Impressions Summer 2018, Issue 14

ITISWRITTEN.COM

SUMMER 2018

PAGE

16 Partner 06 24

From to

Politics

Led to Rome, Led to Christ

Hearts drawn to Christ in Vatican City

Hope Beyond the Grave

From death to the promise of eternal life

on the cover

Politics

16 Partner From to

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett and his wife Ellen have been friends and Partners of It Is Written since its very beginning and they aren’t stopping now. Dedicated to their country, community, and church, the Bartletts inspire selflessness and hospitality.

aspects 04

Director’s Desk

08

Mission Report

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Escrito Está

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My Place With Jesus

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Community Connection

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Staff Highlight

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Devotional

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Led to Rome, Led to Christ

Hearts drawn to Christ in Vatican City

Hope Beyond the Grave From death to the promise of eternal life

impressions magazine SUMMER 2018 ISSUE 14 EXECUTIVE EDITOR John Bradshaw EDITOR Ellen Metcalf

calendar

SUMMER 2018

John Bradshaw, Speaker/Director AUG 11, 18

Evangelism Rally in Melbourne, Australia

SEP 1

50th Anniversary Celebration in College Place, Washington

OCT 5 — 21

Mission Trip to Johannesburg, South Africa

OCT 27

AMEN Conference in Indian Wells, California

ART DIRECTOR Michael Prewitt GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ariel Warren Copyright © 2018 by It Is Written. All rights reserved. It Is Written and My Place With Jesus are registered trademarks and/or service marks of It Is Written, Inc. Escrito Está is a trademark of It Is Written, Inc.

connect with us itiswritten.com BUSINESS HOURS M – Th, 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EDT SUBSCRIPTIONS

Eric Flickinger, Associate Speaker

impressions@iiw.org It Is Written, P.O. Box 6, Chattanooga, TN 37401-0006 423-362-5800 SOCIAL MEDIA facebook.com/itiswritten instagram.com/itiswrittenmedia plus.google.com/+ItIsWrittenInc

AUG 10 — 12

Evangelism Training in Houston, Texas

AUG 31 — SEP 2

Speaker for MVCSN Alumni Association weekend in Orlando, Florida

OCT 9 — 27

Evangelistic Series in Stuttgart, Germany

twitter.com/itiswritten youtube.com/ItIsWrittenInc

notes 12

Partnership Highlight

14

Resources

26

Impressed

28

Planned Giving

29

Tributes

Become a Disciple Maker

We’ll show you how!

Learn the “how-tos” of living and sharing your faith from leading soul-winners.

Practical. Effective. Life-changing!

AUG 20 — DEC 14

16-week Complete Evangelism Training Program

SALT

Register now:

salt.training

or 423.236.2036

Director’s Desk

Silent John Bradshaw

P

artnerships make a huge difference.

Apple Inc., the world’s largest IT company, was created by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.

Google was created by Larry Page and Sergei Brin.

Bill Gates had Paul Allen. Michael Jordan had Scottie Pippen.

When Handel’s Messiah is performed, people all over the world naturally credit George Frideric Handel. No one thinks of the man without whom that great musical masterpiece would never have existed.

Charles Jennens, a wealthy patron of the arts and a friend of Handel, was the one who actually compiled the Scriptural text used in Handel’s Messiah. Handel collaborated with Jennens on several compositions.

Today, when people all over the world are stirred by Handel’s majestic piece, no one exclaims, “Charles Jennens! What a librettist!” It’s always, “Handel! What a composer!”

While it’s absolutely appropriate to appreciate Handel’s musical accomplishments, it’s also important to acknowledge that there would be no Hallelujah Chorus without 4

It Is Written impressions

Speaker & Director

Charles Jennens. It was Jennens, not Handel, who selected the phrase, “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” George Frideric Handel would likely not be nearly as appreciated and well-known as he is today without Charles Jennens, his partner in music.

The same is true for It Is Written. This organization exists because of partnerships.

Without people dedicated to sharing Jesus with others and to selflessly praying and committing their means, there would, quite simply, be no “It Is Written.” We’ve shared the gospel via television for more than sixty years because of our Partners. We’ve proclaimed the everlasting gospel for decades because of our Partners. It Is Written TV is taking its messages online because of our Partners.

Construction on the new It Is Written ministry headquarters is progressing because of support by our Partners.

No Charles Jennens? No Handel’s Messiah.

No It Is Written Partners? No It Is Written.

This truly is your ministry. Along with my staff, I’m extremely grateful for your Partnership. Souls are being won and lives are being changed as a result.

“As we receive the precious gift of grace, we are to impart it to others. Thus we show that we are in partnership with Christ. God and man work in harmony. Man receives the grace of Christ, and from him it flows forth in kind words and deeds to his fellow-men.�

Signs of the Times, May 2, 1900

Feature

Led to Rome, Led to

Christ O

YVES MONNIER is the evangelism director for It Is Written. He schedules and oversees all of the ministry’s evangelism projects around the world.

