This morning I decided to visit some friends who worship in St Clements Church in Neyland, Pembrokeshire.
As I sat by my friend Betty, a birthday card was handed to me to write a greeting in. I was told it was for Stan who will be 102 years old later this month.
After the service I was having a cup of tea and, seeing Stan in his best suit looking very smart, I decided to have a little chat with him. Stan looked familiar to me and I asked him if he had been present when The Gideons had given a presentation at the church just a couple of years ago. Stan replied that he had, and that he had later received a large print New Testament and Psalms from The Gideons as he now had trouble reading his small Gideon New Testament.
I had been at that presentation and I remembered meeting Stan after the service and he told me how he got that little New Testament. I was blessed that he repeated the story to me again that morning, so that I can share it with my Brothers and Sisters.
Many years ago, Stan’s son Terrence was seriously ill in Morriston Hospital. Whilst in hospital, Terrence was given a Gideon New Testament for his personal use. Sadly, Terrence passed away at the age of only twenty two and his father Stan received the little Testament and took it home.
I remember when we first met Stan and, with a small tear in the corner of his eye, he shared how he had read that Gideon New Testament every day, practically wearing it out. It had meant so much to him.
Later on, his vicar Rev Alan Chadwick, had emailed me to see if we might be able to provide a large print Gideon Testament for Stan, so that he might continue to enjoy God’s Word as his eyesight is now failing. Thankfully we were able to provide the largest size Testament that The Gideons have printed and I was able to drop it off for Stan.
I was told by Alan that the Testament had been very well received and was a great comfort to Stan as he passed the age of 100 years old.
So this morning, after realising who Stan was, I asked him how he was finding the large print Testament. “It’s the best thing I have ever been given” was Stan’s firm reply, wagging his finger as he said those words with a smile. “I keep it in the kitchen and read it after breakfast every day and it’s on the shelf for everyone to see!”
I don’t know who in the Swansea area gave Stan’s son, Terrence, that first Gideon New Testament whilst he was in Morriston Hospital, but I do know that it has been well loved and a great encouragement, especially to Stan. That little New Testament is still treasured by Stan but as he reaches 102 years young he is very, very grateful that the Gideons also do Testaments in large print!
We may never know where our Gideon New Testament and Bibles will end up, or whose lives they may touch on their journey…but God knows, and that’s good enough to encourage me and my Gideon friends to keep giving them out here in South West Wales.
Yours in Christ
Andrew Scadden, Pembrokeshire Branch of The Gideons
Taking the gospel to the people in Kansas city
witnessing
A young woman receives a New Testament from a Gideon in Kansas City, during July’s International Convention.
As Christians who believe the truth of God’s Word, members of The Gideons International are passionate about sharing Scriptures and telling others about what God has done in their lives.
So, when 2,233 of our members from 92 countries, territories, and possessions, gathered in Kansas City, Missouri this past July for our International Convention, many took time to talk about Jesus with the people they encountered in hotels, restaurants, and on the sidewalks. Here are just a few testimonies from those conversations.
lorraine
Joanne, an Auxiliary from Pennsylvania, leads Lorraine in a prayer to receive Jesus.Lorraine has experienced some difficult times in life. Joanne Sanders, who serves as an Auxiliary with the Blair South Camp, Pennsylvania, saw Lorraine on the sidewalk in Kansas City and offered her a New Testament. Joanne took time to share how Jesus loved her enough to die for her sins, and He offers salvation to those who place their trust in Him. This was welcome news to Lorraine. With Joanne’s help, she prayed to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
john
John, a hotel desk clerk in Kansas City, signs the New Testament he received from a Gideon. Moments earlier, John prayed to receive Christ.
Justo Escobar, who serves as a Gideon with the Live Oak Camp, Florida, asked the desk clerk at his hotel if he had received a New Testament from The Gideons that week. The clerk, John, said indeed he had. Justo shared how John could be one hundred percent sure he would go to heaven at the end of his life by accepting Jesus into his heart. He then asked John if he would like to make that decision, and John welcomed the opportunity.
brian
Vicki with Brian as he signs his New Testament noting his decision to receive Christ.On Tuesday, Vicki Wettig, an Auxiliary with the Lancaster Central Camp, Pennsylvania, saw a security guard walking down the hall of the convention center. “I determined in my heart if he walked back by me, I would share a New Testament,” says Vicki. The guard, Brian, did walk back by and Vicki followed through on her commitment, pulling a New Testament from her handbag.
