Participants:
Series Code: IIW
Program Code: IIW024285S
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00:17 ♪[music ends]♪♪
00:19 ♪[Indian instrumental music]♪ 00:21 >>John Bradshaw: This is "It Is Written." 00:23 I'm John Bradshaw, thanks for joining me. 00:25 ♪[music continues]♪ 00:31 For many in India, life can be challenging. 00:35 ♪[music continues]♪ 00:43 The typical person living in rural India doesn't have a lot. 00:48 But that's not what makes life a challenge for some people. 00:53 For some, the big challenge is blindness. 01:00 But what's interesting about the situation for a lot of people 01:03 is that the blindness they endure is reversible. 01:07 They don't have to be blind. 01:10 What they need is help-- surgery, to be specific. 01:14 ♪[music transitions to reflective piano music]♪ 01:19 But how is someone who is poor and lives in the country 01:23 ever going to be able to get surgery? 01:27 In India, among the people who have money, it works like this. 01:32 A person visits a GP. A medical issue might be identified. 01:36 That person will then be referred to a specialist, 01:39 and surgery will be scheduled. 01:41 Surgery will happen, then there's a period of recovery, 01:44 and then life goes on. 01:47 But that's for people who have money, 01:50 for people who live in a city. 01:53 In a country of more than 1.4 billion, 01:55 there are a lot of people who don't fit into that category. 02:00 If you don't have money, if you're poor, what do you do? 02:06 >>Dr. Jacob Prabhakar: Most of the patients that we come across 02:08 are, are really very, very poor. 02:09 They come from a very rural background where, really, 02:13 there's no health care facilities. 02:15 And most of these patients, uh, when they become blind, 02:19 due to cataract and other ailments, 02:21 they think this is part of life, 02:22 so, even if they are interested in going for a surgery, 02:25 they don't have the means; 02:26 there's no one to take care of them. 02:29 There's, uh, no means to reach out 02:30 to the health care facilities. 02:32 And they, even if they can reach, there's, uh, 02:33 no way they can afford a cataract surgery. 02:36 And so, uh, most of the, uh, the factors are all against them, 02:41 so, basically, they live with the kind of blindness 02:44 that they suffer from. 02:48 ♪[reflective music]♪ 02:50 >>John: For many years, ophthalmologist 02:53 Dr. Jacob Prabhakar has been serving India's blind population 02:57 by providing free life-changing cataract surgery, 03:01 as well as other eye-care procedures. 03:03 [clatter of equipment] 03:06 Eyes for India is sponsored by It Is Written Missions, 03:11 providing poor people with the opportunity 03:13 to literally receive their sight. 03:15 ♪[music continues]♪ 03:20 Patients don't pay for anything. 03:23 Transportation, food, accommodation, medicine, 03:27 surgery, and post-operative care are all provided free of charge. 03:32 ♪[music continues]♪ 03:36 Home base for the Eyes for India team is a hospital 03:39 in the city of Jalandhar in Punjab State. 03:43 Ruby Nelson Memorial Hospital was named after 03:46 a missionary who lost her life in tragic circumstances. 03:51 Yet her influence lives on as a dedicated team 03:54 of medical professionals minister in this city 03:57 of more than 1.1 million people and in rural areas 04:02 outside the city and further beyond. 04:06 Every year, Dr. Jacob and his team travel 04:08 away from their home base to other locations, including 04:12 an annual visit to Barabanki, a village in Uttar Pradesh. 04:18 There, a large team, including visiting professionals 04:21 from other parts of India, gather to treat 04:25 large numbers of people, who, in most cases, have traveled 04:28 great distances to receive this life-altering medical care. 04:33 >>Dr. Prabhakar: It's been, uh, nearly 20 years we have come, 04:36 started coming to this place, and, uh, 04:38 when we actually came 20 years ago, 04:39 there was actually nothing here. 04:41 We had seen, uh, hundreds and thousands of patients, 04:44 on day one flocking, waiting for their turn to be operated. 04:48 But we could go and operate on only certain numbers at a time. 04:52 Those, those years, 20 years ago, 04:54 situation was very, very difficult. 