Impressions Autumn 2022, Issue 25

John Bradshaw PRESIDENT

The Ultimate Partnership

It is constantly at the forefront of my mind that It Is Written couldn’t do a single thing we do without partnerships.

To begin with, It Is Written is a donor-funded ministry. Without those who selflessly support It Is Written, our soul-winning ministry would grind to a halt. Although we have talented, committed people at It Is Written, the blessing of God and the prayers and support of people like you are what keep It Is Written on the front lines of ministry.

because of cooperation. Collaboration. Partnering together.

When I tell you It Is Written doesn’t win a soul, doesn’t train a single person, doesn’t create a single resource, and doesn’t produce and air a single television program without you, that is the absolute, 100 percent truth.

“CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.”

Three thousand or so people baptized in Ethiopia? That simply doesn’t happen without you. The new My Place With Jesus Vacation Bible School currently under development? Ditto. Thousands baptized in Mexico, Bolivia, and more? A Vietnam veteran baptized years after God miraculously saved his life? A drug addict accepting Jesus after watching It Is Written, then coming to an It Is Written evangelistic series and being baptized? This happens

And isn’t that how the gospel operates? Paul wrote that the mystery of the gospel is “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” that it was not he that lived but Christ who lived in him (Colossians 1:27; Galatians 2:20). Jesus put an even finer point on it when He said, “Without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

A toaster doesn’t operate without power, a vehicle without fuel, nor It Is Written without ministry Partners. In the same way, a Christian cannot function without the Savior’s presence in his or her life.

That’s worth remembering.

Be blessed by beautiful music and inspiring messages during the Gatlinburg Partnership event.

Watch live on It Is Written TV December 2–4. See the back cover for more details.

2022 ® Partnership

Caribbean Ca rin g in the

The island of Vieques lies seven miles off the eastern coast of Puerto Rico, the “Island of Enchantment.” It’s what you’d call a tropical island, with mango trees, coconut palms, beautiful beaches, and the brightest bioluminescent bay on the planet. Wild horses roam the streets, and green iguanas soak up the sun as they laze about on branches and low stone walls. It’s a place where people go on vacation, to get away from the hustle and bustle of life in the city.

It’s also an island with a great deal of need. While the party crowd comes and goes daily by ferry, the local populace of Vieques has a hard time taking care of their basic needs. Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017. The only hospital on the island was destroyed, leaving the 8,500 people who reside there with just a poorly-equipped emergency medical clinic that is open a few hours each day. There are two small gas stations on the island and only one grocery store. The bars and nightclubs abound, but opportunities for people to find true health and peace are in short supply.

Because of this great need, It Is Written partnered with the East Puerto Rico Conference to bring a group of 22 missionaries to the island of Vieques. The team of doctors, nurses, preachers, and support staff arrived in the town of Isabel Segunda on July 25 and began making preparations to open a free medical clinic at the church

the next day. Exam rooms were set up, a triage area was established, translators were prepped, a pharmacy was organized, and spiritual material was lined up to distribute to the children and adults who would soon be arriving at the clinic.

Over the following days, scores of people came through the doors of the church to get help for themselves, their children, and their parents. Patients came with musculoskeletal pain, rashes, diabetes, and a variety of other health challenges. One man shared that he had been trying to get an appointment to be seen by a local doctor for over six months without success. He was elated to find that he could see a doctor at the medical clinic—and receive his needed medications—for free! And each patient who came

Keiton Bahnmiller finds a reptilian friend.

The Horn/Vargas family, from Michigan, donates books to the church school to replace the ones lost during Hurricane Maria.

The younger missionaries count multivitamins in the pharmacy.

received spiritual material to connect them with Escrito Está, the Spanish-language arm of It Is Written.

It Is Written Partners Dr. Sotero Escarza and his wife, Patti, said, “It was our first mission trip and we were struck with the fact that so many people would pay good money, take time out from their lives, and give up some creature comforts to help out people they don’t know with some basic medical needs and to give them literature about the Good News. It gave us comfort that God is in control and He has His remnant that will reflect His character.”

Keiton Bahnmiller, another first-time missionary, put his experience with construction into practice by helping to find and repair leaks in the church school’s

roof and windows. He also helped pressure-wash the exterior walls and prepared them for painting. As the only private school on the island, it is a great outreach opportunity for the church.

Dr. Raul Vila, an It Is Written Partner who has joined the ministry on six mission trips, said, “We encountered multiple challenges during this trip, but we all were blessed as we served the people. I remember one man in particular who came with a case of shingles on his trunk and how in between acyclovir and some natural remedies, he could find relief.

I’m glad that we could be there for him. Each patient seen carried new hope and a prayer sent to heaven.”

