UPDATE: Here's the new speaker/director.
Shawn Boonstra is stepping down from his role as speaker and director of It Is Written due to personal health issues.
Boonstra posted both a letter and a video message about some apparent rumors that have been spreading by email forwards.
“I'm not dying, I don't have cancer, and I don't have a life-threatening disease,” Boonstra said. “I am, however, dealing with a serious health challenge, and it has gotten to a point where I must take a sabbatical to give my body time to rest.”
Though Boonstra expressed appreciation over the calls and emails he’s received, he said it’s not in his nature to be open about his personal health and asked to respect his privacy at this time.
According to the It Is Written website, a search committee is considering a number of evangelists to be the new speaker/director of the ministry.
Steve Haley, president of the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference, recently wrote, "Elder John Bradford....is being considered as a replacement.” Haley was referring to John Bradshaw, the senior pastor of the College Place Village church in College Place, Wash.
Despite having to find a new leader for the ministry, It Is Written is continuing plans for its new series, “Babylon is Rising,” to be broadcast live from Las Vegas in May 2011.
Ironically, It Is Written had posted a video about gossip on its YouTube and Facebook pages just a few weeks ago. The video is part of series of daily video devotionals called “A Better Way to Live.”
Full text:
Dear Friends of It Is Written,
Mere words cannot express my appreciation for all the calls and e-mails of support that arrived in the It Is Written office after the e-mail I sent yesterday. It's been so overwhelming that we can hardly keep up, but please know that your messages have buoyed my heart.
Since it appears that some rumors are still circulating, I wanted to reaffirm yesterday's news:
Due to health issues, I am relinquishing my duties as Speaker/Director of It Is Written. I take this step with considerable regret because I believe the work of It Is Written is the most important and the most exciting work on earth. Again, I would like to thank all of those who support this ministry, and all of those who have prayed for me these last few months!
It is not in my nature to be open about my personal health, but I wanted to restate the following because I know people have expressed concern: I'm not dying, I don't have cancer, and I don't have a life-threatening disease. I am, however, dealing with a serious health challenge, and it has gotten to a point where I must take a sabbatical to give my body time to rest.
I am currently in the care of some of the best physicians around, and the thing I would most treasure right now is your continued prayers for my health and my family. Thank you for respecting our privacy at this time.
Again, let me assure you that the It Is Written ministry will not skip a beat in its passion for soul-winning. Our search committee has been prayerfully considering a number of outstanding evangelists, and I have no doubt that the Lord is leading in these efforts—just as He has led throughout the history of this incredible ministry.
Stay tuned, because we expect to have some exciting news along these lines in the coming weeks. As soon as the new Speaker/Director is chosen, you'll be one of the first to know!
It Is Written's current projects are still on track. Your support this month is especially crucial as the ministry moves forward with its bold evangelistic plans for Las Vegas, our growing My Place With Jesus ministry, mission outreach to Papua New Guinea, and other efforts around the world.
With God in charge, a new Speaker/Director to come, an excellent staff in place, and a wise and experienced board, I can't wait to see how God's work moves forward through It Is Written. Thank you once again for all your love and support.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Shawn Boonstra
16 comments:
I pray God's blessing on you and your family, you will be greatly missed, and hopefully I will like to see you back at some point after your recovery, with your plain, clear and practical style of presenting the gospel. May God continue to use you in His work.
Wilbur,
Bahamas
I just heard from hope channel news that you have health challenges. And I am praying for your healing. whatever the problem is you serve a great God who is able to do anything!!!
Tringo
Michigan
He will be greatly missed; he's inspired me in so many ways.
Shawn we love you and respect your decision. We continue to pray for your full recovery. We are proud of your zeal, faith and courage as you have shared your love for God with all of us in our homes, as if we were the only ones you were speaking too. May the Lord richly bless you in every way that you need. You are a mighty man of valor in the word of God.
Shawn,
Your smooth, deep voice, and your believable and sincere manner in presenting God's Word to the World is so very important and needed, that I pray GOD will lead you to reconsider resigning and perhaps just take off enough time to take care of you health problem.
GOD must have led you to become the speaker on "It Is Written!"
Sincerely,
A fellow (78) year old Christian
Charles A. Dean,
Vero Beach, Florida
It's your right to keep the nature of your illness private, but it would help us truly empathize with you if you take us into your trust and continue to be open even in this challenge. Many of us are struggling with ilness of one sort or another and we are open about it so we can truly bear one another's burdens. In any event we pray for God's merciful intervention on your behalf whatever the nature of your illness.