04:56 These are the poorest of the poorest people 04:58 which I have seen in all my life. 05:00 They would come and wait for their turn 05:02 when they will get their surgery done. 05:04 Some of them are bilateral blind. 05:06 They're desperately watching and waiting 05:08 when they will get a turn. 05:10 The situation then was quite a, a different scenario 05:13 as it is now. 05:14 Over the years we have improvised the, the situation. 05:16 We improved the quality of facilities; 05:19 we improved the quality of services. 05:20 When you open the bandages, they are so excited, 05:23 and they praise God and shouting, "We can see now!" 05:28 >>John: And what motivates this extraordinary physician 05:31 to do what he does? 05:33 I'm going to tell you in just a moment. 05:35 ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪ 05:45 >>John: It Is Written is committed to giving people 05:48 the opportunity to experience the love of Jesus. 05:51 Eyes for India brings hope and vision 05:53 to thousands of people in need. 05:55 And there's much more. 05:56 Through high-impact international medical ministry 05:58 and other humanitarian projects, 06:01 hearts are being reached around the globe. 06:03 You can partner with It Is Written 06:05 in changing lives for eternity. 06:08 Your support now will bring healing and blessing 06:10 to people in desperate need, enabling them to experience 06:13 the power of God for the very first time. 06:16 Call now: 800-253-3000. 06:19 That's 800-253-3000. 06:23 Visit us online at iiwworld.com. 06:27 Or text "world" to 71392. 06:31 Designating your gift to missions will directly support 06:34 these life-changing projects. 06:36 Thank you for partnering with It Is Written in opening eyes 06:40 to the goodness of God and offering hope to the world. 06:45 >>John: Welcome to "Line Upon Line," 06:47 brought to you by It Is Written. 06:49 ♪[upbeat music]♪ 06:52 "Was it God's plan for sin to enter the world?" 06:56 >>Wes Peppers: "Is the building of a temple necessary 06:58 before Jesus returns?" 07:00 >>John: That's a good question. 07:01 And I think we've got a pretty good answer for you here. 07:04 ♪[music continues]♪ 07:06 >>Wes: Temptation is not sin. 07:08 >>John: God says, "Put me to the test." 07:13 ♪[music ends]♪♪ 07:17 >>John Bradshaw: Welcome back to "It Is Written." 07:19 The book of Acts speaks of Jesus, 07:21 who "went about doing good and healing." 07:25 Which is precisely what this team is doing. 07:28 They're going about doing good, and they're healing many. 07:33 >>Dr. Jacob Prabhakar: The numbers keeping on, 07:34 keep on increasing. There has been--about 10 years ago, 07:37 when we talked about 15 million people as one third 07:39 of the world's blind population-- 07:42 um, they say the numbers have reduced, 07:44 but, uh, as we're in the field, it appears that, uh, 07:47 it has not changed. It has not changed. 07:51 >>John: It isn't hard to imagine the devastating impact 07:54 blindness has on people in rural India. 07:58 People who lose their sight can't work. 08:01 And if they can't work, they can't support their family, 08:04 and life is difficult. 08:07 [man speaking Hindi] 08:17 [woman speaking Hindi] 08:32 >>John: One man I met had been a truck driver. 08:34 His failing eyesight meant he began having accidents, 08:38 and he lost his job. 08:40 Thanks to Eyes for India, he regained his sight 08:43 and was able to go back to work. 08:45 Mothers who lose their sight 08:47 struggle to care for their children. 08:49 And the basic functions of life become much more difficult 08:54 when it's impossible to see. 08:56 What is their life like for the people who come here? 09:00 >>Azlene Lal: They're coming--some people 09:01 are both eye blind, some people, both eye, cataract. 09:06 They're not able to see properly, so, 09:11 without the vision, uh, their life is very difficult. 09:14 >>John: What causes the cataracts to develop? 09:17 >>Azlene: Yeah, there are so many causes 09:21 as there is a cataract. 09:23 Diabetic patient, diabetic-- traumatic cataract a cause also, 09:27 sometime, any accident, after, they cause cataract. 09:31 Electric shock also, they are a cause; 09:34 by birth also sometimes, it is some children has cataract. 