¤[music ends]¤¤
00:00:17.41\00:00:19.41
¤[Indian instrumental music]¤
00:00:19.91\00:00:21.38
>>John Bradshaw:
This is "It Is Written."
00:00:21.42\00:00:23.22
I'm John Bradshaw,
thanks for joining me.
00:00:23.25\00:00:25.39
¤[music continues]¤
00:00:25.42\00:00:27.42
For many in India,
life can be challenging.
00:00:31.23\00:00:35.50
¤[music continues]¤
00:00:35.53\00:00:37.53
The typical person living in
rural India doesn't have a lot.
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But that's not what makes life
a challenge for some people.
00:00:48.41\00:00:53.88
For some, the big
challenge is blindness.
00:00:53.92\00:00:58.85
But what's interesting about the
situation for a lot of people
00:01:00.19\00:01:02.99
is that the blindness
they endure is reversible.
00:01:03.02\00:01:07.66
They don't have to be blind.
00:01:07.73\00:01:10.07
What they need is
help-- surgery, to be specific.
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¤[music transitions to
reflective piano music]¤
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But how is someone who is
poor and lives in the country
00:01:19.21\00:01:23.45
ever going to be
able to get surgery?
00:01:23.48\00:01:26.31
In India, among the people who
have money, it works like this.
00:01:27.92\00:01:32.35
A person visits a GP. A medical
issue might be identified.
00:01:32.39\00:01:36.93
That person will then be
referred to a specialist,
00:01:36.96\00:01:39.79
and surgery will be scheduled.
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Surgery will happen, then
there's a period of recovery,
00:01:41.83\00:01:44.60
and then life goes on.
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But that's for
people who have money,
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for people who live in a city.
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In a country of
more than 1.4 billion,
00:01:53.14\00:01:55.78
there are a lot of people who
don't fit into that category.
00:01:55.81\00:01:59.95
If you don't have money, if
you're poor, what do you do?
00:02:00.05\00:02:05.25
>>Dr. Jacob Prabhakar: Most of
the patients that we come across
00:02:06.25\00:02:07.99
are, are really very, very poor.
00:02:08.02\00:02:09.62
They come from a very
rural background where, really,
00:02:09.66\00:02:13.36
there's no
health care facilities.
00:02:13.40\00:02:15.86
And most of these patients,
uh, when they become blind,
00:02:15.90\00:02:19.73
due to cataract
and other ailments,
00:02:19.77\00:02:21.37
they think this is part of life,
00:02:21.40\00:02:22.87
so, even if they are interested
in going for a surgery,
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they don't have the means;
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there's no one to
take care of them.
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There's, uh, no
means to reach out
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to the health care facilities.
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And they, even if they
can reach, there's, uh,
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no way they can
afford a cataract surgery.
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And so, uh, most of the, uh, the
factors are all against them,
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so, basically, they live
with the kind of blindness
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that they suffer from.
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¤[reflective music]¤
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>>John: For many
years, ophthalmologist
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Dr. Jacob Prabhakar has been
serving India's blind population
00:02:53.30\00:02:57.11
by providing free
life-changing cataract surgery,
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as well as other
eye-care procedures.
00:03:01.38\00:03:03.38
[clatter of equipment]
00:03:03.41\00:03:05.41
Eyes for India is sponsored
by It Is Written Missions,
00:03:06.92\00:03:11.09
providing poor
people with the opportunity
00:03:11.12\00:03:13.59
to literally
receive their sight.
00:03:13.62\00:03:15.92
¤[music continues]¤
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Patients don't pay for anything.
00:03:20.10\00:03:23.03
Transportation, food,
accommodation, medicine,
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surgery, and post-operative care
are all provided free of charge.
00:03:27.04\00:03:32.34
¤[music continues]¤
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Home base for the Eyes
for India team is a hospital
00:03:36.31\00:03:39.78
in the city of
Jalandhar in Punjab State.
00:03:39.81\00:03:43.39
Ruby Nelson Memorial
Hospital was named after
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a missionary who lost her
life in tragic circumstances.
00:03:46.42\00:03:51.09
Yet her influence
lives on as a dedicated team
00:03:51.13\00:03:54.86
of medical professionals
minister in this city
00:03:54.93\00:03:57.77
of more than 1.1 million
people and in rural areas
00:03:57.80\00:04:02.40
outside the city
and further beyond.
00:04:02.44\00:04:05.97
Every year, Dr.
Jacob and his team travel
00:04:06.01\00:04:08.81
away from their home base
to other locations, including
00:04:08.84\00:04:12.95
an annual visit to Barabanki,
a village in Uttar Pradesh.
00:04:12.98\00:04:18.29
There, a large team,
including visiting professionals
00:04:18.32\00:04:21.89
from other parts of
India, gather to treat
00:04:21.92\00:04:25.16
large numbers of people, who,
in most cases, have traveled
00:04:25.19\00:04:28.90
great distances to receive
this life-altering medical care.
