>>> COMING UP, THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IS POISED TO CANONIZE MOTHER TERESA A SAINT FOR REASONS WE ALL KNOW.ç4ZQ=I!u MOTHER TERESA MAYBE YOU DIDN'T KNOW.

>>> ALSO, A LUCKY SEVERSON STORY ABOUT NOAH'S ARK FEATURING NOT JUST THE ARK, BUT NOAH TOO.

THE ARK IS IN NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY, AND ITS CREATOR CLAIMS IT'S A REPLICA OF THE ORIGINAL ARK.çç SITTING IN FOR BOB ABERNETHY.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

>>> MUSLIMS ARE DEMANDING THAT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE DONALD TRUMP APOLOGIZE FOR REMARKS HE MADE ABOUT THE PARENTS OF A MUSLIM SOLDIER KILLED IN IRAQ.

THE SOLDIER'S FATHER, KHIZR KHAN ADDRESSED THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION LAST MONTH AND CRITICIZED THE REPUBLICAN çç CANDIDATE'S PROPOSAL TO BAN MUSLIM IMMIGRATION.

IN RESPONSE, TRUMP SUGGESTED THAT KHAN'S WIFE -- WHO HAD STOOD SILENTLY BY HER HUSBAND AT THE CONVENTION -- HAD NOT BEEN ALLOWED TO SPEAK.

KHAN'S WIFE LATER EXPLAINED SHE HAD CHOSEN NOT TO SPEAK BECAUSE SHE FEARED BECOMING EMOTIONAL ABOUT HER DEAD SON.

MUSLIMS ACCUSE TRUMP OF çç PROMOTING INACCURATE STEREOTYPES ABOUT THE ROLE OF WOMEN WITHIN ISLAM.

>>> A WIDE RANGE OF RELIGIOUS GROUPS, INCLUDING BLACK PROTESTANTS, LATINO EVANGELICALS AND REFORM JEWS, HAVE LAUNCHED A MASSIVE VOTER DRIVE DUBBED "TOGETHER WE VOTE."

ORGANIZERS SAY THEY PLAN TO TALK TO A MILLION VOTERS AND FOCUS ON ISSUES SUCH AS POLICE BRUTALITY, IMMIGRATION, AND WAGES.ç CF1 O >> TOGETHER WITH OUR ALLIES WE SEEK TO WORK TOGETHER TO UNIFY A FAITH VOICE, TO BE ABLE TO SPEAK FOR THIS COUNTRY IN A WAY THAT BUILDS US INTO A PLACE WHERE ALL CANNOT JUST BARELY SURVIVE, BUT EVERYONE CAN THRIVE.

>>> THE 2016 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES ARE GETTING UNDERWAY IN RIO DE JANEIRO.

KIM LAWTON REPORTS ON SOME OF THE MANY WAYS RELIGION IS PLAYING A ROLE.çç >> Reporter: WITH THE DIVERSE ARRAY OF ATHLETES AND SPECTATORS DESCENDING ON RIO, SOME OBSERVERS SAY THIS COULD BE THE LARGEST INTERFAITH GATHERING ON EARTH.

AND IN DEVELOPING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE GAMES, OLYMPIC ORGANIZERS TOOK RELIGION INTO ACCOUNT.

CHRISTIAN, MUSLIM, JEWISH, BUDDHIST AND HINDU REPRESENTATIVES MET SEVERAL TIMES TO PLAN HOW THE SPIRITUAL NEEDS OF THE ATHLETES WOULD BE MET.ç THEY CONSULTED ON THE CREATION OF AN INTER-RELIGIOUS CENTER INSIDE THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE, WHERE ATHLETES ARE ABLE TO PRAY AND HOLD WORSHIP SERVICES AS WELL AS RECEIVE SPIRITUAL COUNSELING.

THERE ARE 24 OFFICIALLY-DESIGNATED CHAPLAINS FROM THE WORLD'S FIVE MAJOR RELIGIONS.

A SPECIAL COMMITTEE ALSO WORKED ON MAKING RELIGIóU" ACCOMMODATIONS FOR ATHLETES, SUCH AS HELPING MUSLIM WOMEN ç NEGOTIATE UNIFORMS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR FAITH TRADITIONS.

FENCER IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD IS THE FIRST HIJAB-WEARING ATHLETE COMPETING FOR THE U.S. OUTSIDE THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE, MANY FAITH-BASED GROUPS ARE ON SITE TO EVANGELIZE OR TO RAISE ISSUES OF CONCERN.

