Impressions Summer 2023, Issue 26

The Gospel Recipe

A student on the Nicaragua mission trip poses for a photo with a local girl while distributing Bibles in the community.

Just five years after Louis Zamperini ran at the Berlin Olympic Games in 1936, he was a prisoner of war in a Japanese POW camp, where he was treated with unusual cruelty by his captors. He returned home to the United States full of hate, planning to return to Japan and kill those who wronged him.

But before long, Zamperini was a new man. He traveled back to Japan and personally forgave many of the men who ran the prison camps where he had been held.

It was Jesus who changed Louis Zamperini’s life. When he surrendered his life to Jesus at a Billy Graham gospel meeting, the hatred in his heart immediately disappeared. There is power in the presence of Jesus to heal the deepest wounds and transform the most unlikely life.

God still makes people new. As Paul wrote, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

I visited recently with a man who had lost his wife of 66 years. Tom had begun making major changes in his life based on what he was learning on It Is Written TV, our full-time channel.

Tom accepted Jesus as his personal Savior and made a complete surrender of His life to God. He began having a daily, personal devotional time. He quit drinking and adopted a plant-based diet. “Sixty years of acid reflux is gone. I

Still At Work

no longer need dialysis, my diabetes has completely disappeared, and I’ve lost 60 pounds,” he told me. Tom now starts every day by drinking an anti-aging smoothie, after finding the recipe in an It Is Written resource, Anti-Aging Secrets of the Bible. Best of all, Tom—in his early nineties—was baptized in May at the conclusion of meetings held by Eric Flickinger in Caldwell, Idaho.

People everywhere are looking for a new life. We stand on the threshold of the outpouring of the latter rain. Many others, like Tom, are being reached through your support of It Is Written.

Jesus is soon to return. God is still at work!

God still makes people new.

LOUIS ZAMPERINI

John Bradshaw PRESIDENT

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Proclaiming the gospel is the heartbeat of It Is Written. It is why we exist. Not only do we reach the world through media evangelism, but It Is Written also remains strongly committed to public evangelism, evangelism training, mission trips, and more.

Through your prayers and support, God does tremendous miracles through It Is Written. From our evangelism team, here is a summary of recent events and a glimpse of our plans for the future.

PUBLIC EVANGELISM

In February of this year, Wes Peppers, It Is Written evangelism director, conducted an evangelistic series in Loma Linda, California, attended by hundreds of university students. One medical student, formerly a Hindu, was amazed to see how the Bible could accurately reveal the future of the world through prophecy. He realized that no Hindu book had the ability to do this, and he made a decision to follow Jesus! Dozens more also decided for baptism as they fell in love with the Savior.

In April and May, we conducted a Revelation Today: The Great Reset evangelistic series in Idaho. Fifteen churches participated, and more than 100 people were baptized. We also assisted with the creation of an evangelism master plan for area churches and trained over 500 pastors and lay members to share their faith effectively! This was the largest evangelism initiative ever undertaken by the church in Idaho, and it was incredible to witness God’s Spirit working beyond human ability.

2022

Mission Trips to Arizona, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, and Puerto Rico

DEC ReCHARGE

the World Around It Is Written with

SALT Graduation

2023

FEB Nicaragua

Mission Trip

Loma Linda

Evangelism

APR Bolivia

Evangelism

The Great Reset: Idaho

JUN Mexico

Mission Trip

JUL ASI Youth for Jesus Training

AUG Dominican Republic

Mission Trip

OCT Colombia

Evangelism & Philippines

Mission Trip

NOV Cuba

Mission Trip

2024

JAN ReCharge (Texas)

APR Alaska Evangelism

Mission Trips to Alaska, Bolivia, Timor-Leste and more!

BY WES PEPPERS and CASSIE MATCHIM HERNANDEZ

In August, Robert Costa, Eric Flickinger, and Wes Peppers will head to the Dominican Republic with more than 50 mission trip participants, where 25 evangelistic meetings will simultaneously be preached in honor of the church’s 25th anniversary in that country. The main series will be streamed live on the national radio station.

Robert Costa will also visit Colombia in October and November to hold evangelistic meetings in the northern and southern parts of the country, following up on interests that arose from the airing of the daily Spanish devotional on TV.

Another big mission trip and evangelistic effort will be conducted in the fall in Tagum City, Philippines. The main series will be broadcast on national television! The Eyes for India team will also join our missionaries for a 10-day eye camp, and we are expecting over 1,500 surgeries during this time.

EVANGELISM TRAINING

Last year, practical evangelism training was provided to eight different conferences and over 1,000 individuals through our speakers, ReCharge, and SALT program. Each church is now better equipped to share their faith and organize systematic evangelism in their communities.

SALT, the It Is Written evangelism training school led by Douglas Na’a, conducted its largest class to date in 2022. Students came from Honduras, Lebanon, Nepal, Uganda, the United Kingdom, the United States, and more! In partnership with the Orchard Park Church, SALT students developed 441 Bible study interests in an area of Chattanooga that has not been reached in many years. Students knocked on 4,175 doors and completed hundreds of hours of Bible work. Seeds have been planted that will be reaped for many years to come!

