Category: Updates

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).

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.

22
Apr 2021
AUTHOR admin

It Is Written Missions: Miracles & Answered Prayer in Costa Rica

In March 2021, It Is Written conducted two mission trips to Costa Rica. The two groups went to a small countryside town called Las Juntas de Abangares to build a church, conduct medical clinics, and hold evangelistic meetings. Members from churches in Tennessee, California, and Washington, teachers and students from a church academy from Greeneville, Tennessee, and even our very own evangelism assistant, Maria Rayburn, and her 12-year-old daughter Gabriella were able to join in the trips. 

After months of planning and with 2020 behind them, the volunteers were beyond excited for this trip. After a four-hour flight, the team landed safely in Liberia, Costa Rica, and quickly removed their sweaters! From Liberia, the team traveled to Las Juntas de Abangares where they were greeted by howler monkeys in the trees right outside their hotel. 

Morning came rather quickly, courtesy of fruit bats outside the hotel windows. Shortly after breakfast, the team started work at the church building site. Some moved dirt while others raked it to level it out. They leveled the foundation and began building walls. The team needed a compactor to complete the floors, but there was nothing available to rent in the entire country. So the team prayed. The local pastor was driving to another town to see if they had a compactor when he happened to see one in someone’s yard. He stopped and asked if the owner would rent it—and he did! What a miracle.

The sun was extremely hot with temps usually above 90, and the team was so grateful for the daily lunch served at the church elder’s home. Next to his home is a small hut with a tin roof which serves as the local church. The local church community was extremely grateful for the work put in by the mission volunteers to build an actual church building.

Every night the group split up into small groups to do evangelism and maintain social distance. Maria was able to translate the meetings from English into Spanish. At one of the meetings, four children stepped forward in response to an appeal inviting Jesus into their lives and hearts. The students gave a health talk, told a children’s story, and shared a sermon that they wrote from their study in Steps to Christ.

During the day, another part of the team held free vision and medical clinics. The missionaries saw almost 750 patients, dispensed hundreds of pairs of glasses, and helped many people with joint pain and general health. Patients were given Steps to Christ in Spanish and invited to the evening meetings.

On one particular night, shortly after finishing the evening meeting, a church member came to Dr. Gordon Guild and said she was not feeling well. Dr. Guild examined her and believed she may have had a minor stroke. Dr. Guild and the rest of the team prayed over her that night. By the next morning, she was feeling much better and was back in the kitchen. Praise God for His blessings upon this woman!

Toward the end of the trip, rain was predicted just before the church floor needed to be poured. The students worked hard to complete their prep work before the rain moved in, and then they started praying. The following day, God held off the rain—it rained all around the team but not at the work site—until the floor was poured and walls finished. And then the heavens let loose. As the rain fell, the team reflected on the power of the Holy Spirit that had also been poured out during their time in Costa Rica. The people who had attended the evening meetings now had a place to worship, pain had been relieved, sight given, and hearts had made decisions for eternal life. These were mission trips for eternity. 

It Is Written is planning more mission trips for 2022. Please check itiswritten.com/missiontrips for updates as travel restrictions are reduced.

6
Apr 2021
AUTHOR Ellen Hostetler

New It Is Written Series, Next Level Health, to Start April 23

It Is Written is pleased to announce its new online evangelistic series, Next Level Health. Join Pastor John Bradshaw and health experts from around the country as they share practical ways to enhance every area of a person’s life: physical, mental, and spiritual. Next Level Health runs April 23-29. Register and watch at nextlevelhealth.life. 

Next Level Health is the latest series in ACTS 20:21, the It Is Written full-cycle evangelism program for both churches and individuals. This series is designed to meet people where they are and address concerns heightened by the current pandemic. 

The seven-day series will be especially effective for churches reaching out to their local communities with practical life-changing health principles and for people witnessing to family and friends. Featuring physicians and medical experts and presented in a dynamic, magazine-style format, Next Level Health will cover hot-button health topics such as boosting immunity, improving mental performance, increasing energy, enhancing relationships, and promoting emotional wellbeing. 

