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Martyn Iles is set to one day take the reins from current CEO Ken Ham, as Answers in Genesis looks to the future.

Answers in Genesis (AiG) – a creationist apologetics ministry located in Kentucky, USA – has announced the promotion of Martyn Iles to the position of Executive CEO.

New Role, and Now New Promotion

The promotion to the new role was voted upon “unanimously” by the AiG board. It comes only five months after Iles began his new role at AiG as Chief Ministry Officer on May 10.

Martyn has clearly made an impressionable start to his new role in the land of the stars and stripes.

The new position is essentially a second-in-command role to AiG founder Ken Ham, with Iles taking up the singular CEO role at an unknown future date. In a statement announcing the new appointment, AiG wrote:

Martyn’s move into this new role within Answers in Genesis is designed to set the ministry up for the future, ensuring that AiG continues to have a strong visionary leader who stands solidly on the foundation of the Word of God from the very first verse. Ken Ham and Martyn Iles will be leading together, slowly transitioning the ministry from being led by the visionary and founder Ken Ham to eventually being led by Martyn Iles.

Iles’ 2023 Journey: To Greater Gospel Impact?

Martyn’s journey this year has been quite interesting, to put it mildly. In February, he was dismissed as the CEO of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL), with Iles stating this as the reason:

I hasten to add that there is no question of misconduct. Rather, the Board has reviewed ACL’s strategic direction and decided I am not the right person to lead the revised strategy, which focuses more primarily on political tactics, less on the gospel. Having heard this articulated, I absolutely agree with them that I am not the right person for that vision. I have always been a preacher first, a politician second (or third…).

At the time, it was easy to wonder whether the decision by the ACL was the right one.

That aside, it’s now easy to see that Martyn will have a greater opportunity to speak to the gospel issues more clearly and without political restraint. I think he will enjoy that new freedom and trajectory – immensely. In his words, he is “a preacher first”.

Considering the substantial impact he has had in Australia during his time at the ACL, there’s every reason to think Iles will continue using his sharp communication and leadership skills on a scale even larger than the opportunity afforded to him in Australia.

That was not at all clear in February this year. But as predicted in the Daily Declaration immediately after Iles’ ACL dismissal, even then, it would be “onwards and upwards for Martyn Iles.”

Prophetic words, indeed.

Meanwhile, ACL has landed new CEO Michelle Pearse, who shows no signs of backing down or watering down the centrality of Christ in public discussion. As one such indication, her August CPAC speech was described as a “tour de force” by former ACL CEO Lyle Shelton.

Changing Culture, Unchanging Truth

Iles is well aware of the challenges facing the Church in the West and the need to adapt to an ever-changing culture. On 11 November, he penned these words in a Facebook post addressing that very topic:

“The culture is changing, fast. The next generation is different. Digital technology is disrupting our existence.

“Just as scientific naturalism has threatened the faith of so many, postmodernism and new critical theories threaten the faith of a new generation.

“But God’s word is a word for every generation.

“And the gospel is God’s answer to every generation.

“We will adapt to that which is new, holding fast to that which is timeless.

“Please pray for us.

“’Unless the Lord builds the house, those that labour build it in vain.’” (Ps 127:1)

Psalm 127:1 is indeed essential. Considering God is still in the labouring industry until the end of the age (John 5:17; Matt 28:28), we can pray confidently that His plans will succeed.

All we need is complete alignment with His desires.

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Image via Facebook.