Author: Cassie Hernandez

23
Aug 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

It Is Written Welcomes New Evangelism Director

Headshot of Wes Peppers

Pastor Wes Peppers, the new It Is Written evangelism director

It Is Written welcomes Wes Peppers as the ministry’s new evangelism director. Wes replaces Yves Monnier, who accepted a call to serve as the ministerial and evangelism director for the Pennsylvania Conference. Wes began his new position in August.

Wes joins It Is Written from the Michigan Conference, where he served for 10 years as pastor, personal ministries director, evangelism coordinator, and associate ministerial director. Wes also has experience in international media evangelism from his time with Amazing Facts.

“We’re thrilled to have Pastor Wes Peppers join our team,” said John Bradshaw, It Is Written president. “He is an unusually gifted speaker and evangelist and has been extremely successful in pastoral and evangelistic ministry, as well as in administration. He has a love for souls that is obvious and infectious. It is a privilege to have someone of his caliber join us at It Is Written.”

As evangelism director, Wes will handle the creation and execution of the master plan of evangelism for It Is Written. Having done mission work in 35 countries, Wes is ready to lead the evangelism team as It Is Written continues to reach souls around the world with the gospel. 

“I love It Is Written, because it focuses exclusively on proclaiming the everlasting gospel and reaching the lost for Christ,” Wes said. “One of my greatest passions in life is sharing Christ with others through preaching, Bible study, and media programming. I love to train churches and members how to share their faith with others. I am looking forward to using the gifts and experiences God has given me to minister around the world through It Is Written while personally living in His grace and strength each day.”

Wes and his wife Marion felt a clear call from God to take the position. “Over a two-month span of time, there were a series of miraculous events that finalized our decision,” Wes said. “After several weeks of fasting and wrestling in prayer, God overwhelmingly confirmed that His will was for us to serve at It Is Written. We have all the confidence in the world that we are exactly where God wants us to be!” 

Wes and Marion, a musician, have been married for almost 17 years and are joined in ministry by their two children, Levi and Liana. 

For questions or evangelism resources, contact [email protected] or 844-WRITTEN (844-974-8836).

20
Jul 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

It Is Written Announces New Online Prayer Series to Start August 9

Starting August 9, It Is Written will present Connect, a new online series on effective prayer. Hosted by Pastor John Bradshaw, Connect will livestream on It Is Written TV, Facebook, and YouTube. Viewers are encouraged to register for Connect at iiwconnect.com to get access to exclusive giveaways. Promotional material may be found at itiswritten.com/rtresources. 

In Connect, viewers will learn how to pray more effectively, learn from model prayers in the Bible, understand what prevents prayers from being answered, and learn what prayer really is–and isn’t. Special guests will share inspiring stories of answered prayer, and the keys to biblical prayer will enable viewers to take their prayer life to a new level.

Connect is the latest series in ACTS 20:21, a full-cycle evangelism program for both churches and individuals. “Encouraging and equipping people in effective prayer is a huge need,” said Bradshaw. “And the current challenges in society give us a unique opportunity to point people to the God of heaven. This is a great way to reach out to people looking for more in their spiritual life.”

Connect will air at 7:00 p.m. EDT August 9-13. Viewers may watch on the It Is Written Facebook and YouTube pages, or on It Is Written TV. It Is Written TV is available on itiswritten.tv, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Google Play. Archives will be available on demand on Facebook and YouTube after the livestream.

Learn more about ACTS 20:21 at itiswritten.com/acts2021.

30
Jun 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez & Carolina Bonilla

It Is Written Remembers Dr. Milton Peverini, First Escrito Está Speaker

Dr. Milton Peverini García

Dr. Milton Peverini García on the set of Escrito Está in Thousand Oaks, California.

Dr. Milton Peverini García, global evangelist, author, and speaker, passed to his rest on Sunday, June 27, 2021, in California at age 88. Peverini García was the first speaker of Escrito Está, the It Is Written Spanish-language ministry. His ministry impacted countless thousands of lives for Christ.

Peverini García joined It Is Written 27 years ago, under the leadership of Mark Finley, former It Is Written speaker/director, and Royce Williams, evangelism coordinator at the time. The first Spanish-language program aired on April 5, 1994, followed by 160 television programs in the next 10 years and 90 songs recorded in Spanish. Peverini García held the position of Escrito Está associate speaker for 10 years, until his retirement in 2004. Under his leadership, the ministry of Escrito Está grew, expanding first to Chile in 1996, then Argentina, Costa Rica, and today, all of Latin America.

