It Is Written entered a new era in Spring 2005 as Shawn Boonstra became the third speaker/director in the ministry’s 50-year history. Boonstra succeeded Mark Finley, who will remain an integral part of It Is Written in his new position as speaker emeritus.
Finley, named director of global evangelism for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2004, passed the speaker/director mantle to Boonstra with his blessing. “I am confident It Is Written will continue to be a dynamic force in global evangelism with Pastor Boonstra at the helm,” said Finley. “Under his direction, this ministry will break new ground in online, broadcast, and live evangelism.”
The new position is a humbling one for Boonstra. “No one can replace Pastor Finley, just as no one could have replaced Pastor Vandeman,” he said. “I thank Pastor Finley for all that he has done for It Is Written.”
A History With It Is Written
Boonstra, a native of British Columbia, joined the Adventist church 12 years ago after attending an It Is Written evangelistic series in the city of Victoria. After he and his wife, Jean, were baptized, both decided to commit their lives to gospel ministry.
“As I look back over my life, I’m excited by the way God has led,” said Boonstra. “Would you believe that It Is Written was my first contact with the Adventist church when I was a young child? I have distinct memories of watching the telecast with my brother on Sunday afternoons. Little did I realize where that first contact would eventually lead. It Is Written has played a substantial role in my spiritual life.”
Soon after becoming a member of the Adventist church, Boonstra graduated with a degree in political science from the University of Victoria, and later attended Andrews University, where he gained theological training. He then worked as associate pastor in the church that originally baptized him in Victoria. From there, he accepted an evangelism internship with the British Columbia Conference. A short time later, he was given three churches along the Alaska Highway. Boonstra said, “My district was nearly the size of the states of Washington and Oregon combined. I spent my days ministering to families in this region, and it was incredibly rewarding.”
Despite the fact that his congregations were small, Boonstra’s dreams were big, and his yearly evangelistic meetings attracted many new church members.
It Is Written Canada
Approximately seven years ago, Boonstra received an invitation from It Is Written Canada to become associate speaker under the leadership of then-speaker Henry Feyerabend.
Over the last few years, It Is Written Canada has grown exponentially. In a country of 30 million people, the program enjoys a market penetration of 34 percent. It has been estimated that as many as two million people watch the program on a weekly basis, and on one network, it held the highest ratings for 25 weeks.
In 2001, Boonstra became the speaker for It Is Written Canada. In 2002, he and Feyerabend held a special “NET” satellite evangelistic series in downtown Halifax called "Revelation Speaks Peace." More than 1,200 sites downlinked each of the programs, and it is believed thousands joined the Adventist church in Canada as a result.
A Family Committed to Ministry
Boonstra’s wife, Jean, is an accomplished Adventist writer. Her popular Adventist Girl book series documents the history of the Millerite movement through the eyes of a young girl.
After the Boonstra family has had time to settle into their new California home, she plans to work part time as a research assistant and children’s ministries coordinator for It Is Written. Both Shawn and Jean love children, and they have two daughters—five-year-old Natalie and three-year-old Naomi.
A Bright Future
It Is Written is committed to finding new and creative ways to impact the world for God. The ministry just concluded a historic satellite series that was beamed from Kiev, Ukraine, to the former Soviet Union and Europe. Over the next year, Boonstra will hold meetings in Puerto Rico, the United States, India, and more.
In Fall 2005, Boonstra will launch a major project called The Appearing. This contemporary look at the Second Coming will use solid biblical information to answer the many questions raised by people who have read or viewed the Left Behind series. The five-night satellite experience will fuse dynamic multimedia with local church resources to sow seeds in the local community.
“There is a prevalence of interest in the Second Coming these days. In fact, it is the number one subject among people who search for answers on Bibleinfo.com—including those who search in the Arabic language. Now is the time to reach these people,” said Boonstra of this event. To learn more about this exciting series and how you can participate, visit www.theappearing.com
Over the next few months, Boonstra will spearhead a massive It Is Written project to reach India for Christ. The ministry has partnered with Maranatha Volunteers International to build 50 churches in 50 villages in celebration of It Is Written’s 50th anniversary. In each of the 50 villages, It Is Written will sponsor pre-work teams, a new church building, and fund a pastor for at least three years. This evangelistic outreach will culminate in a massive series held by Boonstra in January 2006. Updates will be posted at www.impactindia2006.com
About It Is Written Television
It Is Written has been one of America’s most popular weekly religious television programs since its first broadcast in 1956. Led by speaker/director Boonstra and speaker emeritus Finley, this donor-supported, non-profit ministry reaches millions of people every week through its weekly telecast, online Bible studies, spiritual resources, and public evangelism. It Is Written’s goal is to impact our world for God, and over the next few months, the ministry will expand its online outreach through Bibleinfo.com and travel around the world—from South America to the “10/40 Window”—to proclaim the gospel. Learn more about these upcoming projects at www.itiswritten.com.
It Is Written news release