SOME RELIGIOUS CHARITIES ARE CRITICIZING RIO FOR CLEARING OUT POOR PEOPLE FROM THE CITY IN WHAT THEY SAID WAS AN ATTEMPT TOçç HIDE THE POVERTY THAT EXISTS IN MANY AREAS.

OTHER HUMANITARIAN GROUPS PRAISED THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE FOR RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT THE GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS BY ALLOWING DISPLACED PEOPLE TO COMPETE TOGETHER UNDER A SINGLE FLAG.

THE TEAM INCLUDES REFUGEES FROM SYRIA AND AFRICA.

MEANWHILE, POPE FRANCIS HAS ALSO GOTTEN INTO THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT.

HE RELEASED A NEW VIDEO URGING PRAYERS THAT THE PRACTICE OF çç SPORTS "MAY CONTRIBUTE TO PEACE IN THE WORLD."

I'M KIM LAWTON REPORTING.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS, POPE FRANCIS HAS CREATED A COMMISSION TO STUDY WHETHER WOMEN CAN SERVE AS DEACONS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, A ROLE NOW RESERVED TO MEN.

THE PONTIFF FIRST HINTED THAT HE WOULD"c$ U5R(H(ááájUáRJrç IN MAY, WHEN HE MET WITH A GROUP OF NUNS.

THE NEW COMMISSION IS COMPOSED OF SIX WOMEN AND SEVEN MEN FROM ACADEMIC INTUITIONS AROUND THE WORLD.

IT INCLUDES ONE AMERICAN, PHYLLIS ZAGANO A PROFESSOR AT HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY.

CURRENTLY, MEN WHO SERVE AS DEACONS CAN PREACH AND PRESIDE AT WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS AND FUNERALS.

BUT ONLY PRIESTS CAN CELEBRATE MASS.çç >>> POPE FRANCIS ALSO REFLECTED ON LAST WEEK'S TRIP TO POLAND FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY WHERE HE JOINED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

FRANCIS SAID THAT DESPITE CULTURAL DIFFERENCES, THE YOUTHS WERE ABLE TO CREATE A "MOSAIC OF BROTHERHOOD."

THE PONTIFF ALSO SPOKE ABOUT HIS VISIT TO THE FORMER DEATH CAMP AUSCHWITZ AND SAID HE HAD "FELT THE PRESENCE OF ALL THE SOULS THAT HAVE PaSU$U$ERE.

"ç HE COMPARED THE CRUELTY OF THE HOLOCAUST TO THE PAIN AND HATRED EXPERIENCED IN TODAY'S WORLD.

>>> ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE ON HIS WAY BACK FROM POLAND, THE PONTIFF MADE SOME REMARKS ABOUT ISLAM.

FRANCIS SAID HE DOES NOT BELIEVE ISLAM IS INHERENTLY VIOLENT BUT THAT EVERY RELIGION HAS ITS "LITTLE GROUP OF FUNDAMENTALISTS.

"çç >>> EARLY NEXT MONTH, POPE FRANCIS WILL BE CANONIZING ANJEZE GONXHE BOJAXHIU AS A SAINT, BETTER KNOWN AS "MOTHER TERESA."

SHE DIED ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO.

HER LEGACY OF DEVOGZ TO THE POOR CONTINUES TO GROW, BUT@UI%9 HER çLIFETIME, SHE HAD STRUGGLES EVEN SOME DOUBTS ABOUT HER OWN FAITH THAT FEW KNEW ABOUT.

WE HAVE A REPORT FROM DEBORAH POTTER.

>> Reporter: SIX DAYS A WEEK, PEOPLE GATHER OUTSIDE A NONDESCRIPT BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN MIAMI.

THE MEAL THEY'RE WAITING FOR MAY BE THEIR ONLY FOOD OF THE DAY.

THIS SOUP KITCHEN RUNS ON DONATIONS ALONE.

NO GOVERNMENT MONEY IS ACCEPTED, THOSE ARE THE RULES OF THE ç MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY, THE ORDER FOUNDED BY MOTHER TERESA.

>> SHE SAID SHE PREFERRED THE INSECURITY OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE, WHICH WAS NOT JUST SOME SLOGAN.

IT WAS HER TRUE LIFE'S ETHIC THAT GOD WOULD PROVIDE.

