Noah's Ark Discovered?

First things first – Thank you for the Pastor Appreciation Gifts. My family enjoys wandering around at Longwood Gardens every year, and I have certainly been known to wander around at Tanglewood Manor Golf Club!

You may have recently seen social media posts declaring that Noah’s Ark has been found or that we have definite proof of its location. Although there certainly is some interesting news regarding the Ark, much of what is being asserted is more speculation than it is fact.

Here is what is true:

There is a very unusual boat-shaped formation near Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey. This formation (called the Durupinar Formation) was first identified in 1959 but access to it has been restricted off-and-on since then. Researchers got permission from the Turkish government to extensively investigate the site in 2026. So far they have conducted some scans and drilling. They found some underground anomalies and have taken some soil samples that they intend to investigate further. These findings seem to suggest that “something” is there and have renewed interest in the site.

However:

There is no conclusive, independently verified evidence that this formation is Noah’s Ark. The researchers say that whether or not the soil samples contain evidence of decayed wood won’t be known until the spring of 2027.

It’s interesting stuff, to say the least. However, we should be wary of the speculation and folks saying things like “Noah’s Ark has been found!” Here are some quick thoughts to keep in mind when we read about potential discoveries like this one:

1. The heart of Noah’s story in the Bible is that he believed God and obeyed Him. Noah did not wait until the flood began to decide whether God's warning was trustworthy. That the Ark came to rest in the mountains of Ararat is an interesting detail, but it is not the point.

2. Our faith is in Jesus Christ, not in sensational social media posts. Researchers could find definitive proof that the Durupinar Formation is Noah’s Ark. It would be an extraordinary discovery and would be an amazing piece of evidence that the Biblical account is true!

But I am convinced that it would not be enough for some folks to believe that the Bible is the Word of God. And I am even more convinced that the discovery of Noah’s Ark would not, in and of itself, save a single soul. Only believing in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior brings someone salvation.

3. Christians have a responsibility to tell the truth. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:15 that we are to speak the truth in love. It is certainly tempting to pass along exciting stories about Biblical discoveries before checking whether or not they are accurate. But if the story turns out to be false, we’ve not only hurt our credibility, we’ve brought into question the Gospel. We should never feel compelled (no matter how well-intended it might be) to exaggerate evidence that the Bible is true.

I am sure the findings of this research will be made public this spring, and I am certainly as curious about them as the next person. But I won’t put my faith and my trust in it. That is reserved for Christ and Christ alone.

Here’s what’s happening:

1. Next Thursday 10/22 – Youth Group

2. 10/24 – Youth Apple Pie Baking at the Fite home from 1-4 pm.

3. 10/30 – Harvest Party: The fun starts at 6pm with the traditional hot dog and all the fixins meal. Kids’ Bake Off, Pumpkin Painting and a whole lot of activities down in the woods. Dress warm and come for a night of fellowship! Rain Date (why would we need one of them?) is Sunday 11/1 after the worship service.

4. 11/1 – Operation Christmas Child Kickoff

5. 11/3 – Double Nickels Service Project at Blessings of Hope

6. 11/8 – Double Nickels Luncheon

7. 11/12 – Youth Group

8. 11/15 – Communion Sunday

9. 11/13 – Double Nickels Service Project at Blessings of Hope

10. 11/22 – Thanksgiving Meal

11. 11/29 – Youth Group Luncheon

12. I am still looking for some folks who would be willing/interested in leading a Sunday School elective for six weeks later this fall. Creative ideas are welcomed!

This Sunday we will look at two miracles that Peter performed as he made his way to the Mediterranean Coast on a preaching tour. However, our focus won’t be on the miracles themselves. We’ll look at how Acts 9:32-43 reminds us that we don’t need extraordinary talents or abilities to make an eternal impact; we simply need to use what God has given us to serve others in Jesus’ name!

See you on Sunday,

Scott

PS – Although it looks like Sunday will be dry (for once), it will also be quite chilly and breezy in the morning. We are planning to worship in the sanctuary this week, but we may try to squeeze in an outdoor service in the coming weeks. The builders are busy framing out the addition and I’ll send out an email on Saturday with the “plan” for Sunday morning.