She showed Brian the New Testament and landed on the back page, which reveals God’s plan of salvation. Vicki told Brian the New Testament answered life’s most important question of where we will spend eternity.
“I asked him if he would like to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior, so he could have the assurance of spending eternity in heaven,” said Vicki. Brian replied, “Yes.”
Vicki then led Brian in a prayer to confess his sins and accept God’s forgiveness. “Afterwards, he kept hugging me, and thanking me for caring enough to talk to him,” said Vicki. As they finished their conversation, Vicki encouraged Brian to seek out a Bible-believing church.
hannah
Chuck Smith, a Gideon with the Herman Bay Camp, Florida, was having lunch with three other Gideons. Their server was Hannah. They asked Hannah how they could pray for her. Hannah told the men about a number of challenges she was facing and confessed she was extremely conflicted about her purpose in life.
One of the Gideons shared about her namesake in the Bible. Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, was a woman who also had her share of challenges.
The men continued to talk with Hannah. They showed her more verses using a New Testament. Hannah agreed it was time to give her life to Jesus. “Holding hands, she prayed with us to receive Jesus,” said Chuck. “We then went to other tables of Gideons in the restaurant and introduced them to our new sister in Christ.”
theo
During the week of International Convention, Gideons, including the one seated on the left in this photo, explained the message of the Gospel as they shared copies of God’s Word with those they encountered around Kansas City.Dr. Wallace Donaldson, who serves as a Gideon in the Sunnyside Camp, Washington, met Theo, who was waiting to catch a bus ride to work. The two began to talk and the conversation turned to spiritual matters. Theo said he had attended church with his grandparents while growing up. As an adult out living on his own, he was not involved in a church. Wallace gave Theo a New Testament and began to lead Theo through the plan of salvation printed in the back. “I told him about God’s great love for him,” said Wallace. Theo then made a personal decision for Christ. Wallace encouraged him to connect with a Bible-believing church where he could continue to grow in his faith.
sydney
Dr. Kim Powell, a Gideon with the Toledo East Camp, Ohio, was dining with other members of The Gideons International at a restaurant. He asked their server, a young lady named Sydney, if she had any prayer requests as they blessed their meal. She asked if they could pray for her father who was undergoing cancer treatment. Having recently graduated from art school, she also asked for prayers for her future career endeavors. They lifted Sydney’s requests up in prayer. After the meal, Sydney returned to their table with the check and Dr. Powell offered her a New Testament. He then engaged her in a conversation about God’s Word. “I briefly shared my testimony and asked her if she knew for sure where she was going when this life was over,” said Dr. Powell.
Sydney responded she wasn’t sure but would like to know. Dr. Powell then shared the Gospel with her, extending an invitation for her to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Sydney accepted that opportunity and invited Jesus into her heart.
Christopher
Ron Hopkins, who serves in the Tazewell Camp, Illinois, and Craig Dunn of the Merrimack Valley Camp, Massachusetts, were walking along the sidewalk in Kansas City and encountered two men engaged in a spiritual discussion. Ron and Craig presented the two men with New Testaments. One of the men, Christopher, quickly became interested in the verses printed in the back explaining God’s plan of salvation. Craig began leading Christopher through the verses explaining how the writer of the Gospel of John was a fisherman who had left his nets at the Lord’s invitation to follow him. “Christopher identified with that example,” said Craig. “In the course of our conversation, he said, ‘That’s it! That’s what I need!’” Christopher then signed his New Testament, confirming his decision to follow Christ.
allen
Bonita Montes serves as an Auxiliary with the Baybay Camp in the Philippines. She arrived at the historic City Market in Kansas City, joined by two other Christians who support The Gideons International as Friends of Gideons. All three bowed their heads and asked God to lead them to the person with whom they should share the Gospel. Moments later in the food court, they were prompted to talk with a man sitting alone on a bench. “Can you recommend a good place to eat?” they asked. The man suggested a nearby restaurant, and Bonita continued talking with him.