“Last year we hosted Take Charge of Your Health and thousands participated.” Pastor John Bradshaw, It Is Written president, said. “When we asked those viewers how It Is Written could best help them reach their health goals, almost 50 percent asked for a follow-up series. So here we are!” 

After Next Level Health, ACTS 20:21 continues with a prayer series, an online Bible studies series, and a full-cycle evangelistic series all available virtually and with interactive and local follow up by It Is Written-trained church members.

“This is a new day for evangelism,” Pastor Yves Monnier, It Is Written director of evangelism, said. “People’s hearts are open right now, and church members are excited. They are able to engage with people who may never have attended an in-person meeting, but barriers are broken down through virtual outreach.”  

Register and watch the series at nextlevelhealth.life. Tell your church and community about it by using advertising resources available at itiswritten.com/rtresources. Learn more about the It Is Written full-cycle evangelism series, ACTS 20:21, at acts2021.com.

30
Mar 2021
AUTHOR Cassie Matchim Hernandez

It Is Written Celebrates 65 Years of Soul-winning Ministry

Thursday, March 25, 2021, Pastor John Bradshaw held a Facebook Live broadcast to mark the 65th anniversary of It Is Written. The first It Is Written television program entered people’s homes via television on Sunday, March 25, 1956.

After the Facebook Live broadcast, in which Pastor Bradshaw wore a necktie worn by It Is Written founder George Vandeman, It Is Written staff gathered in person (safely distanced) or by Zoom for a special devotional thought, dedicatory prayer, and light refreshments. During his devotional remarks, ministry President, Pastor John Bradshaw, reminded the team that every ministry action was weighted with eternal consequences. He mentioned the men and women who started and propelled It Is Written to groundbreaking accomplishments over the years and challenged the current staff to stay faithful to the goal of seeing souls saved. He closed with a dedicatory prayer asking God to bless the ministry until its work is done and Jesus returns.

Commenting on the anniversary, Pastor John Bradshaw said, “My expectation is that when Pastor George Vandeman founded It Is Written 65 years ago, he did not anticipate we would still be here 65 years later. We don’t want to mark another anniversary 65 years from now. We’re looking to see the world reached with the good news so we can go home!” And It Is Written is working as hard as they can toward that goal joined by hundreds of people from around the world who make the ministry possible by their financial support. 

“Ninety-eight percent of our funding comes from donors who believe in this work as strongly as we do,” Bradshaw continued, “many having given since the days of George Vandeman and continuing faithfully today.” In honor of the 65th anniversary, the ministry is offering a special book, Turning Points, that shares stories of lives changed through the ministry of It Is Written over the past 65 years. Donors can request a copy with their anniversary gift of $65.00 or more when they give at itiswritten.com/give65 through the end of April 2021. 

From one weekly program filmed in a make-shift television set in a living room to 10 programs produced in a camera-ready studio in Collegedale, Tennessee, It Is Written has been sharing the gospel through technology. The first religious television program to air in color, It Is Written helped to pioneer satellite and virtual evangelism. Still the tenth longest-running weekly television series in the country, It Is Written remains dedicated to sharing the gospel with the world. 

Today, It Is Written is more than just television programs. The ministry offers a full-time online television channel, It Is Written TV; an evangelism training school, SALT; a children’s ministry, My Place With Jesus; a Spanish-speaking ministry, Escrito Está; a full-service warehouse providing sharing resources; humanitarian work impacting lives in countries around the world, and multiple annual evangelistic initiatives in cities across the globe each year. This year, It Is Written is offering ACTS 20:21 a full-cycle virtual and in-person evangelism program being used by hundreds of churches around the country seeking to reach their communities with the gospel. 

Learn more about It Is Written: itiswritten.com

Television: itiswritten.tv

Resources: itiswritten.shop

ACTS20:21: acts2021.com

My Place With Jesus: myplacewithjesus.com

SALT: salt.training

Partnership: itiswritten.com/partnership

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!