00:04:28.93\00:04:33.90
>>Dr. Prabhakar: It's been, uh,
nearly 20 years we have come,
00:04:33.94\00:04:36.50
started coming to
this place, and, uh,
00:04:36.54\00:04:38.34
when we actually
came 20 years ago,
00:04:38.37\00:04:39.91
there was actually nothing here.
00:04:39.94\00:04:41.28
We had seen, uh, hundreds
and thousands of patients,
00:04:41.31\00:04:44.91
on day one flocking, waiting
for their turn to be operated.
00:04:44.95\00:04:48.88
But we could go and operate on
only certain numbers at a time.
00:04:48.92\00:04:52.29
Those, those
years, 20 years ago,
00:04:52.32\00:04:54.56
situation was
very, very difficult.
00:04:54.59\00:04:56.73
These are the
poorest of the poorest people
00:04:56.76\00:04:58.49
which I have
seen in all my life.
00:04:58.53\00:05:00.50
They would come
and wait for their turn
00:05:00.53\00:05:02.36
when they will get
their surgery done.
00:05:02.40\00:05:04.50
Some of them
are bilateral blind.
00:05:04.53\00:05:06.20
They're desperately
watching and waiting
00:05:06.23\00:05:08.90
when they will get a turn.
00:05:08.94\00:05:10.01
The situation then was
quite a, a different scenario
00:05:10.04\00:05:13.04
as it is now.
00:05:13.07\00:05:14.54
Over the years we have
improvised the, the situation.
00:05:14.58\00:05:16.95
We improved the
quality of facilities;
00:05:16.98\00:05:19.05
we improved the
quality of services.
00:05:19.08\00:05:20.68
When you open the
bandages, they are so excited,
00:05:20.72\00:05:23.22
and they praise God and
shouting, "We can see now!"
00:05:23.25\00:05:26.09
>>John: And what motivates
this extraordinary physician
00:05:28.06\00:05:31.49
to do what he does?
00:05:31.53\00:05:33.50
I'm going to tell
you in just a moment.
00:05:33.53\00:05:35.46
¤[upbeat music
swells and ends]¤¤
00:05:35.50\00:05:42.50
>>John: It Is Written is
committed to giving people
00:05:45.41\00:05:47.98
the opportunity to
experience the love of Jesus.
00:05:48.01\00:05:51.21
Eyes for India
brings hope and vision
00:05:51.25\00:05:53.21
to thousands of people in need.
00:05:53.25\00:05:55.12
And there's much more.
00:05:55.15\00:05:56.38
Through high-impact
international medical ministry
00:05:56.42\00:05:58.92
and other humanitarian projects,
00:05:58.95\00:06:01.22
hearts are being
reached around the globe.
00:06:01.26\00:06:03.73
You can partner
with It Is Written
00:06:03.76\00:06:05.59
in changing lives for eternity.
00:06:05.63\00:06:07.96
Your support now will
bring healing and blessing
00:06:08.00\00:06:10.57
to people in desperate need,
enabling them to experience
00:06:10.60\00:06:13.84
the power of God
for the very first time.
00:06:13.87\00:06:16.87
Call now: 800-253-3000.
00:06:16.91\00:06:19.44
That's 800-253-3000.
00:06:19.47\00:06:23.38
Visit us online at iiwworld.com.
00:06:23.41\00:06:27.42
Or text "world" to 71392.
00:06:27.45\00:06:31.42
Designating your gift to
missions will directly support
00:06:31.45\00:06:34.92
these life-changing projects.
00:06:34.96\00:06:36.89
Thank you for partnering with
It Is Written in opening eyes
00:06:36.93\00:06:40.10
to the goodness of God and
offering hope to the world.
00:06:40.13\00:06:43.57
>>John: Welcome
to "Line Upon Line,"
00:06:45.73\00:06:47.70
brought to you by It Is Written.
00:06:47.74\00:06:49.87
¤[upbeat music]¤
00:06:49.90\00:06:52.57
"Was it God's plan for
sin to enter the world?"
00:06:52.61\00:06:56.11
>>Wes Peppers: "Is the
building of a temple necessary
00:06:56.14\00:06:58.65
before Jesus returns?"
00:06:58.68\00:07:00.05
>>John: That's a good question.
00:07:00.08\00:07:01.25
And I think we've got a
pretty good answer for you here.
00:07:01.28\00:07:03.99
¤[music continues]¤
00:07:04.02\00:07:05.99
>>Wes: Temptation is not sin.
00:07:06.02\00:07:08.16
>>John: God says,
"Put me to the test."
00:07:08.19\00:07:10.86
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:07:13.26\00:07:15.23
>>John Bradshaw:
Welcome back to "It Is Written."
00:07:17.23\00:07:19.20
The book of
Acts speaks of Jesus,
00:07:19.23\00:07:21.50
who "went about
doing good and healing."
00:07:21.54\00:07:25.67
Which is precisely
what this team is doing.
00:07:25.71\00:07:28.51
They're going about doing
good, and they're healing many.