09:38 >>John: Really, they're born with cataracts? 09:39 >>Azlene: Yeah. >>John: Wow. 09:41 What's the youngest patients that you see here? 09:44 >>Azlene: Twelve year, 13 years, yeah. 09:48 >>John: The surgery provided by It Is Written's Eyes for India 09:52 is transformational as people regain a measure of independence 09:56 and often dignity, taking up their place 09:59 in the workforce again and in the wider community. 10:04 So it's not just you; you have a team around you. 10:06 It takes, it takes a large team. 10:08 >>Dr. Prabhakar: We have a beautiful team. 10:09 They're, uh, I should say they're best. 10:11 They are the best team I can ever, uh, get, 10:13 and they, they stand long hours of doing the surgeries, 10:17 and they, they go into the rural areas, talk to the patients, 10:20 spend time with them, convincing them, 10:22 motivating them to come for surgery. 10:23 Sometimes it's very difficult to convince the patients 10:25 to travel all the way from their villages. 10:27 Some of those patients have never traveled 10:29 out of their home, out of the villages they come from. 10:32 So it requires a great team to motivate them. 10:35 You know, this is an opportunity to serve the people. 10:37 And they feel very excited to be part of this team. 10:40 We are able to, uh, open the eyes of these blind people. 10:44 And there's so much of, uh, joy when we see, 10:48 when they see these patients, uh, receive the sight, 10:51 and they can, they can go back home, 10:53 and they can carry on with their duties and little chores, 10:56 and, uh, some of them, um, go back to their workplaces, 10:59 earn for their families. It's very, very exciting. 11:01 So, it's kind of motivation to help these poor people. 11:05 ♪[reflective music]♪ 11:11 >>John: Do you enjoy your work? 11:13 >>Azlene: Yeah, I'm very happy with the work with Dr. Jacob 11:16 because Dr. Jacob is very, um, humble person. 11:21 He's helped with very needy, uh, patient. 11:25 Yeah, I'm very happy, um, just thank God. 11:28 And God has given me opportunity, 11:30 the opportunity with work with Dr. Jacob. 11:33 >>John: You know, Dr. Jacob wants to help people. 11:35 He's very fast. >>Azlene: Yeah. 11:36 >>John: He helps so many people. 11:37 Why do you, why do you want to work in here helping people? 11:40 >>Azlene: Because, um, every patient eye is very important. 11:46 >>John: Those who receive cataract surgery 11:48 and have their blindness reversed are, 11:51 as you can imagine, extremely grateful 11:54 to receive the gift of sight. 11:56 >>Dr. Prabhakar: He wants to sing with joy. 11:58 [man 1 singing in Hindi] 12:17 [speaking Hindi] 12:39 [singing in Hindi] 12:47 [man 2 speaking Hindi] 13:04 >>John: These Christian believers in a country 13:06 with a population almost twice that of Europe, 13:09 more than four times the population 13:11 of the United States, are serving their fellow humans, 13:15 revealing the love and kindness of God. 13:20 >>Dr. Prabhakar: Yeah, we, we live in a country 13:22 where we have 1.4 billion people. 13:24 And, uh, only two percent of them are Christians. 13:28 And most of the ministry Eyes for India is into Hindu temples 13:31 and Sikh temples and, and some Muslim communities. 13:35 And so, when we reach out to them, these people 13:37 actually have not seen the kind of work that we do. 13:41 They see actually a difference, uh, 13:44 a different kind of approach. 13:45 They see, um, that we are, uh, reaching out to them. 13:49 We are reaching to their communities and helping them, 13:51 bring them to the hospital, giving them food 13:53 and giving them medications and operating them 13:55 and dropping them back in their homes. 13:57 They see, uh, a totally, a different kind of approach. 14:00 And they are very happy to work with a community like ours. 14:04 Even though they are Hindus and Sikhs and we are Christians, 14:07 uh, they see a difference in the kind of work we deliver 14:11 to them, the service we offer, the long hours of work 14:15 that we do, the dedication our team has. 14:17 Uh, it's, it's definitely unique. 