My Friend in Christ, my prayers are with you. May our Heavenly Father ever be with you and place His healing hand on you if it is His will. May God Richly bless you and your family.
In Christian Love,
Mary Ellen Worthy
meow62@comcast.net
Shawn,
You are so greatly missed on ISW. We really enjoyed the way you brought God into the homes of his children. It is so sad that you will no longer be able to carry on such blessings through ITW. I myself am healing from cancer, so I know sometimes the body does need rest. Maybe God will call you to come back someday?
Dear Shawn.
Prayed to God for your healing...and...as you can see...their is a
multitude of brothers and sisters in Jesus...who...love and care
for you and your family very much...including me.
Do what you need to do brother...our love and prayers will be
continual always...Jesus loves you dearly...as we all do...and is in control of everything!
Love you Shawn...and your family.
God bless all of you...now...and always...and...He does too!
Chaz Schmidt.
Melbourne. Australia.
Dear Brother Shawn,
I am sorry to hear about your health issues. I am dealing with health issues also. I am standing on God's Word that by Jesus Christ's stripes I AM healed. I stand on that Word for you also. I thank God that He is with us and has and will never leave us or forsake us. It is so wonderful to have a loving Father with us in every aspect of our lives. I am praying for you, Jean, your daughters and everyone on the It is Written program. Thank you for blessing me and all the viewers of It Is Written by letting Abba use you to speak and teach His Word. God bless you.
Your sister-in-Christ;
Nancy
Dear Shawn,
I guess I'm 7 months behind. I just figured out today that you are no longer the speaker for It Is Written (TBN must be 7 months behind on program broadcasts). I am sad you are no longer the speaker.
I remember the first time I saw your ministry via It Is Written. I was flipping through TV channels and saw a man dressed up in a costume. The costume caught my curiosity, so I paused on the channel to see what it was about. That particular day, your guest was the retired military chaplin that dresses up and potrays Bible characters. In that particular broadcast, he was Caiaphas. I found the dialogue between you and Caiaphas interesting and educational - enough that I noted the name of the program (It Is Written) and time schedule because I wanted to watch the following week's broadcast. And I did. And I watched the next one, and the next one, and ... I started recording the broadcasts so I wouldn't miss any of them. I really liked the your messages and I enjoyed the mini-dramas that accompanied them. One of my favorites was the beatnick who said "I use cocaine because I don't have the gene that prevents me from using cocaine. I rob liquor stores because my mother ate macaroni and cheese when she was pregnant with me." Macaroni and cheese has never been the same since. :o)
I am very sorry to hear you are ill and will include you in my prayers. I am glad your illness is not life threatening. My cousin passed away 3 weeks ago after suffering for several months with bladder cancer. He turned 50 the week before he died. His family is having a very difficult time with their loss. His wife's relationship with God is unsettled while she is grieving. Please pray for her and her family as they readjust to life after his death.
I want you to know that your messages on It Is Written were inspiring and had a great, positive influence on my life. I will miss our weekly time together. God bless you and your family on your new journey!
My prayers for you have full recovery from your illness and get back
and share your faith. I am former SDA myself that love Jesus and
hope you continue your faith in your healing. Jesus is coming back very soon, we all can do our part in winning souls to God's kingdom.
Brother Boonstra, I was disheartened to hear of your leaving "It is Written" at this late date. Although we do not know your health status, God does and all we need to do is to pray for His healing upon you. I trust the good work that you started will go on under Pastor John Bradshaw. May God heal you in a mighty way so you will be able to serve Him in a greater capacity.
Dear Shawn my TV Brother and a friend, I ve watched your programms over the years and have come to realised that its written man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeded from the mouth of God, therefore by these words from the mouth of God in Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for your transgressions, he was bruised for your iniquities: the chastisement of your peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Shalom
Taiwo
May we be quick to pray and stop spreading rumors...I pray that the Holy Spirit will encompass you about and even while your healing you will be able to minister the Love of Jesus to others...God Bless you!
Just a wondering thoughts and now filled with answers...Thank you for all the years of a great guidance in our lives....from my family to you Pastor John Boonstra and your family and specially your health...God will all always bless you!!!you'll always be in our prayers....
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