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It Is Written impressions

n May 19, It Is Written’s evangelistic meetings in Rome, Italy, ended on a high note with 26 baptisms and many more people preparing for baptism. Those numbers are phenomenal when you consider that this evangelistic series was held less than two miles from St. Peter’s Basilica.

Mariarosa was the local evangelism coordinator for this project. In 2017, she graduated from SALT, It Is Written’s school of evangelism at Southern Adventist University. She returned to Italy to work with local pastors and members of four churches in Rome who were preparing for this evangelistic endeavor.

Behind the numbers are inspiring stories of people God led to Rome to find Him. Here are just a few examples: Eight years ago, the Leone family were members of one of the churches in Rome when It Is Written held a series of meetings

there. Satan tried hard to discourage them.

During one of the meetings, their tires were slashed.

They haven’t given up their passion for evangelism. This past May, the Leone family was present again, their tires intact, and their hearts overflowing to watch their nineteen-year-old-son Giorgio commit his life to Christ in baptism.

Three years ago in Moldova, Magdalena was diagnosed with a rare and potentially deadly disease. In order to receive better care, she moved to Italy.

While undergoing treatment, she became acquainted with a Christian family and began studying the Bible with them. The family invited her to the It Is Written evangelistic series. All in the same year, she received a clean bill of health and gave her life to Christ in baptism.

Two years ago, Jacob and Trust, along with several friends, fled from Nigeria to Italy. They crossed the Mediterranean Sea from Africa to Italy, jammed into small rafts. Their journey was horrific. Many of their friends died along the way, but today they are living without fear in their new country. They recently met Christian friends who invited them to attend the It Is Written evangelistic meetings. Their whole world turned right-side-up as they found renewed freedom in Christ through baptism. Jacob, inspired by the experience, is asking God whether he is being called to full-time ministry.

Julia, a Brazilian, grew up in the church but fell away. She married an atheist, and they both worked for a large technology company that took them from Brazil to Italy. Work, marriage, and travel filled her schedule until God was no longer part of her life. But God never forgot her. He connected her with Sara, another Brazilian who reminded her of home. Sara was a

Angels rejoiced as God gained sons and daughters in Rome. member of one of the churches participating in the It Is Written evangelism project, and she invited Julia to attend the meetings.

Julia attended and was deeply moved by what she heard. Her husband joined her.

Right now, she’s preparing for baptism.

God brought It Is Written to Rome because He knew that Giorgio, Magdalena, Jacob, Trust, Julia, and others were ready to make decisions for Him. All along, He had been orchestrating events in their lives to bring them to Italy. Angels rejoiced as God gained sons and daughters in Rome.

Even though our meetings in Rome are done, the work is far from over. Mariarosa, the pastors, and church members continue to reach souls for Jesus. They are thankful for the energy our meetings brought to a place where evangelism is very difficult.

“God has brought us closer to one another and has motivated us to serve Him more,” says Mariarosa. The best is yet to come in Rome.

SUMMER 2018

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Mission Report

Where in the

World ?

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hey were going on a mission trip.

That much was decided. But where should they go? Angela Emde, It Is Written Partner and high school teacher at an academy in Greeneville, Tennessee, was one of the trip leaders making this decision. She decicided to ask Yves Monnier, It Is Written’s evangelism director.

He was excited to tell Angela that there was a need for mission work in Moldova.

“That’s where we’ll go!” Angela said.

But the students had a question, “Where in the world is Moldova?”

ANGELA EMDE is a high school teacher and served as a sponsor for this trip to Moldova. She and her husband, Brad, are It Is Written ministry Partners.

They live in Greeneville, Tennessee, with their three daughters.

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It Is Written impressions

With a bit of research, they discovered that Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe nestled between Romania and the Ukraine. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Moldova overthrew communism in 1991.

It has a struggling economy, making it the poorest country in Europe today. Where there is a great need, there is potential for a great harvest!

After months of fundraising and planning, twenty-six students and chaperones left East Tennessee, bound for chilly Moldova. While the weather in Moldova was snowy, blustery, and cold, the people of Moldova showered the Tennessee team with warm love for the next eleven days, welcoming them into their churches, homes, and lives.

The students provided multifaceted mission service. During the day. two teams did community service in the city of Cahul and in the surrounding villages of southern Moldova, while a third team headed by

It Is Written Partner Brad Emde, O.D., provided free vision clinics in five different churches. In the evenings, the teams conducted two Vacation Bible School programs and an evangelistic series. The days were long but extremely rewarding.

Dr. Emde’s vision clinic team provided free eye exams and glasses. Chaperones, including Kevin and Kezia Finley, also It Is Written Partners, supervised the students in helping with pretesting, visual acuities, eyeglass selection, and fittings.

At the end of the week, Dr. Emde had seen 787 patients and had dispensed approximately 765 pairs of glasses!

The clinics helped local churches build bridges with community members. One Moldovan woman had been sharing one pair of glasses with her husband; now they both

wood, passing out food, and visiting shutins and people at the homeless shelter.