Would you like to let God use you on a mission trip? Visit itiswritten.com/missiontrips to learn how you can partner with us on an upcoming trip.

ERIC FLICKINGER is the associate speaker for It Is Written. Eric’s passion for teaching the Bible has been experienced by thousands across North America and around the globe.

We encountered multiple challenges during this trip, but we all were blessed as we served the people."

God Guide Me!

Adalgisa was born in the Dominican Republic and grew up in a Catholic household. Her walk with Christ began many years ago when one of her daughters didn’t get accepted into Catholic school because they ran out of space. She had no other option but to attend a different Christian school. One day, her daughter arrived with a Bible the school had gifted her. It was the first time this home had a Bible, and Adalgisa took it and made it her own. She prayed to God, “Lord, I want to study your Word, but I need You to be my teacher.” As she began to read, God began to impress upon her new values and truths. Little by little, Adalgisa began to make changes in her life with the desire to please God. She eventually began attending church.

One day, as Adalgisa was babysitting, she decided to search for a Christian radio station. She found Radio Amanecer, a church radio station. Adalgisa began to learn many truths of the Bible, and continued listening to the station 10 years later, after she and her family moved to the United States. At this point, Adalgisa had never attended a church that kept the Sabbath, but whenever she had a chance to witness to somebody, she always recommended people to find one of those churches and attend.

After Adalgisa and her family moved to Detroit, Michigan, she missed being part of a religious congregation. She had visited

“God, send me to the place where You want me to be."

Pastor Costa preached this year in Detroit and got to meet Madelyn (left) and Adalgisa.

a couple of churches in Detroit, but couldn’t find the right one. Then in 2020, the pandemic came, and it became even more difficult for Adalgisa to find a church. Her constant prayer was for God to guide her. “God, send me to the place where You want me to be, but allow one of my children to drive me there because I don’t know how to drive.” As churches closed, she started watching Enlace TV. One of her favorite television shows was Escrito Está, which she listened to every Sunday morning. She had also heard Pastor Robert Costa’s programs on Radio Amanecer. Since Adalgisa couldn’t attend church, she began to search for Adventist television programs on YouTube and found Pastor Robert Costa and Escrito Está, among other preachers.

One day, one of her daughters came home from work. She told her mom that one of her co-workers doesn’t work on Saturdays because she attends church on that day.

The daughter asked for the church address and both mother and daughter decided to attend. “My daughter Madelyn told her co-worker that she had also been praying and asking God for a church to attend,” Adalgisa said. “After our first day in this church, we were both very happy by the way we were received and how people showed interest in getting to know us. The most surprising thing was that the local pastor of our church is Pastor Ronald Costa, Pastor Robert Costa’s brother!”

A few months ago, Adalgisa and Madelyn were both baptized. Adalgisa continues to pray for her husband and her other two children to come to church. She said, “My husband has always been supportive of my beliefs and has always allowed me to bring my children to church. Now I pray for my entire family to come to church with me.”

Thank you for praying for Adalgisa and her family, and the continued ministry of Escrito Está!

CAROLINA BONILLA is the administrative assistant for Escrito Está. Born in Ecuador, Carolina has a passion for reaching the Spanish-speaking community with the gospel.

Dr. Gohalem Felema

Finding Peace

BEKAH & GOHALEM’S STORY

Dr. Gohalem Felema, It Is Written Partner, and Dr. Bekah Wheatley have been colleagues and friends for over 10 years. During that time, something special happened. Together they share their story. Their conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.

Dr. Gohalem Felema (G): I first met Bekah in 2011, when I joined the pediatric anesthesia practice. Our friendship initially focused around patient care. We spoke a lot about difficult experiences in the operating room.

Dr. Bekah Wheatley (B): I’d always seen something about Gohalem that not many people have. She’s able to go on to the next patient with more peace and composure than other people might be able to muster. So I just felt like, whatever she has, I need some of that.

G: Whenever we had these conversations, her questions were always the same.

It was that search for strength, for peace, for rest. But the answer was also the same: It was God, and it was a relationship with Him, that she did not want to hear. She wanted an answer that was scientifically proven. Or she wanted an answer that was giving her a practical tool to apply in her everyday life, to be able to have peace. So I began giving Bekah It Is Written material: Videos, and we would study the It Is Written Bible Study Guides.

B: [As we studied together], I was open to things in a way that I had not been before. And I probably at the time didn’t even realize I was open.

G: Partnership has always been a high weekend for my family. We get blessed, we’re encouraged, we’re inspired, and we leave energized to go share the love of God with others. And I so wanted that experience for Bekah!