Robert Costa, the current speaker/director, joined Escrito Está in 2002 to help coordinate evangelism for the fast-growing ministry. Both originally from Uruguay, Costa recalls working with Peverini García in “perfect harmony and friendship.”

Costa shared his appreciation for the ministry of Peverini García. “On behalf of Escrito Está,” he said, “we want to express our gratitude, recognition, and tribute to Dr. Milton Peverini García for having been the first speaker of this ministry and, without a doubt, the Hispanic leader who has dedicated the longest time in his life to preaching through the mass media in our church. In both his radio and television programs and in his evangelistic campaigns, he exalted Jesus as the only hope for this uncertain world.”

“Dr. Peverini was a giant in ministry,” said John Bradshaw, It Is Written president. “The work he initiated with It Is Written laid the foundation for Escrito Está to become a major global force in evangelism and soul winning. His lifelong ministry will continue to live on, and the impact of his devotion to God will be felt throughout eternity.”

Peverini García is survived by his wife, Eunice; three adult children, Ricardo, Graciela, and Susana; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

29
Jun 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

New Sabbath School Content Available: Rest in Christ

The It Is Written Sabbath School program has launched new content for the third quarter! Host Eric Flickinger, It Is Written associate speaker, is joined by Rest in Christ quarterly authors Dr. Gerald and Chantal Klingbeil as they discuss each lesson study. The half-hour, weekly program is posted at the beginning of each week on It Is Written TV (on demand) and airs on Fridays and Saturdays on the It Is Written TV livestream (see schedule below). A short, daily lesson review is also available on It Is Written TV. Click here to watch Sabbath School.

Rest in Christ is the focus of the third quarter Bible study. Living in a world that keeps most people busy 24/7 can result in restlessness and fear in our lives. But resting in Christ is the key to the type of life that Jesus promises to His followers: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10, NKJV). Rest connects to salvation, to grace, to creation, to the Sabbath, to our understanding of the state of the dead, to the soon coming of Jesus—and to so much more.

A companion book to the Bible study is available for purchase from the It Is Written shop. 

Sabbath School airs on the It Is Written TV livestream at the following times (EDT):

  • Friday at 8:30 p.m.
  • Saturday at 7:00 a.m. 
  • Saturday at 10:30 a.m. 
  • Saturday at 1:00 p.m. 

It Is Written TV is available on itiswritten.tv, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Google Play.

9
Jun 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

It Is Written Wins 10 Telly Awards

It Is Written is grateful to announce that it has won 10 Telly awards this year for five different programs: one gold, seven silver, and two bronze. Four awards, including the gold, were given to “The Trail of Tears,” the first It Is Written program examining the forced relocation of Native Americans. Additionally, Every Word, the It Is Written one-minute daily devotional, was recognized for the first time. 

The Telly Awards honor video and television excellence across all screens. Last year, It Is Written won five Telly Awards.

“The reason we produce programs is not so we can win awards,” said John Bradshaw, It Is Written president. “Our programs are designed to reach souls with the everlasting gospel and encourage people to know and follow Jesus in preparation for His return. But these awards indicate that It Is Written is producing high-quality content, and they are a reflection of the outstanding work being done by our Media Production department. In addition, this recognition tells our ministry supporters that they are partnering with a ministry operating at an extremely high level.”

“The Trail of Tears” may be viewed at itiswritten.tv/tears. It won for the following categories:

  • Gold–Television: Religious/Spiritual
  • Silver–Television: Editing
  • Silver–Television: History
  • Bronze–Television: Writing

“Jesus and Racism” may be watched at itiswritten.tv/racism. It looks at racism through the lens of an unlikely New Testament story, showing how God feels about racism and demonstrating that love and unity can be accomplished when the Holy Spirit is allowed to change hearts. 

“Jesus and Racism” won in the following categories:

  • Silver–Television: Editing
  • Silver–Television: Religious/Spiritual
  • Bronze–Television: Writing

Hope Awakens, the nationwide online evangelistic series held by It Is Written at the start of the pandemic, won a Silver award for Online: Talk Show/Interview. Hope Awakens may be viewed at itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens.

The Every Word program “The Blessed Hope” won a Silver award for Television: Religious/Spiritual. It may be watched at itiswritten.tv/programs/every-word/the-blessed-hope-2.

“Worse Than the First,” also an Every Word program, won a Silver award for Television: Religious/Spiritual. It may be viewed at itiswritten.tv/programs/every-word/worse-than-the-first.