>> Reporter: THE SISTERS HERE TAKE THE SAME VOWS OF POVERTY, CHASTITY, AND OBEDIENCE AS OTHER CATHOLIC WOMEN RELIGIOUS, BUT ç THEY ADD ONE MORE.ç >> MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY HAVE A FOURTH VOW THAT IS WHOLEHEARTED FREE SERVICE TO THE POOREST OF THE POOR.

>> Reporter: SISTER MANGALA MET MOTHER TERESA IN 1959 WHEN SHE JOINED THE ORDER.

>> SHE IS THE PERSON FALLING IN LOVE WITH JESUS.

FROM THE MOMENT I MET HER I COULD FEEL THAT ON HER.çç THAT IS WHY SHE COULD GRAB WHOLE WORLD, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF HER LOVE FOR JESUS, LOVE FOR GOD.

>> Reporter: AGNEZA GONXHA BOJAXAHIU WAS BORN IN 1910 INTO A DEVOUT ALBANIAN FAMILY.

AT THE AGE OF 18, SHE JOINED THE SISTERS OF LORETO IN IRELAND, WHO SENT HER TO TEACH IN INDIA.

IN 1946, SHE HEARD WHAT SHE çç LATER DESCRIBED AS A "CALL WITHIN A CALL," THE VOICE OF JESUS TELLING HER TO "COME BE MY LIGHT" TO THE POOR.

IN 1950, IN THE DESPERATE SLUMS OF CALCUTTA, MOTHER TERESA FOUNDED HER OWN ORDER, THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY.

THE SISTERS, DRESSED IN ICONIC BLUE-TRIMMED SARIS, TENDED TO THE SICK AND DYING, SEEING JESUS IN EACH OF THEM BECAUSE OF HIS çç WORDS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT "AS YOU DID IT TO THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID IT TO ME."

MOTHER TERESA CALLED THE POOR "THE HOPE OF SALVATION FOR MANKIND, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE JUDGED ON WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR THEM."

THE WORLD NOTICED.

IN 1979, MOTHER TERESA RECEIVED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE.

>> I WANT YOU TO LOVE THE POOR.ç AND NEVER TURN YOUR BACK TO THE POOR, FOR IN TURNING YOUR BACK TO THE POOR YOU ARE TURNING IT ON CHRIST, FOR HE HAD MADE HIMSELF THE HUNGRY ONE, THE NAKED ONE, THE HOMELESS ONE, SO THAT YOU AND I HAVE AN ç OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE HIM.

>> Reporter: HER MINISTRY WAS NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY.

CRITICS DENOUNCED HER CELEBRITY, ACCUSED HER OF MISUSING DONATIONS, AND CALLED HER MEDICAL CARE PRIMITIVE.

SOME CHARGED THAT HER REAL MOTIVE WAS CONVERSIONS.

>> WHEN SHE WAS ACCUSED BY SOME HINDUS OF TRYING TO CONVERT PEOPLE TO CHRISTIANITY SHE WOULD SAY "I CONVERT NO ONE.çç GOD CONVERTS PEOPLE, AND MY JOB IS TO LOVE THEM."

>> Reporter: JIM TOWEY FIRST MET MOTHER TERESA IN 1985.

HE SPENT TWO YEARS AS A FULL-TIME VOLUNTEER AND BECAME HER ATTORNEY AND PERSONAL FRIEND.

>> WHEN SHE TALKED TO YOU IT WAS LIKE YOU WERE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD.

>> Reporter: TOWEY IS NOW çç PRESIDENT OF AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY IN FLORIDA, HOME TO A MOTHER TERESA MUSEUM AND A PROGRAM THAT SENDS STUDENTS OVERSEAS TO WORK WITH THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY.

>> THE SISTERS WEREN'T TRYING TO RESTRUCTURE SOCIETY.

THEIR MISSION WAS TO SATIATE THE THIRST OF CHRIST PRESENT THERE IN THAT DYING PERSON FROM THE WORDS "I THIRST" THAT INSPIRED ALL OF MOTHER TERESA'S MINISTRY, THOSE WORDS FROM THE CROSS.

>> Reporter: IT WAS ONLY AFTER ç HER DEATH IN 1997 THAT THE WORLD LEARNED OF MOTHER TERESA'S OWN$ç DEEP SUFFERING.

LETTERS TO HER SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS THAT SHE HAD WANTED DESTROYED REVEALED THAT FOR MOST OF HER LAST 50 YEARS HER PRAYER LIFE WAS DRY.çç "THE PLACE OF GOD IN MY SOUL IS BLANK," SHE WROTE.

>> I WAS SHOCKED.

