Texas Cornerstone Megachurch to Unveil $5 Million Noah's Ark
By Anugrah Kumar ,
Christian Post Contributor
March 10, 2013|10:27 am
Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, is inviting the public to attend the unveiling of its new 28,400 square foot building inspired by Noah's Ark on Saturday. Meant for children, the new facility with true-to-size animatronics animals is to underscore the Bible's authenticity.
"I want them to say it happened," Executive Pastor Matthew Hagee told mysanantonio.com. "The Ark was real. Salvation is real. What God desires for Noah, God desires for me. For Noah, it was a boat. And for me, it was Jesus Christ."
Designed to handle about 850 children, the Ark's construction began in November 2011. The congregation gave cash donations to cover the cost.
Hagee, son of founding pastor John Hagee, described The Ark, saying it has vestibule entrances with outdoor scenes of the ship's hull, crafted with alder wood panels. At one vestibule will be a talking macaw playing host.
Each of the animals in the central area of the hull – from a tortoise, sheep and zebra to a rhinoceros, lion and elephant – will be named for a great church figure from history, as a springboard to lessons on John Bunyan, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Charles Wesley and others.
Nine of the 16 creatures will be animatronic, created by Animal Makers, a Southern California firm that specializes in robotic animals for Hollywood movies. Some are new, and some were formerly leased. The rhino, for example, had a short appearance in the John Cusack film "2012."
"You'd be hard-pressed to find any church with animatronics," Michael Chanley, executive director of the International Network of Children's Ministry, was quoted as saying. "It communicates so much value to the family, 'We don't just want your kids to come here and learn. We want them to experience God,'" he said.
The ceiling above the central area is painted with clouds and sky and two 30-foot shooting stars. There are 400 simulated candles to create day and night environments.
The project's architect, Dan Wigodsky, said the effort was that "it really feels more real than just a playground. We never wanted a curtain to look behind. No place where it gave it away."
The church didn't hesitate in spending money. "If casinos can build opulent buildings to incentivize gamblers to want to come and enjoy their weekend, how then can you justify not building something that would incentivize people to come and hear about the Word of God?" Hagee said. "I don't have any problem with somebody saying it's over the top."
