Category: Updates

Evangelism changes lives. As the Word of God is presented, hearts are touched by Jesus’ love and sacrifice. The power of God pierces through the darkness of this world to break the chains of sin and set people free. Such was the experience during our spring campaign in Alaska.

The Alaska Conference partnered with It Is Written to reach their territory with the gospel in the largest evangelistic initiative in Alaska’s history. Over the course of a year and a half, planning, training, and pre-work took place in multiple churches and communities. Pastors and local elders learned church growth principles that brought revitalization to their churches. More than 200 requests for Bible studies were received in Anchorage as people expressed interest in response to our It Is Written Mega Mailer. 

In March, a mission team from all over the continental United States provided free medical and dental clinics in Anchorage and Bethel Village. Bethel is the largest rural town in Alaska, and the help was much needed. Addiction, mental illness, and emotional health are some of the key issues community members face on a daily basis. No amount of snow or freezing cold could stop our team as they provided help to more than 400 people in clinics that included medical care, dentistry, physical therapy, mental health counseling, health education, and complete eye exams, which provided 300 pairs of prescription eyeglasses. 

Each day, the churches in Anchorage and Bethel were humming with the sound of people finding healing and hope. “I can’t believe all of you would come to Alaska, spending your own money, just to help us in this way. I’ve been treated like royalty here, and I want to know more about your church,” said Delores, a local Alaskan who came to the clinic. “It has really moved me and given me a different picture than what I have believed about God. Thank you!” Each attendee was given a pocketbook about the hope found in the Bible, a Bible study invitation card, an It Is Written TV card, and a flier for the evangelistic meetings. About 175 additional people requested Bible studies from the clinics! 

Our mission team prepared the way for Revelation Today: Hope for Humanity, an evangelistic series by Pastors John Bradshaw and Wes Peppers. The series was hosted live in Anchorage from April to May and streamed to more than 15 churches and small groups across the state. More than 1,000 guests attended across Alaska, most of which were at the main Anchorage site. 

“I have not heard such things in all my life. This is the truth. This is truly the hope of Jesus,” commented Olin. “I recently moved here from New England, but I didn’t really know why. Now I know. God brought me across the country to learn these truths!” Olin was a Sunday-believing pastor who learned the truth of the Sabbath for the first time. “I will share this with my congregation, and I know that many will accept it.” He was baptized into the church at the end of the series. 

Another story is about a 92-year-old Native American woman named Irene who had lived in Alaska all her life. She was raised with a mix of traditional Native spiritual beliefs and Catholic influence. She could never reconcile Jesus through it all until she attended Revelation Today: Hope for Humanity. “I have laid aside all spiritualistic beliefs and embraced Jesus and Him fully,” Irene said. “He is my life. I give my whole heart and life to Him.” For the first time in her life, Irene was baptized by immersion at 92 years old! Many more similar stories could be told. 

The impact of this series on Alaska was immediate. There were more baptisms from this series than the conference typically has in one year! This testifies to the hunger many are experiencing everywhere for a hope that is real and lasting. That hope is Jesus. Sixty precious souls have found that hope, and the impact of this initiative will add countless more for months and years to come. Alaska was an exciting endeavor that has impacted eternity, and It Is Written is grateful to be used by God on the front lines of mission and evangelism across the globe. Please join us on an upcoming mission trip and pray for us as we move forward in faith. Thank you!

With gratitude, It Is Written announces that it has won 14 Telly Awards this year. The awards received by It Is Written highlight the organization’s versatility and excellence in media production, with several programs receiving multiple awards. 

Three programs of the six-part series on the seven churches of Revelation were recognized, as well as a Christmas program focusing on the history of the song “A Blessed Little Christmas.” A program on the woman of Revelation 12 and a look at the history of the Underground Railroad round out the list.

The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens. 

John Bradshaw, president of It Is Written, said, “We are blessed and humbled to have been honored at the 2024 Telly Awards. While this is a recognition of the commitment and professionalism of our ministry team, it is also an acknowledgment of the quality of the programming being produced and of the value of the message we are sharing with the world. We are especially grateful for our extended ministry family. These awards speak to the vision of those who give so kindly and pray so fervently to see the gospel going to the world. By God’s grace, we are communicating Jesus to the world.”

View the award-winning programs below by clicking on their titles or images.