OF ALL PEOPLE YOU WOULD SAY MOTHER TERESA OBVIOUSLY HAS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IN HER PRAYER, AND WE FOUND IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE.

>> Reporter: AS A JESUIT NOVICE, REVEREND JAMES MARTIN WORKED WITH THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA.

>> SHE, IN A SENSE, FELT THAT DISTANCE FROM GOD, AND THE POOR SOMETIMES FEEL A DISTANCE FROM THE REST OF SOCIETY.

AND JESUS FELT ABANDONED.ç HE SAYS, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY CROSS.

SO THAT'S HOW SHE EVENTUALLY UNDERSTANDS IT, IN A SENSE, AS A KIND OF INVITATION TO A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE JESUS WHO FELT ABANDONED.

>> Reporter: LESS THAN TWO YEARS AFTER HER DEATH, POPE JOHN PAUL II PUT MOTHER TERESA ON THE OFFICIAL PATH TO SAINTHOOD IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

BUT MANY OF THOSE WHO KNEW HER BELIEVE SHE WAS A SAINT ALREADY DURING HER LIFETIME.ç >> AS A HUMAN BEING, IT WAS VERY CLEAR.ç OTHERWISE A PERSON, ONE SINGLE WOMAN, CANNOT DO WHAT SHE DID TO THE WORLD, TO THE CHURCH.

>> Reporter: MOTHER TERESA HERSELF CAME TO MIAMI IN 1979 TO ESTABLISH THIS HOUSE WITH FOUR SISTERS.

TODAY, AROUND THE WORLD THERE ARE ABOU MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY AND 600 HOUSES LIKE THIS.

IS SHE STILL IN YOUR HEART?

>> OH, YES.

YES, SHE IS, ALL THE TIME.

>> LORD MAKE ME A CHANNEL OF THY PEACE, THAT WHERE THERE IS HATRED, I MAY BRING LOVE.

>> WHERE THERE IS DESPAIR, I MAY BRING HOPE.çç WHERE THERE ARE SHADOWS, I MAY BRING LIGHT.

>> Reporter: TODAY, MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY SISTERS RECITE THE SAME ST. FRANCIS PRAYER MOTHER TERESA SAID EVERY MORNING.

THEY RISE EACH DAY AT 4:40 A.M., JUST AS SHE DID, AND THEY WORK UNTIL BEDTIME, SHARING THE SAME JOY SHE EMBODIED.

>> AND OUR JOY WILL REMAIN ALWAYS.

WE ARE COMFORTING ONE JESUS, ONE MORE JESUS.ç ONCE YOU KNOW JESUS IS SUFFERING IN THEM, IT IS EASY.Ñi >> Reporter: KATHLEEN LEGER HAS VOLUNTEERED AT THE SOUP KITCHEN FOR 13 YEARS, DRAWN BY THE SPIRIT OF MOTHER TERESA.

>> "MOTHER, I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU.

I WANT TO LOVE THE POOR LIKE YOU."

THIS IS BEFORE I HAD ANY CALLING.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

I REALLY BELIEVE SHE ANSWERED MY PRAYER.

>> SHE WAS A LIVING SAINT çç BECAUSE OF THE WORK SHE DID.

SHE NEVER DID ANYTHING FOR HER GLORY.

SHE DID IT FOR GOD.

>> Reporter: "IF I EVER BECOME A SAINT, I WILL SURELY BE ONE OF '‘‘DARKNESS,'" MOTHER TERESA WROTE IN 1959.

"I WILL CONTINUALLY BE ABSENT FROM HEAVEN TO LIGHT THE LIGHT OF THOSE IN DARKNESS ON EARTH."

>> OTHER SAINTS HAVE DONE WHAT SHE DID, FOUNDED RELIGIOUS ORDERS, WORKED WITH THE POOR, pLIVED LIVES OF HOLINESS.ç BUT NONE OF THEM AS FAR AS I KNOW HAD TO DO IT WITH AN EMPTY TANK, BASICALLY, WITH NOTHING GOING ON IN THEIR INTERIOR LIFE.

SO IT REALLY MAKES HER AN EXTRAORDINARY SAINT.

THIS MOST TRADITIONAL OF WOMEN IN THE HABIT AND TRADITIONAL BELIEFS, IS A VERY MODERN SAINT.çç SHE IS A SAINT FOR DOUBTERS AND SEEKERS AND PEOPLE WHO WONDER WHERE GOD IS IN THEIR LIVES, WHICH I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD HAVE REALIZED DURING HER LIFETIME.