B: She said I really want you to come to Partnership with me. I didn’t even know

what it was, but I just knew she wanted me to go. So I was like, okay, tell me the details, what are we doing?

G: I wanted her to go to Partnership; I wanted her to be in that environment where she sees God’s power and His grace. And I was very happy to see that she agreed.

B: I showed up at [the 2021 Orlando] Partnership weekend, I was blown away. I mean, I was really blown away! I saw how the Partners interacted with one another, and how the It Is Written staff interacted with the Partners, and just this sense of family and home that they create. I thought, wow, this is something that I could be a part of, from now and going forward.

G: Up until this point, Bekah had told me to my face that she would never get baptized. She did not feel that it was something that

she could do. When we went to Partnership, it was so powerful, and very emotional. I could see her heart changing.

B: I certainly felt a connection with Pastor Bradshaw, and I asked him if he would baptize me. Because that was something that was really important to me: to have someone who saw my heart as I saw his heart.

G: I can’t believe this is happening! After all these years, 10 years, of talking about God, going through everything, and then finally she gets it. She sees God’s love. She sees the most important thing in life. She sees that He is all in all.

Shortly after that, It Is Written held [Revelation Today: The Great Reset] in Chattanooga, and I was baptized up there!

I am so proud of her. I am so happy about where her spiritual life has gone. At work, there is a different vibe about her. She’s positive. She is encouraging others. She’s telling many people about God. And I just look back and go, wow! This is the same person.

It Is Written Partnership events are deeply spiritual experiences, where hearts are touched and lives are drawn closer to God.

Learn more about becoming an It Is Written Partner at itiswritten.com/partners .

CASSIE MATCHIM HERNANDEZ is the marketing and communications specialist for It Is Written. Cassie is married to Chris, and they live in Collegedale, Tennessee.

I can't believe this is happening!

Dr.

Bekah Wheatley

THE HOPE OF GLORY

Christianity is something like a Rubik’s Cube. Virtually everyone has heard of it, most people have tried it, but few have figured out how to do it successfully. In his struggle to live a victorious Christian life, Paul recounted his experience of falling far short of what he knew to be the will of God. But he went on to write about a Christianity that works. The Hope of Glory will encourage you to experience a faith that connects your heart with the heart of God.

Experience a new level of biblical study with the It Is Written Every Day Bible. Featuring a foreword by Pastor John Bradshaw and many study aids to strengthen your Bible reading, this Bible is a beautiful gift and has the tools to enhance your time exploring the meaning of God’s Word.

Leather and leathersoft Bibles are packaged in a window gift box.

MAXIMUM HEALTH

THE SIMPLE PRESCRIPTION TO A MORE FULFILLING LIFE

Join Pastor John Bradshaw and special guest Dr. Neil Nedley, president of Nedley Health Solutions, as they answer important questions about intelligence, brain health, and emotions. Discover how you can get the best out of the mind God gave you!

Set includes 8 DVDs.

DVD Set • US SALE $34.99

HEALTH AND HEALING

Join Dr. David DeRose and John Bradshaw as they discuss life-changing, biblically-sound, scientifically-based information that will help you experience optimum health. Learn to enjoy the abundant life Jesus came to offer in these five programs based on simple health principles. While you learn more about health from the Bible, you will see how you can walk in the light of the goodness of the Great Physician Himself!

Set includes 5 DVDs. SALE $22.49

Titles Include:

• Emotional Intelligence: What Is It?

• Controlling Your Emotions

• Becoming a Smarter You

• Peak Performance

• Pathway to Hope

• Food for Thought

• Boosting Your Brain

• Beating Diabetes

Titles Include:

• Stressed Out

• Coping with Stress

• You Are What You Eat

• Health and Healing

• Living a Balanced Life

The My Place With Jesus Bible is packed with features designed to engage children in the study of God’s Word, including the complete 21-lesson set of the My Place With Jesus Bible Guides, a foldout timeline, colorful illustrations, and more!

Hardcover Bible • US $34.99

Psalm 68:31

God Remembered Ethiopia

"I thought God forgot about Ethiopia," a Muslim man said at our health clinic, "but you have brought to us the love of the Christian God. I want to follow the Bible and your Jesus!" This was one of many similar testimonies during our recent mission trip to Ethiopia that brought an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a harvest of precious souls for God's kingdom.

In August, 32 volunteers traveled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to bring healing and hope to thousands who suffer daily hardships that deprive them of the necessities they need. Life in Ethiopia is destitute for many as war, famine, and disease often strike, leaving many struggling in desperate situations.