The man’s name was Allen. Bonita asked if he knew Jesus. “Yes,” he replied. She mentioned how short life is, and he agreed. “I asked Allen if he was sure what would happen to him if his life suddenly came to an end. He was not sure, so I pulled out the New Testament I was carrying,” says Bonita. “I explained to him the verses in the front of the New Testament, then I turned to the back pages and shared God’s plan of salvation which reveals how to establish a relationship with Jesus in order to go to heaven.” Bonita shared how Allen could be saved, as Jesus was God’s Son who came and died for our sins, then was buried and arose on the third day. Allen listened sincerely and kept nodding his head and saying, “Yes, ma’am,” as Bonita asked if he understood the Scripture passages.
“Allen, would you be willing to trust Jesus and receive Him into your heart?” Bonita asked. She explained that the moment he received Jesus, he would become a child of God and he would go to heaven when his life on earth was over. Allen agreed to let Bonita lead him in prayer to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Bonita Montes, an Auxiliary from the Philippines, leads Allen in a prayer to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
“Afterwards, Allen smiled, and his gloomy eyes lit up,” she said. She told him to read God’s Word as his daily spiritual food. “He nodded, looking at me attentively. He smiled, and then we said goodbye,” said Bonita. “To God be the glory.”
Coming back to the Lord
Dear all at Gideons,
My name is Neill Hudson. I am a 50 year old Christian who used to work for the Salvation Army. I had just got married, and like most young families we were finding things tough financially. I left the Salvation Army employment and as things became more difficult, the more hours I would work. Eventually I found myself working seven days a week just to keep our heads above water.
A few years came and went and I worked what seemed like incredibly long hours and saw less and less of my family and I missed them as much as I know they missed me. I became incredibly tired and eventually went to see the family doctor who took some blood for tests.
I went back to work and the following morning I received a phone call telling me I had late-onset type 1 diabetes. A diagnosis I was shocked but not particularly surprised by as all my family were diagnosed with the same condition. Anyway, I not only walked away from the Lord but I committed one of the worst sins I could, I led my family away from the Lord also.
On the 13 September 2017 I was admitted to Cheltenham General Hospital where I was operated on and had my left leg amputated below the knee. Today, Monday 18 September, I was sat in my wheelchair feeling sorry for myself, packing my belongings away in my locker when I found a New Testament and Psalms placed by The Gideons.
I let it fall open and you hear of people having these wonderful epiphanies but there it was! Psalm 46, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
What a foolish man I have been. I tried leading my family when all I needed to do was leave it with the Lord. I’ve done that tonight in my hospital bed. I rang my wife and we prayed together on the phone and we are going to go back to church.
Things are still quite tough but I am excited after rededicating my life to the Lord. Please feel free to use this witness statement because I will be telling everyone, not as my own glory, but the Lords.
Neill Hudson
more than an artifact
testimony
Greg Blood enjoys sharing about Native American history and artifacts—almost as much as sharing about what the Lord has done in his life. On any given day, he can be found sorting through some of his greatest hobbies, from gardening to archaeology. For most of his life, Greg has loved being outdoors. “From a young age, I have been blessed with a creative ability, the gift of working with my hands, and I’ve never been afraid of labor,” says Greg—Papa to his grandchildren. Though his passion for life and the Lord is evident to anyone who knows him, the journey to where he is today has been nothing short of rocky.
Greg grew up in a broken home in Los Angeles, California. By the age of 13, he had seen and committed more crime than any child could imagine. As a teenager, most of his time was spent on the run. Greg wanted to go anywhere with anyone who would let him join along. At one point, he traveled with a band to a concert they performed. Greg remembers hearing the Gospel message, but he swept the words away as quickly as they came. “My life was void of family, purpose, and satisfaction. I was in darkness, and I didn’t know it,” says Greg.
While trying to catch a ride one day, a car passed by and began to slow down. Not knowing this homeless teenager, an elderly lady behind the wheel rolled down her window just enough to reach out her hand. She gave Greg a New Testament from The Gideons along with a simple statement, “God told me to give this to you.” Before he could thank her, she drove away. Inside the New Testament was a US$20 bill, which could not have come at a better time. He thumbed through the New Testament and put it in his bag. Periodically, he would open it and read a few verses. “It was just something to do,” he remembers. However, God was using those verses to begin softening his heart.