Katie-Jane, a student, shared an experience: “On one of our community service days, I had the eye-opening experience of visiting the homeless shelter in Cahul to deliver food. The conditions were heartbreaking, and the people were more than happy for the meals. After the local pastor gave a short talk and we sang and prayed with the people staying there, we started to hug them all good-bye. One of the ladies exclaimed with teary eyes, ‘We appreciate your visit more than the food. Nobody ever comes.’ This alone made me glad I went to Moldova. The only way for them to have visitors was for our school to go all the way across the world!”

In the evenings, the teams went to two different churches for evangelism. At one

“One of the ladies exclaimed with teary eyes, ‘We appreciate your visit more than the food. Nobody ever comes.’ This alone made me glad I went to Moldova.” have a pair! At another clinic site, the church members begged for the doctor to see just two more patients at the end of a long day.

“It would be a disgrace on our church if we do not see these two men,” they said.

When asked why, they responded, “They have refused to step foot in our church because of their religious beliefs, but today they are willing to come inside to get their eyes checked.”

Praise God for broken barriers provided by the vision clinic!

While Dr. Emde and his team provided eye care, the academy principal and student community service teams worked on various community service projects in the villages surrounding Cahul. Projects included cleaning houses, shoveling snow, chopping

church, the pastor preached a week-long series while his wife gave health talks and sang special music each evening. During the adult programs at both sites, the academy students led Vacation Bible School programs for the children. The students quickly made heartfelt connections with the Moldovan children.

On the final Sabbath, adults and many children from the Vacation Bible School programs responded to the altar call and came forward to dedicate their lives to Jesus and to request baptism.

The students returned home from the trip forever changed by what they had experienced. They shared Jesus’ love with people on the other side of the world and will never forget what that feels like. Praise be to God! SUMMER 2018

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Escrito Está

Our Plan, I

God’s Vision

n 2016, a group of churches in Vera Cruz and Southern Mexico asked to broadcast Escrito Está’s weekly program on local television stations in their region.

They were granted a half-hour time slot on a station affiliate of TV Azteca, the second largest media company in Mexico.

To kick off the project, Pastor Robert Costa visited Mexico and filmed several television programs at historical and touristic sites to attract a local audience.

The project was a success from the beginning. In just a few months, the churches began receiving phone calls and messages from viewers expressing interest in studying

the Bible or requesting the address of the sponsoring church. Many viewers began attending church every Sabbath.

About a year into the project, a Jewish executive from TV Azteca visited the affiliate station to review the programs airing on that channel. God led him to review an Escrito Está program about the Sabbath.

He immediately called the sub-manager of TV Azteca in the city of Puebla and asked, “Who are these Protestants who talk about Sabbath?” The executive was so impressed by the message that he decided to air the program nationwide to an audience of 48 million homes—at no additional cost.

This past April, Pastor Costa again visited Southern Mexico. He was there to participate in a graduation ceremony for Bible students

He immediately called the submanager of TV Azteca in the city of Puebla and asked, “Who are these Protestants who talk about Sabbath?”

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

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It Is Written impressions

who had made decisions for Christ as a result of the soul-winning work in the community, including the television program.

For several nights, Pastor Costa shared Biblical truths and invited people to follow Jesus in baptism. Graduations were held in different auditoriums and coliseums, rented at low cost or donated by local government officials. Pastor Costa had originally been

told that about 5,000 people would graduate.

To his surprise, there were more than 12,000 graduates.

The following month, Pastor Robert Costa, along with eight other evangelists, DID YOU KNOW? Next year marks Escrito Está’s 25th anniversary as It Is Written’s Spanish ministry. Plans are currently underway for celebrating this anniversary by sharing the gospel in large-scale evangelistic meetings in the United States, Central and South America, and Europe. Watch for more details!

visited Mexico City and other cities in Central Mexico for a reaping series that concluded with 2,011 baptisms. During this visit, he met the Jewish executive from TV Azteca who was responsible for broadcasting Escrito Está across the country. They had an opportunity to pray and read the Word of God together in Spanish and Hebrew.

Pastor Costa shared Escrito Está’s mission to proclaim words of hope to a dying world.

The executive was profoundly appreciative.

“I’m grateful for the work you are doing.

I know it touches many people’s hearts, and that is what we need in this tragic world. For me, it is an honor to be the channel through which you bring this message to people.”

Today, the churches in Southern Mexico continue to move by faith. They are excited to present the love of Jesus and Bible truths via major secular TV stations. Through Escrito Está, God has opened a great door in Mexico for the preaching of the gospel on

an enormous scale—a door that had been closed for more than half a century. Across the country, hundreds are requesting and receiving Bible studies. By the grace of God, Escrito Está will continue to provide quality, on-location programming to reach the people of Mexico with the gospel.

Robert Costa, Speaker/Director SEPT 26 — 29

Evangelistic Series in Keene, Texas

OCT 18 — 21

Evangelistic Series in Kyle, Texas

NOV 21 — DEC 1

Evangelistic Series in Beunos Aires, Argentina

DEC 2 — 5

Evangelism Symposium at Oakwood University SUMMER 2018

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Partnership Highlight

Your Child, God’s Friend J

ELLEN METCALF is the development director for It Is Written.