>> MOTHER WAS ASKED ONE TIME WHAT WAS THE WORST DISEASE SHE HAD EVER SEEN.

WAS IT LEPROSY, OR WAS IT AIDS?

SHE SAID NO, IT WAS LONELINESS.

THAT GNAWING SENSE OF BEING UNLOVED AND UNWANTED, UNWELCOMED.çç I THINK MOTHER TERESA IS GOING TO HAVE MORE OF AN INFLUENCE IN THE 21ST CENTURY AND BEYOND THAN SHE HAD DURING HER LIFETIME, BECAUSE THAT DISEASE ISN'T GOING AWAY.

AND SHE HAS A LOT TO TEACH US ABOUT WHAT THE REMEDY IS, WHICH IS TO LOVE AND BE LOVED.

>> THESE ARE GOOD PEOPLE.

THEY LOVE PEOPLE.

THEY LOVE, YOU KNOW, THEY LOVE OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER THAN ç THEMSELVES.ç SO THAT'S WHERE IT COMES FROM, PEOPLE'S GOOD HEARTS.

>> Reporter: IS GOD IN THIS PLACE?

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE TEACH YOU.

THAT'S WHAT THEY REPRESENT HERE.

>> Reporter: MOTHER TERESA WAS SOMETIMES ASKED WHAT SHE WOULD DO WHEN THERE WERE NO MORE POOR PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

"THEN," SHE WOULD SAY WITH A SMILE, "WE WILL BE UNEMPLOYED."

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," I'M DEBORAH POTTER IN MIAMI.çç >>> A PALESTINIAN MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN AID ORGANIZATION WORLD VISION HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FUNNELING $43 MILLION IN CHARITY FUNDS TO HAMAS OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS.çç ISRAELI OFFICIALS ARRESTED THE WORLD VISION EMPLOYEE IN JUNE.

WORLD VISION SAYS IT HAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE ALLEGATIONS ARE TRUE.

THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SAID IT WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT ITS EMPLOYEE'S SAFETY.

ACCORDING TO WORLD VISION, IT HELPED MORE THAN 4 MILLION CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD LAST YEAR, INCLUDING ABOUT 40,000 PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA STRIP.

NATIONS, ABOUT 60,000 PEOPLE ç HAVE FLED SOUTH SUDAN SINCE FIGHTING BEGAN LAST MONTH.

IN ALL, ALMOST 900,000 HAVE LEFT THE COUNTRY SINCE CIVIL WAR BROKE OUT IN DECEMBER 2013.

RECENT CLASHES HAVE REPEATEDLY THREATENED A TENTATIVE PEACE DEAL REACHED A YEAR AGO.

CHOLERA IS A GROWING THREAT FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY.

FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR THE TENS ç OF THOUSANDSúOO PEOPLE STRANDED IN UN-RUN DISPLACEMENT CAMPS IS ALSO INCREASINGLY A CHALLENGE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE IS ON THE RISE.

>>> AN ARCHEOLOGICAL TEAM, EXCAVATING A 5TH CENTURY SYNAGOGUE NEAR THE SEA OF GALILEE, HAS UNCOVERED MOSAICS THAT APPEAR TO PORTRAY MONUMENTAL EVENTS OF ANTIQUITY.

SAID TO BE OF "EXTREMELY HIGH ç ARTISTIC QUALITY," THIS ONE SHOWS A FISH SWALLOWING ONE OF THE PHARAOH'S SOLDIERS DURING THE PARTING OF THE RED SEA.

ANOTHER SAID TO BE OF NOAH'S ARK SHOWS PAIRS OF ANIMALS, HERE DONKEYS, AS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS.

ARCHEOLOGISTS SAID IT WAS UNUSUAL TO FIND SUCH DISPLAYS IN AN ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE ç NOTWITHSTANDING REFERENCES TO ç SUCH EVENTS IN THE HEBREW BIBLE.

THE MOSAIC OF NOAH'S ARK MAY BE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO KENNETH HAM, WHO HAS MADE IT HIS LIFE'S WORK NOT JUST TO RECREATE THE ARK, BUT NOAH TOO!

THE STORY OF NOAH'S ARK HAS ALWAYS RAISED QUESTIONS.

MR. HAM'S EFFORTS TO RECREATE THE ARK HAS RAISED SOME NEW ONES THAT EVEN NOAH COULD NOT HAVE CONTE9ñ OUR REPORTER IS LUCKY SEVERSON.