14:19 And that's what makes it--there are many other hundreds 14:22 and thousands of hospitals and also others who are doing 14:25 the same kind of work that we do. 14:26 But, uh, we invited from all over the country 14:29 to be able to part of this ministry to help these people. 14:32 And most of the invitation that we receive 14:35 are from Sikh temples and Hindu temples. 14:38 Definitely we are a unique team, 14:40 and they see a difference in the kind of work that we provide, 14:43 the service that we offer. 14:45 >>John: My own association with Dr. Jacob 14:47 now goes back some years, and I still remember 14:50 hearing his remarkable story for the first time. 14:54 >>Dr. Prabhakar: If it was not for the grace of God, 14:58 I wouldn't be what I am. 15:00 There's been an opportunity for me to go to a church, 15:04 which my parents attended. 15:05 And the church pastor identified in me some potential. 15:10 ♪[reflective music]♪ 15:11 I was born in a remote village 15:12 on the east coast of south India. 15:17 It's about, um, 15:18 three or four kilometers from the coast 15:21 of Bay of Bengal. 15:22 It's really a country life, 15:25 where we have beautiful rivers passing by, 15:28 the backwaters, the green fields 15:30 with the rugged roads right in front of my home. 15:35 We did not have electricity. 15:36 The well was situated about four or five homes away 15:40 from our house. 15:42 These homes are made of mud walls, mud floors, 15:46 and thatched roofs. 15:48 Utter poverty. 15:50 As a child, there was nothing much to look forward to. 15:55 >>John: But despite the extreme poverty 15:57 Jacob and his family faced, 16:00 they were still able to find simple joys in life. 16:05 >>Dr. Prabhakar: Raised in a family of eight siblings, 16:08 I had five elder sisters 16:11 who actually took care of me and raised me. 16:13 ♪[music continues]♪ 16:15 It was a very, very joyful thing to have a large family. 16:19 I had all the affection that a boy could receive. 16:24 My mother delivered all her children in my home. 16:28 Giving birth to eight children in a village home 16:33 with no physician, with no nurses around, it's a miracle. 16:39 >>John: The Eyes for India team is doing the work of Jesus 16:43 by healing the blind. 16:46 Without pressuring people about religion, 16:48 they're able to demonstrate the love of God by meeting needs 16:52 and selflessly improving lives--just as Jesus did. 16:59 People who otherwise might never encounter a Christian 17:02 see God at work through Eyes for India. 17:06 Their eyes are opened to the grace of a God 17:08 who cared for them enough 17:09 to provide them with a new chance at life. 17:13 You've been serving poor people for a very long time. 17:19 You could, you could go do something else. 17:22 What keeps you doing what you do? 17:23 >>Dr. Prabhakar: I am excited to be part of this ministry 17:27 because I myself was, uh, like one of these, uh, 17:29 very poor people, come from a rural background. 17:32 We had nothing to look forward to. 17:34 And I believe God has appointed me to be able to be 17:36 a blessing to the communities, 17:38 uh, who are the poorest of the poor people in India. 17:41 And, uh, I feel it's an opportunity to be able 17:43 to stay back and give back, uh, to these people 17:47 who otherwise, uh, may not receive any help. 17:50 >>John: There are people who are blind and want to see-- 17:54 and could see if only they could get access 17:57 to the help they need. 17:59 You can be part of the solution. 18:03 I'm going to tell you how in just a moment. 18:06 ♪[upbeat music swells and ends]♪♪ 18:16 >>John: Thank you for remembering that It Is Written 18:18 exists because of the kindness of people just like you. 18:22 To support this international life-changing ministry, 18:24 please call us now at 800-253-3000. 18:29 You can send your tax-deductible gift 18:30 to the address on your screen, 18:32 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 18:36 Thank you for your prayers and your financial support. 18:38 Our number again is 800-253-3000, 18:42 or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com. 18:47 >>John: In spite of possessing only a third-grade education, 18:51 he wrote the bestselling work of Christian fiction 18:55 in the history of the world. 