About It Is Written

It Is Written is a media evangelism ministry and has been sharing the everlasting gospel worldwide for 65 years. The first religious television program to broadcast in color, It Is Written is also the tenth-longest running television program in the United States. It Is Written is impacting lives for Christ through satellite and digital television, websites and mobile apps, global evangelistic ministry, and faith-sharing resources. 

26
May 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

It Is Written Announces New Children’s Evangelism Program Buried Treasure

It Is Written is pleased to announce a brand-new children’s evangelism resource: Buried Treasure. The comprehensive 21-day program is specially designed to minister to children up to 12 years of age during an evangelistic series, Vacation Bible School, Sabbath school, or similar event. Buried Treasure is produced by My Place With Jesus, It Is Written’s ministry for children. For more information about Buried Treasure, visit itiswritten.shop/bt or call 888-664-5573.

Based on the My Place With Jesus Bible Guides, Buried Treasure features Bible studies, original Scripture songs, crafts, games, and lessons all designed to teach children the same Bible truths being shared with adults in an evangelistic series. Each program is customizable, runs for 90 minutes, and includes additional resources and suggestions for overtime. Buried Treasure is designed for ages 7-12 and includes preschool worksheets for younger children to complete during the main Bible study time.

“John and I have worked in evangelism together for more than 25 years and understand the importance of having a children’s program at evangelistic meetings,” said Melissa Bradshaw, My Place With Jesus director and wife of It Is Written president John Bradshaw. “Parents are likely not going to attend if there is nothing offered to their children. Buried Treasure is an opportunity for children to learn the same life-changing principles of the Bible the adults are learning in an interactive, exciting, and lasting way. And we know that churches are always looking for a good, Bible-based Vacation Bible School program, which Buried Treasure provides.”

Melissa knows firsthand the importance of child evangelism. As a young girl, she and her sisters attended a children’s program while her mother attended an evangelistic series. Melissa loved what she learned, and she encouraged her father to follow the teachings of the Bible too. He was baptized as a result.

“Young people are evangelists,” said John Bradshaw. “And it’s imperative we give young people effective tools so they can learn and share their faith. Buried Treasure does that.”

Buried Treasure has received only positive feedback from those who have field-tested it, said Melissa. “During the pilot of Buried Treasure, one busy family almost stopped attending the evangelistic series, but because the children didn’t want to miss a single night of Buried Treasure, the parents decided to continue attending the adult meetings. As a result, the whole family made a decision to follow Jesus and were baptized!” Another reviewer in Idaho called it “wonderful, easy to use, and thoughtfully laid out.”

Buried Treasure provides everything needed to conduct a fun, effective, Christ-centered program that will encourage children to make life-long decisions for Jesus. Buried Treasure may be ordered online at itiswritten.shop/bt or by calling 888-664-5573.

Orders for Buried Treasure are prepared for shipping.

25
Feb 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

Eyes for India: Annual eye camp surgeries restore sight to thousands

Eyes for India held its annual eye camp in Barabanki district, India, in February and was able to restore sight to thousands of people. Dr. Jacob Prabhakar, ophthalmologist, thanks God for a successful camp, despite the continued pandemic! 

Eyes for India is the It Is Written project restoring sight to the blind through cataract surgeries in India. 

From February 1 to 11, Dr. Prabhakar and his medical team successfully completed 2,672 cataract and 29 pterygium removal surgeries (a pterygium is a small growth in the corner of the eye). “I praise God for making such an impact possible in a Hindu temple,” said Dr. Prabhakar. “The need this year is greater than ever before. Since there were no surgery services in this area all through the pandemic year, the backlog is huge. The people are poor and desperate for help.” 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only patients that tested negative for the virus received the operation. Each patient was provided with a mask, and the medical team wore full personal protective equipment. You can read more about the Eyes for India COVID response last year here.

Dr. Prabhakar explained that most people operated on had bilateral hypermature cataracts and that it was imperative that they were operated on this year. “If we did not operate on these patients,” he said, “the cataract may become complicated and cause permanent, painful blindness.”

After completing their surgeries, patients received instructions on how to care for their eyes at home and Christian materials translated into their languages. Click here to learn more about the eye camp process. 

Each patient was so grateful to have the gift of sight again, said Dr. Prabhakar. He writes: 

These thousands of blind who now see are ever grateful to It Is Written for restoring their sight which enables them to carry on with their improved quality of life, lead normal lives, and earn a livelihood. This would not have been possible without It Is Written, and we are grateful to you for this amazing ministry and your generosity. 

Thank you for making this life-changing impact possible!