In December, our annual evangelism training retreat, ReCharge, was held in Silver Spring, Maryland, with over 300

attendees! The next ReCharge will take place in Dallas, Texas, January 7–10, 2024.

In July, Eric Flickinger, Wes Peppers, and Jack Phillips will provide evangelism training for the ASI Youth for Jesus program in Kansas City, Missouri. This training will equip young people for their outreach efforts in Kansas City and wherever else God takes them in life.

MISSION TRIPS

More than 150 people participated in an It Is Written mission trip in 2022. Locations included Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, the Navajo Nation, and Puerto Rico. Nearly 17,000 people received medical help and/or health education, and God blessed with a combined 3,430 baptisms!

This year, we have completed a trip to Nicaragua (see page 8). Other trips include Chiapas, Mexico (June–July); Dominican Republic (August); Tagum City, Philippines (October); and Niquero, Cuba (November). Mission trips include medical clinics, construction, public evangelism, and children’s ministry. Thorough preparation is always conducted prior to a mission trip. For example, more than 100,000 pieces of literature and 300 sets of our Spanish Bible studies will be shipped to Holguin, Cuba, for use by Bible workers and seminary students before our trip.

Mission trips in 2024 include Alaska, Bolivia, Timor-Leste, and more!

MORE TO DO

We thank God for the work He has done through our ministry, but there is still more to do! Thank you for being a Partner with God and with It Is Written to do all we can to share the gospel. Because you respond to God’s prompting, lives are being saved for eternity. Prayerfully consider joining us for a SALT training session or a mission trip. You will never regret it!

Sharing the Gospel in Nicaragua

Corn Island, Nicaragua, is home to about 7,500 people. The people of Corn Island, largely isolated, are kind and welcoming. And they need to hear the gospel message. So it was that 26 people, including 15 young people mostly from Highland Academy in Tennessee, found themselves on this small island in the Caribbean.

The It Is Written mission team spent almost two weeks in early February ministering to these wonderful people. The team, led by It Is Written outreach coordinator Jack Phillips and Jon D’Avanzo of Nica Ministries, used a multi-faceted approach. There were evangelistic meetings held each evening in three locations; a medical clinic which treated more than 200 people; a school building project; radio broadcasting; and distribution of humanitarian aid.

Upon arrival, the team quickly settled into tropical life. Mornings started with a wonderful breakfast of rice, beans, papaya, and other island fare made by the excellent hotel staff. Meals were eaten on the openair veranda overlooking the boat harbor. The veranda proved to be the perfect place to worship together and exchange experiences of the day.

After breakfast, it was off to various ministry endeavors. The building project, medical clinic, radio broadcasts, and humanitarian projects were on the daily schedule with the bulk of the team working on building a

200-student school to serve the island. Every brick laid brought the opening of the school one step closer to reality. Hundreds of young people will learn about Jesus there, providing a ripple effect into the community.

Due to the heat and humidity, the team ceased work by lunch. Afternoons provided a chance to experience the culture of the island, whether a bus tour, going to the beach, or an offshore excursion. Besides providing great memories, these outings afforded the opportunity to get better acquainted with the locals.

After dinner, it was time for the meetings. They were held in three different outdoor locations on the island, with an estimated 250 people in attendance. Bible workers, sponsored by It Is Written, had worked in the community weeks before the meetings, so there were already some people on the path to giving their hearts to Jesus. Over 20 people have been baptized as a result of the meetings. In fact, the local churches were so excited about doing evangelism that they have since done another series and will be doing another one this July!

The largest church on Corn Island is located on the beach, so on Sabbath as soon as the service was over, everyone walked out the front door and onto the beach to witness 10 baptisms right in the ocean! Jack Phillips, who co-officiated, remarked, “The baptisms in the ocean will forever be a highlight for me.”

Things don’t always go smoothly on mission trips, as Satan is always on the attack. Upon arrival, all of our projectors were confiscated by customs. But, praise God, we were able to get two of them back! Our permission to hold a medical clinic was revoked upon arrival. But, praise God, the mayor of the island worked to get it reinstated! It rained frequently and often during our meetings. But, praise God, the people wouldn’t leave. In fact, even more came! Dr. Gordon Guild, who ran the medical clinic, said, “God wins, the devil loses!”

God worked on this trip in ways that we didn’t plan. Will Labrenz, the chaplain of Highland Academy, told me an interesting story: “During our morning worship time on the veranda, often other customers were nearby witnessing our worship and praise songs. One morning, a couple from Germany, professed Buddhists, stopped me to ask if being a Christian made a positive difference in my life. I shared that Jesus gives my life peace and purpose and

explained that is why our mission team was here. Upon further discussion, I offered them a Steps to Christ ing to read it. They accepted!”

