Introduction
Ken Ham recently shared what he calls his “favorite kind of testimony” from his decades in creation apologetics ministry. (1) In his own words, the stories that “really tug at [his] heartstrings” are those in which parents tell him they grew up on Answers in Genesis (AiG) resources, and are now raising their own children on the same materials—children who, in turn, aspire to follow in his footsteps to become creation scientists or work in creation ministries.
On the surface, this sounds like a heartwarming account of generational faithfulness. But if we listen closely, something is missing. These testimonies, as Ham describes them, are not about people encountering Jesus, being transformed by the Gospel, or growing in the fruit of the Spirit. They are about the replication of a particular apologetics brand and the perpetuation of a specific worldview emphasis.
The Difference Between Gospel Testimony and Brand Testimony
In Scripture, testimony is consistently Christ-centered. The apostles could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20)—namely, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul’s letters overflow with gratitude for believers’ faith in Christ and love for one another, not for their adherence to a particular teacher or ministry.
By contrast, Ham’s “favorite” testimonies focus on:
The use of AiG materials as the central formative influence.
Career aspirations tied to defending a specific interpretation of Genesis.
Generational continuity of a ministry brand, rather than generational transformation in Christ.
This is not to say that apologetics resources are unimportant. Tools can be valuable in equipping believers to give a reason for the hope within them (1 Peter 3:15). But when the tools become the centerpiece of the story, the toolmaker—not the Savior—becomes the hero.
Why This Matters
When ministry leaders publicly prize brand loyalty over Christ-centered transformation, it subtly shifts the metric of success. The “win” becomes producing more adherents to a movement rather than more disciples of Jesus. Over time, this can:
Encourage believers to equate faithfulness with defending a narrow set of secondary doctrines.
Foster division in the body of Christ over non-essential issues.
Leave people vulnerable if the movement’s claims are later challenged, because their faith was tethered to an institution rather than to Christ Himself.
A Better Kind of Testimony
Imagine if Ham’s favorite stories were about people who:
Encountered Jesus through the witness of believers and the Word of God.
Experienced repentance, forgiveness, and new life in Him.
Grew in love, humility, and service to others—whether or not they became scientists or apologists.
Used apologetics as one of many tools to point others to Christ, not as the foundation of their faith.
That kind of testimony would still honor the role of resources and teaching, but it would keep the focus where it belongs: on the One who saves.
Conclusion
Ministries rise and fall. Movements shift. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ endures forever. If our “favorite” testimonies are about the survival of our brand rather than the advance of His kingdom, we’ve traded the eternal for the temporary. The true measure of ministry success is not how many people use our materials, but how many people know, love, and follow Jesus because of our witness.
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