Answers in Genesis founder and creationist Ken Ham is not losing hope that atheists would eventually find salvation in God. As much as they profess to hate Christians and everything related to God, Ham believes that God's love and power is far stronger.

"When I read some of the atheist blogs, Facebook posts, and news articles that display a sheer hatred against Christians (really, it's a hatred against God), it can seem, humanly speaking, hopeless to try to reach these secularists with the truth of God's Word and the salvation message it presents," he writes on his blog.

But looking at the story of Saul, who severely persecuted Christians in the Bible, Ham believes that God's Word can still "penetrate even the most hardened heart."

He quotes Hebrews 4:12 as proof: "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

At the same time, Ham says many atheists never even got the chance to hear "a clear, logical defence of the Christian faith that would answer many of their sceptical questions." Thus, it is important for Christians to "remember that God's Word commands us to 'sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.'"

"At Answers in Genesis, through our resources, conferences, and other outreaches, we do our best to defend the Christian faith using apologetics against the secular attacks of our day. But in doing so, we need to also point people to the truth of God's Word and challenge them concerning the saving gospel. We use apologetics to answer questions and direct people to God's Word and its message of salvation," Ham says.

"There's no greater thrill in this ministry than to hear how God has used what has been taught by AiG to touch someone's life — for eternity," he adds.