A close friend and associate, Kenneth W. Funk, Ph.D., passed away at age 79 on May 28, 2025. He was the Midwest Creation Fellowship (MCF) Director. Will MCF survive? Unfortunately, Ken is only one of many creationist scientists who have passed away in the past few years. Others include most of my close colleagues and collaborators, including: Henry Morris, PhD; John Morris, PhD; Duane Gish, PhD; Richard Bliss, PhD; David Menton, PhD; Wayne Friar, PhD; David Kaufmann, PhD; Walt Brown, PhD; Raymond Damadian, MD; Glen Wolfrom, PhD; Norbert Smith, PhD; Willem Ouweneel, PhD; Paul Bartz, MS, Director of Bible Science Association; Walter Lang, MS; Bolton Davidheiser, PhD; Kevin Anderson, PhD; Edward A. Boudreaux, PhD; James J.S. Johnson, MS; Russell Arndts, PhD; Gunter Bechly, PhD (1963-2025); W. Scot Morrow, PhD; MaryAnn Stuart, MS (she edited my work for close to 30 years); Per Larssen, PhD (he also edited my work for close to 20 years); and George Howe, PhD (I worked with him on several books and numerous articles). These are some of the academics I worked closely with in the past who have passed away.

Only a few academically qualified science persons are left that I can work with in research. Very few young people show an interest in pursuing creation/apologetics research. I am an editor at the Creation Research Society and have been with them since 1964, when they were founded, and can attest to the fact that we now have a very difficult time finding qualified reviewers. Many papers are published without being able to achieve proper peer review. A main means of maturing reviewers is at the local creation groups. Detroit, Los Angeles, Torrance, CA, New Jersey, and Columbus, OH, are some of the many that have disbanded due to loss of leadership and support. A visit to a creation museum will not produce seasoned creationists. For me and many others, the local creation groups that meet once a month are critical. I have been active in this area for over 60 years and still have a lot to learn.

Although the three large creation museums (really theme parks) are doing well, the once- thriving creation movement is dying; news that warms the hearts of atheists. Its demise is partly due to the hostility of local churches to the apologetics message. Some will let us meet in their  church, but we have to pay a stiff fee, as in Denver. Most pastors refuse to promote our meetings. As leading atheist, Dr. Eugenie Scott, wrote: “I have found the most effective allies for evolution are people of the faith community. One clergyman with a backward collar is worth two biologists at a school board meeting any day!”

Many colleges that once actively supported our work now oppose us, including Taylor University, Messiah College, Pepperdine University (founded by George Pepperdine, who founded Western Auto), and numerous others. Of the over 700 Christian colleges, only 11 openly support the creation worldview. As far as I am aware, of the 221 Catholic colleges, not a single one supports the creation worldview. Of the 5,905 Catholic schools in the U.S., I am not aware of a single one that supports the creation worldview. The Catholic school my grandchildren attended did not. One major exception is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, which has 284 elementary schools and 29 high schools.

Few academically qualified creation/apologists speakers exist. Aside from the creation organization speakers (total 18), one lives in Indiana, one in Glen Rose, TX, one in Ohio, and none in Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, Canada, New York, New Jersey, and most other states. Many speakers are not academically qualified, and it shows, although I am not sure how many in the typical audience notice this problem. The three large creation/apologetics groups I am a part of are headed by men in their 80s and 90s. When they pass away, it appears my ministry will end. As a result of a lack of church and college support, evolution/agnosticism has won the war even though the scientific evidence against evolution is now overwhelming. The Scripture in 1 Timothy 4:1 teaches that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

This can be depressing, but I try to focus on the positive. I was in Dayton a few months ago addressing the group there. The month before I spoke, only 8 attended, and we had no idea how many would be at my presentation. It turned out it was packed with over 30, including two pastors and a missionary interested in apologetics. We met in a restaurant because not a single church would open its door to us. The restaurant more than welcomed us. The waitresses, in between helping serve dinners, on their own time, helped me set up my literature table and purchased about 30 books. The pastor bought one copy of every book I had brought with me, over $200 worth. Sales are critical if I want to publish another book, and I have 32 books ready to publish. In my books, I cover topics that no other creationist covers in depth. Publishers require enough sales to break even before they consider publishing a new book, and I have published with the world’s leading secular publishers. My audience was very well-informed, and the Q&A part was one of the best I can remember.

I was asked to present to the Grand Rapids, MI, creation group, and I will be presenting in both Dallas and Indianapolis in the coming months. I was also invited to present in Sweden, which has an excellent creation group, involving about ten professors. Ken Ham would be very pleased that the evidence for creation continues to go forward in an ever-darkening world. One solution is to hire a full-time person at AiG who coordinates the existing creation groups and works to establish more. They could contact interested persons who could head local groups and coordinate local events. AiG could take care of the mailing to announce events. AiG books and literature for sale could be made available.

I have never spoken to a creation group that deviated from AiG’s statement of faith, which should be required for all coordinators. Although ICR, in the past at least, did not accept the Glen Rose human-dinosaur claims, Carl Baugh has a lot more examples of footprints/human tracks, which should be considered. I know one PhD geologist (Bill Caldwell, PhD) who has researched this issue in detail. He has a film out documenting in detail his conclusions.

Also, several ICR people now do some work at Carl Baugh’s Creation Evidence Museum of Texas. I am aware of Baugh’s canopy theory, which takes the Biblical meaning of the Hebrew word raquia literally, and was further developed by the aforementioned Dr. Edward A. Boudreaux. At one time, all of the creation groups wanted to carry my books. Now, at most, they may carry one or two of my books. Most of the 60+ books I have published have no competition in the creation movement because they are on topics that no other creationist has covered, such as a full-length book debunking whale evolution. Any feedback is welcome.

Lastly, we need to have another debate, but by a creation scientist to deal with the facts. I would be willing to debate Bill Nye. He did a film of the scientists he greatly respected, two of whom were creationists; a fact he was naïve about! I have done about eight debates and feel confident about being able to present the facts.

—Dr. Jerry R. Bergman