00:07:28.54\00:07:32.48
>>Dr. Jacob Prabhakar:
The numbers keeping on,
00:07:33.45\00:07:34.62
keep on increasing. There
has been--about 10 years ago,
00:07:34.65\00:07:37.39
when we talked about 15
million people as one third
00:07:37.42\00:07:39.85
of the world's
blind population--
00:07:39.89\00:07:42.62
um, they say the
numbers have reduced,
00:07:42.66\00:07:44.73
but, uh, as we're in the
field, it appears that, uh,
00:07:44.76\00:07:47.86
it has not
changed. It has not changed.
00:07:47.93\00:07:50.07
>>John: It isn't hard to
imagine the devastating impact
00:07:51.07\00:07:54.20
blindness has on
people in rural India.
00:07:54.24\00:07:58.37
People who lose
their sight can't work.
00:07:58.41\00:08:01.04
And if they can't work,
they can't support their family,
00:08:01.08\00:08:04.25
and life is difficult.
00:08:04.28\00:08:07.22
[man speaking Hindi]
00:08:07.25\00:08:08.75
[woman speaking Hindi]
00:08:17.76\00:08:19.26
>>John: One man I met
had been a truck driver.
00:08:32.57\00:08:34.58
His failing eyesight
meant he began having accidents,
00:08:34.61\00:08:38.15
and he lost his job.
00:08:38.18\00:08:40.22
Thanks to Eyes for
India, he regained his sight
00:08:40.25\00:08:43.15
and was able to go back to work.
00:08:43.18\00:08:45.79
Mothers who lose their sight
00:08:45.82\00:08:47.36
struggle to care
for their children.
00:08:47.39\00:08:49.86
And the basic functions of
life become much more difficult
00:08:49.89\00:08:54.03
when it's impossible to see.
00:08:54.10\00:08:56.67
What is their life like
for the people who come here?
00:08:56.70\00:09:00.04
>>Azlene Lal:
They're coming--some people
00:09:00.07\00:09:01.60
are both eye blind, some
people, both eye, cataract.
00:09:01.64\00:09:06.17
They're not able
to see properly, so,
00:09:06.21\00:09:11.15
without the vision, uh,
their life is very difficult.
00:09:11.18\00:09:14.55
>>John: What causes
the cataracts to develop?
00:09:14.58\00:09:17.62
>>Azlene: Yeah,
there are so many causes
00:09:17.65\00:09:21.29
as there is a cataract.
00:09:21.32\00:09:23.29
Diabetic patient, diabetic--
traumatic cataract a cause also,
00:09:23.32\00:09:27.56
sometime, any accident,
after, they cause cataract.
00:09:27.60\00:09:31.47
Electric shock
also, they are a cause;
00:09:31.50\00:09:34.04
by birth also sometimes, it
is some children has cataract.
00:09:34.07\00:09:38.04
>>John: Really,
they're born with cataracts?
00:09:38.07\00:09:39.94
>>Azlene: Yeah. >>John: Wow.
00:09:39.97\00:09:41.88
What's the youngest
patients that you see here?
00:09:41.91\00:09:44.31
>>Azlene: Twelve
year, 13 years, yeah.
00:09:44.35\00:09:47.42
>>John: The surgery provided by
It Is Written's Eyes for India
00:09:48.92\00:09:52.42
is transformational as people
regain a measure of independence
00:09:52.45\00:09:56.73
and often dignity,
taking up their place
00:09:56.76\00:09:59.66
in the workforce again
and in the wider community.
00:09:59.69\00:10:04.77
So it's not just you;
you have a team around you.
00:10:04.80\00:10:06.60
It takes, it takes a large team.
00:10:06.63\00:10:08.44
>>Dr. Prabhakar: We
have a beautiful team.
00:10:08.47\00:10:09.37
They're, uh, I
should say they're best.
00:10:09.40\00:10:11.44
They are the best
team I can ever, uh, get,
00:10:11.47\00:10:13.84
and they, they stand long
hours of doing the surgeries,
00:10:13.88\00:10:17.08
and they, they go into the rural
areas, talk to the patients,
00:10:17.11\00:10:20.48
spend time with
them, convincing them,
00:10:20.52\00:10:22.28
motivating them
to come for surgery.
00:10:22.32\00:10:23.92
Sometimes it's very difficult
to convince the patients
00:10:23.95\00:10:25.89
to travel all the
way from their villages.
00:10:25.92\00:10:27.72
Some of those
patients have never traveled
00:10:27.76\00:10:29.26
out of their home, out of
the villages they come from.
00:10:29.29\00:10:31.99
So it requires a
great team to motivate them.
00:10:32.03\00:10:35.03
You know, this is an
opportunity to serve the people.
00:10:35.06\00:10:37.90
And they feel very
excited to be part of this team.
00:10:37.93\00:10:40.87
We are able to, uh, open
the eyes of these blind people.