Our team sprang into action and partnered with Negele Arsi Hospital to provide medical, dental, and eye care to over 15,000 patients! Clinics took place in Addis Ababa,

Arsi Negele, and Shashamane for grateful patients that could not find help elsewhere. Dental care is virtually non-existent and possible only for a small percentage with financial means. For example, the population of Arsi Negele is 45,000, but there is only one dentist in the entire city! As word got out to the city that free dentistry was available from our team, a line formed as far as the eye could see. Each patient received an x-ray followed by dedicated care

"Ethiopia will quickly stretch out her hands to God."

that included tooth extractions, root canals, and cavity fillings. One man had four infected teeth and had been in pain for years. Our dentist removed the teeth and provided antibiotics to treat the infection. The man left smiling, rejoicing that he was already feeling better after the extraction.

Several patients were Muslim and were deeply moved by actions of love from our team, often inquiring about Christianity following their treatment. They repeatedly requested prayer, Bible studies, and literature. However, the impact reached far beyond the patients! A local nurse who worked in the hospital said, "I am so amazed at the kindness you show our people. I want to have the same love in my heart for others as you have. Please tell me how Jesus can do that for me too. I want to become a Christian."

Several patients had emergency cases including fatal heart conditions, dangerous glucose levels, and high blood pressure. They were seen rapidly at the hospital by our team. Many of those patients would have died if they had not been cared for that day. Lives were saved, which opened the heart for spiritual salvation. Smiles replaced frowns, and joy filled hearts. Our team shared endless testimonies of how God miraculously sped up procedures that generally take 2–3 times longer so that more patients could be treated. The fantastic team of volunteers stayed up late most every night to ensure that all could get the care they needed. Almost every patient welcomed the offered prayer and literature that accompanied treatment, and several even requested it before it could be offered.

The Eyes for India team led by Dr. Jacob Prabhakar brought sight to the blind in Ethiopia during a 10-day eye camp in Arsi Negele that served nearly 2,000 people. Candidates were screened by support staff and prepared for cataract surgery. Dr. Jacob and his team performed 300–400 surgeries per day. Many who had been blind for decades eagerly waited in line in hopes of regaining their sight. One patient stated, "I am not old enough to die. I still have strength and vigor left, but I cannot see. I felt hopeless and alone, but this surgery has

"I want to have the same love in my heart for others as you have."

given me another chance at life. I told myself that the God who could restore my sight would be the God I served. It was your God who did for me what no one else could do, and now my heart and life are His!"

Luke 4:18 was fulfilled as God also gave spiritual sight when innumerable souls met Jesus for the first time.

Several young people under the age of 15 were also treated. One boy, following his eye surgery, said, "This is the first time in my life that I have ever seen my parents. After years of hearing their voices, I can now see their beautiful faces, which are more lovely than I could have ever imagined! I look forward to attending school, seeing the food I eat, and learning more about the God of the Bible, who opened my eyes and restored my dignity. Thank you, It Is Written, for helping me!"

Another young girl had retinoblastoma, a large tumor in her eye. Without surgical intervention, she would have eventually died. There was nowhere for her to go for help, but our team was able to remove the tumor. Her father also had cataract surgery in the eye camp. Following their surgeries, they stood hand

in hand, rejoicing at the sight-giving restoration God provided through our team. Truly, modern miracles still happen!

As the medical clinic progressed, the governor and medical director of the state visited the hospital and eye camp along with several mayors of surrounding cities. A film crew from the national news network recorded an interview and report that later aired nationwide. God worked wonders to carry His message to every person.

In addition to the medical portion of the trip, evangelistic meetings were held across the three cities. More than 200 churches organized and prepared for months to participate in these meetings with It Is Written. Thousands of church members fasted and prayed for God's Spirit to be poured out on their cities. They distributed hundreds of thousands of fliers for the medical clinic and evangelistic series. Hundreds gave Bible studies. Billboard, radio, and social media ads blanketed the cities. Over 10,000 people attended the series in the three cities, setting record numbers for meetings held in that area. John Bradshaw preached in the two cities of Addis Ababa and Shashamane, while I preached in Arsi Negele. Upon arrival in each city, a welcome

"Thank you, It Is Written, for helping me!"

parade greeted our team. The main roads in Arsi Negele and Shashamane were closed as the march progressed to the city centers. In Shashamane, this had never been done before, even when the president of the country visited! God worked mightily to bring attention to His cause.

Two thousand years after Philip the Apostle baptized the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, the gospel still saves lives in Ethiopia. As the Word of God was preached, the gospel penetrated hearts, even in the secular city of Addis Ababa. Appeals were made every night, and hundreds responded to accept Jesus and the truth shared. Many who were under heavy yokes of bondage found forgiveness and freedom from lifelong sins. One young man, a cocaine dealer, came forward and fell on his knees to accept Jesus. With those chains broken, he now lives in the joy that only Jesus can give.