Ellen and her team plan the yearly Partnership weekend events.

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udy knew one thing: she didn’t want to be a teacher. Her mom was a librarian, and her father was a school principal. She was tired of seeing the inside of classrooms, smelling cafeterias, and being quiet in libraries. As Judy signed up for her first college classes at Andrews University, she wondered just where God would lead her.

All through academy the question had nagged her, “What should I do?”

The expected answer didn’t come, even after she decided to pursue a degree in history. Finally the indecision was too much. She asked God, “Ok, what do You want me to do?”

One Sabbath, shortly after asking God for His plan, Judy and her future husband, David, were sitting in church. The pastor said something that Judy recognized as God speaking right to her.

“God calls people to do all kinds of things—not just to preach,” he said.

She doesn’t remember what else the pastor said that day, but she heard a still small voice telling her, “You should be a teacher.” She started shaking. Really? Was the one thing she had resolved never to do the thing God was now telling her to embrace??

As Judy left the sanctuary, she turned to David and asked, “What do you think about me becoming a teacher?”

David just smiled and replied simply, “I wondered when you would figure that out.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Judy has spent the past 34 years teaching children in first through tenth grades. She is as comfortable in a one-room schoolhouse with grades K-12 as she is in a junior academy.

“I want kids to know their forever friend Jesus,” she says. “I love tying the love of Jesus into math class, science class, and English class.”

It Is Written impressions

Judy’s passion for sharing Jesus with children doesn’t stop with the classroom. She and her husband David, an architect, have raised two sons of their own and have been active in Sabbath school and Pathfinders for years. Last year, Judy made a new commitment. She stepped away from teaching to begin a ministry called “Childhoods with Jesus.”

“I am passionate about keeping our children close to Jesus as we watch the final days of this earth’s history unfold,” Judy explained.

When It Is Written approached Judy about coordinating the children’s program for Partnership, she felt that God was leading. “Plans have just fallen into place. This is a perfect fit,” Judy explained.

This year’s Partnership children’s program is called God’s Friend Elijah. Judy and David (pictured right), and their friends Traci (pictured left), Martha, and Lynell are excited to share stories, songs, and crafts about this amazing friend of God. Children will be able to earn their Pathfinder and Adventurer honors in Bible Marking or Bible 1 over the weekend, and there will be special breakout sessions for youth and infants.

“I want the children to leave each weekend with a closer relationship with their forever friend Jesus,” Judy explains.

“Being a friend of God doesn’t make life easy, but it means

“I want children to understand what this friendship means. Being a friend of God doesn’t make life easy, but it means we have someone to help us along the way.” we have someone to help us along the way.”

Alexis, the former children’s program coordinator, has been helping Judy with the transition.

“I know Judy is just as passionate about teaching children about God’s love as I am,” Alexis says. “I will greatly miss working with the children this year, but I know the program will be in great hands.”

In their free time, Judy and her husband love going on mission trips. They’ve served in Asia, North and South America. When they return home, Cali, their golden retriever welcomes them with a wagging tail.

SUMMER 2018

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Resources

My Place With Jesus

Bible!

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!

Visit itiswritten.shop or call (888) 664-5573 14

It Is Written impressions

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uu Parables and Miracles of Jesus charts uu 36 full-page illustrations uu 4 pages of Paul’s Missionary Journeys uu 4 pages of Bible maps uu Foldout timeline uu End-of-verse references and translation notes uu Bible book introductions uu Stars indicating messianic prophecies uu Words of Jesus in red uu Concordance

Make-It-Your-Own reversible cover that your kids can color!

6-page foldout timeline

My Place With Jesus Bible Guides All 21 lessons printed in the back SUMMER 2018

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Cover Feature

From

Politics

Partner

to

I

well remember the day my wife Miriam stepped inside the home we were just getting ready to buy and exclaimed, “This house isn’t ready to move into! This is going to take a lot of work!”

It was exciting, really. We had just moved across the country from Tennessee to Maryland where I was taking a position as Planned Giving and Trust Services representative for It Is Written.

We had just closed on our home in Tennessee and needed a place to live. Clearly, we had some logistics to work out. As always, God had a solution. Long time It Is Written ministry Partner and retired Congressman Roscoe Bartlett and his wife Ellen offered to let us stay in one of their homes while we renovated our new fixer-upper. We felt honored and very blessed. As we got to know the Bartletts, our admiration for their dedication to our country and to God’s work continued to grow.

Bartlett served as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013. At the end of his tenure, he was the second-oldest serving member in the House. He championed legislation allowing homeowner associations the right to fly the American flag and encouraging the adoption of government service dogs. His deepest passion, however, was protecting American people from loss of electrical power that might result

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“Our founding fathers thought it was important that Christians be involved in government.” from solar storms or a nuclear weapon attack. He was ahead of his time. The bill gained little traction, but concern about homeland security and safety of infrastructure has recently renewed discussion, to his credit.