00:10:40.90\00:10:44.71
And there's so much
of, uh, joy when we see,
00:10:44.74\00:10:48.04
when they see these
patients, uh, receive the sight,
00:10:48.08\00:10:51.05
and they can,
they can go back home,
00:10:51.08\00:10:53.21
and they can carry on with
their duties and little chores,
00:10:53.25\00:10:56.89
and, uh, some of them, um,
go back to their workplaces,
00:10:56.92\00:10:59.39
earn for their families.
It's very, very exciting.
00:10:59.42\00:11:01.89
So, it's kind of motivation
to help these poor people.
00:11:01.92\00:11:04.93
¤[reflective music]¤
00:11:05.93\00:11:08.90
>>John: Do you enjoy your work?
00:11:11.73\00:11:13.03
>>Azlene: Yeah, I'm very happy
with the work with Dr. Jacob
00:11:13.07\00:11:16.37
because Dr. Jacob is
very, um, humble person.
00:11:16.40\00:11:21.41
He's helped with
very needy, uh, patient.
00:11:21.44\00:11:24.98
Yeah, I'm very
happy, um, just thank God.
00:11:25.01\00:11:28.38
And God has
given me opportunity,
00:11:28.42\00:11:30.62
the opportunity
with work with Dr. Jacob.
00:11:30.65\00:11:33.05
>>John: You know, Dr.
Jacob wants to help people.
00:11:33.09\00:11:34.99
He's very fast. >>Azlene: Yeah.
00:11:35.02\00:11:36.06
>>John: He helps so many people.
00:11:36.09\00:11:37.89
Why do you, why do you want
to work in here helping people?
00:11:37.93\00:11:40.90
>>Azlene: Because, um, every
patient eye is very important.
00:11:40.93\00:11:45.23
>>John: Those who
receive cataract surgery
00:11:46.20\00:11:48.54
and have their
blindness reversed are,
00:11:48.57\00:11:51.41
as you can
imagine, extremely grateful
00:11:51.44\00:11:54.44
to receive the gift of sight.
00:11:54.48\00:11:56.58
>>Dr. Prabhakar: He
wants to sing with joy.
00:11:56.61\00:11:58.38
[man 1 singing in Hindi]
00:11:58.41\00:12:03.42
[speaking Hindi]
00:12:17.40\00:12:18.90
[singing in Hindi]
00:12:39.09\00:12:44.09
[man 2 speaking Hindi]
00:12:47.23\00:12:48.73
>>John: These
Christian believers in a country
00:13:04.08\00:13:06.38
with a population
almost twice that of Europe,
00:13:06.41\00:13:09.68
more than four
times the population
00:13:09.72\00:13:11.62
of the United States, are
serving their fellow humans,
00:13:11.65\00:13:15.79
revealing the love
and kindness of God.
00:13:15.82\00:13:20.53
>>Dr. Prabhakar: Yeah,
we, we live in a country
00:13:20.56\00:13:22.16
where we have
1.4 billion people.
00:13:22.20\00:13:24.27
And, uh, only two
percent of them are Christians.
00:13:24.30\00:13:28.17
And most of the ministry Eyes
for India is into Hindu temples
00:13:28.20\00:13:31.64
and Sikh temples and,
and some Muslim communities.
00:13:31.67\00:13:35.18
And so, when we reach
out to them, these people
00:13:35.21\00:13:37.75
actually have not seen
the kind of work that we do.
00:13:37.78\00:13:41.05
They see
actually a difference, uh,
00:13:41.08\00:13:44.45
a different kind of approach.
00:13:44.49\00:13:45.59
They see, um, that we
are, uh, reaching out to them.
00:13:45.62\00:13:49.36
We are reaching to their
communities and helping them,
00:13:49.39\00:13:51.26
bring them to the
hospital, giving them food
00:13:51.29\00:13:53.70
and giving them
medications and operating them
00:13:53.73\00:13:55.86
and dropping them
back in their homes.
00:13:55.90\00:13:57.03
They see, uh, a totally, a
different kind of approach.
00:13:57.07\00:14:00.50
And they are very happy to
work with a community like ours.
00:14:00.54\00:14:04.14
Even though they are Hindus
and Sikhs and we are Christians,
00:14:04.17\00:14:07.81
uh, they see a difference
in the kind of work we deliver
00:14:07.84\00:14:11.81
to them, the service we
offer, the long hours of work
00:14:11.85\00:14:15.15
that we do, the
dedication our team has.
00:14:15.18\00:14:17.65
Uh, it's, it's
definitely unique.
00:14:17.69\00:14:19.49
And that's what makes it--there
are many other hundreds
00:14:19.52\00:14:22.59
and thousands of hospitals
and also others who are doing
00:14:22.62\00:14:25.43
the same kind
of work that we do.
00:14:25.46\00:14:26.80
But, uh, we invited
from all over the country
00:14:26.83\00:14:29.50
to be able to part of this
ministry to help these people.
00:14:29.53\00:14:32.90
And most of the
invitation that we receive
00:14:32.93\00:14:35.27
are from Sikh
temples and Hindu temples.
00:14:35.30\00:14:38.07
Definitely we are a unique team,
00:14:38.11\00:14:40.34
and they see a difference in the
kind of work that we provide,
00:14:40.38\00:14:43.38
the service that we offer.
