By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

The First Baptist Church of Pelham in mid-June will be hosting a program aimed at shedding more light on the Bible’s creationist doctrines and strengthening both believers’ and non-believers’ thoughts on the matter.

“This is something we need to constantly refresh ourselves on,” said church Activities Minister Donnie Sisk. “Even if you don’t believe, this program will tell you ‘This is what creationists believe and why.’”

The program, sponsored by the “Answers in Genesis” group, will feature speaker Dr. Tommy Mitchell, who owned a private medical practice in Tennessee until he decided to close it in 2006 to pursue the creation ministry full-time.

During the series, which will be presented during all Sunday worship services on June 12 and at 7 p.m. on June 13, Mitchell will speak about the lessons found in the book of Genesis, which the group says is the “most-attacked book of the Bible.”

The program will help to give church members and visitors a better understanding of the creationist ideas presented in the Bible, and help “Christians to defend their faith and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively,” Sisk said.

“We train our children and our church members in apologetics. That doesn’t mean making an apology, it means being able to give a good answer when you are questioned about your beliefs,” Sisk said. “It’s one thing to say you believe something, but it’s another thing to say ‘I believe this, and here is why.’”

The June 13 program will be titled “A God of Suffering?” and will be especially meaningful in the light of the state’s recent events, Sisk said. The program will feature discussion about God’s actions and how they are perceived on Earth, he said.

“It will be a night that nobody around here will want to miss,” Sisk said, referencing the state’s April 27 tornado outbreak. “It’s going to be powerful.”

Mitchell’s sessions will feature PowerPoint presentations, and are “visually friendly,” Sisk said. Because the sessions will not be formatted as a debate, the programs will be an educational experience for anyone looking to learn more about creationist beliefs, Sisk said.

“It’s open for everyone, and we want everyone to come,” Sisk said. “Whether you believe (in creationism) or not, I think it’s informative and educational for everyone.

For more information about the program, visit Fbcpelham.org or Answersingenesis.org.