At age 17, he discovered his mother was living in Houston, Texas, so he made his way to her home to stay for a while. She would take him to different odd jobs with family members in an attempt to keep him occupied. A friend from her church spent some time with Greg, and shared about Christ from time to time. Those conversations began stirring something inside of Greg’s heart and mind. Contemplating his life and what he had been told about the Lord, he knew it was time to accept Christ to be his Savior. Walking down the sidewalk of Bunker Hill Road in Houston, Greg fell to his knees, confessed his sins, and prayed to receive Christ.
“On the day I got saved, I was born again,” said Greg. “I didn’t just pray a prayer—God changed me instantly. I was praying in the presence of the God who was forgiving me, and that’s how I’ve prayed ever since.”
No Trace of Wrongdoing
Greg found strength in his newfound faith, and he wanted to pay the consequences for the crimes he had committed. He made his way back to Los Angeles, and tried to turn himself in at a local jail. They turned him away because the jail was full. After several more attempts to confess what he had done, Greg learned his record had been cleared when he turned 18.
Through reaching out to a cousin and an uncle in Texas, Greg was connected to a boys’ home in Corpus Christi. He stayed there for several months, growing in his faith as a believer and studying that New Testament regularly.
In 1981, Greg married his wife, Nacole, who he met in the Corpus Christi area. She was also a believer. Not having any example of a good father, Greg felt inadequate and fearful to start a family. However, this made Greg completely trust the Lord for direction each step of the way. Today, their three children have all been saved and seek to follow Christ.
While he considers his family one of his greatest accomplishments, Greg is most fulfilled by how the Lord continues to use him. “My greatest achievement is to be able to lead people to Jesus. I witness to people wherever I go.” He admires the ministry of The Gideons International and the powerful ways God reaches people through His Word. He does not know where or how that lady got the New Testament, only that it became one of his most prized possessions. “We should take every chance we can to share the Word of Life. The reward is eternal,” said Greg.
“I am always blessed to see that God is faithful, and I praise Him for the truths and promises of Scripture.” —Greg Blood
Thinking back to that woman who stepped out of her comfort zone to give him a New Testament, Greg credits that single act as “the greatest act of love I’ve ever known.” What seemed to be a book he did not know much about became a treasure of indescribable value.
Greg’s life is a powerful demonstration of how God arranges people and circumstances to lead people to eternal life. The pages of Scripture contain the greatest gift anyone could ever receive. May those who serve through The Gideons International faithfully continue reaching others for Christ through sharing a personal word of witness along with God’s Holy Word—trusting He will produce the harvest.
Tragedy Inspires A Song
Member
© Don Moen Productions (used by permission)
The song “God Will Make A Way” has been sung by millions during worship in churches throughout the world. While you may know the song, what you may not know is the story behind it.
The song was written by Don Moen, a Dove Award-winning songwriter in Nashville, TN whose songs and recordings have sold millions of copies. In addition to leading worship on six continents, Moen has also performed with other Christian artists including Chris Tomlin, Laura Story, and Michael W. Smith.
Don recently visited the headquarters of The Gideons International and led the staff in worship during the morning devotion time. During his visit, he shared how he came to write the song.
“The song ‘God Will Make A Way’ was written for a very tragic situation in my family,” says Moen. Years ago, the Moen family received a phone call from a relative. The young son of Don’s sister-in-law was killed in a car accident as the family was traveling from Oklahoma to Colorado. The boy’s parents, Dr. Craig Phelps and his wife, Susan, serve in The Gideons International Elk City Camp, Oklahoma.
Seeking spiritual comfort as he traveled out to Oklahoma for the funeral, Don spent time reading Scripture. One passage he read on the airplane was Isaiah, chapter 43. He was then led by the Lord to pen the lyrics to what became, “God Will Make A Way.”
While visiting with Craig and Susan, Don sat down at the piano in their living room. “This is a song the Lord gave me, and I want to play it for you,” he told the grieving couple. He then played the song. When he finished singing, he could see the couple was visibly moved.
