More than 1,600 people gathered in person—and thousands more joined via AFTV, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram—for His Story: A Bible Archaeology Summit, on April 3 and 4, 2026. Hosted by Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International, the event featured biblical archaeologists Dr. Michael Hasel and Dr. Constance Gane, who presented compelling evidence that Scripture is rooted in real history.
“The Bible isn’t a collection of clever myths—it’s the true record of God acting in human history,” says Pastor Doug. “The science of archaeology is one of the most compelling ways the Lord confirms His Word today. Every dig confirms the Bible.”
Archaeology Affirms the Bible
Dr. Michael Hasel, professor of Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology at Southern Adventist University and director of the Institute of Archaeology, highlighted the historical reliability of Scripture. “The Bible is unique because it is anchored in actual history and shows God working in time and space,” he stated. “The Bible is full of real people and real places. That’s why we can have biblical archaeology.”
Dr. Constance Gane, associate research professor of Biblical Archaeology at Andrews University, emphasized the faith-building power of archaeology. “It’s like a third dimension to the Bible. Archaeology adds a depth of understanding that we wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Every dig confirms the Bible.
Both Hasel and Gane addressed apparent challenges. “Sometimes, there are discrepancies between what the Bible says and what we have found through archaeology,” said Gane. “When that happens, I believe the Bible first. I’ve learned to set my questions on a shelf and wait. Often, time will answer those questions as we find more information.”
She cited the example of Belshazzar in Daniel 5, who was unknown in the archaeological record until discoveries confirmed his existence through references connected to his father, Nabonidus.
Presentations throughout the weekend explored Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and the Dead Sea Scrolls, highlighting the consistency between archaeological findings and Scripture.
“It’s important to recognize that many of the arguments against Scripture are based on a lack of evidence,” added Hasel. “But science is based on data, not a lack of it.”
Evidence You Can See and Touch
Held at Granite Bay Hilltop Church, which sits next to the Amazing Facts headquarters, the summit created an atmosphere of discovery and fellowship. Between meetings, attendees gathered at the front of the sanctuary to examine archaeological artifacts and replicas brought by the speakers. A special archaeology program for children helped young attendees engage with Scripture in a hands-on way.
“I heard so many testimonies from people who said, ‘We need things like this where we have an opportunity to go deeper, and where young people can see that the Bible is trustworthy and scientifically proven,’” said Pastor Doug. “Many non-members attended and were excited about being there.”
Rene Aguilera—recently baptized through an evangelistic series with Pastor Carlos Muñoz, Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (AFCOE) director—attended the summit to learn more about his new faith and connect with other believers. “It was great,” he said. “We learned a lot that helped us understand the Bible better and made new friends.”
Despite a brief technical issue when servers went down early in the weekend, the meetings continued to reach viewers worldwide. “God worked, and we were still able to broadcast,” Pastor Doug said.
AFCOE Intensive Builds a Foundation
The summit was preceded by a three-day AFCOE Intensive, where 150 attendees received training on the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14. Instructors included Carlos, AFCOE assistant director Daniel Hudgens, Pastor Doug, and Jëan Ross, vice president for evangelism.
Steve and Tami Sandmeyer traveled from Boise, Idaho, to attend. “My approach to religion is that it needs to be logical without great canyons between doctrines,” Steve said. “What I’m seeing here is that the sanctuary is the foundation that brings everything together. It brings logic to God’s plan.”
A young woman named Maria attended the AFCOE intensive and the summit. “I feel like God is calling me to minister and use my skills for His glory,” she said. “Attending the AFCOE intensive was the first step of faith toward working full-time in ministry. Satan tried to prevent me from coming, but I’m so glad I did. I learned so much!” She is already sharing her faith. She invited a Hindu friend to join her for the summit. “She really enjoyed it and asked me a ton of questions afterward.”
That’s exactly the goal of each Amazing Facts summit and intensive event—to strengthen people’s faith in God’s truth through biblical teaching and equip them to share their faith more effectively.
Replays of His Story: A Bible Archaeology Summit are available to view here.
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