25
Feb 2021
AUTHOR Kent Thomas

The Scam Program

They impersonate Facebook profiles, send you fake emails, and call you saying they can lower your interest rate. But they aren’t your friends. Spam calls, emails, and social media posts are getting more and more common. Just today, someone called It Is Written and reported that they received a phone call from someone using our name and phone number. One problem: it wasn’t us. 

It is unfortunate that we can’t just trust the phone’s caller ID or the email address on the message in our inbox. The Facebook profile we just got a message from may not be our highschool sweetheart. I don’t know how many people I’ve talked to who have been scammed out of hundreds of dollars by the nice guy from ‘Apple’ or ‘Microsoft’ who called them and pointed out malware on their computer. The “nice guy” was the scammer himself.

Not too long ago someone told us, “I received a friend request from Pastor John Bradshaw on Facebook. Then I got this personal message from Pastor Bradshaw saying he’s praying for me. But when I looked at the profile, something didn’t seem right.” Someone was impersonating John Bradshaw on Facebook. 

It can happen to anybody. And usually, there is little to nothing we can do to prevent it from happening. But we can be informed and take steps to protect ourselves and our information. 

If your bank called and told you that you had a problem with your account, you would hang up and call your bank to ensure it was actually them. Same with a credit card company or mortgage company. Unfortunately, we all need to be that intentional about other organizations and businesses you hear from—even It Is Written. 

It Is Written is a donor-supported ministry. We do ask for your support, but it is in very specific ways: our monthly letters, occasionally sponsored ads on social media, a television advertisement, our Partnership events, emails from something or someone @iiw.org. We will not do a call campaign asking for money. We will not call offering gift cards to our store. And we will not call and ask you to give us your credit card or banking information out of the blue. 

We aren’t trying to raise alarm, just awareness. Check out the following tips when you take the next call, even if it says it’s from It Is Written: 

✅ Tip 1: Be suspicious. That email may not be from Apple, iCloud, Microsoft, Outlook, or your bank. Hang up, then call the organization back using an official number you have for them.

✅ Tip 2: On Facebook, Pastor Bradshaw will only communicate with you via his public figure page. If you get a friend request from John Bradshaw, then you can report that as a fake profile. He’s already your friend, so he doesn’t have to ask!

✅ Tip 3: When in doubt, check it out. If it seems odd, it probably is. The IRS doesn’t call people; they send a letter in the mail. Microsoft and Apple will never call out of the blue about your computer. You must call them first.

✅ Tip 4: Do not click links in emails. Instead, type the address into your browser and see where it actually takes you. A link can be made to look like it’s taking you to a legitimate website but be linked to a scamming one. 

✅ Tip 5: Be suspicious of all communication you didn’t originate. No, you didn’t win an all-expense-paid vacation for two (ex: “just attend this meeting and send $300 to reserve your spot”). If it sounds too good to be true—unless it’s salvation—it probably is. 

✅ Tip 6: That sense of urgency in that email or that phone call is a sure sign of a scam. When you feel rushed, you make mistakes, and the scammers use that to bypass your good judgement.

✅ Tip 7: Before you give out any personal information, have a spouse or trusted friend look at the request with you. There is wisdom in counselors. Together, you may be able to help prevent a costly mistake. Pray to God for wisdom, and He will guide you.

✅ Tip 8: If you make a mistake, don’t be embarrassed, and definitely don’t beat yourself up. Even IT professionals make costly mistakes, and Fortune 500 companies get scammed. Know that God will help you through it.

Fraud is everywhere in our world. The devil is a liar, and he tells a lot of lies. But there’s one thing you can trust 100 percent of the time, and that’s the Bible. God’s Word is “Truth” (John 17:17). Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie.” You can trust the Bible, and you can trust God. Always. 

When Jesus says He is coming back to this world soon, you can believe it. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). When Jesus says He will always be with you, you can know that it is true. “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

We must question things in this life, but we never have to question Him. His profile is very real, and we have the opportunity to see it every day. Believe in Him and His Word. He will always lead you to life.