A well-known Christian ministry is celebrating the long-awaited return of two NASA astronauts, one of whom is a friend of the organization. Barry “Butch” Wilmore and Sunita “Suni” Williams safely returned to Earth recently aboard a SpaceX craft after an unexpected nine-month stay aboard the International Space Station that was extended due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner spacecraft.
Wilmore is a friend of the Christian ministry Answers in Genesis. Its CEO, Ken Ham, wrote upon the astronauts’ splashdown, “Praise the Lord!”
“He’s kept in touch with us during his unexpectedly long stay aboard the International Space Station,” Ham wrote on his blog. “We’re thrilled that he and Williams have returned to our planet safely and have begun their rehabilitation as they adjust to the effects of gravity on their bodies. Please be in prayer for that process that there would not be any long-term health consequences due to the length of their stay.”
Wilmore often speaks about his faith. Asked this month by CBS News to name his biggest takeaway from his lengthy time in space, he pointed to Christ.
“My feeling on all of this goes back to my faith,” Wilmore said. “It’s bound in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is working out His plan and His purposes for His glory throughout all of humanity and how that plays in our lives is significant and important, and however that plays out, I am content.”
Wilmore added, “He’s at work in all things. Some things for the good — go to Hebrews chapter 11 — and some things look to us to be not so good. But it’s all working out for His good, for those that will believe.”
Wilmore is scheduled to speak at Answers in Genesis July 12 for the inaugural Astronauts Encounter.