Locals weren’t the only ones who were affected by the mission trip. “This trip was such a life changing experience,” said Adriel Garcia, a student at Highland Academy. “The people’s love for God and their kindness to us inspires me to be more like that. I pray every day for the people of Corn Island and their relationship with Jesus. I hope to see them again soon.”

MARK GUILD is the director of marketing and development for It Is

His team organizes Partnership weekends and promotes It Is Written to the world. Mark and his family reside in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

God wins, the devil loses!

The baptisms in the ocean will forever be a highlight for me.

A Firm FoundAtion

A few months ago, Pastor Robert Costa was invited to preach in northern Argentina during a week of spiritual revival. There, he met Edgar, Marisa, and Jiovani, who have a beautiful testimony to share. Edgar and his family have been attending the church where the meetings were held—as a result of a dream. Edgar tells the story.

A dream sent by God to a sincere heart in search of the truths of Revelation.

I grew up in a Christian home. From an early age, I showed interest in the study of the Bible. Although my family faithfully attended church every week, there were many things I was taught that didn’t seem

to make sense. As I grew older, I decided to study the Word of God in greater depth. The book of Revelation gained my interest, but time and time again I was told by people at my church that this was the most confusing and difficult book to understand, and that it was not meant for our generation. Those statements, however, never satisfied me. One evening, I got on my knees and asked God to have mercy and instruct me in the book of Revelation. I yearned to come to a deep understanding of His Word.

That same night I had a dream. I dreamt there was an earthquake. The river in my city had risen and moved impetuously. There was chaos everywhere, people running frantically, searching for water and shelter. I took my wife and son by the hand and pointed them where to run, to the highest part of the city, to the top of a hill, where there was a church. I explained to them how to get there, and they ran with

Escrito

my father. I, on the other hand, went down the avenue searching for my mother. She was about to take refuge in a church that was very familiar to me, but its structure was all made of glass. It was the church where I grew up attending. I told her to flee from there because it wasn’t safe. If there were aftershocks, the glass would collapse, killing everyone inside. Then stretching out my hand, I helped her to get out, and we ran to the other church where the rest of my family had taken refuge. When we arrived, we went to the basement, and I asked my father if this was a safe place to be. He banged on one of the columns very hard and told me, “We are safe. This building stands on a firm foundation.”

When I woke up, I immediately came to a realization. I needed to attend a church that had Jesus as its solid foundation. Many dogmas and traditions had prevented me from learning what the Bible teaches, but He would give me understanding not only on the book of Revelation, but also on many more teachings.

Soon thereafter, I started watching Escrito Está. This led me to study the Bible online. By the grace of God, I am finding answers. Thanks to Escrito Está, the local pastor from the church at the top of the hill, Pastor Robert Costa, and other evangelists who have come to preach, my family and I are preparing for baptism. I have family members who are still not on safe ground, but I am praying, inviting, and working with them so that they too can set their feet on solid ground.

iF there were AFtershocks, the glA ss would collA pse, killing everyone inside.

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.

BY JOHN BRADSHAW, president

NOT WITHOUT Partners

When Wes Peppers arrived back at It Is Written following the Revelation Today series in Idaho and Eastern Oregon, he shared a significant insight with me.

He told me about a woman I’ll call Pam, who was invited to the meetings by her Mormon neighbor. Pam only attended for the sake of attending. She thought she might learn something interesting. But as the series progressed, Pam found that she couldn’t stay away. Loving what she heard, and loving the God of the Bible, Pam made a decision to surrender her life completely to God and be baptized.

It was after sharing that thrilling story with me that Wes made what I thought was a fascinating application: “It wouldn’t have happened without our Partners and Partnership.”

Never was a truer word spoken! Pam was invited to the Revelation Today meetings by her neighbor. She was welcomed by an enthusiastic and loving church family. Her heart was warmed by the messages she heard. She

was drawn by the Holy Spirit. But what made it possible for It Is Written to be in her town was the support of It Is Written Partners. Without your prayers and financial investment in winning souls for Christ, Revelation Today simply could not have happened.

We are constantly mindful of that fact. It Is Written Partners grow the kingdom of heaven, which focuses our It Is Written team on the importance of our annual Partnership events.

Each year, seven Partnership weekends are conducted. They require a lot of planning and a great amount of energy and effort on the part of our ministry team. But with every Partnership, we are energized by what God does to foster evangelism and bring the Word of God to more people than ever before.

Every dollar invested in ministry finds its way to the front lines.

My team looks forward to each event. We meet with old friends, make new friends, and enjoy God’s blessing through spiritual messages, uplifting music, and inspiring reports of what God is doing to grow His church and expand His kingdom.

For the It Is Written team, Partnership is an exciting, energizing time. We get to interact with mission-focused people who encourage us in the forward momentum of the ministry. But more than that, our team understands that Partnership equals souls. It’s that simple. Every dollar invested in ministry finds its way to the front lines, finds its way to someone like Pam, who was invited by a friend to an It Is Written evangelistic series and was invited by God to experience everlasting life. This year, when our Partnership season gets underway, the It Is Written team will be praying with thanks for our ministry Partners. And we will be praying for the many Pams of this world, who will be reached with the Bible’s message of hope and salvation and will come to know Jesus.

