A Leap in Science, a Step of Faith - Dan Zachary Workshop

How vast is the universe? How did the Solar System form? Why could life emerge on Earth? Is there life beyond Earth?

How often do we ask the questions above? More than that, how often do we get answers from someone who is an expert in the field to those questions?

On July 8, the Jakarta congregation had the opportunity to receive a workshop on the process of the universe’s creation and the probability of life coming into being, connected with the faith of a disciple of Jesus, from brother Dan Zachary, a disciple from Virginia. Dan and his family happened to be vacationing in Southeast Asia and offered to give a workshop to the Jakarta congregation.

Dan Zachary

Dan Zachary is the Program Director for the Energy Policy and Climate Program at Johns Hopkins University, one of the best universities in America. He holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Science, a Master’s in Space and Atmospheric Physics, and a bachelor’s degree in Physics, all from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). His professional background is in the fields of general relativity, black holes, and nuclear physics. More recently he has been working in the area of energy and climate change policy, producing guidance for local and international governments. Beyond all that, Professor Dan is very passionate about teaching people about God. He is writing a book titled A Leap in Science and a Step of Faith, which also happens to be the title of the workshop-itself.

At 1:30 p.m. the congregation began to fill the seats in the room. The workshop began with praise led by the married ministry music team. After singing 2 songs, Pastor Franky came forward to pray. He was the PIC for this event.

Pastor Budi introduced Dan to the congregation

After the prayer, Pastor Budi came forward to introduce Dan Zachary to the congregation. The room, filled with the Jakarta congregation and others from nearby, eagerly listened to Pastor Budi’s welcome. After giving his welcome and introduction, Professor Dan came forward and began teaching in English, while Pastor Budi translated. This workshop would be divided into 2 sessions: the teaching session and the Q&A session.

Professor Dan opened the session by showing a slide containing a photo of small fish swimming together in a ball to avoid predators. He explained that things like this capture his attention. His amazement at the complexity of the universe is what led him to study science.

Teaching session in the workshop

For roughly the first 20 minutes he discussed the background of his work. He had been placed at several facilities in Europe, including the Compact Linear Collider Test Facility in Geneva, Switzerland, where scientists try to engineer Big Bang events by colliding atoms at extremely high speeds. He was also placed at facilities that study comets and the movement of stars.

After that Professor Dan discussed the probability of life being formed in the universe, beginning with the process of the universe itself coming into being (the Big Bang theory), our position within a galaxy, the right kind of star, our position in the Solar System, the placement of celestial bodies, and the characteristics of Earth that make life possible. He invited the congregation to calculate together just how tiny the percentage is for a planet to support life. The congregation seemed amazed after learning that the likelihood of this happening is extraordinarily small.

After about 1 and a half hours, Pastor Budi announced that it was now time for a short break. After a 15-minute break the congregation returned to their places. The song ministry came forward again and led praise before the teaching continued.

The teaching session continued with Professor Dan opening to Romans 1:19-22. After reading the passage he said, “When we look at the universe and all it contains, we see His creation. I stand in awe when I realize that the Bible records things that happened far in the past (the creation process in Genesis). This proves that there is a Creator.” This was the first passage Professor Dan opened. He explained that he first wanted to present what scientists have come to know and hoped that this would strengthen our faith in God’s greatness.

Workshop atmosphere

Professor Dan closed the teaching session by saying that with the data he had presented and explained, we should become convinced that God has designed a good future for us, because He prepared everything for billions of years, just for us. He invited the congregation to take a step of faith.

After the teaching session ended, Pastor Budi announced that it was now time for the Q&A session. Questions for Dan had to be sent through a WhatsApp message displayed on the screen. Professor Dan answered around 10 questions before the Q&A session finally ended.

One of the questions asked was “Is there life outside Earth? If so, how would that affect your faith?” , Professor Dan answered  “I believe Jesus came to Earth to save us. What would it mean if there were other living beings out there? This is my personal thought. Sometimes we place God in a small box even though we do not understand God’s power and complexity. God does not live in time. God is not bound by the things we know. God is not bound by our problems and our questions. Personally I do not believe there is life outside Earth, but if it turns out there is, it would not affect my faith in God at all.”

God does not live in time. God is not bound by the things we know. God is not bound by our problems and our questions.

Brother Dan during the Q&A session

After the Q&A session, Pastor Budi closed the event with prayer. After the prayer, the members quickly gathered around Professor Dan to thank him and ask further questions. Understandably so, he had answered only 10 questions out of nearly 30 that had been submitted.

The lesson from Professor Dan Zachary helped the congregation greatly in understanding more deeply that God has authority over the universe, that we are very special in His eyes. He prepared this universe for billions of years so that it could finally be inhabited by human beings, and He was even willing to come down to the Earth He created to redeem our sins.

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