Since his retirement, the Bartletts have been building an offthe-grid home in West Virginia. His time in Congress convinced him that, as tensions escalated with other countries, living independent of the government system is the safest strategy, so they are building a mountain retreat without phone or outside electrical or plumbing.

The Bartletts have never planned only to protect themselves.

Years ago, because of Roscoe’s passion for spreading the gospel, he became close friends with fledgling evangelist George Vandeman.

“George was a good friend of mine since the late 40s,” Bartlett remembers. “My mother was a Bible worker for George’s evangelistic meetings in Pittsburg, and I remember him sleeping in the back of my car on the way home after preaching!”

Rendering of It Is Written conference room named for Congressman and Mrs. Barlett.

When Vandeman established It Is Written in 1956, Roscoe and Ellen continued to follow the ministry and financially support its worldwide outreach. That commitment has grown over the years. In 2017, the Bartletts left an evangelism legacy by financially sponsoring the boardroom in the new It Is Written ministry headquarters SUMMER 2018

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They reveal the heart of Christ and demonstrate how we should use our resources to help others.

Congressman and Ellen Bartlett in the White House Diplomatic Reception Room with President and Laura Bush.

currently under construction. They wanted their gift to be a visible reminder that Christians can and should be actively involved in supporting their country, as did the Biblical David and Daniel.

“Our founding fathers thought it was important that Christians be involved in government,” the Congressman shared.

“John Adams once said, ‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’”

Congressman Barlett is proud of his years serving God and the State of Maryland on the floor of the House. Currently, however, his and Ellen’s greatest accomplishment is their family, including six sons, four daughters, and eighteen grandchildren.

It turns out that Roscoe and Ellen know a little bit about home renovation themselves. They have personally completed a lot of the work on their mountain retreat. Miriam and I learned a lot of valuable advice from them while we completed our own renovations. Hospitality is their gift. They have frequently opened their home to help people in their community—including us. They reveal the heart of Christ and demonstrate how we should use our resources to help others.

It’s been an honor for me to regard Roscoe and Ellen as personal, lifelong friends of the ministry. Their dedication, selflessness, and drive to live by their convictions, stand for what is right, and bless people all around them is contagious. I’m inspired to make a bigger difference and to bless the people around me in a greater way.

MARK LARSON is the Planned Giving & Trust Services northeast ministry representative. Mark is excited to serve at It Is Written! He and his wife Miriam live in Hagerstown, Maryland, and love to serve in their local church and give Bible studies.

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®

Partnership

2018

YOU’RE INVITED! It Is Written exists because Partners and other supporters make our mission their own. Each year, ministry Partners make a vital impact for Christ by committing $1,500 or more to spread the gospel around the globe.

Every fall, we invite our Partners to join us for an intimate weekend with the ministry team. It’s a time of fellowship, inspiration, and encouragement.

Join us this year and see what it’s all about.

2018 LOCATIONS Gatlinburg, TN September 7–9

Gettysburg, PA September 14–16

Orlando, FL

September 21–23

with Dr. Barry C. Black

Palm Springs, CA November 2–4

Gatlinburg, TN

November 30–Dec. 2

Portland, OR November 9–11

Monterey, CA

November 16–18

Call 1-800-479-9056 or visit itiswritten.com/partnership for more information or to register.

My Place With Jesus

A Song for Day and Night

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not of more value than they?”

MAT THEW 6:26

I

love to listen to birds sing. Their cheerful songs always brighten my day. Come to think of it, I’ve never heard a bird singing a sad song. Have you?

Birds always sound cheerful!

As well as singing on beautiful days, birds sing when it’s cloudy, when it’s raining, and even when it’s cold outside.

Some birds sing day and night! If you’re a light sleeper, this can make sleeping a challenge, but there’s a lesson we all would be wise to learn from the constant song of a bird.

I’m reminded of two Bible verses.

Psalm 42:8 tells us “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me.”

Job 35:10 says, “God my Maker, who gives songs in the night.”

You can always be cheerful like the little birds who sing their beautiful songs. No matter what happens in your day, you can be certain that God’s lovingkindness is always turned towards you. Just as God cares for and provides for the little birds, you can be sure He will take care of you (Matthew 6:25, 26).

What song are you singing today? Is it cheering those around you and revealing to them God’s love? I hope you will choose to have a song in your heart every day. You can—because God loves you!

Did you know?

Thomas Jefferson’s favorite bird was a Mockingbird.

He had a pet Mockingbird named Dick who lived with him in the White House. Visit myplacewithjesus.com/downloads/color and download a picture of a bird to color.

It Is Written impressions

Riddle Answers: 1) The crane 2) A Trumpeting Swan 3) A Swallow 4) Because they forget the words

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Visit myplacewithjesus.com for more great stories and activities for kids!

Like us on Facebook!

Bird Search Puzzle Search up, down, forward, backward, and on the diagonal to find the hidden words.