At the conclusion of our meetings in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, earlier this year, Pastor Robert Costa and I reflected on what God had done. People all over Bolivia had come to faith in Jesus through the major evangelistic effort It Is Written spearheaded, more than 7,000 in total. While in a large auditorium witnessing the baptism of many people, Robert turned to me and said something I could have anticipated. “Without our Partners, this would never have happened.”

Thank you for your Partnership with It Is Written. Our ministry team hopes we will see you at a Partnership event this fall!

YOU’RE INVITED

Each year, It Is Written Partners make a vital impact for Christ by committing $1,500 or more to help us take the gospel to the world. Become a Partner and join us this fall for an exclusive weekend of fellowship and spiritual encouragement. Invite a guest to join you!

The It Is Written Bible School

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Conducting a mailing using the Bible School Mega Mailer or Mini Mailer is a simple, cost-effective way to share life-changing truth with your community. Both mailer formats include a response card that people can mail in to request Bible studies.

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Created for children ages 7–12, this 21-part program is designed to be used during an evangelistic series and can also be used in Bible classes and for VBS-style programs! Preschool worksheets included.

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The Recipe G spel

Here’s an easy recipe for you: pour one cup of water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Then, add three cups of sugar to the boiling water, and stir until dissolved. Pour the sugar and water solution into a glass jar and dangle a piece of string in the syrup. Wait a few days and … voila! You now have rock candy!

Granted, a fresh piece of fruit is probably a better choice for dessert than the rock candy you just made, but the giant, sweet-tasting sugar crystals you now find attached to the string illustrate a very definite soul-winning principle. The sugar crystals begin to form around the string, just as soul winning begins with events that take place right around the local church.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” The beautiful truth of this promise is that we get to be part of its fulfillment. It begins where I am. And it begins where you are.

One of the most effective ways to get this started in your own local church is to find the answer to the question, “Where do we begin?” It was a question like this that Moses had to face when God called him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. Moses (quite understandably) felt underqualified for the task. He’d been herding sheep for the last 40 years. He had a speech impediment. About the only thing that he clearly excelled at was making excuses (see Exodus 3–4).

Let’s look at a part of this story in Exodus 4:1–5:

Then Moses answered and said, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you.’” So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail” (and he reached out his hand and caught it, and it

became a rod in his hand), “that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” Moses didn’t have much to work with. But he did have a rod in his hand and that was all God needed to perform a miracle.

So, what do you have in your hand?

Church members in the South Bay Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, asked themselves that same question. Now the church has community-oriented activities going on regularly. Youth and adults take part in Total Community Involvement (TCI) once a month. They volunteer to beautify the yards of people who live in their church’s neighborhood by picking up downed tree limbs, cleaning up trash, mending fences, pressure washing driveways, painting, and repairing decks and porches.

Doctors and nurses at South Bay lead out in health-related talks and cooking schools. Dinner with the Doctor, Best Weigh, and seminars on diabetes, depression, and anxiety recovery take place on a regular

basis. And most of the health-related events include a healthy plant-based meal with an explanation of how to make it.

Photographers in the church present photography workshops. Social workers lead out in relationship-strengthening weekends. Youth and young adults host regular game nights. And the children in the church invite their friends to come out and enjoy the children’s activities that take place whenever an adult event is going on. The result? Scores of guests from the community have walked through the doors of the church to attend these activities, and many of them have begun attending on Sabbath mornings.

In Grand Junction, Colorado, the church is reaching out to their community in a multitude of ways. The SAGE55+ group has a monthly brunch where group members aged 55 and over invite their friends to enjoy a nice meal and meaningful conversations. They also have regular bowling nights and pizza parties where they do the same thing. And it’s not uncommon for people who have attended one of these events to go on a walk

One of the most effective ways to get this started in your own local church is to find the answer to the question, “Where do we begin?”

afterwards, or go to one of the members’ homes to get to know one another better. It’s become so popular that people in their 40s, 30s, and 20s are attending as well!

An experienced watercolor painter also attends the Grand Junction church. She has chosen to use her gifts and talents in service to God by holding a monthly watercolor class that is attended by both young and old. The attendees get to learn how to paint, and they also get to make new friends with the church members who attend.

In addition to that, the Grand Junction church approached the local Sheriff’s Office (SO) and asked if there was anything they could do to help them. They ended up making dozens of candy jars for the employees of the SO. Now, the church members go by the office every month to refill the jars

and visit with the employees. As a result, the SO now calls on the church members to help minister to families who are going through emergencies. And the church members regularly volunteer to serve food at the sheriff’s office banquets. The church is now known around the sheriff’s office as “The A-Team.” The SO is genuinely grateful for the caring ministry of the church, and it’s not uncommon for members of the force to greet and hug church members when they see them out in the community.