00:14:43.41\00:14:44.41
>>John: My own
association with Dr. Jacob
00:14:45.35\00:14:47.45
now goes back some
years, and I still remember
00:14:47.48\00:14:50.55
hearing his remarkable
story for the first time.
00:14:50.59\00:14:54.56
>>Dr. Prabhakar: If it
was not for the grace of God,
00:14:54.59\00:14:58.46
I wouldn't be what I am.
00:14:58.49\00:15:00.43
There's been an opportunity
for me to go to a church,
00:15:00.46\00:15:04.07
which my parents attended.
00:15:04.10\00:15:05.77
And the church pastor
identified in me some potential.
00:15:05.80\00:15:10.11
¤[reflective music]¤
00:15:10.14\00:15:11.11
I was born in a remote village
00:15:11.14\00:15:12.77
on the east
coast of south India.
00:15:12.81\00:15:17.05
It's about, um,
00:15:17.08\00:15:18.18
three or four
kilometers from the coast
00:15:18.21\00:15:21.05
of Bay of Bengal.
00:15:21.08\00:15:22.75
It's really a country life,
00:15:22.78\00:15:25.55
where we have
beautiful rivers passing by,
00:15:25.59\00:15:27.99
the backwaters, the green fields
00:15:28.02\00:15:30.79
with the rugged roads
right in front of my home.
00:15:30.83\00:15:35.26
We did not have electricity.
00:15:35.30\00:15:36.46
The well was situated
about four or five homes away
00:15:36.50\00:15:40.54
from our house.
00:15:40.57\00:15:42.37
These homes are made
of mud walls, mud floors,
00:15:42.40\00:15:46.04
and thatched roofs.
00:15:46.07\00:15:48.31
Utter poverty.
00:15:48.34\00:15:49.68
As a child, there was
nothing much to look forward to.
00:15:50.85\00:15:54.75
>>John: But
despite the extreme poverty
00:15:55.68\00:15:57.95
Jacob and his family faced,
00:15:57.99\00:16:00.29
they were still able to
find simple joys in life.
00:16:00.32\00:16:05.13
>>Dr. Prabhakar: Raised in
a family of eight siblings,
00:16:05.16\00:16:08.73
I had five elder sisters
00:16:08.76\00:16:11.20
who actually took
care of me and raised me.
00:16:11.23\00:16:13.70
¤[music continues]¤
00:16:13.74\00:16:15.40
It was a very, very joyful
thing to have a large family.
00:16:15.44\00:16:19.94
I had all the affection
that a boy could receive.
00:16:19.97\00:16:24.65
My mother delivered all
her children in my home.
00:16:24.68\00:16:28.48
Giving birth to eight
children in a village home
00:16:28.52\00:16:33.42
with no physician, with no
nurses around, it's a miracle.
00:16:33.46\00:16:38.43
>>John: The Eyes for India
team is doing the work of Jesus
00:16:39.43\00:16:43.73
by healing the blind.
00:16:43.77\00:16:46.27
Without pressuring
people about religion,
00:16:46.30\00:16:48.80
they're able to demonstrate
the love of God by meeting needs
00:16:48.84\00:16:52.94
and selflessly improving
lives--just as Jesus did.
00:16:52.97\00:16:59.38
People who otherwise might
never encounter a Christian
00:16:59.41\00:17:02.48
see God at work
through Eyes for India.
00:17:02.52\00:17:06.15
Their eyes are
opened to the grace of a God
00:17:06.19\00:17:08.32
who cared for them enough
00:17:08.36\00:17:09.92
to provide them with
a new chance at life.
00:17:09.96\00:17:13.93
You've been serving poor
people for a very long time.
00:17:13.96\00:17:19.60
You could, you could
go do something else.
00:17:19.63\00:17:22.17
What keeps you
doing what you do?
00:17:22.20\00:17:23.64
>>Dr. Prabhakar: I am excited
to be part of this ministry
00:17:23.67\00:17:27.01
because I myself was,
uh, like one of these, uh,
00:17:27.04\00:17:29.54
very poor people, come
from a rural background.
00:17:29.58\00:17:32.25
We had nothing
to look forward to.
00:17:32.28\00:17:34.32
And I believe God has
appointed me to be able to be
00:17:34.35\00:17:36.92
a blessing to the communities,
00:17:36.95\00:17:38.75
uh, who are the poorest
of the poor people in India.
00:17:38.79\00:17:41.32
And, uh, I feel it's
an opportunity to be able
00:17:41.36\00:17:43.96
to stay back and give
back, uh, to these people
00:17:43.99\00:17:47.20
who otherwise, uh,
may not receive any help.
00:17:47.23\00:17:49.90
>>John: There are people
who are blind and want to see--
00:17:50.90\00:17:54.20
and could see if
only they could get access
00:17:54.24\00:17:57.47
to the help they need.
00:17:57.51\00:17:59.54
You can be part of the solution.
00:17:59.57\00:18:03.01
I'm going to tell
you how in just a moment.
