4th Journey update

October 1st, 2011

Rick and I returned home from our fourth Journey in September. We were gone from May-September 2011 and have much joy in the Lord for all He did in changing hearts and minds and encouraging the Believers as Rick ministered from Arizona to Georgia. We thank God for His immeasurable grace that carried us all the way. We began with a Creation conference with Ken Ham and Rick as the exclusive speakers for the event in Tucson, AZ. Then we traveled to NM, Rick had many speaking engagements there that kept us in NM for a month. There were wild fires burning in Northern Arizona all the while and the smoke in the sky was a reminder that our time is short here on earth, so we need to do all the Lord calls us to as He directs our path. Then we spent a while in Durango, CO where Rick returned to speak at a church he lectured in on our first journey in 2009. From CO we traveled to KS where Rick was one of the speakers for the third year at a youth conference in Wilsey, KS. What a joy it was to hear the difference this conference and work week made in their lives and hearts as well as in the community. Nearly 300 youth attended that conference. We returned to Cedar Rapids, IA where the church had rented a bulletin board along the highway and broadcast on the radio; as a result many came that had never heard of the alternatives to evolution that are available through Rick’s lectures. We then returned to our friends at a church in Louisville, KY. We visited with family in Kentucky, and Rick spoke at a church near Kentucky Lake; then on to three different churches in Tennessee, with a few days at Truet McConnell College in Georgia and time with our friends Dr. Kurt Wise and his wife, Maria.

This journey, more than any other, many people from local high schools and colleges and many with earned P.hDs came to hear what Rick had to say on the subject. Many said as a result of Rick’s talks they have left their long standing Theistic Evolution and long ages beliefs and have chosen believe in a recent creation just as described in the Bible. They said their doubts in God’s Word were dispelled while Rick lectured.

Also, as we went, a few pastors asked if we could return in October, 2011. We said, yes, and leave for Durango, CO and NM in mid October. Click on the upper calendar icon for dates and times.

Here are some excerpts from a few of the pastors from the churches Rick lectured in this summer: “Our entire congregation enjoyed your ministry…You were sensitive to the leading and direction of the Holy Spirit as you shared in Word and content, and related in a way they could understand easily. I believe you gave them realistic ways they could appropriate the Word of God for specific areas of their lives to begin to see the answers they have been seeking. While I’m careful of who stands behind the pulpit to minister, rest assured that I felt very comfortable as you shared your ministry with the people, and look forward to your return soon to minister as God leads.” Another pastor who asked Rick to come back to do a multi church youth conference stated, “Earlier this summer we had a beautiful brother in the Lord…Dr. Rick Oliver come to equip our saints with the (alternatives and the) truth about evolution and creation. I have studied these subjects for a few years on my own and I was blown away by what I learned from Dr. Oliver’s presentations at our church. His style is not one of arrogance or rudeness, but one of humbly presenting the facts that straight forwardly debunk false teaching on these subjects.”

One of the churches gave us a few days to rest at one of the most beautiful conference sites, Fairhaven, we have visited. Fairhaven Ministries Retreat is tucked away in beautiful Roan Mountain, TN It has many Rhododendrons and pine trees with streams and waterfalls. We were able to spend quality time with the founder, Charles Shepson and his wife Coleen. What a delight in every way.

Please continue to pray as we “go” that God would open and close the doors of opportunity and that He would continue to open hearts as Rick lectures.

Russ Miller and Rick will team up at a few conferences, one is the multi church youth conference in October in Estancia Valley, NM and several other conferences in 2012.

Entry Filed under: Evolution