“The Seven Churches of Revelation: Pergamos”

Gold – Videography & Cinematography

Gold – Religion & Spirituality

Bronze – Editing 

The Seven Churches of Revelation Series 

Silver – History

“The Seven Churches of Revelation: Ephesus”

Silver – Videography & Cinematography

Silver – Religion & Spirituality

“A Blessed Little Christmas”

Gold – Religion & Spirituality

Silver – Writing

Silver – Editing

Silver – Videography & Cinematography

“A Mother at War”

Silver – Writing

Silver – Religion & Spirituality

“Midnight to Dawn”

Silver – Editing

Silver – Videography & Cinematography

It Is Written is an award-winning media evangelism ministry that has been sharing the everlasting gospel worldwide for nearly 70 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.¹ It Is Written impacts lives for Christ through television, social media, websites and mobile apps, global evangelistic ministry, and faith-sharing resources. 

¹https://stacker.com/stories/2372/50-longest-running-tv-series

On May 1, It Is Written staff celebrated the occasion. Here, Pastor Robert Costa and Carolina Bonilla, Escrito Está coordinator, express their gratitude to God and the staff for their support.

Escrito Está, the Spanish-language ministry of It Is Written, marks 30 years of ministry this year. Created to reach the Spanish-speaking world, Escrito Está filmed its first program on April 5, 1994, with Dr. Milton Peverini as host. Peverini, who for many years had been a leader in media evangelism, worked with It Is Written to produce Spanish programs and songs, which began airing on cable channels in 1995 in the United States. In the fall of 1996, Escrito Está debuted nationwide in Chile to a phenomenal response, and other countries quickly followed as the quality and message of this Spanish-language programming touched thousands of lives. Today, Escrito Está ministers around the world through not only television and the internet but also evangelism and humanitarian work.

Pastor Robert Costa prepares to cut the anniversary cake.

Robert Costa joined the fast-growing ministry in 2002 to coordinate evangelism campaigns, taking over from Peverini as speaker/director in 2006. “The 30th anniversary is a special occasion when we remember that God has led us so far,” Pastor Costa said. “Thirty years is a real miracle, but the greatest of miracles are those hearts that are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. For 30 years, God has used Escrito Está to be part of His mission around the world.”

Escrito Está is currently the most widely aired Spanish-language television program of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The ministry’s original focus was reaching the Latino population in North America, but that focus quickly expanded to the rest of the world. Today, Escrito Está has a prominent presence on national television stations in several Latin American countries. A major television network in a populous South American country airs no religious programming, except for Escrito Está. When Escrito Está was aired in one Central American country, the owner of the channel was so impressed with the programming that he expanded our broadcast to be nationwide and increased it from once a week to twice a week—at no extra charge. The resulting increase in Bible study interests meant the church had to employ additional staff to process the requests!

“Media has no limits, and the gospel has no barriers,” Pastor Costa said. “So far, we have viewers from 142 countries. As the Bible says, this gospel will be preached to all nations, all languages, all people. I’m so glad that Escrito Está and It Is Written are part of the fulfillment of this prophecy.”

In addition to its flagship program, Escrito Está produces two other ongoing programs and conducts about 15 evangelism campaigns worldwide every year, resulting in thousands of baptisms annually. Additionally, Pastor Costa participates in camp meetings, rallies, and evangelism training for pastors and lay members. Meetings are held in venues of all sizes, from small churches to stadiums, where the messages are live-streamed across the country. In some countries, Pastor Costa joins a caravan, where he preaches every night in a different city.

Over the years, God has reached people at every level of society through the ministry of Escrito Está: government leaders, pastors from other denominations, television personalities, people living in the Amazon jungle, and even those in hard-to-reach places like China and Muslim countries. An Orthodox priest has been listening to Escrito Está for nine years and is now in the process of being baptized! Pastor Costa and his team are faithful to present the truth, and the Holy Spirit moves hearts in response. 

Pastor Costa believes that it is the clear presentation of the full message of the Bible that appeals to so many people. “We are committed to presenting the whole message—not just motivational talks, but the whole prophetic, doctrinal, Christ-centered message,” he said. “We learned that when we are committed to doing that, God is more interested than anyone else that everyone will be saved, and He will open doors.”

The global ministry of Escrito Está is made possible by a dedicated team. “I have never served alongside a harder-working group of people as our Escrito Está team,” said John Bradshaw, It Is Written president. “Their whole-hearted commitment to giving people the opportunity to be ready for the return of Jesus inspires and encourages me.”

Throughout the years, Escrito Está has also participated in humanitarian projects to facilitate evangelism in remote locations. In 2008, a boat was donated to evangelize the Uros people living on the floating islands in Lake Titicaca in Peru. Bicycles and motorcycles were also given to pastors in Peru needing transportation to reach their church members and Bible study contacts. In 2021, water filters were presented to families in Guatemala, and solar-powered radios were donated to the Kekchi community, enabling them to listen to Christian programming in their native language.  