7
Jan 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

Top 10 It Is Written Episodes of 2020

Although the COVID-19 pandemic shut down travel for most of the last year, It Is Written was still able to conduct online evangelism, create new faith-building resources, and produce new and uplifting Christian programming. We thank God that He used the ministry of It Is Written to reach thousands across the globe! 

Here’s a look back at the top 10 most popular It Is Written episodes from 2020, based on YouTube and broadcast viewership info. 

To watch an episode, click on its title or image.

1. Black Wall Street

In 1921, more than 300 people were massacred, thousands were left homeless, and an entire town was destroyed when people turned on their fellow citizens—in the United States of America. Which raises an important question: What kind of person would do that? The answer is surprising. Join Pastor John Bradshaw on location in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as we look at the challenge faced by every person: the sinful heart.

2. 500: The Reformation

In 1517, on October the 31st, a priest in a small town in Germany changed western civilization forever. As Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the Castle Church door, the Protestant Reformation began. Five hundred years later, is the Reformation over? Or is there still work to be done? Join John Bradshaw on location across Europe in the opening program of It Is Written’s 500 series. Filmed on location in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Rome. Features special guest Dr. Gerard Damsteegt.

3. Great Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 24

In Matthew 24 we are given a glimpse of what the earth will look like just before Jesus’ return. Follow along as John Bradshaw compares Bible prophecies with what is happening in our world today, and learn what we can expect in the days ahead. Don’t miss “Great Chapters of the Bible: Matthew 24.”

4. The Trail of Tears

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced American Indians to leave their ancestral lands and travel over 1,000 miles on foot. Thousands died on the journey that would come to be known as the “Trail of Tears.” Join John Bradshaw as he illuminates this tragic chapter in American history, and learn how a God familiar with suffering will one day wipe away all our tears.

5. David and Goliath

It’s one of the great stories of the Bible. A shepherd boy and a fierce giant face off in an unlikely battle. That battle’s unlikely result speaks to us today about faith, faithlessness, and the power of God in your life. Join John Bradshaw for “David and Goliath,” filmed on location in Israel, and discover how the God who brought victory to David can bring victory into your experience.

6. The Scottsboro Nine

It was a colossal miscarriage of justice: nine young men found guilty of a crime they didn’t commit, and the deciding factor was the color of their skin. Join John Bradshaw in Scottsboro, Alabama, for this story of brutal discrimination, and learn why it’s so important to serve a God who is just.

7. Great Chapters of the Bible: Revelation 14

Messages and warnings about the end of the world are given to mankind through signs and symbols in the New Testament. Join John Bradshaw as he decodes these messages in “Great Chapters of the Bible: Revelation 14.” Learn what you can do to prepare for earth’s last days.

8. Great Chapters of the Bible: Hebrews 11

Noah, Abraham, and Sarah are all considered luminaries of faith, yet they all made mistakes. Join John Bradshaw for “Great Chapters of the Bible: Hebrews 11” as he digs deeper into the stories of these imperfect heroes, and find inspiration in a God who promises to never quit on us.

9. “I Shall Return”

In his famous speech, General Douglas MacArthur boldly declared, “I shall return.” Having left the Japanese-occupied Philippines, MacArthur’s words brought hope to a captive people. Two thousand years earlier, Jesus made the same promise to a world held captive in sin: “I will come again!” Join Pastor John Bradshaw on location on Corregidor Island in the Philippines and learn what the Bible says about the Second Coming of Jesus.

10. Health Care God’s Way

John Bradshaw and Dr. John Westerdahl discuss a few of the health principles found in the Bible and show how some well-known biblical characters benefited—mind, body, and spirit—from God’s original diet.

17
Dec 2020
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

ReCharged and Ready to Go: Report

Everything was in place for ReCharge, the annual It Is Written Evangelism and Church Growth retreat.

☑️ Topic: Preaching that changes lives—check.

☑️ Guest speaker: Dr. Henry Wright—check.

☑️ Date: December 13-15—check.

☑️ Location: Cohutta Springs Conference Center—check. 

Everything was ready and then, of course, COVID-19 showed up.

We considered canceling this year’s ReCharge for about two seconds and then decided to do it virtually like we had done with Hope Awakens, our April evangelistic series. What happened next blew us away. Transitioning to online allowed over 500 individuals representing 34 conferences to register and participate. About half of the registrants were pastors and lay pastors, and most of them are a part of ACTS 20:21, the one-year evangelism initiative from It Is Written. 

These numbers are not the real story, though. The real story is the vibrant presentations on preaching by Dr. Henry Wright. Dr. Wright, now retired after 53 years of faithful service, is one of the great preachers of the church. During his five presentations, he shared practical insights, not just theories, from his own journey as a preacher.