00:18:03.04\00:18:06.68
¤[upbeat music
swells and ends]¤¤
00:18:06.72\00:18:13.72
>>John: Thank you for
remembering that It Is Written
00:18:16.16\00:18:18.26
exists because of the kindness
of people just like you.
00:18:18.29\00:18:22.03
To support this international
life-changing ministry,
00:18:22.06\00:18:24.57
please call us
now at 800-253-3000.
00:18:24.60\00:18:28.97
You can send your
tax-deductible gift
00:18:29.00\00:18:30.67
to the address on your screen,
00:18:30.71\00:18:32.11
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:18:32.14\00:18:36.14
Thank you for your prayers
and your financial support.
00:18:36.18\00:18:38.38
Our number
again is 800-253-3000,
00:18:38.41\00:18:42.12
or you can visit us
online at itiswritten.com.
00:18:42.15\00:18:45.49
>>John: In spite of possessing
only a third-grade education,
00:18:47.42\00:18:51.56
he wrote the bestselling
work of Christian fiction
00:18:51.59\00:18:54.96
in the history of the world.
00:18:55.00\00:18:57.53
Join me in Bedford, England,
for "Men of Faith: John Bunyan"
00:18:57.57\00:19:02.77
as we meet the man
whose landmark book
00:19:02.80\00:19:05.44
has sold 250 million copies.
00:19:05.47\00:19:09.38
We'll visit the
place of his birth,
00:19:09.41\00:19:11.55
the site of the infamous prison,
00:19:11.58\00:19:13.15
which for many
years was his home,
00:19:13.18\00:19:15.78
as well as his
final resting place.
00:19:15.82\00:19:18.45
The Puritan preacher who
defied monarchs and magistrates
00:19:18.49\00:19:22.72
impacted ministers of religion,
politicians, and everyday people
00:19:22.76\00:19:27.56
inspired by his writings.
00:19:27.60\00:19:29.83
We'll go to the museum dedicated
to his life and ministry
00:19:29.86\00:19:33.37
as we discover what it takes
to stand for your faith in God.
00:19:33.40\00:19:38.01
"Men of Faith: John Bunyan,"
00:19:38.04\00:19:40.51
brought to you
by It Is Written TV.
00:19:40.54\00:19:43.55
>>John: It Is Written is
committed to giving people
00:19:47.65\00:19:50.09
the opportunity to
experience the love of Jesus.
00:19:50.12\00:19:53.29
Eyes for India
brings hope and vision
00:19:53.32\00:19:55.26
to thousands of people in need.
00:19:55.29\00:19:57.19
And there's much more.
00:19:57.23\00:19:58.49
Through high-impact
international medical ministry
00:19:58.53\00:20:00.96
and other humanitarian projects,
00:20:01.00\00:20:03.13
hearts are being
reached around the globe.
00:20:03.16\00:20:05.80
You can partner
with It Is Written
00:20:05.83\00:20:07.64
in changing lives for eternity.
00:20:07.67\00:20:10.07
Your support now will bring
healing and blessing to people
00:20:10.11\00:20:13.11
in desperate need,
enabling them to experience
00:20:13.14\00:20:15.91
the power of God
for the very first time.
00:20:15.94\00:20:19.08
Call now: 800-253-3000.
00:20:19.11\00:20:21.92
That's 800-253-3000.
00:20:21.95\00:20:25.45
Visit us online at iiwworld.com.
00:20:25.49\00:20:29.49
Or text "world" to 71392.
00:20:29.52\00:20:33.40
Designating your gift to
missions will directly support
00:20:33.43\00:20:36.87
these life-changing projects.
00:20:36.90\00:20:39.03
Thank you for partnering with
It Is Written in opening eyes
00:20:39.07\00:20:42.04
to the goodness of God and
offering hope to the world.
00:20:42.07\00:20:45.74
>>John: You have to be
moved by a group of people
00:20:48.24\00:20:50.91
dedicating themselves
to the wellbeing of others.
00:20:50.95\00:20:54.08
Reminds me of the well-known
Bible story in Luke, chapter 10,
00:20:54.12\00:20:56.95
the build-up to which
is not only fascinating
00:20:56.99\00:20:59.55
but paves the way
for what would follow.
00:20:59.59\00:21:02.39
A doctor of the law
approached Jesus and asked Him
00:21:02.42\00:21:05.23
what really was a
"gotcha" question.
00:21:05.26\00:21:08.06
He said, "What shall I
do to inherit eternal life?"
00:21:08.10\00:21:12.17
Whatever Jesus said, this man
would quibble with Jesus' words.
00:21:12.20\00:21:15.64
And so Jesus said to him,
"What is written in the law?
00:21:15.67\00:21:19.17
What is your reading of it?"
00:21:19.21\00:21:21.08
He replied by saying, "'You
shall love the Lord your God
00:21:21.11\00:21:24.01
"with all your
heart, with all your soul,
00:21:24.05\00:21:25.98
"with all your strength,
and with all your mind,'
00:21:26.01\00:21:27.85
"and 'your
neighbor as yourself.'"