Another young man was on the platform taking his baptismal vows when he fainted and fell off the platform! One of our team physicians rushed to assist him. After stabilizing him and telling him to lie still until she returned, she left to take care of another situation. While she was gone, the young boy jumped up in urgency to the baptismal line and got baptized. He did not want the devil to deny him the opportunity that God was giving him!

An elderly woman was paralyzed but was brought by friends to the meetings. She told God that if he wanted her to be a Christian,

get baptized, and join the church, He would need to heal her. The following day, she woke up, completely healed after years of paralysis! Keeping her promise, she gave her life fully to Jesus and was baptized at the end of the series.

Space does not permit us to share every story, but every story was recorded in the Book of Life! After a week of rain, the skies cleared, and more than 2,500 people were baptized on the final Sabbath afternoon in a nearby lake. In addition, 700 were baptized in the three weeks following the series. The biblical scene was like the day of Pentecost with people standing on the rocky cliffs and seated on the grass by the water listening to the Word of God. Before his baptism, one man quipped that all his life he had followed another faith, but today he follows Jesus. Hearts full of joy united in praise as each soul gave their heart to Jesus. Each baptismal candidate was given a Bible, essential study books, and ongoing discipleship classes to ground them in their new faith.

God is using It Is Written Missions to bring the gospel to the farthest parts of the globe. Because of your prayers and support, thousands will experience eternity with Jesus. Thank you!

WES PEPPERS is the evangelism director for It Is Written. He schedules and oversees all of the ministry’s evangelism projects online and around the world. Wes is married to Marion, and they have two children.

Be Like a Tree

On the third day of creation week, God clothed the earth with trees. Trees are masterpieces of creation. They clean up the air we breathe, provide shelter from the sun, furnish a home for many birds and animals, give us food to eat, and make a great place to climb!

There are many different varieties of trees and learning to identify them can be a lot of fun. Trees are divided into two categories: deciduous and evergreen. Deciduous trees are the ones whose leaves turn pretty colors in the fall and provide us with the opportunity to use a rake! Evergreen trees, on the other hand, remain green all year round. And there are more specific ways to identify a tree. Trees can be identified by the shape of their leaves, the texture or pattern of their bark, and their flowers and fruit. People who really know trees can identify them by the grain and color of their wood.

There are hundreds of verses in the Bible about trees. In fact, the Bible mentions 36 trees by name, such as the palm, fig, and sycamore. Did you know that the Bible also compares Christians to trees?

King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 15:4 that

“a wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” Jesus said that we are known by the fruit we bear (Matthew 7:16–20). James reminds us that just as a fig tree cannot produce olives and a grapevine cannot produce figs, the words of Christians will be words of love and kindness that bring healing to those around them (James 3:1–13, Proverbs 11:30).

The Christian is also compared to a tree that is planted beside a river. Since trees absorb water through their roots, it is natural for their roots to stretch out in search of water. Depending on their size, trees can absorb between 10 and 150 gallons of water a day. Jesus referred to Himself as the Water of Life (John 4:10–14). The Bible tells us that in Christ “we live, move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). How much of the Living Water are you absorbing every day?

A tree that doesn’t have a healthy root system will become diseased and could die! When we are firmly rooted in Jesus, and our faith is established in Him, we will be healthy Christians that will stand firm when the heat of temptations comes (Colossians 2:6–7). When you drink the water Jesus offers, you will one day soon eat from the tree of life (Revelation 2:7)!

MELISSA BRADSHAW is the children’s ministries director for It Is Written. Melissa and her husband, John Bradshaw, have two children and live in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the south side of a tree receives more sun, thus moss will grow on the north side of the tree. The opposite is true in the Southern Hemisphere as moss will grow on the south side. Check this out next time you go for a hike in the woods.

Roots

As a rule of thumb, most tree roots are in the top foot of the soil and will extend out about one and a half times the height of the tree. So the roots of a 30-foot tree can extend out as far as 45 feet!

SALT

Student Testimony:

A Journey

When I was four, my parents stopped going to church for lack of interest. But the seed had been planted, and God continued to work in my life. I remember asking God for help for the first time when I had a lengthy illness at the age of eight. Doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong. I prayed the simple prayer of a child, and God healed me. From then on, I began to pray before I went to sleep, and God built on those little prayers going forward.

In middle and high school, I became keenly aware of a war within me. There was a spiritual struggle taking place in my life as I wrestled with various sins. I felt empty and lonely, and I found only temporary escape in diversion. I knew Jesus could help me, but too often I chose wrong.