The webinar included interesting conversations between Pastor John Bradshaw and Dr. Wright that went well beyond the lectures. They talked about the kind of stuff that really connected with the hearts of those who want to take their preaching to a new level. One point that Dr. Wright made that resonated loud and clear was that one should never preach a sermon that doesn’t move them first.

One attendee reflected that by the end of ReCharge, “I was certainly recharged.” Another individual indicated that as a new elder he was eager to put to practice the things he had learned. And another wrote to us to share that ReCharge had filled him with joy. 

Here are some additional comments attendees shared: 

“Thank you so much for the preaching seminar! It was excellent, and I learned much.”

“Thank you so much for the ReCharge presentation. It did just that, recharged me for service!”

“The virtual sessions were very informative and practical.”

“Each session was a blessing, a real mountaintop experience for me.”

“I very much enjoyed and was blessed by the content of this workshop. I look forward to attending the next one.”

“It was a great blessing for me. I was so filled with joy that I couldn’t keep quiet. I shared many things that I learned with my wife. To top it all, I had a Bible study in the evening so I was able to use many things that I learned. What a wonderful day.”

“It was really good, and I appreciate the time and effort all of you put into making it available and presenting this training for our pastors.”

“Great seminar. Thank you for tapping Dr. Wright. I have long wanted to sit at his feet with regard to how to preach.”

These testimonies and the many others are the real story—the reason It Is Written organizes this annual event. Our desire is to impact pastors and members in their work of evangelism. 

29
Oct 2020
AUTHOR Cassie Hernandez

You Can’t Be My Friend If You Vote for…

To say that politicians are worse today than ever before is probably an indicator that we have selective memories. Politics and politicians in “the good old days” weren’t squeaky clean and didn’t always aim their blows above the belt. Moral questions go back just about as far as does the presidency, as do political scandals. The Burr-Hamilton duel; the Trail of Tears under Presidents Jackson and Van Buren; Watergate; and much more. There has been political trouble for as long as there has been politics.

But this election season seems to be more vitriolic than ever. Voters themselves seem to be reacting differently in this election. It is far from uncommon to see social media posts saying, “If you’re voting for Candidate X, you cannot be my friend.” Which is beyond disconcerting. One of the great strengths of the United States of America–arguably the great strength–is that people are entitled to their opinion. If we have not been able to agree with each other, we have historically been able to agree to disagree. It’s not simply that the first amendment protects the right to free speech. It’s that free speech flows out of free thought. One of the truly frightening things about Eastern European communism was that people could be punished on the basis of what they believed. In the United States, you are still free to say publicly that you don’t approve of a certain elected official or that you dislike the way the country is being run. But while the constitution guarantees free speech, increasing numbers of people today are tolerant only of their own point of view. Dissent might be a constitutional right, but it seems more and more people aren’t willing to extend that right to their fellow humans. And that attitude of intolerance can easily be found among people of faith. That is, even in the church.

While the media has every incentive to traffic in sensationalism and polarizing politics, the truth is that politics really isn’t that important. That is, while foreign policy, economic policy, and social policy have a direct bearing on the way society operates, the Christian stands where Jesus stood. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight… but now my kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36). As much as you may or may not like Candidate X or Candidate Y, presidents come and go. Some are perhaps better than others. Some are more popular than others. But the Christian remembers that she or he is not on this planet to be primarily concerned with election results. Regardless of who is voted into public office, the believer’s mandate does not change: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Anger about the political process and vilification of those who don’t share one’s views are evidence that one’s priorities are in a mess. If Christians campaigned for Jesus as energetically as some campaign for politicians, if believers posted their views about the gospel as much as they post their views about politics, the gospel might have by now gone to the world.

It’s natural to care about the way your country is being run. Entirely appropriate. But beyond a certain point, there is nothing to be gained from investing emotional energy in politics which would better be invested in sharing Christ. Translation: Whether President Donald Trump is reelected or former Vice President Joe Biden unseats him to claim the White House, the Christian’s role is unchanged. Our job is to lift up Jesus that He might “draw all peoples to” Himself (John 12:32). We have been informed that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations” (Matthew 24:14). Followers of Jesus can’t afford to lose their focus now, election season or not. Satan hasn’t lost his focus. It is too easy to get sidetracked by good things, let alone bad. Our ability to effectively share the gospel is not enhanced by taking strident political positions. However the election result goes, things are almost certainly going to be messy. If you can’t be someone’s friend because of the way they vote, it’s time to rethink your relationship with Jesus.

As Christians, we have to be better than that.