One member of the Grand Junction church sells items on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. With every order he sends out, he includes a couple pieces of literature. Many of his customers contact him requesting additional literature and wanting to know more about what he believes.

“Cast a vision and empower everybody to use the skills they have. God has given us all gifts and abilities to give honor to him. Always remember that everybody can do something.”

Another member of the church is a mechanic who has a relationship with a local truck stop. He worked with the youth of the church to set up a tent at the truck stop on Thanksgiving day to provide a free Thanksgiving dinner to the truckers who couldn’t be home with their families on that day.

The Grand Junction church regularly gives away 3–5,000 pieces of literature every other month at their various events! As a result, people are coming to church and beginning Bible studies. In fact, about a third of the people who attend mid-week Bible studies at the church are NOT church members!

Pastor Nate Skaife of the Grand Junction church shared the church’s mission in these words: “Cast a vision and empower everybody to use the skills they have. God has given us all gifts and abilities to give honor to him. Always remember that everybody can do something.”

In addition to the above activities, the South Bay and Grand Junction churches are also implementing a cycle of evangelism in which Bible studies are given and public evangelistic series are offered to their communities on a regular basis. You probably won’t be surprised to find out that these churches are growing.

Now, perhaps you’re saying, “But we don’t have any doctors in our church. Or nurses … or social workers … or photographers or painters or even any children.” Fair enough. Not every church does have these people in their congregation. But perhaps a neighboring church does and they’d be willing to lend their gifts to help your church grow. But even if they don’t, what do you have in your hand? Your church may have some members whose gifts are particularly suited to reach the people in your community. Perhaps someone who can teach an ESL class? Or a financial adviser? Or maybe an auto mechanic who could teach a basic auto repair class?

An excellent book to give you ideas of how your church can reach out to your community is Dr. Jesse Wilson (available at itiswritten. shop). In this book, Dr. Wilson lists (and describes how to implement) over 100 different outreach activities that churches can do to minister to the needs of their communities. Now, it should go without saying that not every activity will work in every community. True. But suppose that 50 events would NOT work in your community. The good news is that you now know 50 other activities that could work in your community. That’s something to praise God about!

And once a guest from the community does come to one of your church’s events, show them what it means to be loved with the love of Christ. A wise woman once said, “The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.”

And I guess, to some extent, that brings us right back to where we started ... with the rock candy. As people draw close to you and your church, be sweet to them. Show them that you care. Lift up Jesus and reflect His character onto the pathways of others. Share the beautiful words of life from the Scriptures and let the Holy Spirit woo their hearts. And your church, just like the sugar crystals, will grow.

Dr. Jesse Wilson at itiswritten.shop

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.

Transformed

Romans

He was just about home after his morning walk when something fell from the tree above him and hit the ground with a thud! Somewhat startled, my husband looked down at the strangest creature he had ever seen. This two-inch long creature was brown with a thin, yellow band around its neck. It had two yellow “eyes,” two orange “antennae,” and it was rocking from side to side! “From which planet did this creature fall?” he thought to himself.

After taking a picture and video, he quickened his pace and headed home. As soon as he came into the house, he told me about his discovery. Showing me the photos, he asked, “What on earth do you think this could be?” I did a quick search on the internet and discovered it was an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail—in its final caterpillar stage. “Quickly!” I said, “please show me where you saw it!” After finding a container, we hurried out the door. We arrived at the spot my husband saw the caterpillar, and…it was gone! “Oh no!” I said, “Something must have gotten it!” We searched around, then saw it about 10 feet away, rapidly crawling toward the grass. I put it in a container, and we headed home. I searched for all the information I could find, and then I began to create a safe environment for it. It seemed like overnight the caterpillar made its transformation into a chrysalis! Now the waiting

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

12:2

began. Although it is typical for the chrysalis stage to take about 10–20 days before transforming into a butterfly, I would check its progress daily. After a while I began to wonder if it was dead! “Should I have done something different while caring for it?” I asked myself. I moved it from the kitchen table to a corner in the dining room and then kind of forgot about it.

A few days later, my daughter called out, “Mom, have you seen the butterfly?” I came running around the corner, and there it was, fluttering its wings, strengthening them for flight! What a miracle! We took the container outside, lifted the lid, and waited for it to fly away.

This may sound strange, but people go through a very similar process. The Bible tells us that we are all sinners, and sin is an ugly thing, just like that little caterpillar my husband found (Romans 3:23; 2 Thessalonians 4:7). When we invite Jesus into our hearts, there is an amazing transformation that takes place.

If we allow Him, Jesus promises to make us beautiful (Romans 12:2). Jesus will take your ugly words and make them sweet (Matthew 15:18; Proverbs 16:24). Jesus will take your selfish heart and make you kind and considerate (Colossians 3:12–13). If we allow Jesus to work in our hearts, we will become a “new creature.” We will become more and more like Jesus as we grow closer to Him (2 Corinthians 5:17).