Be a k Egg Bird F e at h e rs Cardi n a l K i w i E a g le Ne s t

Owl R obi n Se ed s Song

Spa r row Wi ng s Wren

Solve the Riddles

Challenge yourself to think in a different way.

1. What kind of bird can carry the most weight?

2. What’s noisier than a whooping crane?

3. What bird is with you at every meal?

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MELISSA BRADSHAW is the My Place With Jesus coordinator at It Is Written. Melissa and her husband, John Bradshaw, have two children and live in the Chattanooga, Tennessee, area.

E M

4. Why do hummingbirds hum?

Outdoor Activity

Here are some things to do while listening to birds sing: • Write down how many different bird calls you hear.

• Write down names of birds are you able to identify by their song.

• Find a bird by following its song.

• Take pictures of the birds you see.

Community Connection

Enjoying the Journey Meet a few It Is Written Partners enjoying the beauty of life and having a little fun.

Each fall, Partners gather at one of seven ministry events across the country for fellowship and inspiration. Plan to join them this fall. See page 19 for details.

Rolf Jarnes (Canyon City, OR) with the family on their favorite slopes.

Natalia Dzyndra (Citrus Heights, CA) enjoying the view during a hike.

Corina Balan (Winnetka, CA) on the It Is Written mission trip to Mongolia.

Right: Bill Wilson (Ooltewah, TN) has carved more than 40 different birds.

He gives them to friends and family.

Ed and Delbe Meelhuysen (Joshua, TX) at the Iguazu Falls in Argentina.

“It is key that we stay on the path that God has laid out for us. It is okay to stop along the way … to relax and enjoy the beauty … to soak up the sun and breathe in the essence of Above: Arlie Geniza (San Diego, CA) nature. To help someone in need … do a random act of and her husband Joe kindness. Because it truly is the little things in life that traveling in Israel. count. The reward is your destination.”

—Marla Rae Anders, artist

Brian Koerner (Maineville, OH) and his dog Dexter getting ready to go flying.

Dennis and Febelain Imperio (Bradenton, FL) running the Desmond Doss Half Marathon.

SUMMER 2018

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Feature

Hope Beyond the Grave A

few days ago, I received an interesting email. The sender shared with me that, as a result of working with a friend through the It Is Written Bible Study Guides, he learned something he’d never heard before.

“From what I’m reading in this Bible Study Guide, it seems that when a person dies they don’t go straight to heaven. The Bible actually says people sleep until the resurrection. I’ve been a Christian all my life, and I’ve never heard this!”

There is an immense amount of confusion on the subject of death. As a young altar boy serving at my local Catholic church, I attended many funerals. I grew accustomed to hearing the priest say during funeral services that the deceased person was in heaven, enjoying the companionship of angels and spending time with family members who had died previously.

At the cemetery, however, the same priest would intone that “our friend is now resting in the grave waiting for the great resurrection day when the dead in Christ shall rise.” Even as a child I wondered how a dead person could be in two places at once!

When sin entered the world, death came with it. While Jared, the father of Enoch, lived to be 962, the average American lives for less

BY JOHN BRADSHAW, Speaker/Director

Even as a child I wondered how a dead person could be in two places at once!

than 79 years. As James observed, a person’s life is “even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

The Bible teaches that death is a sleep. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:5 that “the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing.”

Psalm 115:17 tells us that the dead do not praise the Lord, and David said in Psalm 17:15, “I shall be satisfied, when I awake in Your likeness.”

Paul wrote to the believers in Corinth and told them that, after we sleep in death, “we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump” (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).

We live, we die, we sleep in the grave. The Bible is clear on that.

But the big question is, then what?

A ten-year-old Australian boy living an hour north of Sydney was facing certain death last year after being bitten by a funnel web spider. The venom of a funnel web is extremely toxic, and the boy received enough to kill an adult. The only thing that could save his life was antivenom (also known as “antivenin”).

Fortunately, his father rushed him immediately to a nearby hospital. Instead of dying, the boy walked out of the hospital just a day later.

Like the venom of a funnel web spider, sin brings death, and there’s only one effective treatment for death. Romans 6:23 soberly states that “the wages of sin is death.” The same verse goes on, however, to offer an enormous amount of hope: “But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:3, “Christ died for our sins.”

Death is an enemy that has been conquered through the death of Jesus.

One day soon, “the dead in Christ shall rise” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Without Jesus, death is like quicksand. It’s an inescapable trap that confines men and women to an eternal midnight. Through faith in Jesus, there is hope beyond death—hope beyond the grave.

Before Jesus called Lazarus from the tomb, He offered this assurance not only to Martha the sister of Lazarus but also to people throughout all ages. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live” (John 11:25).

Executives at Google believe that advances in technology will enable people to live forever—by the year 2045! Of course, claims like these have no basis in reality. No one will ever be able to achieve immortality independent of God. Only God has an antidote for death. Fortunately, God so loves the children of the world that He offers that antidote to all, through simple faith in His Son Jesus.

