From the desk of JOHN BRADSHAW ®
November 2025
“You’re hurting me when you hurt yourself.”
Dear Partner in ministry,
One of the truly wonderful things about evangelism is learning the stories of people who have been impacted by the gospel. And one of the exciting things about these stories is that they happen thanks to you.
The testimony I’m about to share with you might be difficult to read as it deals with tragedy and brokenness. As you read this story, you will see that lives were transformed because of your support of It Is Written and because the same saving grace I’m about to share with you is impressing hearts around the world to turn to Jesus in faith.
When James’ father died, his life spiraled out of control. James was not the sort of person you would expect to develop a substance abuse habit, but life can be difficult when it feels as though the bottom has dropped out of your world.
An attempt at ending his life resulted in James being hospitalized for 40 days. During that time, he had dreams about God, but not knowing what to do next, and with no one to help him, he wasn’t able to escape the emotional torment he had been experiencing. After another attempt to end his life, James went through the anguish of losing a beloved uncle to illness. After his uncle’s funeral, James was experiencing a new low.
A third attempt saw James spend a year recovering in the hospital. During this time, James sensed God saying to him, “James, you’re hurting me when you hurt yourself.”
Although James did not come from a strong religious background, he was now convinced that there was a God who cared for him. Determined to no longer harm himself, James left the hospital with a strong desire to get to
“God has saved me.”
know God and learn about the Bible. But he wasn’t sure how to make that happen.
Right at that time, an It Is Written Bible Study enrollment card arrived in the mail. James felt that this was a heaven-sent opportunity for him to rebuild his life. Before long, he was studying the Bible with a young man who had had his own difficult experiences in the past and could relate to what James had been through. James loved the Bible studies, began attending church, and accepted an invitation to attend the It Is Written Revelation Today: Hope for Humanity series in Baltimore. He was baptized at the conclusion of the series.
“God has saved me,” James said. “He has given me friends, and he has given me a family—a church family. I’ve learned that the devil will try to destroy you, but Jesus died to save me.”
James is now approaching life with a completely new outlook. “I want God to save people. He saved me, and he can save anyone who comes to Christ. I not only want Jesus in my life, but I want Jesus in everybody else’s life too!”
James’ story is a truly remarkable account of how God will step into a broken life and restore what the devil has sought to destroy. It’s also a remarkable account of what your support of It Is Written can do. If not for your investment in evangelism, James would not have received the Bible study enrollment card. Without people with a strong vision for sharing Jesus, there would have been no Bible worker to
meet with James. And it is your burden for souls that resulted in It Is Written evangelistic meetings taking place in Baltimore.
I want to reiterate: God is working directly through your gifts to It Is Written. While preachers preached, greeters greeted, organizers organized, and Bible workers gave studies in Baltimore, none of that would have happened without you and your gracious support of the work of the gospel.
I hope James’ story encourages you and illustrates for you that your assistance in sharing the everlasting gospel results in lives being totally transformed.
I want to ask you to kindly consider further investment in sharing Jesus. Later this month, I will be joining Pastor Robert Costa in Bogotá, Colombia, where— thanks to you—a great harvest of souls is being prepared at this very moment. Next year, It Is Written will conduct evangelistic meetings across the United States and around the world. From Tennessee to Africa, in Central America and beyond, evangelistic work—preparation, proclamation, and preservation—will take place, all made possible by your support. And I will share reports with you of the miracles of grace that have occurred through your kindness.
for the Bible Q&A portion of the program. Bottom: Children were able to attend Buried Treasure, our children’s evangelism program, during the series.
Someone right now is looking in the direction of heaven.
And because I can’t resist, here’s another story to encourage you. Tony was in Walmart to buy oil when he got talking to a woman shopping in the same area of the store. After giving her his contact information and leaving, he then turned back and asked her out. She later said that for their second date, she wanted him to attend church with her. Tony began to attend regularly, and when an It Is Written evangelistic series was held in that church, Tony responded to an appeal, fully surrendered his life to Jesus, and was baptized. From Walmart to the waters of baptism!
Your gift for evangelism this month will see those stories repeated in different states and countries in various ways. And in each of them, we will give glory to God, whose Spirit is striving now with people who will be reached through your donation to It Is Written.
Please pray about what God would have you do this month to sustain the great work of reaching the hurting, the lost, the seeking, and the searching. Someone right now is looking in the direction of heaven. Your support of It Is Written will show them the way.
May God bless you.
Sincerely,
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Pastor John Bradshaw President, It Is Written
P.S. James made three attempts to end his life. Never religious, James felt God speaking to him during this experience. James left the hospital with a desire to know God and the Bible. That’s when an It Is Written Bible study enrollment card arrived in the mail. He began studying the Bible with a Bible worker who had been through a similar experience. After some time, James began attending church, did not miss a single presentation of our Baltimore Revelation Today series, and was baptized. He has a new lease on life, thanks to your support. With your help, we are able to fund Bible workers, send Bible study cards, and preach the gospel. Your gift this month will go toward reaching more Jameses with the love of a Savior who cares. Thank you!
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