That beautiful butterfly didn’t go from caterpillar to butterfly overnight! It was a process—a little every day. Every day that you spend time with Jesus through reading the Bible and praying, you will be changed into the beauty of His character (2 Corinthians 3:18). And, don’t forget to be patient with others! Introduce them to Jesus who has the power to make them beautiful as well.

How many words can you make using the letters in CATERPILLAR

?

Like us on Facebook! facebook.com/myplacewithjesus

Scan the QR code to watch a video of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterfly!

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.

The making of “Midnight Dawn” t0

It all came down to finding a boat.

It Is Written recognized Black History

Month this year with a new episode about finding freedom in Christ, as examined through the Underground Railroad, called “Midnight to Dawn.” The program was presented by John Bradshaw and filmed on location in Alabama, Ohio, and Michigan. Madelyn Rogers, It Is Written pre-production supervisor, had been entrusted with directing the historical reenactment in Alabama and contacted a seller to lock down an essential piece of the story: the boat. It would help evoke history, subbing in for the rowboat that transported enslaved people to freedom across the Ohio River. Madelyn had searched for weeks but couldn’t find a wooden boat locally. Finally, she found one. However, exactly one week before the shoot, she received a text: “Hi there. I sold the boat…sorry to do that to you.” Madelyn was anxious. What would she do? This was just one of many mishaps that left her scrambling on set.

Four days before production, one of the actors dropped out to accept a TV role, leaving behind a costume the crew had purchased with his measurements. Madelyn could take the blow—she had narrowed this

role to two actors out of 60, and the other one accepted quickly upon being called. But this load on her mind was replaced by another, as the episode’s child actor tested positive for COVID. Madelyn slumped down the stairs to vent to her parents, at whose home they were filming. It was one thing for an adult professional actor to step in, but another to find a child actor, or any child, that would stand in front of a camera on short notice. Her parents sprang into action, contacting their church family. A church teacher suggested a student as a replacement, and to Madelyn’s relief, the student would fit the 19th-century costume bought for the other child.

The story Madelyn was helping to tell highlights remarkable individuals like John Parker, who lived through harrowing experiences escaping slavery and risked his own newfound freedom to help others reach it. Slavery had thrust many innocent people into incomparable, unimaginable despair.

She brought every challenge to God in prayer, and He answered in ways big and small.

Watch “Midnight to Dawn” on It Is Written TV.

And yet, a bright light shone through those who not only held fast to the hope of freedom but also risked their lives to rescue others. The stories told in the episode serve as inspiration today. Christ has won the supreme victory over sin, but until the end of the age, He enlists us to help bring others to freedom.

Madelyn understood the significance of the story of the Underground Railroad, and she wanted it to be told well. She brought every challenge to God in prayer, and He answered in ways big and small. Among 60 auditions, she still remembers asking actor America Wilson to sing on the spot during a second audition, as the old spiritual “Steal Away” would be featured in the program. Madelyn hadn’t asked anyone else to sing, and said of the experience, “The second she sang the first note, I was floored. By the end of the meeting, we were both nearly brought to tears… ‘Steal Away’ had found the perfect voice.”

About a month after the episode’s release, It Is Written associate speaker Eric Flickinger attended a potluck where

he met Shanice. When she found out where he worked, she excitedly brought up “Midnight to Dawn.” As they talked, Shanice broke down in tears. She said, “I see what you’re doing every February with your programs, and it means the world to me.” For several years, It Is Written has produced programs to be broadcast during Black History Month, bringing into focus historical events and their larger spiritual applications. Eric was deeply moved that the programs were impacting people like Shanice in such a powerful way.

As for the boat, after some co-workers spread the word on Facebook, a little boat from the Collegedale Academy Elementary School library was offered for use at no charge, days before the shoot. It would be the episode’s powerful symbol of crossing from aisles of darkness into glorious light.

CHRISTINE MAGNUSON is the digital marketing specialist for It Is Written. She studied English with an emphasis on professional writing. She enjoys sharing with others how a relationship with Christ makes all the difference.

BY JOHN BRADSHAW, president

Acquisition Mode

Aman at a camp meeting was excited to tell me about a project dear to his heart. He told me he takes church members door-to-door, looking for opportunities to share Jesus. At one door, they met a man who was very interested in the Bible and had a Bible-related question. “What about the Sabbath?” the man asked. He and his wife had been keeping the Sabbath for four months, and they wanted to understand more. My friend was eager

Mailing out magazines, witnessing, door-knocking, and sharing literature are all examples of evangelism, of people utilizing different methods to share Jesus with others. The church that held a cooking school, a smoking cessation program, or an evangelistic series was engaged in evangelism.

But we face a challenge as we confront the greatest work ever committed to human beings. Read the following, and see if you can tell me what it is.

to find out how they learned about the Sabbath. “We had a book on our bookshelf for years. We finally read it, and it changed our lives. It’s called The Great Controversy. We have no idea where we got it. Someone must have given it to us years ago.” My friend began Bible studies with them, and the couple was baptized soon after.

