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After just two years into his role with Answers in Genesis, Martyn Iles has announced his departure from the US-based ministry and his plans to start a new Christian ministry focused on evangelism, education, and young people.

Popular Australian Christian commentator Martyn Iles this week announced he has amicably parted ways with Answers in Genesis to pursue a new Christian education ministry for young people.

Iles, previously the Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) and more recently a senior leader at Answers in Genesis (AIG), announced his departure from the US-based creationist ministry on Thursday via social media.

After serving as Executive CEO under founder Ken Ham, Iles is now transitioning to a new chapter, driven by a vision to reach the next generation with the Gospel.

In a Facebook post, Iles shared that he has been “quiet for a while” due to his changing circumstances.

“I am in a transition to something new,” he wrote, explaining that he and a team of Christian colleagues are “prayerfully discerning what’s next” following his exit from AIG.

“We do have a fantastic project which appears to be coming together well… but we are just taking it a day at a time to confirm that it is of God and we’re meant to do it.”

He revealed the project will be “technologically revolutionary, integrated, accessible, and high quality,” targeting children and young people with a blend of evangelism, education, and entertainment.

Currently in the United States, Iles is engaging with donors, partners and suppliers, with a return to Australia planned for Easter.

‘One of Australia’s Greatest Young Preachers’

Vision Christian Media’s 20Twenty program recently featured Dan Flynn, AIG’s Chief Operating Officer, and Mike Foster, the new Managing Director in Australia, who confirmed the amicable nature of Martyn Iles’ departure.

“Martyn has been in a senior leadership role for a couple of years in the US and very supportive of Ken Ham,” Flynn said. “The exciting news today is that Martyn is going to launch a new ministry. Ken has blessed him and encouraged him in that and very much released him to this new opportunity.” Flynn expressed confidence that both AIG and Iles’ forthcoming ministry will complement each other in advancing the Gospel.

“People obviously love Martyn — he’s one of Australia’s greatest young preachers and he’ll be doing this new ministry probably partly from the US and partly from Australia,” Flynn explained.

“The only sad part of that is that he’ll be sort of leaving AIG to do that. But that’s understandable. The gospel continues to move forward and both ministries are blessing each other on the way forward.”

Iles joined AIG in May 2023 as Chief Ministry Officer, later rising to Executive CEO, a role widely seen as a potential succession to Ken Ham, now 73.

During his tenure, Iles carried on AIG’s mission of defending biblical authority, particularly the book of Genesis, while also overseeing operations in Australia.

AIG, founded by Ham, is renowned for its Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Kentucky, which draw millions of visitors each year seeking answers to faith-challenging questions.

More Details on Martyn Iles’ Departure

Flynn confirmed that AIG will now likely search for a replacement for Iles while Ham covers some of his responsibilities in the meantime.

“Ken has still got plenty of fuel in the tank,” he said, adding that Ham “might be chronologically older than some but [is] still full of energy.”

Flynn also hinted at the reason for Iles’ departure:

I think that he’s realised and Martyn’s realised, look, they’re probably better off doing two ministries rather than one and trying to subdue Martyn’s ministry within AIG. So Martyn’s been very much sort of blessed and released to do a new ministry. We don’t know what the details of that are yet, but we certainly look forward to hearing that from Martyn.

Of his new venture, Iles has said, “We are just taking it a day at a time to confirm that it is of God and we’re meant to do it,” while citing Psalm 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”

While details of the project remain sparse, Iles’ focus on a digital, youth-oriented platform is line with his vision, since his ACL days, of reaching young people in a culture increasingly shaped by technology and secular influences.

“I’ll post updates,” he told his social media followers. “See where this goes.”

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Image courtesy of Answers in Genesis.