As the man who emailed me learned, there is hope beyond the sleep of death because Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

SUMMER 2018

25

Impressed

Impressed by the Holy Spirit, lives are forever changed

I really enjoyed your “Beneath the Sands” broadcast. The history of the Bible is fascinating to me. Including an actual archeologist in addition to the pastor gave the information an interesting perspective and heightened its educational value. Please make more shows like this. — California, USA Wow. I must’ve read that a gazillion times but never has it impacted me like now. Amen.

— Melbourne, Australia

This was an answer to the cry of my heart today.

— Colorado, USA

I was watching your program on Sunday. It was wonderful. Very informative! Thank you Pastor Bradshaw, and God bless you always.

— Atlanta, Georgia, USA

I watch all the way from Nigeria. I am so much in love with your program on TBN which testifies of the living proof of the Word of God. I am really blessed.

— Benin, Nigeria

It is quite enjoyable to listen to you on TV. I just heard your teaching on talents. It was very well done, really. I feel like you really enjoy what you’re doing. And the two people I talked with when I called to donate knew the Bible and were very patient with my questions!

— Connecticut, USA

I love this program. I write from Angola and I’m learning English. When I can, I like to see this program. Thank you so much and God bless all [of] you! — Angola Excellent Every Word today! God continues to bless and use you John! Praying for the work worldwide! Jesus is coming soon and unity of the Spirit is what we need. He will finish the work in us! God be praised and glorified in us! — British Columbia, Canada

Do you have a story about how God has touched your life through the work of It Is Written? Tell us!

Simply e-mail impressions@iiw.org

Staff Highlight

Olan Thomas PLANNED GIVING AND TRUST SERVICES DIRECTOR

For nearly ten years, Olan has been It Is Written’s Planned Giving and Trust Services director. From sunny Florida, Olan supervises a team of five who represent the ministry around the country.

Olan helps families create a legacy. He and his team help individuals develop last wills and testaments in addition to living trusts that provide income to donors during their lifetime while supporting the Lord’s work.

“Planned gifts provide a major portion of the financial foundation needed to keep It Is Written moving forward in soul-transforming ministry,” says Olan. “I’m humbled that God would use me to help fulfill a person’s financial wishes while at the same time providing resources to spread the gospel. That’s a win, win!”

Olan was already working in trust services before accepting the call to It Is Written in 2008.

“God revealed to my wife and me through several specific incidents that He was moving in this invitation and that we should follow His plan,” Olan says.

He hasn’t looked back.

Planned Giving and Trust Services administrative assistant Cherie Marzano enjoys working with Olan because he is a “patient and understanding leader”.

“He takes time to explain the often-complex details involved in gift planning,” she says. “Olan is extremely

BY CASSIE MATCHIM-HERNANDEZ

knowledgeable in the field and encourages excellence in each of us.”

One of Olan’s biggest challenges is communicating the benefits that planned giving offers, such as immediate income tax deduction, secured gifts for gospel ministry, and income for life. Those concepts are unfamiliar to many people and can be complicated to understand. He and his team overcome this challenge by visiting donors and sharing stories of others who have been blessed through giving.

Get to know Olan: What is your favorite food?

Persimmon, mango, and pineapple.

What was your first job?

My first “job” was working in our family-owned retail food store. I started working when I was about 7 years old. I started getting a paycheck when I turned 18.

What is one thing that most of your co-workers don’t know about you?

I learned to speak French when I was 34 and worked for six years in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

SUMMER 2018

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Planned Giving

No More a Landlord Charitable Gift Annuities

BY OLAN THOMAS Director, Planned Giving and Trust Services

P

aul and Helen had just purchased a home that needed some TLC. Thinking it would be a great nest egg in retirement, they were ready for the challenge of fixing it up. They enjoyed their time together freshening up the paint and trim work, installing new hardware, and cleaning the appliances.

Then disaster struck. Paul became seriously ill, and within a few months Helen found herself alone. Their remodeling project became a nightmare. Helen could not keep up with the property management, and she didn’t know how to sell the property without losing a significant amount of money in capital gains tax. She felt trapped. Every time a renter moved out, she had another coat of paint to apply and more reminders of Paul and how alone she was.

Helen began praying and learned about gifting options with It Is Written. She discovered that she could put the rental property into a charitable gift plan that would provide her with steady income while legally avoiding any payment of capital gains tax. Helen was excited. God would provide her with the income she needed, and she could give back to Him. No more house repairs. She would receive a check every month while at the same time supporting God’s work. This was the kind of nest egg she and Paul had envisioned.

Today, Helen is living comfortably knowing that she is taken care of and that souls are being drawn to Jesus Christ through the investment she began with Paul.

800-992-2219 plannedgiving@iiw.org www.HisLegacy.com

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 you like guarantees?

Consider a Charitable Gift Annuity with It Is Written. ww Income for your lifetime ww No stock market fluctuations ww No risk GUARANTEED! ww Tax deduction ww Favorable income tax treatment

Simply, decide on the amount to

give and enjoy a guaranteed rate of return for life. The annuity balance goes to support the evangelism work of It Is Written.