00:21:27.88\00:21:31.79
Jesus' hope was that
this man would recognize
00:21:31.82\00:21:34.39
his complete inability to do
that and therefore understand
00:21:34.42\00:21:38.59
his need of a Savior
and of the grace of God.
00:21:38.63\00:21:42.26
Notice where that man was?
00:21:42.30\00:21:44.47
Many people are in exactly
the same situation today:
00:21:44.50\00:21:48.07
"What shall I do?"
00:21:48.10\00:21:50.21
No, salvation isn't
earned, but it is received.
00:21:50.24\00:21:54.78
Jesus said, "You
have answered rightly;
00:21:54.81\00:21:58.21
[this do] and you [shall] live."
00:21:58.25\00:22:00.55
Now, the first
four commandments--
00:22:00.58\00:22:02.42
no other gods, no
graven images, don't blaspheme,
00:22:02.45\00:22:06.22
and "remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy"--
00:22:06.25\00:22:08.22
they deal with one's
relationship with God.
00:22:08.26\00:22:11.69
The next, or the
last, six commandments--
00:22:11.73\00:22:15.00
honor your father and your
mother; don't kill; no adultery;
00:22:15.03\00:22:18.43
don't steal;
don't lie; don't covet--
00:22:18.47\00:22:20.77
they deal with your relationship
with your fellow human being.
00:22:20.80\00:22:24.34
Now, rather than
thanking Jesus for that lesson
00:22:24.37\00:22:27.51
or, more to the point, wanting
to escape the reality that
00:22:27.54\00:22:30.08
he was doing neither, the man
asked Jesus another question.
00:22:30.11\00:22:34.32
He said, "Who is my neighbor?"
00:22:34.35\00:22:37.89
And that's when Jesus told
one of the most famous stories
00:22:37.92\00:22:41.59
in the history of stories:
00:22:41.62\00:22:44.53
"A certain man went down
from Jerusalem to Jericho,
00:22:44.56\00:22:47.83
"and fell among thieves,
00:22:47.86\00:22:49.30
"who stripped
him of his clothing,
00:22:49.33\00:22:51.57
"wounded him, and
departed, leaving him half dead.
00:22:51.60\00:22:55.87
"Now by chance a certain
priest came down that road.
00:22:55.90\00:22:59.84
"And when he saw him, he
passed by on the other side.
00:22:59.87\00:23:04.18
"Likewise a Levite,
when he arrived at the place,
00:23:04.21\00:23:08.38
"came and looked,
00:23:08.42\00:23:09.55
and passed by
on the other side."
00:23:09.58\00:23:12.45
The point is, of course,
that someone was in need,
00:23:12.49\00:23:15.72
and when the
religious people happened by,
00:23:15.76\00:23:18.96
none of them
wanted to get involved.
00:23:18.99\00:23:21.90
"But a certain Samaritan, as
he journeyed, came where he was.
00:23:21.93\00:23:26.07
And when he saw
him, he had compassion."
00:23:26.10\00:23:29.97
The Samaritans and
the Jews were at that time
00:23:30.01\00:23:32.94
bitter enemies.
00:23:32.97\00:23:34.38
In the previous
chapter, Luke, chapter 9,
00:23:34.41\00:23:36.81
when the disciples and
Jesus were not welcomed
00:23:36.85\00:23:39.78
into a Samaritan village,
the disciples asked Jesus
00:23:39.81\00:23:42.75
if they could call
fire down from heaven
00:23:42.78\00:23:44.89
and incinerate the village and
the Samaritans who lived there.
00:23:44.92\00:23:49.39
When Jesus met the woman
at the well, she said to Him,
00:23:49.42\00:23:51.83
"How is it that you, being
a Jew, ask a drink from me,
00:23:51.86\00:23:55.16
a Samaritan woman?"
00:23:55.20\00:23:56.67
And John added, "For
Jews have no dealings
00:23:56.70\00:23:59.67
with [the] Samaritans."
00:23:59.70\00:24:00.54
That's John 4 in verse 9.
00:24:00.57\00:24:02.24
Some religious
leaders, angry with Jesus,
00:24:02.27\00:24:04.57
insulted Him by saying,
"Do we not [rightly say]
00:24:04.61\00:24:07.68
that You are a
Samaritan and have a demon?"
00:24:07.71\00:24:10.35
What makes the story of
the 10 lepers so remarkable
00:24:10.38\00:24:13.98
is that the one healed man who
thanked Jesus was a Samaritan.
00:24:14.02\00:24:19.55
So, here's a Samaritan who "went
to him and bandaged his wounds,
00:24:19.59\00:24:24.36
"pouring on oil and wine;
00:24:24.39\00:24:26.80
"and he set him on his own
animal, brought him to an inn,
00:24:26.83\00:24:29.63
and took care of him."
00:24:29.66\00:24:31.33
He then tells the innkeeper
that he's willing to cover
00:24:31.37\00:24:34.17
any further costs.
