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{{short description| Seventh-day Adventist Christian television program}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=July 2014}}
{{original research|date=October 2022}}
{{notability|1=Organizations|date=October 2022}}
{{cleanup press release|date=November 2023}}
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{{Infobox television
| image       = It Is Written Logo.png
| genre       = [[Religious broadcasting]]
| runtime     = 30 minutes
| creator     = George Vandeman
| presenter   = [[George Vandeman]] (1956–1991) <br /> [[Mark Finley]] (1991–2004) <br /> [[Shawn Boonstra]] (2004–2011) <br /> [[John Bradshaw (adventist)|John Bradshaw]] (2011–present)
| country     = United States
| location    = [[Thousand Oaks, California]] (1956–1995) <br /> [[Simi Valley, California]] (1995–2014)<br /> [[Chattanooga, Tennessee]] (2014–present)
| first_aired = {{start date|1956|3}}
| last_aired  = present
}}
{{Seventh-day Adventism}}
'''''It Is Written''''' is an internationally broadcast [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist]] [[Christianity|Christian]] television program founded in 1956 by [[George Vandeman]].<ref name="news.adventist.org">{{cite web|url=http://news.adventist.org/all-news/news/go/2006-03-07/world-church-it-is-written-marks-half-century-with-outreach-event/|title=World Church: 'It Is Written' Marks Half-Century With Outreach Event|date=26 September 2017|website=news.adventist.org|access-date=2015-04-25|archive-date=2021-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211023235629/https://adventist.news/news/world-church-it-is-written-marks-half-century-with-outreach-event|url-status=live}}</ref> Its title comes from the [[Gospel of Matthew]]: "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.{{'"}}<ref>{{bibleverse||Matthew|4:4|50}}</ref> The programs are produced by the Adventist Media Center in [[California]].<ref>Malcolm Bull, Keith Lockhart ''Seeking a sanctuary: seventh-day Adventism and the American dream'' 2007 Page 114 "... the Adventist Radio Broadcaster's Association; and the transmissions of the Adventist Media Center in California. Several television programs, primarily of an evangelistic nature, are produced there: Faith for Today, It Is Written, ..."</ref><ref>Laura Lee Vance Seventh-Day Adventism in crisis: gender and sectarian change 1999  Page 68 " which produces the Voice of Prophecy (radio), and Breath of Life, Faith for Today, and It Is Written (television)"</ref>

''It Is Written'' was the first religious television program to air in color, and the first to take advantage of satellite technology. The program broadcasts to millions of viewers in more than 140 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About Ministry History – It Is Written|url=https://www.itiswritten.com/about-ministry-history/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.itiswritten.com}}</ref>

==History==
The program aired in March 1956 with founder Pastor George Vandeman as speaker. It made history as the first religious telecast to air in color.<ref>Gary Land ''Historical dictionary of Seventh-Day Adventists'' Page 310 2005 "Several individuals also worked in Tashkent and the Adventist Encyclopedia (1996) reported that in 1993 ... Starting in Fresno, California, in 1958, he subsequently conducted ''It Is Written'' campaigns in such places as Washington, DC."</ref> Over the next half-century, ''It Is Written'' grew exponentially. Under Pastor Vandeman's direction, It Is Written entered many new evangelism arenas. His live “Revelation Seminars” attracted tens of thousands of eager visitors, and the telecast entered millions of homes in numerous countries.

In 1991, Vandeman retired, and [[Mark Finley|Pastor Mark Finley]] accepted the position as the ministry's new speaker/director. He also shared Pastor Vandeman's vision for evangelism, and in 1995 made history with a satellite evangelistic series called ''NET ’95''.

NET ’96 followed one year later, and whereas ''NET ’95'' had targeted [[North America]], ''NET ’96'' reached the world with messages in 13 languages. It is estimated that 2,200 churches from 45 countries participated in at least one of the ''NETs'', and more than 30,000 people were baptized at the conclusion of the meetings.

''It Is Written'' was the first major Christian ministry to utilize [[Satellite television|satellite uplink technology]]. The next major It Is Written satellite effort took place from 1999 through 2001 with ''ACTS 2000'', when the ministry covered the entire globe with multiple satellite meetings. Pastor Finley conducted a total of 10 series to a combined audience of 3 million people.

By this time, the program's reach had expanded by leaps and bounds. Although hundreds of other Christian broadcasts had flooded the airwaves, It Is Written maintained its rank as one of the top 10 religious programs in North America and received more than 30 awards for excellence in programming.

It Is Written entered a new era in January 2005 as Pastor Shawn Boonstra became the third speaker/director. Finley passed the mantle to Boonstra with his blessing.

Pastor Boonstra came to the It Is Written headquarters from It Is Written Canada, where he had served as speaker/director for four years. As someone who joined the Adventist Church after attending an It Is Written evangelistic series, Pastor Boonstra passionately believes in the mission of the ministry.