>> Reporter: THIS IS A ROBOTIC VERSION OF NOAH ABOARD HIS ARK.

>> GOD SAID HE WAS GOING TO WIPE OUT ALL FLESH THAT LIVED ON LAND.

IF HE WAS SPEAKING ONLY OF A LOCAL FLOOD, IT SEEMS LIKE GOD çç WOULD HAVE TOLD ME TO MOVE, INSTEAD OF SPENDING DECADES BUILDING THIS ARK.

>> Reporter: UNLIKE NOAH'S ARK, WHICH, ACCORDING TO BIBLICAL ACCOUNTS, MAY HAVE TAKEN AS LONG AS 75 YEARS TO BUILD, THIS ONE IN NORTHEASTERN KENTUCKY ONLY TOOK KEN HAM, THE CEO OF THE ARK ENCOUNTER, A COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> THIS IS THE MOST AUTHENTIC RECREATION OF NOAH'S ARK IN THE WORLD, BASED ON THE DIMENSIONS GIVEN IN THE BIBLE.çç AND SO THAT TRANSLATES TO 510 FEET LONG, WHICH IS ONE-AND-A-HALF TIMES THE LENGTH OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.

>> Reporter: HAM SAYS IT'S THE LARGEST TIMBER STRUCTURE IN THE WORLD.

>> SO FROM GROUND LEVEL TO ROOF IS SEVEN STORIES, AND FROM GROUND LEVEL TO THE TOP OF THE BOW IS TEN STORIES.

>> Reporter: IT'S HUGE, AND SINCE THE OPENING OF THIS çç FOR-PROFIT PARK IN EARLY JULY, OVER 35,000 PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN A TOUR.

IT'S NOT CHEAP, $40 FOR ADULTS.

>> ACTUALLY, WE'RE ALREADY SEEING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I'VE MET PEOPLE FROM CHINA, FROM URUGUAY, FROM HONDURAS, MEXICO SPAIN, AUSTRALIA.

>> THIS IS A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DREAM, YES.

>> Reporter: THIS IS JAMIE BAKER, THE HAPPY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GRAND COUNTY CAAMBER OF COMMERCE.

GRAND COUNTY IS THE PROUD HOME OF THE ARK ENCOUNTER.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

LITERALLY SINCE THE ARK HAS OPENED THE PHONES HAVE RANG OFF THE HOOK.

I TOOK A CALL TODAY FROM LOUISIANA.

TOOK A CALL EARLIER FROM ALABAMA.

THEY WANT TO BRING A 50-PERSON BUS TOUR IN.

>> Reporter: BRANDON HUDSON COMES FROM INDIANA.ç HE LOVES THE ARK BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS HIS BELIEF, AND éH@T OF KEN HAM, THAT THE BIBLE SHOULD BE INTERPRETED LITERALLY AND THAT THE EARTH IS ONLY 6,000 YEARS OLD AND THAT MAN AND DINOSAURS LIVED TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME.

>> AND THEN FROM THE SCIENCE SIDE IT'S BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO REINFORCE WHY WE BELIEVE WHAT WE BELIEVE, THE BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW THAT WE HAVE.

>> IT'S NOT A BOOK TO BE READ LITERALLY, BUT IT'S A BOOK TO BEçç READ AND TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND INTERNALIZED.

>> Reporter: JOE PHELPS PASTORS A CONGREGATION OF ABOUT 1,400 AT THE HIGHLAND BAPTIST CHURCH IN LOUISVILLE.

>> THE STORY OF GENESIS, AT LEAST THE WAY THE ARK PARK TELLS IT, IS WE'RE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE, WE GOT SAVED BY GOD, EVERYONE ELSE IS EXCLUDED, ç AND OH, BY THE WAY, UNLESS YOU ç FOLLOW THIS PARTICULAR TRAIL THEN GOD DOESN'T LOVE YOU VERY MUCH, AND WHAT HAPPENED IN THE EARLY DAYS MIGHT HAPPEN TO YOU.

>> Reporter: THE ARK HAS THREE LEVELS.

THE BOTTOM HOLDS THE CAGES OF ANIMALS REPRESENTING ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF THE DIFFERENT SPECIES NOAH MAY HAVE LOADED ABOARD HIS ARK.çç >> THE ANIMALS THAT THEY MADE LOOK LIKE REAL ANIMALS.

I KIND OF MISTOOK THEM.

>> Reporter: THE MIDDLE LEVEL INCLUDES THE LIVING QUARTERS FOR 600-YEAR-OLD NOAH, HIS WIFE, THREE SONS, AND THEIR WIVES.