More than 2,500 church leaders were at an evangelism rally I attended several months ago. Pastors, administrators, and small group leaders from across the country gathered at the beautiful Bolivia Adventist University in Cochabamba. The atmosphere was incredible. Attendees were exuberant and celebratory. Inspiring reports were shared, dynamic video presentations were shown, several people were baptized, and 100 percent of the focus was on evangelism, specifically, “grupos pequeños” or small groups. In the city of Santa Cruz alone, 657 small groups were operating for the purpose of sharing Jesus and winning souls.

When Robert Costa and I held meetings in Bolivia in early April, more than 7,200 people were baptized across the country.

The church has been established for one overarching purpose: to take the gospel to the world.

Acquisition Mode

The reason why is obvious. The church in Bolivia is in acquisition mode, relentlessly focused on outreach and evangelism. Can the same be said for the church in North America? While national church leadership is serious about evangelism in this country, we look, generally speaking, as though we are in maintenance mode.

I spoke with the Bolivian Union women’s ministries director, who told me that “women’s ministries exists for the purpose of evangelism. We teach women how to make friends, and then how to give Bible studies to their friends.” When I asked a senior church leader about pastors who were not supportive of the church’s evangelism focus, he looked confused by the question. It is simply not an issue he has to deal with.

The church has been established for one overarching purpose: to take the gospel to the world. The devil has masterfully distracted the church. Every moment we spend on less important—or unimportant—matters is a moment we cannot utilize to share Christ with the world.

Without a doubt, Bolivia is not the United States. La Paz is not Leominster,

Massachusetts, Tarija is not Tallahassee, Florida, and Riberalta is not Raleigh, North Carolina. But while circumstances may differ, passion and commitment both transfer across cultural lines. Just as an out-of-focus camera cannot capture a clear image, Christians whose focus is in the wrong place don’t win souls.

No one has to wait for “the church” to get on board with soul winning. If your local congregation is not focused on evangelism, you can be. Start where you are. Generate a one-person evangelism revival, and watch that revival grow.

Let me suggest three simple things you can do to share Jesus.

1. Pray. Tell God you are willing, and ask Him to give you an opportunity to do so.

2. Be prepared. Have tracts, Bible studies, or books for sharing with you at all times. Keep online links to television programs or YouTube videos you can forward to people.

3. Walk through the open doors God presents to you. After listening to a sermon about sharing one’s faith, a man in Caldwell, Idaho, prayed and asked God to give him an opportunity to share Jesus. Just 12 hours later, he was sharing Jesus with a man in the street and connecting the man with his local church.

There are people everywhere looking for hope and meaning, people who would go to heaven if only someone would show them the way. It’s time to be in acquisition mode.

We have it on good authority: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations.” And then?

“And then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).

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This is gold. Every Friday night I watch the It Is Written Sabbath School interview with that quarterly’s author.… So often there are discussions as to what the author of that week’s Sabbath quarterly meant, which also often translates into what the Bible text is trying to convey. These interviews clarify everything and shine further light into my Sabbath quarterly study for each week. Thank you and please don’t ever stop this program. —Cleveland, Ohio

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Do you have a story about how God has touched your life through the work of It Is Written? Tell us! Simply email impressions@iiw.org

Impressed by the Holy Spirit, lives are forever changed

It Is Written is the gospel channel I enjoy the most, there is always something new to learn. God bless you Pr. Eric and John and the It Is Written team.

—India

Cathy Quedzuweit

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT FOR EVANGELISM & MISSION TRIP COORDINATOR

With her determined attitude, Cathy makes every evangelistic campaign and mission trip successful.

In her role, Cathy works with Wes Peppers, evangelism director, to make sure everything is organized for It Is Written evangelistic campaigns and mission trips. “I connect with the venue to help plan and coordinate the greeters, registration, and any other on-the-ground logistics to ensure a well-organized and welcoming atmosphere for all guests,” Cathy said. “I also coordinate the It Is Written mission trips in almost the same way.”

Cathy joined the team last summer after working in evangelism in California for 14 years. Cathy and her husband were praying about an opportunity to move back to Tennessee to care for their aging parents, when Cathy decided to reach out to Wes, a former colleague, about working at It Is Written if an opportunity arose. “God provided at just the right time,” she said. “And both my husband and I have been blessed to continue to serve in ministry doing what we love, and we have the added blessing of being here for my mom and father-inlaw as they age.”

Although she sometimes has trouble with technology, Cathy gets through this challenge by praying, taking notes, and asking for help. She enjoys being part of the It Is Written family, where each person serves the Lord with their talents. “We all have gifts the Lord bestows on us,” Cathy said. “I hope I am able to use mine to help make someone else’s job easier or lighter, and I like knowing we are all working together to lead souls to the kingdom of God.”