The next five years were a whirlwind of outreach via technology and public evangelism. Pastor Boonstra's ''Revelation Speaks Peace'' evangelistic series in cities like Phoenix, Portland, Los Angeles, India, and Rome energized attendees and church members alike with the hope in Christ that is revealed through the final book of the Bible.
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vop.com/article/1133/news/shawn-boonstra-elected-speaker-director |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-04-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309022443/http://www.vop.com/article/1133/news/shawn-boonstra-elected-speaker-director |archive-date=2015-03-09 }}</ref>

In January 2011, Pastor John Bradshaw was named new speaker/director for It Is Written.<ref>{{Cite web|last=staff|first=Adventist Review|title=Bradshaw is new 'It Is Written' speaker/director|url=https://adventist.news/news/bradshaw-is-new-it-is-written-speakerdirector|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Adventist News Network|date=14 December 2010 |language=en}}</ref>

In May 2011, Bradshaw conducted a short series live from [[Las Vegas]] called ''Babylon Rising''. This effort was broadcast worldwide via satellite and [[the Internet]]. Following the success of the ''Babylon Rising'' series, Bradshaw presented a month-long series called ''Revelation Today'' live from the Cashman Center in Las Vegas in January 2012. He followed this series with meetings in [[Paris]], [[Dayton, Ohio|Dayton]], [[Mexico|Southern Mexico]], [[Costa Rica]], [[Prague]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] and more.

==Ministry facts==
''It Is Written'' can be viewed each week in approximately 7,000 cities in the United States and 700 cities in Canada. The telecast's reach extends to at least 140 countries. {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} An average of 1.5 million people view the North American telecast each week and the program consistently ranks as one of the top 10 religious programs in the United States according to the [[Nielsen ratings]].<ref name="news.adventist.org"/>

In addition to broadcasting on regular network and cable stations, the telecast regularly airs on six satellite networks: [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]], the [[Hope Channel]], and [[3ABN]]. {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}

''It Is Written'' has an inventory of over 1,100 recorded programs, with at least 36 new broadcasts produced each year. {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} Over the last 50 years, the ministry has received 30 Angel Awards, 10 Telly Awards, and three Aurora Awards. {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}

==Outreach==
Several Bible study tools on the It Is Written site include “The Discover Bible Guides," "New Beginnings," "Unsealing Daniel's Mysteries," and "The Search for Certainty."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nadadventist.org/article/6/bible-study |title=North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists® : Bible Study |access-date=2015-04-25 |archive-date=2015-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417164228/http://www.nadadventist.org/article/6/bible-study |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2004, ''It Is Written''—in conjunction with the Joni and Friends ministry—shipped wheelchairs to [[Rwanda]] in an effort to assist with a shortage in local hospitals.

The ministry partnered with the Pilgrim Relief Society in 2006 to deliver 1,500 “Godpods” to the [[San people]] of the [[Kalahari Desert]]. {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} Since the San people have no written language, {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} these solar-powered devices—which are the size of a garage door opener—contain the entire Bible in the clicking San language. {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}} In addition to this Bible project, ''It Is Written'' is also building solar-powered water wells to help the San people combat the problem of dehydration. {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}

In 2007, ''It Is Written'' traveled to [[Arctic|the Arctic]] to deliver hundreds of Bibles in [[Inuktitut]] to [[Inuit]] who live in remote areas.{{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}

==''It Is Written'' on the internet==
''It Is Written'' became one of the first Christian television programs to broadcast free video podcasts via [[iTunes]] in 2006. {{Citation needed|date=July 2014}}

On Sept. 3, 2007, the ministry launched a daily (Monday – Friday) internet-based devotional program called ''A Better Way to Live''. The tagline for the online program is "A daily spiritual boost for busy people" and in each program, Boonstra takes one Bible verse and applies it to daily life.[https://archive.today/20071025015418/http://www.itiswritten.com/news/2007/08/better_way_live_provide_daily_online_spiritual_boost_busy_people] {{Verify source|date=July 2014}}

This was followed by Bradshaw's launch of a daily one-minute "Every Word" devotional in 2011.[http://www.itiswritten.com/everyword]

It Is Written TV network is available on Internet, [[Apple TV (device)|Apple TV]] (current and future models), [[Roku]], [[Amazon Fire TV]] and other means.

{{Verify source|date=July 2014}}

==''It Is Written'' on mobile==
''It Is Written'' offers email sign-ups, gifting opportunities, access to weekly programs and more, via its mobile presence.<ref name="It Is Written Mobile Site">{{cite web |url=http://m.iiw.org/ |title=It Is Written Mobile Site |access-date=2013-06-21 |archive-date=2013-10-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026174757/http://m.iiw.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> {{Verify source|date=July 2014}} In 2011, the mobile site won both a Silver W3 Award and a Silver Davey Award in the category of Best Mobile Website.<ref name="Trinet Awards Page">{{cite web |url=http://www.trinetsolutions.com/awards.php |title=Trinet Website – Awards |access-date=2013-06-21 |archive-date=2013-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501235537/http://www.trinetsolutions.com/awards.php |url-status=live }}</ref>  The mobile site was designed and developed by Trinet Internet Solutions.<ref name="Trinet Awards Page" />

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity}}
*[[Media ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
*[[Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
*[[List of longest-running United States television series]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title}}
* {{official website}}

[[Category:Independent ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
[[Category:Adventist organizations established in the 20th century]]
[[Category:Christian eschatology]]
[[Category:Editors of Christian publications]]
[[Category:Christianity in the United States]]
[[Category:1956 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:First-run syndicated television programs in the United States]]
[[Category:Television series about Christianity]]
[[Category:1960s American television series]]
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[[Category:Seventh-day Adventist organizations based in the United States]]