Escrito Está is an integral part of the ministry of It Is Written. “I honestly find it difficult to express the depth of my appreciation for Escrito Está,” said Pastor Bradshaw. “Our Spanish-language programs have a vast global audience. Escrito Está evangelism has brought thousands upon thousands of people to faith in Jesus and into the church. People from all walks of life have been won as the Holy Spirit has worked through Robert’s ministry with Escrito Está. His relentless commitment to sharing Christ with others continues to make a major impact. I thank God for what He has done—and continues to do—through Escrito Está.”

Every year, Escrito Está produces 72 half-hour programs (Escrito Está and Lecciones de Vida) and 365 daily devotionals (Toda Palabra). These programs are seen worldwide on television, YouTube, and other social media channels. As a result, an average of 1,100 new subscribers join the Escrito Está YouTube channel every month.

During his time with Escrito Está, Pastor Costa has participated in 510 evangelistic series throughout North America, Latin America, and Europe. In addition to filming television programs this year, Pastor Costa will conduct evangelism in Colombia, Spain, Bolivia, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, and Argentina. In the United States, his agenda includes Maryland, Indiana, New Mexico, New York, California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. 

“As we look forward to Jesus’s soon return,” Pastor Costa said, “It’s great to be part of the final movement to tell the whole story to the whole world.”

Thank you for praying for the ministry of Escrito Está. To watch programs or learn more about Escrito Está, visit escritoesta.org.

In Cali, Colombia, Pastor Robert Costa connects with a woman who came forward for the appeal.

With deep regret, It Is Written announces that Jocelyn Anderson, associate director of development, has passed away. Jocelyn died unexpectedly on Monday, April 8, 2024.

Jocelyn joined It Is Written in 2014 and was a beloved member of the It Is Written team. During her tenure at the ministry, she was extensively involved in the planning and leading of important initiatives such as Partnership, monthly letters to It Is Written supporters, and overall donor relations. Her dedication to the ministry is unparalleled. She will be greatly missed.

“This is a difficult time for our ministry team,” said Pastor John Bradshaw, It Is Written president. “Jocelyn was greatly loved. She was a wonderful person and an absolute joy to be around. She genuinely loved people, which is what made her perfect for her role at It Is Written. While struggling to come to terms with what has happened, we have been remembering who Jocelyn was: fun, gracious, generous, and committed to her faith in God. We miss her immensely, but we look forward to seeing her again soon. As Revelation 22:20 says, ‘Even so, come, Lord Jesus.’”

Prayers are requested for the It Is Written team and Jocelyn’s family as they mourn their loss. A memorial service will be held at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 13, at the Collegedale Community Church in Collegedale, Tennessee.

It Is Written announces a new travel-themed Vacation Bible School (VBS) program, Flight 3:16. During Flight 3:16, children will visit five countries as they prepare for the ultimate destination, Heaven. Flight 3:16 is a complete VBS kit that includes supplies for 14 children. Visit flight316.fun for more information. 

Melissa Bradshaw, children’s ministries director for It Is Written, created Flight 3:16 in response to the need for a specific VBS program. “Many people have used Buried Treasure, our child evangelism program, as a VBS,” she said. “But after being approached by a local church wanting to host their first VBS, I knew it was time to develop an idea I had been thinking of for some time.”

Flight 3:16 guides children through five foundational Bible topics outlined in the My Place With Jesus Bible Guides. Each day of Flight 3:16, children will learn a new memory verse, made easy through fun Scripture songs. Games, crafts, and snacks are designed to continue teaching daily Bible lessons. Not only will children learn about God’s ultimate plan through His Word, but they’ll also learn about the world they live in as they travel virtually to five different countries on five separate continents.

“Everyone is painfully aware of the challenges children face today,” said John Bradshaw, It Is Written president. “They’re being bombarded with harmful content everywhere they turn. It’s important to give children a clear picture of Jesus and help them see that God’s way isn’t only a good way—and the right way—but it’s also the way that will bring them more joy and help them get the most out of life.”

Stored in a fun and convenient suitcase box, this VBS kit includes all instructions and supplies needed to host 14 children: 4 children, ages 4-6, and 10 children, ages 7-12. Additional supplies are available for purchase from itiswritten.shop. 

“Each time we have held Flight 3:16, children and families absolutely love it,” said Melissa. “My hope is to see children everywhere grow their relationship with Jesus through Flight 3:16.”

Flight 3:16 is created by My Place With Jesus, an It Is Written ministry. Learn more about Flight 3:16 by visiting flight316.fun or calling 888-664-5573.