>> I LOOK THE SAME AS ANY OTHER 600-YEAR-OLD PERSON I'VE MET.çç WELL, EXCEPT FOR MY WIFE, OF COURSE.

SHE DOESN'T LOOK A DAY PAST 400.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, NOAH AND FAMILY SPENT ABOUT A YEAR ON THE ARK UNTIL THE WORLD-WIDE FLOOD RECEDED.

EVERY OTHER LIVING THING PERISHED BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO THE BOOK OF GENESIS, MAN HAD TURNED AGAINST GOD.

KEN HAM FEELS THAT IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD TODAY.ç HENCE, THE ARK ENCOUNTER.ç >> WE SEE INCREASINGLY THE SECULARIZATION OF OUR CULTURE, AND THE CHURCH IS NOT REALLY IMPACTING THE CULTURE AS IT ONCE DID.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN THE WORLD?

WELL, WHY NOT BUILD A CHRISTIAN-THEMED ATTRACTION THAT THE WORLD IS GOING TO TAKE NOTICE OF FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THEç BIBLE.ç >> Reporter: IN THE BEGINNING, THE STATE OF KENTUCKY OFFERED ARK ENCOUNTER A HUGE TAX BREAK, OVER $18 MILLION, AND THEN CANCELLED THE OFFER AFTER LEARNING THAT THE ENTERPRISE WOULD HIRE ONLY CHRISTIANS WHO SIGNED A STATEMENT OF FAITH.

SO ARK OWNERS SUED THE STATE, CLAIMING THAT THEIR RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH HAD BEEN VIOLATED.

THE JUDGE AGREED, AND THE SALES ç TAX REBATE WAS REINSTATED, WHICHç DID NOT SIT WELL WITH A NUMBER OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN KENTUCKY.

.

'Pj áRáH(P&DWELL, FOR INSTANCE.

HE'S THE PASTOR OF THE BROADWAY BAPTIST CONGREGATION IN LOUISVILLE.

>> THEY'RE VERY CLEAR THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE ARK PARK IS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR MINISTRY OF EVANGELIZING PEOPLE, CONVERTING THEM TO THEIR FORM OF RELIGION, UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE, AND THEY VERY MUCH SEE IT AS A VEHICLE TO EXECUTE THAT MISSION, AND I DON'T THINK TAX DOLLARS SHOULD DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY SUPPORT A MISSION LIKE THAT.

>> IT'S ENORMOUSLY TROUBLING THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED STATE FUNDING BUT NOW ARE GOING TO HAVE A STATEMENT OF FAITH THAT SIGN IN ORDER TO WORK THERE.

>> Reporter: IF YOU WANT A JOB HERE, YOU HAVE TO SIGN A STATEMENT OF FAITH THAT SAYS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE WORLD WAS CREATED IN SIX CONSECUTIVE 24-HOUR PERIODS.

>> THE REQUIREMENT IS THAT THESE EMPLOYEES NOT ONLY BE PART OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, BUT A ç PARTICULAR SUBSET OF THE ç CHRISTIAN FAITH, WHICH IS THOSE WHO BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS LITERALLY TRUE AND THAT THE INTENT OF THE STORY OF GENESIS ABOUT NOAH AND THE ARK WAS TO RECORD A HISTORICAL EVENT.

>> THE LAW WHICH THE JUDGE HAS ALREADY RULED ON, THE LAW IS THAT IF YOU ARE OVERTLY A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION THEN YOU çç HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO HAVE A RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE IN HIRING.

>> Reporter: THE ARK HAS ALREADY PROVIDED 300 JOBS IN A COMMUNITY THAT REALLY NEEDS THEM, AND KEN HAM HAS PROJECTED ULTIMATELY AS MANY AS 20,000.

JAMIE BAKER WANTS THOSE JOBS.

>> WE HAVE OVER 80 CHURCHES IN GRAND COUNTY.

WE DON'T ALL AGREE THE SAME WAY.

>> Reporter: WOULDN'T A LT)OF MEMBERS OF THOSE CHURCHES NOT BE QUALIFYEze)RáHáUPáEMENT OF FAITH?

>> COULD BE.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS?

>> Reporter: IS THIS THE END OF TIMES, THE LAST DAYS?

>> WE'RE IN THE LAST DAYS, BUT WE'VE BEEN IN THE LAST DAYS FOR THE LAST 2,000 YEARS.