Wes appreciates Cathy’s contributions. “Working with Cathy is fantastic,” he said. “She is self-motivated and has the ability to see things that need to be done and will do them before we even recognize it as a department. She is a team player who knows how to have fun and make the load lighter while making sure everyone is taken care of. She is a joy to have on the team!”

BY CASSIE MATCHIM HERNANDEZ,

Get to know Cathy:

What is your favorite meal? Ravioli, salad, and garlic bread

What was your first job? Taco Bell

What is the best advice anyone has given you? It was from my mother-in-law. She told me, when struggles and sadness come, don’t hum a hymn, sing a hymn, sing out loud, and listen to the words you’re singing. They are musical prayers to the Lord, and He will give you peace and joy through it all.

To learn more, please contact us.

Tributes & Memorials

If you would like to give a donation in memory of someone, please visit itiswritten.com/give or use the enclosed envelope to mail your donation.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Allen, Diana by Mrs. Sharon

L. Peppard

Arvidson, Ronald by Henrietta

Arvidson

Bentz, Jerry & Ramona by Rhonda Becker

Berger, Beverly A. by Laura

Lohr

Cannon, Walter “Butch” by Keith Owens

Chaij, Daniel by Rita Vital

Chaij, Vivian by Rita Vital

Cross, Frosty by June Cross

Currier, Brandon by S. K. Chinn

DiDomenico, Vivian & Ugo by the DiDomenico-Roger family

Fowler, Easter by Mr. & Mrs. Ellsworth R. McKee

Grakauski, Kathryn by Lester Grakauski

Hardin, Dessa by Rita Vital

Heyde, Blanca by Jeannette Gist

Ketola, Marie by Karen Dault

Kremer, Lothar by Reiner Kremer & Ingrid Sakaluk

Leach, Eileen by Rita Vital

Mariano, Gregory by Mrs. Teresa G. Mariano

Marshall, Dr. Willis by Rita Vital

Nichols, Lori Ann Blackwell by Rita Vital

Odom, Myrna by Rita Vital

Pettit, Jayne May Daily by Bruce Pettit

Rodriguez, Yolanda by Rene Rodgriguez

Rogers, Ken by Rita Vital

Smith, L. B. by Rita Vital Stowers, Agnes by Deborah Postell

Vincente, Jose R. by Rebecca Vicente

Welch, Jeffrey Cotton by Connie McPherson

Wildman, Durward by Joni K. Baker

IN HONOR OF

Baca, Jenare E. by Mr. & Mrs. Roger Greene

Brown, Perrier P. Happy birthday from Camille V. Smith

Christian, Lorraine by Jennifer Kegley

House, Dr. & Mrs. Franklin R. by Mike Laughlin

Lutz, Evelyn by Mary Bruckner

Pereira, Esther Reis by Mr. & Mrs. Paulo Pereira

Portney, Pr. John by Leroy Morris

Schnoor, Patty Happy birthday from Josefina Santos

Sergio, Paul & Peggy by Randy Raciti

Shaw, Dr. Shelly by Brad & Angela Emde

Tomazin, Frana by Stanislava Tomazin

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.

Your memorial or honorary gifts help share the gospel with the world. Unless you request otherwise, your name will be listed on the Tributes web page and may be printed in future Impressions. If you wish, we will send a gift acknowledgment card to your desired recipient. Please be sure to include the recipient’s name and address.

GreaterAnticipation

Spring break was approaching, and like many other parents who have a hard time letting their fledglings go from the nest, my wife and I were looking forward to our two oldest sons coming home for a week. When they go off to college, being a 13-hour drive, we don’t plan to see them for months at a time. So, when we get the opportunity to see them, there is an excitement throughout the household, one that crescendos through the countdown of the days leading to their arrival.

This year something unexpected came up affecting their schedules at the last minute, which threatened to cancel our week together, or at least shorten it. Although let down, what surprised us a bit was that our sons were both highly disappointed at the thought that they might not be able to come home to see us. At that moment, it dawned on us that our sons were just as eager and excited to see us as we them! My wife and I embraced this gratifying notion, and it challenged us to think, who has the greater anticipation, them or us? In case you’re wondering, with the Lord’s blessing, our sons were able to stay the full week with us.

We often think of the blessed hope of Jesus’ soon return with keen fondness and great anticipation. As we long to see our Savior face-to-face, to hug Him and converse with Him, could it be possible that He anticipates this reunion even more than we do? When Jesus was preparing the disciples for His soon departure from them by way of His death, resurrection, and ascension on High, He spoke wonderful words of encouragement that are specifically for you and I today. “I go to prepare a place for you. 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 14:2–3).

Jesus is greatly anticipating the reunion with you, so much so that He has left none of the preparations in anyone else’s hands. He is the One preparing your special place. He will come in person and receive you to be with Him. Jesus’ passion is for you to be right where He is, together with Him for eternity. What an exceptionally gratifying notion: Jesus is awaiting our reunion with even greater anticipation than we are!

Could it be possible that He anticipates this reunion even more than we do?