In search of answers, I began reading my Bible daily, a chapter each night. I read that Bible from cover to cover in the span of four years! For the first three years, God slowly

It Is Written School of Evangelism

FELICIA SANDERS is a current SALT student at Southern Adventist University and is working towards a master’s degree in biblical counseling. Born and raised in North Carolina, Felicia loves nature, theology, and sharing Jesus.

worked in me to help me search for Him with all my heart. My prayers changed. No longer did I pray short, self-centered prayers. I prayed to talk to God, for others, and for Him to work in my life.

The summer before I turned 16, I reached a spiritual crossroads. Although my relationship with God had been growing, I was still struggling with sin. At summer camp, I heard God clearly call me, and shortly after returning home, I found myself weeping over my Bible. I was tired of living my life on my terms. I could keep returning to the world’s ways, or I could acknowledge the voice that had long been whispering His love to me. I asked God to save me, and He impressed on me the need to return to church.

counselor had mentioned she was studying nursing at Southern Adventist University. I investigated, and what piqued my interest was a program called Soul-winning And Leadership Training (SALT), in partnership with It Is Written. SALT offers training to share the gospel, no matter what field you’re studying. I chose to major in psychology, and throughout my first semester, as I shared my testimony, people always said, “You need to join SALT.” It was too late to join that year, but a friend said something that gave me peace: “God chooses the right set of people for each SALT group.” If I wasn’t in the class of 2021, it was because God had another time in mind for me. I eagerly made plans to join the SALT class of 2022.

to Surrender

The next Sabbath morning, I sat in the church parking lot and shook as I felt a battle for my soul rage around me. I chose to walk into that church in God’s strength. I remember watching someone be baptized and aching to belong to Jesus in that way. Weeks later, I accepted the pastor’s offer to baptize me, and a tremendous weight lifted off my heart. The pastor gave me the It Is Written Bible Study Guides. I absorbed the lessons like a sponge, completing four at a time! I was saddened to think that I would not be able to share my baptism with those closest to me, but my mom, sister, and friend came to support me! The next week, my church shut down for COVID and didn't reopen for a year. I was baptized in God’s perfect timing.

I was originally going to attend an Ivy League school, but with my newfound faith, I now wanted to go wherever God led. As I prayed about it, I remembered my camp

On top of receiving what I hoped—a more in-depth religious education—I also learned during SALT that ministry goes beyond Bible studies. Often, it’s just being a friend to someone who needs a little bit of joy in their life. For so long, my heart burned to share with others what I found in Christ, and I finally got the chance. I enjoy listening, which connected me deeply with many people. I was also excited to learn that the Bible study lessons we use for Bible work are the same It Is Written studies I used! I’m confident in the material because it helped me.

I have learned that all God wants is a willing heart, and once you let Him into your heart, God opens doors you never dreamed of. I never thought I’d be so involved in ministry, and yet I’ve fallen in love with it. The best part is, Jesus isn’t done with me. The greatest gift is Jesus, and He’s coming back soon! I am so thankful that I get to tell people that good news every day.

"I was baptized in God’s perfect timing."

BY JOHN BRADSHAW, president

As a child raised in the Catholic church, I served for many years as an altar boy, an assistant to the priest during the mass. As an altar boy, I attended many funerals, and it was those funerals that started me in an entirely new direction in life.

During funeral services held in our local church, the priest would invariably say something such as, “We can rejoice today because our beloved friend is now in the presence of God in heaven.” Such words are calculated to encourage, and they often do. But those same words also create a lot of confusion.

A little later as the body of the deceased was slowly lowered into a grave at the local cemetery, the same priest would say something very much like, “And now we commit our loved one to the grave, where

he/she will rest peacefully until the day our Lord returns, and the dead in Christ shall rise.”

I may only have been a young child, but I was old enough to smell a rat. Minutes before, the deceased was in the presence of God in heaven. But now, that same individual was resting in a grave awaiting the resurrection. How could the same dead person be in two places at once?

The answer is, of course, that such a thing is not possible. While only a child who had read little of the Bible, I wasn’t

I may only have been a young child, but I was old enough to smell a rat.

exactly sure of the answer to my question. But I knew one thing for sure. The dead couldn’t possibly die and go directly to heaven. What, exactly, would go to heaven? And if my suspicions were accurate, praying to dead saints was therefore unreasonable, as the saints themselves

CAN THE DEAD BE IN TWO PLACES?

ghastly celebration of spiritualism; houses are not “haunted” by departed spirits; seances are invitations for demons to trouble and misdirect lives; the Virgin Mary has not appeared to anyone, ever, anywhere… and so on.