SO EVER SINCE GOD'S SON STEPPED INTO HISTORY TO BE JESUS CHRIST, THE GOD-MAN, WE'VE BEEN IN THE LAST DAYS.

AS I TELL PEOPLE, ç WE'RE MORE LAST THAN WE WERE.ç WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW LAST WE ARE.

>> Reporter: HAM HAS PROJECTED AS MANY AS TWO MILLION VISITORS A YEAR.

EVEN IF THAT'S HIGH, THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO WILL MAKE THIS A PILGRIMAGE, LIKE BRANDON HUDSON.

>> WHAT A TESTIMONY OF GOD'S GRACE.

I'M BLOWN AWAY, ENCOURAGED, HIGHLY ENCOURAGED.

YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK.

WE'RE BRINOIOG OUR CHURCH WITH US NEXT TIME.

MAY BE HOPING THAT THE LAST DAYS ARE A WAYS AWAY.

THE ARK ENCOUNTER COST A $100 MILLION TO BUILD, AND HE NEEDS TO PAY BACK HIS INVESTORS.

IT COULD TAKE A WHILE.

FOR "RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY," I'M LUCKY SEVERSON IN WILLIAMSTOWN, KENTUCKY.çç >>> ON OUR CALENDAR TISH'A B'AV, THE ANNUAL DAY OF FASTING COMMEMORATING THE TRAGEDIES THAT HAVE FALLEN ON JEWS AROUND THE WORLD, INCLUDING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FIRST AND SECOND TEMPLES.

FINALLY, THE WRITER FREDERICK BUECHNER CELEBRATED HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY LAST MONTH.ç HE IS AN ORDAINED PRESBYTERIAN ç MINISTER WHO HAS NEVER PASTORED A CHURCH, AND RARELY EVEN ATTENDS ONE.

BUT HIS BOOKS AND HIS MESSAGE ON FACEBOOK AND ON TWITTER HAVE HAD VAST INFLUENCE.

OUR INTERVIEW WITH BUECHNER WAS CONDUCTED IN 2006.

>> LISTEN TO YOUR LIFE.

PAY ATTENTION.

PeEEUJU)J R Pá HAPPENS TO YOU.ç >> AND THEN WHAT COMES FROM THAT?

>> WHO KNOWS?

WHO KNOWS?

MAYBE NOTHING MUCH BUT MAYBE THE SECRET OF ALL SECRETS YOU NEED TO KNOW MAY COME THROUGH SOME EVENT, SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS OR FAILS TO HAPPEN.

YOU ENCOUNTER THE HOLY IN VARIOUS FORMS WHICH, UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR EYES OPEN, YOU Oi!Qñç NOT EVEN NOTICE.

>> I ASKED BUECHNER WHAT ADVICE HE GIVES TO YOUNG PEOPLE SEEKING A CAREER.

>> THE VOCATION FOR YOU IS THE ONE IN WHICH YOUR DEEP GLADNESS AND THE WORLD'S DEEP NEED MEET, SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY MAKES YOU HAPPY BUT THAT THE WORLD NEEDS TO HAVE DONE.

>> AND HIS OWN CAREER?

>> I HAVE TRIED TO BE AS HONEST AS I CAN BE TO MY OWN çç EXPERIENCE, WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ALIVE ON THIS PLANET WITH A PARTICULAR EYE COCKED TO A PARTICULAR EAR COCKED TO THE ELUSIVE, AMBIGUOUS PRESENCE OF GOD.

>>> THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR NOW.

I'M TIM O'BRIEN.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.çç WATCH US ANYTIME ON THE PBS APP FOR iPHONES AND iPADS.

THERE IS ALSO MUCH MORE ON OUR WEBSITE, WHERE YOU CAN LISTEN TO OR WATCH EVERY PROGRAM.

JOIN US AT PBS.ORG AS WE LEAVE YOU, SCENES FROM THIS WEEK'S FUNERALúOO JACQUES HAMEL, THE FRENCH PRIEST KILLED >> NEXT TIME, IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD, THERE IS ONGOING VIOLENCE BETWEEN SUNNI AND SHIA MUSLIMS.

BUT HERE IN THE U.S., THE TWO BRANCHES OF ISLAM LIVE TOGETHER IN RELATIVE HARMONY.

WHY?

>> IT'S A TINY COMMUNITY.

TINY COMMUNITIES DON'T FIND IT çç USEFUL TO KILL EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY SO TINY IN NUMBER.

RETIREMENT PRODUCTS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.