The Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix has played host to some of the biggest names in entertainment. Over the years, tens of thousands of excited young people have packed this venue to hear their favorite rock bands perform or to hear the diatribes of vulgar comedians. In short, it’s a house of entertainment.

In March 2006, that’s all going to change. From March 10 through April 8, this venue will host It Is Written’s NET 2006 series, Revelation Speaks Peace — Unlocking the Signs, presented by Pastor Shawn Boonstra. For thousands of people in Phoenix — and many more watching the signal live via satellite in churches across North America — it will be a place where people get to know Jesus Christ.

“As we learned during The Appearing last fall, interest in Bible prophecy is at an all-time high,” said Boonstra, It Is Written’s speaker/director. “On March 10, we will open the Bible to share the message of hope in the book of Revelation with people who feel as if the world around them is falling apart.”

Long before the event began, the Arizona Conference and It Is Written banded together to conduct numerous outreach programs for the community. Conference President Duane McKey, Ministerial Director Ed Keyes, and Hispanic Coordinator Omar Grieve have spent many hours rallying the churches for this series and preparing for the event. In addition, It Is Written sent three team members to Phoenix to coordinate and assist in the pre-work for the series. Dick Wilcox and Dan and Gloria Bentzinger have spent more than six months in Phoenix preparing for Revelation Speaks Peace.

Both English and Spanish-speaking churches have been revived by this evangelistic effort. In the English-speaking churches, more than 120 laypeople from 16 churches have completed a seven-week Bible instructor’s series taught by Luke and Susan Skelton. They are now following up with Bible study requests from the community — and are averaging 200 studies per week.

Additional activities have included small home Bible studies, a pastors’ training course, convocations, a “Prayer Warriors” workshop, vegetarian cooking classes and much more. At the same time, 11 “Souls West” students have actively given Bible studies in the Phoenix area and distributed invitations for the NET series as well as its related events.

Wilcox said of the efforts, “I know that God is preparing the way for a tremendous blessing on the Arizona Conference. McKey and Keyes have provided an atmosphere of unity and urgency — everyone has been included in the evangelism process, and the results have been amazing!”

Grieve and It Is Written Hispanic Coordinator Robert Costa have led the Hispanic efforts for NET 2006. Currently, the Hispanic churches are working in tandem with their English counterparts to invite Spanish-speaking Phoenix residents to the series. The churches have come together to hold rallies, convocations and two major metropolitan evangelistic series — one in Phoenix and another in Tucson. The churches are also conducting 50 small group Bible studies using New Beginnings, The Appearing, and A Man for All Time DVD programs. As a complement to these efforts, more than 200 individual Spanish Bible studies are taking place.

McKey is thrilled with the way the conference has come together to reach Phoenix through Revelation Speaks Peace — Unlocking the Signs. “This is the first NET evangelistic meeting Arizona has ever hosted,” he said. “By God’s grace, we’re expecting incredible results.”

The meetings begin March 10 in the Celebrity Theatre located at 440 North 32nd Street in Phoenix. There will be two meetings per night — one at 5 p.m. and another at 7:30 p.m. Those in the Phoenix area may register to attend the meetings by calling 866-707-3223.

Those who do not live near Phoenix are invited to attend a location near them. To find the host site near you, call 888-96-SIGNS (888-967-4467) or visit www.unlockthesigns.com.