In 2008, I interviewed Dutchman Johan Huibers for Creation magazine. He had built a floating replica of Noahs Ark, which, though only half-size (so it could traverse Dutch canals), was still considered immense by most people who saw it.
Revisiting him some three years later, it turns out that this was in his view only a practice project. Johan has been busy for the last three years with his real project, envisioned from day onea full size floating ark. It was almost done when I saw him; by the time this article appears, it should be ready to launch.
Johan Huibers is a man with considerable charisma. Anyone who meets him will not readily forget his down-to-earth but enthusiastic way of explaining the Gospel and his vision behind his ark, which has remained undimmed. As he often saysGod does not ask if you are fit for the task, just whether you are available. And that is what Johan lives by. The owner of a construction business, the fact that his vision of the first ark replica was realized meant that his local bank was prepared to finance this second one, for which the costs will be considerable. However, the first ark drew 600,000 visitors in almost three years, no mean feat considering the population of the Netherlands is a mere 17 million. Johan made no effort to market it, either, apart from a life-size polyester model of either a giraffe or elephant at several of the entrance roads of the town where the ark was moored, along with a large sign. Local churches supplied volunteers to help man the exhibit...
...As Johan Huibers sees it, his full size replica ark is not only a message to unbelievers or Christians who doubt Genesis. It is a message to all Christians to do something with our faith. He says: It is so important that we pass on our faith and what we have learned on to others, not keep it to ourselves. Even though you are not perfect yet, yes, even when you might miss the mark in many aspects, just put hands and feet to your Christianity and put it into practice.