Expected rates of return based on your age at the time of your gift:

Today

Rate of Return

65

4.00%

70

5.20%

75

6.10%

80

7.00%

85

8.00%

90

9.00%

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 Anderson, Earl

by Jessie A. Oliver Benson, Louise

by Marlene Ringer Burtnett, Larry R.

by Pastor and Mrs. Arden C. Mote Costa, Ann

by Mr. Lance J. Costa Davis, Chip

by Robert Davis and Barbara Daniels Fast, Elmer

by Mr. Thomas H. Scoggins

Miller, Carter

by Ms. J. Rital Vital

Edlund, Ulf

by Johanna Edlund

Miller, Sharon

by Mr. and Mrs. Llewellyn Alexenko

Elliston, Ivagene

by Mr. and Mrs. Don D. Fortner

Netteburg, Ronnalee

by Linda Fattic

Goffar, Wilford and Emma

by Ms. Janine Colburn

Onuska, William H.

by Mrs. Carol Onuska Reeve, Helen

by Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan W. Fish Robinson, Rosie L.

by Mr. and Mrs. Mike A. Meredith Self, Hervey E.

by Ms. J. Rital Vital

Flemmer, Eva

by Olga Lang-Rodin

Selvarajah, Noel

by Maya Isaac

Gasser, Victor D.

by Ms. Irene Seay

Thomas, Shirley

by Geraldine Hill

Hardy, Harry and Ada

by Pastor and Mrs. Bernie Baerg

Weekes, Ulric and Sylvia

by Ms. Urania S. Weekes

Hurt, Helen

by Pastor and mRs. Arden C. Mote

Webb, Melanie Carole Ruth

by Mrs. Nancy R. Boyd

Jewel, Ann Tyroff

by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Tyroff

IN HONOR OF

Hart, Nellie

by Ms. Wilma Luizzi James, Pauline

by Claudia Shaw Jesus Christ

by J. Francesco, Mrs. Martita Francisco, and Kurt and Suzanne Welser Judi and Lisa

by Kenneth Hernandez Kirksey, Karen

by Diane H. Levy Maxine’s Sabbath School Class

by Ms. Vera Mattox Minton, Helen J.

by Mr. and Mrs. Lou and KC Carrigg Mountz, Richard L.

by Polly Justice

Krause, Max and Blanca

by Mr. Max Krause

Beisiegel, Heidi, Nicole, and Kaitlyn

by Claudette Hannibal

Kuzma, William and Elizabeth

by Dr. and Mrs. George Kuzma

Caupayan, Pablo

by Muriel Lou Sullano

Madalyn, Parker, Carmine, Yvonne and Monte

by Mrs. Yvonne Tindall

Lavea, Ei

by Joyce Chapman

Childress, Myrissa

by Magda Perez

Walton, Lawrence

by Ms. Ann Wilkinson

McGill, Tyler

by Jacky McGill

Collins, Jonathan

by Ms. Amanda N. Gaspard

White, Arnold and Mildred

by Terry White

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

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Devotional

Missionaries

Back

?

Home

T

rue Christianity is evangelistic.

Serving is a decision that results from This spring, we chaperoned a high determination in our hearts to do what school mission trip to Moldova. The God has asked us to do. God needs us to students visited the sick and provided food be willing. He “will accept of men [and to the hungry. They cleaned homes and women] who have devoted hearts, whom prayed with people. They He can teach, and impress, helped with a vision clinic Everyone who shares and polish, by His own and led vacation Bible divine hand” (The True the love of Christ schools. All the while, they Missionary, Feb. 1, 1874). He spread the love of Jesus will accept us! “will become strong Christ to people who either We have the privilege didn’t know about Him at in spiritual strength.” of giving the best news in all or thought they had to the world to our relatives, earn His love. neighbors, friends, and acquaintances— Mission trips are a blast. When we go, we and even to our enemies. Everyone who feel even more blessed than the people we shares the love of Christ “will become are serving. But do we have the same desire strong in spiritual strength.” Through to share Jesus when we come home from service we are “gaining spiritual strength trips like this? Do we have a burden in our and growing in the knowledge of the hearts to share with our neighbors what truth” (Ibid.).

God has done for us—what He did for us as This is the amazing thing about the recently as yesterday? gospel: through the act of sharing Jesus’ love and doing what He has asked us to do, KEVIN AND KEZIA FINLEY are we are changed! That’s the power of the It Is Written Partners. They were gospel. I encourage all of our It Is Written sponsors of the It Is Written student trip to Moldova (see page 8 for the complete friends to step out in faith and let the Lord story). They have two children: Kiran, open the doors of mission for you. The 10th grade, and Kayla, 4th grade. blessings are incalculable and eternal.

30

It Is Written impressions

Join an It Is Written mission trip in

South Africa October 5–21, 2018 Sign-up deadline: August 28

Itiswritten.com/missionTrips

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