God's Ark of Safety
Encyclopedia
God's Ark of Safety is a non-denominational Christian
ministry in Frostburg, Maryland
led by Pastor Richard Greene. On Easter
, 1976, Greene began building a replica of Noah's Ark
atop a prominent hillside along Interstate 68
featuring a sign that announces "Noah's Ark Being Rebuilt Here!" to passing travelers. Ground was broken for the ark in September 1976 with over three thousand tons of concrete. It was built to biblical proportions, around four hundred and fifty by seventy-five by forty-five feet, which is about one and a half football fields long.
Pastor Greene's main inspiration for building the ark came from a three part dream highlighting Noah's Ark and his vision of salvation for the people of this Earth. The vision began in the spring of 1974. The vision was to buy 3 acres of land from the farmer who owned it and build the Ark. The 3 acres of land would not be enough to build the Ark so he was told by God to not ask the farmer to buy more land, but; instead ask the farmer to give it to him. The pastor currently owns the 4 acres where the structure still stands along with the church as well. Pastor Greene claims that the land itself has curative and restorative powers. It took the pastor and the church fifteen years to save up $200,000 to start the project.
The pastor has been to 32 countries across the world; spreading the word of God
and his vision for him to build an Ark on the land and potentially raise money and accept donations for his vision. The story of the rebuilding of the Ark has been spread all across the world and reporters and visitors have come from as far as China
to witness what was taking place. It has been in People
magazine, the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune
, Detroit Free Times, the Wallstreet Journal in Hong Kong, China, BBC
in London, England, and NBC
news.
, the structure is still just a frame, but the incomplete Ark has drawn attention from foreign film crews and national publications, and Pastor Greene has promoted the ministry on worldwide tours, his own radio
and television
show, and The 700 Club
. The 700 Club
is an evangelical Christian
television show. It has even appeared in People, as well as other widely read magazines. According to Greene, God's Ark of Safety supports 20 missionaries worldwide.
The completed ark will hold anywhere from 1,500-1,700 people with a gymnasium and theatre. The ark will also occupy a Christian grade school, high school, and bible college. Pastor Greene believes that the ark today would require 30-50 million dollars to complete. The church today is still receiving donations which are funneled into a building fund supported by the church and surrounding community.
Although funding for the church has been continuous for the past 25 years the pastor still remains committed to the project, saying "If you wait on the lord it will renew your strength."
The Ark is featured on the front cover and chapter 4 of Timothy Beal
's book Roadside Religion: In Search of the Sacred, the Strange, and the Substance of Faith. In the book Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Frostburg writer Brad Barkley
, there is a reference to the Ark in the pre-chapter section listing places that one should see when traveling across the country. It is also mentioned in Barkley's story "The Way It's Lasted."
Non-denominational Christianity
In Christianity, nondenominational institutions or churches are those not formally aligned with an established denomination, or that remain otherwise officially autonomous. This, however, does not preclude an identifiable standard among such congregations...
ministry in Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg, Maryland
Frostburg is a city in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located at the head of the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,873 at the 2000 census...
led by Pastor Richard Greene. On Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, 1976, Greene began building a replica of Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark
Noah's Ark is a vessel appearing in the Book of Genesis and the Quran . These narratives describe the construction of the ark by Noah at God's command to save himself, his family, and the world's animals from the worldwide deluge of the Great Flood.In the narrative of the ark, God sees the...
atop a prominent hillside along Interstate 68
Interstate 68
Interstate 68 is a Interstate highway in the U.S. states of West Virginia and Maryland, connecting in Morgantown to in Hancock. is also Corridor E of the Appalachian Development Highway System. From 1965 until the freeway's construction was completed in 1991, it was designated as...
featuring a sign that announces "Noah's Ark Being Rebuilt Here!" to passing travelers. Ground was broken for the ark in September 1976 with over three thousand tons of concrete. It was built to biblical proportions, around four hundred and fifty by seventy-five by forty-five feet, which is about one and a half football fields long.
Pastor Greene's main inspiration for building the ark came from a three part dream highlighting Noah's Ark and his vision of salvation for the people of this Earth. The vision began in the spring of 1974. The vision was to buy 3 acres of land from the farmer who owned it and build the Ark. The 3 acres of land would not be enough to build the Ark so he was told by God to not ask the farmer to buy more land, but; instead ask the farmer to give it to him. The pastor currently owns the 4 acres where the structure still stands along with the church as well. Pastor Greene claims that the land itself has curative and restorative powers. It took the pastor and the church fifteen years to save up $200,000 to start the project.
The pastor has been to 32 countries across the world; spreading the word of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
and his vision for him to build an Ark on the land and potentially raise money and accept donations for his vision. The story of the rebuilding of the Ark has been spread all across the world and reporters and visitors have come from as far as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to witness what was taking place. It has been in People
People
People is a plurality of human beings or other beings possessing enough qualities constituting personhood. It has two usages:* as the plural of person or a group of people People is a plurality of human beings or other beings possessing enough qualities constituting personhood. It has two usages:*...
magazine, the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, Detroit Free Times, the Wallstreet Journal in Hong Kong, China, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in London, England, and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
news.
, the structure is still just a frame, but the incomplete Ark has drawn attention from foreign film crews and national publications, and Pastor Greene has promoted the ministry on worldwide tours, his own radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
show, and The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
. The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
is an evangelical Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
television show. It has even appeared in People, as well as other widely read magazines. According to Greene, God's Ark of Safety supports 20 missionaries worldwide.
The completed ark will hold anywhere from 1,500-1,700 people with a gymnasium and theatre. The ark will also occupy a Christian grade school, high school, and bible college. Pastor Greene believes that the ark today would require 30-50 million dollars to complete. The church today is still receiving donations which are funneled into a building fund supported by the church and surrounding community.
Although funding for the church has been continuous for the past 25 years the pastor still remains committed to the project, saying "If you wait on the lord it will renew your strength."
The Ark is featured on the front cover and chapter 4 of Timothy Beal
Timothy Beal
Timothy K. Beal is a writer and scholar in the field of religious studies whose work explores matters of religion and American culture, past and present. He is currently Florence Harkness Professor of Religion at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.- Biography :Beal was born in...
's book Roadside Religion: In Search of the Sacred, the Strange, and the Substance of Faith. In the book Scrambled Eggs at Midnight by Frostburg writer Brad Barkley
Brad Barkley
Brad Barkley is a U.S. fiction writer, young adult novelist and a professor at Frostburg State University in Maryland.He has received four Individual Artist Awards from the Maryland Arts Council, and a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.-Select bibliography:*Money,...
, there is a reference to the Ark in the pre-chapter section listing places that one should see when traveling across the country. It is also mentioned in Barkley's story "The Way It's Lasted."