18:57 Join me in Bedford, England, for "Men of Faith: John Bunyan" 19:02 as we meet the man whose landmark book 19:05 has sold 250 million copies. 19:09 We'll visit the place of his birth, 19:11 the site of the infamous prison, 19:13 which for many years was his home, 19:15 as well as his final resting place. 19:18 The Puritan preacher who defied monarchs and magistrates 19:22 impacted ministers of religion, politicians, and everyday people 19:27 inspired by his writings. 19:29 We'll go to the museum dedicated to his life and ministry 19:33 as we discover what it takes to stand for your faith in God. 19:38 "Men of Faith: John Bunyan," 19:40 brought to you by It Is Written TV. 19:47 >>John: It Is Written is committed to giving people 19:50 the opportunity to experience the love of Jesus. 19:53 Eyes for India brings hope and vision 19:55 to thousands of people in need. 19:57 And there's much more. 19:58 Through high-impact international medical ministry 20:01 and other humanitarian projects, 20:03 hearts are being reached around the globe. 20:05 You can partner with It Is Written 20:07 in changing lives for eternity. 20:10 Your support now will bring healing and blessing to people 20:13 in desperate need, enabling them to experience 20:15 the power of God for the very first time. 20:19 Call now: 800-253-3000. 20:21 That's 800-253-3000. 20:25 Visit us online at iiwworld.com. 20:29 Or text "world" to 71392. 20:33 Designating your gift to missions will directly support 20:36 these life-changing projects. 20:39 Thank you for partnering with It Is Written in opening eyes 20:42 to the goodness of God and offering hope to the world. 20:48 >>John: You have to be moved by a group of people 20:50 dedicating themselves to the wellbeing of others. 20:54 Reminds me of the well-known Bible story in Luke, chapter 10, 20:56 the build-up to which is not only fascinating 20:59 but paves the way for what would follow. 21:02 A doctor of the law approached Jesus and asked Him 21:05 what really was a "gotcha" question. 21:08 He said, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 21:12 Whatever Jesus said, this man would quibble with Jesus' words. 21:15 And so Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? 21:19 What is your reading of it?" 21:21 He replied by saying, "'You shall love the Lord your God 21:24 "with all your heart, with all your soul, 21:26 "with all your strength, and with all your mind,' 21:27 "and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" 21:31 Jesus' hope was that this man would recognize 21:34 his complete inability to do that and therefore understand 21:38 his need of a Savior and of the grace of God. 21:42 Notice where that man was? 21:44 Many people are in exactly the same situation today: 21:48 "What shall I do?" 21:50 No, salvation isn't earned, but it is received. 21:54 Jesus said, "You have answered rightly; 21:58 [this do] and you [shall] live." 22:00 Now, the first four commandments-- 22:02 no other gods, no graven images, don't blaspheme, 22:06 and "remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy"-- 22:08 they deal with one's relationship with God. 22:11 The next, or the last, six commandments-- 22:15 honor your father and your mother; don't kill; no adultery; 22:18 don't steal; don't lie; don't covet-- 22:20 they deal with your relationship with your fellow human being. 22:24 Now, rather than thanking Jesus for that lesson 22:27 or, more to the point, wanting to escape the reality that 22:30 he was doing neither, the man asked Jesus another question. 22:34 He said, "Who is my neighbor?" 22:37 And that's when Jesus told one of the most famous stories 22:41 in the history of stories: 22:44 "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, 22:47 "and fell among thieves, 22:49 "who stripped him of his clothing, 22:51 "wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 22:55 "Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. 22:59 "And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 23:04 "Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, 23:08 "came and looked, 23:09 and passed by on the other side." 23:12 The point is, of course, that someone was in need, 23:15 and when the religious people happened by, 23:18 none of them wanted to get involved. 