But there’s a greater truth than any I’ve yet mentioned.

When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha following the death of their brother, Lazarus, Martha gave evidence of several things that she, to her credit, knew. She knew that Jesus had the power to save Lazarus from death. She knew there would be a resurrection, believing Lazarus would “rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). But there was something she, or maybe others nearby, needed to know.

were dead and not able to hear or answer the prayers of a single soul.

When I finally learned that the dead sleep until the return of Jesus, it was less of an “Aha!” moment, and more of a “Well, of course” moment. Some things are obvious. Sleep in death was one of them. And if death was a sleep, purgatory couldn’t possibly exist, no one could possibly be in hell at the present time, and the church I had been part of my entire life had sold me a bill of goods.

But faith in God is not simply a matter of being right. Numerous people have been right—or close to right—theologically and have been on the wrong side of the leading of the Holy Spirit. It’s important to know that the dead sleep. When you do, myriad errors and lies are avoided: the dead do not visit the living; Halloween is a

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live’” (John 11:25). This is the greatest truth in the constellation of truths clustered around the subject of death and the resurrection. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Possessing Jesus is the difference between eternal life and eternal death. As John wrote, “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12).

Faith in Jesus is simply that. Faith in Jesus. The key factor in the plan of salvation is not the possession of an idea, but the possession of a Person, that Person being Jesus. The weakest saint may, by faith, have Jesus, and the Savior that called Lazarus from his dusty bed is able to bring spiritual life out of spiritual death.

We possess the truth about Jesus, and we should. But possessing Jesus Himself is the real difference. He is the resurrection and the life. The dead will be resurrected because they lived in faith in Him. The living have the assurance of everlasting life for the same reason.

Let Jesus be the resurrection and the life for you.

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Impressed by the Holy Spirit, lives are forever changed

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Mark Guild

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT

Mark leads the marketing and development departments in a new combined role for the ministry. “The marketing department is involved in guiding the ministry on new programs and markets, and the development department serves to fund such initiatives,” he said. “So, if I do my job effectively, our group develops and funds endeavors to reach more people for Christ.”

Following several years of teaching business as a university professor, Mark joined It Is Written in July of this year. Looking back over his career, Mark sees how God led his experiences to equip him for his role at It Is Written. “I can see how God’s hand in my career development prepared me to accept this call,” he said. “It’s humbling and exciting all at the same time.”

Mark is most looking forward to playing a key role in developing strategies to expand the reach of the ministry. “I have a particular passion to more effectively reach the Millennial and Z generations,” he said. “I believe It Is Written can take a leading role in developing programming and resources to help our young people better engage in a saving relationship with Jesus.”

He is a welcome addition to the team. “We’re thrilled to have Mark join us,” said John Bradshaw, It Is Written president. “Mark has a ton of outstanding experience, from working at Fortune 500 companies

BY CASSIE MATCHIM HERNANDEZ, marketing & communications specialist

to running his own successful company to teaching in an academic setting. He’s creative, perceptive, deeply spiritual, and a real team player. Mark being on our team is God’s doing.”

Mark feels blessed to work in a job focused on winning souls for God’s kingdom. “It’s a privilege to work here, and that feeling is pervasive throughout the organization,” he said.

We are privileged to have him. Welcome, Mark!

Get to know Mark:

What is your favorite meal? I’m passionate about really good mushroom risotto. I’m pretty sure, that as an entire dish, it will be on the Tree of Life. What was your first job? Growing up in a small town in Michigan, I had a lawn-mowing business.

What is the best advice anyone has given you?

Five minutes after you start your day, your agenda for the day will get rearranged not by your own choosing. This will happen every day of your life. So, embrace this reality with a positive attitude.

In his new role, Mark brings a wealth of business and marketing experience to the team.

If your IRA is life’s dessert, the thought of being forced to pay taxes on a distribution you would rather not take may leave a sour taste in your mouth. It does not have to.

IRA Charitable Rollover

This information is not intended as tax, legal, or financial advice. Gift results may vary. Consult your personal financial advisor for information specific to your situation.

