to lose them to the world.
Something is wrong with Christian education!
Multiple studies have established that over 60% of youth leave the church before finishing school.
- Pew Research
- Nehemiah Institute
- Barna Group
- Lifeway Research
- Answers in Genesis and the American Research Group
- Public Religion Research Institute
The main reasons for this mass exodus from the church include:
- Christianity is shallow and too exclusive.
- Church appears to be anti-science.
- Learning about evolution in college.
- Lack of teaching specific or scientific evidence for a creator.
- College is a hostile environment towards Christianity.
- The teaching of moral relativism.
Parents spend thousands of dollars to send their son or daughter to a Christian university. However, when they graduate, parents should not expect them to be ready for battle. Quite the contrary, most will not even know where the battlefield is. Before they graduate many will be held captive by the world and most will not be prepared to defend God’s Word.
The following is a comment from a mother who lost her son to the world when he went off to college.
“Don’t Christians realize what their children will be up against?
And if they do, why aren’t they preparing their children for these battles?”
What is going on and can it be fixed?
The world is out-educating the church and Christian universities are producing church leaders who no longer hold to the authority of God’s Word. This is why Creation Training Initiative was started. We want to transform Christian education to make it the most productive, life-changing and God honoring education in the world. There is much work to be done to reverse the trend of 60% leaving the church.
Yes, it can be fixed!
“In the study of warfare, great men have concluded that there are some overriding principles that, if followed, will always tend toward success in battle, and if neglected or ignored, will tend toward defeat or even destruction” (Jim Wilson, Principles of War: A Handbook on Strategic Evangelism). This is also true of spiritual warfare.
CTI is a small ministry with a big vision.
A teacher in every Christian school and church who can
teach biblical creation and apologetics without compromise.
The strategy is simple, but it will take time. The infrastructure is already in place. By equipping Christian school teachers, youth pastors and parents with the knowledge and skills to teach a biblical worldview and creation apologetics, the number of youth trained who can defend their faith and hold to the authority of Scripture will grow rapidly.
In 5 years we could have thousands of youth well-equipped for the battlefield. These trained Christians will also be our next generation of leaders in America.
What has CTI been up to?
In our first seven years we have taught over 3,000 in our 1-day courses.
- Basic Creation Training course (teens and above)
- Advanced Creation Apologetics course (high school and above)
- Christian Educators Conference (Christian teachers)
In our 5-day Creation Apologetics Teachers College we have equipped 200 with the knowledge and skills to teach others. This year we hope to have another 50 trained. This is an intense course where students have the opportunity to practice what they learn before returning home.
I have had over 35 years of experience witnessing students go to Christian universities, graduate and not be prepared for the battlefield. It is time to take the next step.
On the Move
CTI, along with multiple churches, is in the process of developing an apologetics curriculum that will make a real difference. It will be based on multiple areas of apologetics that students must know to defend their faith.
- Biblical creation and evolution
- Biblical worldview and presuppositional apologetics
- Practical apologetics and critical thinking skills
- The Bible and the Gospel (who is Jesus? Why do you believe the Bible,…)
- Moral issues (sanctity of human life and biblical marriage)
- Communication and teaching skills
The test of our success will be based on more than passing a written test. The ultimate test of teaching is not what you do as the teacher or how well you do it, but what can the student do or perform at the end of the training. All students will be required to demonstrate their ability to defend their faith and share and defend the Gospel.
We are in America’s greatest war – a war for the heart and soul of the nation. A war for where people will spend their eternity. This is not something we can take lightly, but it is an exciting adventure. Having been a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and taught at many levels (junior high through graduate level), l am well aware of battlefield operations and tactics as well as learning methods. I can also speak with confidence that we have the greatest weapon – the Bible, and it is time to mobilize and get involved.
So far, we (CTI) have done all this with just three people. Let us work together as a body to fight for the next generation. Consider being a financial partner so that we can equip more teachers, youth pastors and parents, who will then train their students. Consider what could happen if:
- Each youth pastor trained 30 students a year.
- Each Christian school trained just 200 students a year.
We could have thousands of youth ready for the battlefield in just a few years. This is a very exciting opportunity and it reminds me of one of our great hymns.
Onward Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See, His banners go!
Your support can help make this happen.
Old fashioned mail: CTI, P.O. Box 2415, Eagle, ID 83616
…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,…
– Hebrews 12:1b – 2a