23:21 "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. 23:26 And when he saw him, he had compassion." 23:30 The Samaritans and the Jews were at that time 23:32 bitter enemies. 23:34 In the previous chapter, Luke, chapter 9, 23:36 when the disciples and Jesus were not welcomed 23:39 into a Samaritan village, the disciples asked Jesus 23:42 if they could call fire down from heaven 23:44 and incinerate the village and the Samaritans who lived there. 23:49 When Jesus met the woman at the well, she said to Him, 23:51 "How is it that you, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, 23:55 a Samaritan woman?" 23:56 And John added, "For Jews have no dealings 23:59 with [the] Samaritans." 24:00 That's John 4 in verse 9. 24:02 Some religious leaders, angry with Jesus, 24:04 insulted Him by saying, "Do we not [rightly say] 24:07 that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?" 24:10 What makes the story of the 10 lepers so remarkable 24:14 is that the one healed man who thanked Jesus was a Samaritan. 24:19 So, here's a Samaritan who "went to him and bandaged his wounds, 24:24 "pouring on oil and wine; 24:26 "and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, 24:29 and took care of him." 24:31 He then tells the innkeeper that he's willing to cover 24:34 any further costs. 24:36 Jesus says to the doctor of the law, 24:38 "'So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him 24:42 "who fell among the thieves?' 24:43 "And he said, 'He who showed mercy on him.' 24:47 Then Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise.'" 24:52 It Is Written has been providing eye care 24:55 for the poor and needy in India for more than a dozen years. 24:59 Why do we do it? 25:00 Because they are your neighbors. 25:02 They are my neighbors. 25:04 It takes just $75 to give the gift of sight. 25:09 That will cover the cost of surgery and equipment 25:12 and transportation and accommodation and food 25:16 and much more. 25:17 Just $75 can see a person go from blindness to sight, 25:23 from dependence to independence. 25:26 People will reclaim their dignity and become, once again, 25:29 productive members of society. 25:30 And as I have spoken to so many people 25:32 about why they want to see again, they say, 25:35 "That's why I want to see again. I want to be able to work. 25:38 "I want to be able to provide for my family, 25:40 see my children and my grandchildren." 25:43 Just $75. 25:45 A man the Bible refers to as "blind Bartimaeus" 25:49 cried out to Jesus one day, and Jesus said, 25:52 "What [would] you [like] me to do for you?" 25:54 And he responded by saying, 25:56 "Lord, that I [may] receive my sight." 26:01 You hear that petition being echoed around India, 26:04 people saying, "I want to receive my sight." 26:08 You can make that happen. Would you do so? 26:11 To give the gift of sight, please call 800-253-3000. 26:16 That's 800-253-3000. 26:20 Just $75 gives the gift of sight. 26:24 Two eyes, that's $150; 26:27 $225, that's three eyes, and so on. 26:32 You see how that works. 26:34 Thank you for doing what you can to open somebody's eyes 26:38 and give them physical eyesight and allow them to see 26:41 and experience the healing touch of Jesus. 26:44 That's 800-253-3000, 26:47 800-253-3000. 26:51 Thank you for giving the gift of sight. 26:54 Let me pray with you. 26:56 Our Father in heaven, we thank You today for Jesus, 26:59 the Great Healer, the Giver of all good gifts. 27:03 And we thank You that as He healed in Bible times, 27:06 He still heals today, opening eyes, 27:09 not only to the world around a person 27:12 but also to the love of God. 27:15 I pray You will bless those who give, 27:17 those who will be used by heaven to give the gift of sight. 27:21 We pray Your blessing on the gift and on the giver. 27:24 And we thank You that You are transforming lives 27:29 in such a powerful way. 27:31 We thank You. We pray in Jesus' name. 27:35 Amen. 27:37 Thanks so much for joining me. 27:38 I'm looking forward to seeing you again next time. 27:40 Until then, remember: 27:41 "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, 27:45 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" 27:50 ♪[dramatic, triumphant theme music]♪ 28:25 ♪[music ends]♪♪ |
Revised 2024-09-04