Earlier in December the Rugby Branch of The Gideons International had the pleasure of presenting Badged Testaments to Prison Officers and staff at HMP Onley in Warwickshire, the very first presentation of its kind.

David Spademan, Managing Chaplain at HMP Onley, gave the following report:

“Many of us will remember The Gideons from when we were eleven years old and in Secondary School. Some may still have the red covered pocket size New Testament from presentations by local members of The Gideons.

The Gideons have been quietly at work in prisons giving out Bibles and New Testaments for many years.

Steve West of Rugby Branch presents a Badged Presentation Bible to Managing Chaplain David Spademan

Following a conversation in HMP Onley between members of The Gideons and Managing Chaplain David Spademan,  a new initiative for prison staff has been launched. The Gideons kindly offered to donate copies of The New Testament and Psalms which are embossed with the establishment logo.

During a Full Staff Briefing on Wednesday 2 December 2015, the initiative was launched. Governor Steve Ruddy and Managing Chaplain David Spademan were presented with Bibles embossed with the HMP Onley Logo. Copies of the Badged Testaments were made available to any member of staff or partner agencies who requested one. For those not on duty on the day copies are made available through the Chaplaincy. The Gideons have generously agree to provide more Testament for new starters.

The presentation was very well received and staff commented that it was good to have an initiative that was directed towards them.

Governor Steve Ruddy commented that ‘It is important to support staff in as many ways as possible regarding care and welfare. This initiative provides a spiritual support for those who wish to take advantage of the generosity of The Gideons’.”

We give thanks to the Lord for enabling this to happen and pray that more doors like this will be opened around the country during 2016.

As we come towards the end of 2015 we look back at another year in which the Lord has truly blessed The Gideon ministry. This week during our Staff Devotions at National Office, as well as focusing on the reason why we celebrate Christmas, we have been giving thanks to God for all that He has done for us over the past year.

Some of the highlights include over 420,000 young people receiving a little red Testament at a school in the British Isles during 2015.

Following the success of our work with the Boys Brigade we received permission to work alongside the Girls Brigade to present their members with a copy of God’s Word embossed with their badge and over the past twelve months members have presented over 28,000 boys and girls with this unique gift at Companies around the country.

This year saw the number of Badged Testaments distributed surpass the quarter of a million mark in less than five years including the first ever presentation of Badged Testaments to prison officers.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our members, Friends, churches and donors for your prayers and support over the past year.

We wish you a very Happy Christmas  and every blessing for the New Year,

The Gideons International in the British Isles

“For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6