00:24:34.20\00:24:36.04
Jesus says to the
doctor of the law,
00:24:36.07\00:24:38.51
"'So which of these three do
you think was neighbor to him
00:24:38.54\00:24:42.18
"who fell among the thieves?'
00:24:42.21\00:24:43.71
"And he said, 'He
who showed mercy on him.'
00:24:43.75\00:24:47.42
Then Jesus said to
him, 'Go and do likewise.'"
00:24:47.45\00:24:52.69
It Is Written has
been providing eye care
00:24:52.72\00:24:55.12
for the poor and needy in India
for more than a dozen years.
00:24:55.16\00:24:59.36
Why do we do it?
00:24:59.39\00:25:00.73
Because they are your neighbors.
00:25:00.76\00:25:02.76
They are my neighbors.
00:25:02.80\00:25:04.63
It takes just $75 to
give the gift of sight.
00:25:04.67\00:25:09.64
That will cover the
cost of surgery and equipment
00:25:09.67\00:25:12.87
and transportation
and accommodation and food
00:25:12.91\00:25:16.48
and much more.
00:25:16.51\00:25:17.88
Just $75 can see a person
go from blindness to sight,
00:25:17.91\00:25:23.55
from dependence to independence.
00:25:23.59\00:25:26.25
People will reclaim their
dignity and become, once again,
00:25:26.29\00:25:29.02
productive members of society.
00:25:29.06\00:25:30.96
And as I have
spoken to so many people
00:25:30.99\00:25:32.76
about why they want
to see again, they say,
00:25:32.79\00:25:35.16
"That's why I want to see again.
I want to be able to work.
00:25:35.20\00:25:37.97
"I want to be able to
provide for my family,
00:25:38.00\00:25:40.20
see my children
and my grandchildren."
00:25:40.24\00:25:43.10
Just $75.
00:25:43.14\00:25:45.87
A man the Bible refers
to as "blind Bartimaeus"
00:25:45.91\00:25:49.61
cried out to Jesus
one day, and Jesus said,
00:25:49.64\00:25:52.61
"What [would] you
[like] me to do for you?"
00:25:52.65\00:25:54.75
And he responded by saying,
00:25:54.78\00:25:56.55
"Lord, that I
[may] receive my sight."
00:25:56.58\00:26:01.12
You hear that petition
being echoed around India,
00:26:01.16\00:26:04.79
people saying, "I
want to receive my sight."
00:26:04.83\00:26:08.76
You can make that
happen. Would you do so?
00:26:08.80\00:26:11.43
To give the gift of
sight, please call 800-253-3000.
00:26:11.47\00:26:16.71
That's 800-253-3000.
00:26:16.74\00:26:20.54
Just $75 gives
the gift of sight.
00:26:20.58\00:26:24.55
Two eyes, that's $150;
00:26:24.58\00:26:27.92
$225, that's
three eyes, and so on.
00:26:27.95\00:26:32.39
You see how that works.
00:26:32.42\00:26:34.09
Thank you for doing what
you can to open somebody's eyes
00:26:34.12\00:26:38.09
and give them physical
eyesight and allow them to see
00:26:38.13\00:26:41.53
and experience the
healing touch of Jesus.
00:26:41.56\00:26:44.37
That's 800-253-3000,
00:26:44.40\00:26:47.60
800-253-3000.
00:26:47.64\00:26:51.24
Thank you for
giving the gift of sight.
00:26:51.27\00:26:54.61
Let me pray with you.
00:26:54.64\00:26:56.21
Our Father in heaven, we
thank You today for Jesus,
00:26:56.24\00:26:59.21
the Great Healer, the
Giver of all good gifts.
00:26:59.25\00:27:03.28
And we thank You that as
He healed in Bible times,
00:27:03.32\00:27:06.42
He still heals
today, opening eyes,
00:27:06.45\00:27:09.66
not only to the
world around a person
00:27:09.69\00:27:12.66
but also to the love of God.
00:27:12.69\00:27:15.16
I pray You will
bless those who give,
00:27:15.20\00:27:17.13
those who will be used by heaven
to give the gift of sight.
00:27:17.17\00:27:21.70
We pray Your blessing on
the gift and on the giver.
00:27:21.74\00:27:24.91
And we thank You that
You are transforming lives
00:27:24.94\00:27:29.01
in such a powerful way.
00:27:29.04\00:27:31.51
We thank You. We
pray in Jesus' name.
00:27:31.55\00:27:35.88
Amen.
00:27:35.92\00:27:37.35
Thanks so much for joining me.
00:27:37.39\00:27:38.59
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:38.62\00:27:40.52
Until then, remember:
00:27:40.56\00:27:41.96
"It is written, 'Man
shall not live by bread alone,
00:27:41.99\00:27:45.89
but by every word that proceeds
from the mouth of God.'"
00:27:45.93\00:27:50.37
¤[dramatic,
triumphant theme music]¤
00:27:50.40\00:27:55.40
¤[music ends]¤¤
00:28:25.90\00:28:27.90