Do not pay income tax on the

distribution

Tributes & Memorials

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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Allen, Diana Marie by Sharon Peppard Barr, Pastor Christopher by Mrs. Valerie Barr

Betterton-Holloway, Patricia Ann by COL William Louard Chong, Mee Yin by Charissa Zima Cross, Cumo by Rita Vital D'Abreu, Dorothy by Kwaun Dukes-Reese Dawes, John by Terri Dawes

Dickhaut, Hilda by Esther Novak Duricheck, John by Rita Vital Frost, Kathy by J. Beth Tillman

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Gomez, Michael by Joel & Mely Gomez

Gulley, Dr. Norman by Rita Vital

Habenicht, Donna by Michael & Alice Weakley Hall, Charles by James Hall

Helms, James by John & Margret Scott

Jenkins, Winnie & Marsall by Pastor & Mrs. Frank M. Jenkins Khoury, Izabelle by Jackie A Abboud

Lemaster, Julian D. by Iva Lemaster

Lyman, John by Timothy & Christine Yorty

Mitchell, Marilyn by Louise Maloy

Mohr, June by Theodore W. Mohr

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Gerstle, David Happy birthday from Vince Rogers Williamson, Shana by Danae Jacobsen

To see the complete list of tributes and memorials, please visit itiswritten.com/tributes.

Remember someone special with your love gift to It Is Written.

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Healing of the Leper

We were at Passover when I first noticed it—that tingling sensation in my fingers. I must have slept wrong on my mat last night, I thought. As summer slipped into the joy of the Feast of Tabernacles, I ignored the growing numbness. The winter season was capped with another Passover, and I celebrated with a gnawing concern about my health.

The planting took such deliberate effort; the maintenance of my farming implements seemed increasingly awkward. Recently, I noticed an obstinate, alwaysgetting-bumped scab on my right hand.

One Friday before the evening meal, I entered the courtyard to wash. I plunged my dirty, calloused hands into the cleansing water. To my horror, the water turned

red. I straightened to see my dear wife, lovely in person and character, her eyes pools of compassion. “It’s on your robe, too.” Only then did I examine my hands to see the long gash extending from the second finger through the soft fleshy palm. I felt no pain.

We stood in the desolation of silence that accompanies a haunting realization. The tingling, the numbness, the awkward movements that made work challenging, and now the lack of sensation of pain. What great sin had I committed? What had my parents done? Why was I not to prosper in health and in life on this earth?

“Leprosy,” I whispered. We stood examining the cacophony of thoughts. Our hands instinctively reached out, but stopped still as a mime; it’s the law—no touching. We stood, each alone. How could I leave her? How could I go forth to raise my voice to all, “unclean, unclean,” a sound more hideous than someone badly blowing a ram’s horn?

VERLYNE STARR and her husband Wayne are It Is Written Partners and live in Ooltewah, Tennessee. She works two days a month at It Is Written and is retired from Southern Adventist University.

The obligatory meeting with the priest, his perfunctory pronunciation, and my lonely trek to the colony imploded hope—hope of life with my wife, hope of another child, hope of arranging for my daughter’s marriage, hope of leathery old hands traced with the richness of springtime and harvesttime, hope of any human touch ever again! Instead, I would become a grotesque spectacle of a man, my flesh terrible and consumed.

Two seasons of Passovers and Feasts of the Tabernacles passed. I was irascible. The anger I felt towards the insensitive priests found a strange sort of wicked pleasure in the recent news from the Passover. An unimaginable scene: temple merchants upending their tables and leaving their money as they fled. I smiled at the thought of these proud priests abandoning their dignified demeanor and running from the temple at the Galilean’s command.

But there was more news. This Jesus healed people—lame, blind, sick. He healed all who came to Him. How could I

go? When I cried “unclean,” He and everyone else would leave. I couldn’t go silently; it was law to proclaim my malady. I knew that my disease was desperation’s escort. But, rumors of Jesus being nearby caressed hope in my heart. My desperation became hope’s opportune. I must see Jesus.

I stumbled and silently crept to reach the hill beside the lake where Jesus sat. Hiding behind rocks to avoid exposure, I heard an occasional word. He spoke as no other teacher of the law I’d ever heard. What was this stirring I sensed in my heart? I felt drawn to Him. I must see Jesus.

But I was a loathsome spectacle. I knew the sight of my decaying body would cause the people to fall back in terror. But, I must see Jesus!

My seclusion no longer held me captive. The hollering crowd hastily retreated while some threw stones to prevent my approach. Amid the confusion, I heard only the voice that speaks life to the dying. Stumbling, I fell at His feet, uttering the cry of my soul, "Lord, if you are willing, You can heal me." He didn’t speak about the doubt harbored in my soul. He didn’t speak about my sins. He didn’t tell me my leprosy was the stroke of God.

He touched me! Not once since my diagnosis had I felt human touch. He touched me! My fingers, my toes, my nose—they were there with the glow of new, healthy flesh. I was restored, my nerves sensitive, and my muscles in the full strength of manhood. My leprosy had disappeared. I was healed! Every day I praise Him.

This devotional is based on Matthew 8, Mark 1, Luke 5; some references to The Desire of Ages, chapter 27.

“ I must see Jesus! "

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