“I knew there would be days to come when they would feel lonely,” says Don. He left them a copy of his performance of the song to listen to in such times. He says the song is meant to bring hope to people who feel they are in a hopeless situation.
“To see how God will take a song and impact not only people, but nations, that’s always the most humbling thing.”
© Don Moen Productions (used by permission)
It wasn’t until about two years later that Don would play the song again. First, during a worship service at a church, and then while he was leading a staff worship service at his music publisher’s offices. After the service, one of those in attendance approached Don and asked, “Why haven’t you recorded this?”
“It’s become one of my most well-known songs, yet I didn’t write it with the intention of recording it,” he says, having now played the song for millions around the world. “To see how God will take a song and impact not only people, but nations, that’s always the most humbling thing.”
“I’ve always prayed God would let me write songs that would help me touch people in their spirit, not their intellect. When I see that happening I can only say, ‘Thank God.’”
In the years since their son’s death, the Phelps’ have been able to reach out to others who’ve experienced personal tragedies and share Christ’s love with them. After the song’s success, Craig told Don, “Because of your song, Jeremy has probably reached more people through his death than he ever could have through his life.”
Don not only admires Craig and Susan for their continued faithful service in The Gideons International, but he also is inspired by the entire membership of The Gideons. “What I love about The Gideons is that they always seem to stay true to the mission of getting the word of God into people’s hands.”
“As the Lord tells us in Isaiah 55:11, when you put His Word in someone’s hands it will not return void, but it will accomplish that purpose whereunto it was sent,” says Don.
© Don Moen Productions (used by permission)
Now God Will Make A Way: A Time for Prayer, A Time for Unity, A Time for Healing is a full musical which Don is taking on tour, complete with choirs and musicians. He says the idea for the musical was inspired by the division he’s seeing in the USA and beyond, and how that division has spread from the political arena to the church.
“The devil’s strategy is to divide and conquer,” says Don. “If he can divide us as a church, he can divide us as a nation. We’ve got to come to agreement on the things we can agree upon, including the truth of God’s Word. What we need as a nation is a revival, a visitation from God. It’s time to bring people together.”
A suicidal prisoner
I have had the privilege to have been invited into Albany and Parkhurst Prisons by the Prison Chaplain during the past few weeks. On the 24th July I was able to spend three hours with 21 prisoners at Albany Prison, Isle of Wight. It was a time of great blessing as I was able to share what the Lord is doing through The Gideons International and sharing a number of testimonies of the power of the Word of God.
One prisoner pulled out from the inside of his trousers a polythene bag with his Gideon Testament he received at school in 1976. At the end of my presentation one prisoner asked for prayer and another one wanted to know how he could become a Christian.
On the 7th August I visited Parkhurst Prison, Isle of Wight and spent two hours with fifteen prisoners. Once again it was a time of real blessing.
One prisoner shared his testimony with me. When he entered the prison he was given a Gideon Bible by the Prison Chaplain. When he was given the Bible he said he had no use for it and put it to one side. However, after two years he decided he could take no more and had decided to end his life. He saved up all his sleeping tablets in preparation to take them all at once.
The time arrived when he was prepared to end his life and got the glass of water ready. He put the tablets into his mouth and as he put the glass of water to his lips he heard a voice saying, “I am with you” at which time he spat the tablets out of his mouth and turned to the Gideon Bible and grasped it and said, “Is that you Lord?” As a result of this experience he started reading the Bible and realised he needed the Lord and asked the Lord to forgive him and invited Him into his life.
Every blessing
Gordon Ainger, Member of The Gideons Isle of Wight Branch
Finding Help with cancer
Dear Gideons,
I have recently been in the Royal United Hospital, Bath, with a very serious illness (a cancer growth in my spine and lung). This was a terrible shock as it came on very suddenly and as you can imagine I was devastated.
I just wanted to tell you what a comfort it was to find your little Bible in my bedside cabinet, I don’t know what I would have done without it – the ‘Where To Find Help’ in the front of the Bible is amazing and gave me so much hope. I also thought it was lovely to receive visits from The Gideons in Bath – such nice people and so helpful to be able to pray with them.
The good news I can give you is that the emergency radiotherapy and drugs they have given me have worked wonders and I am now home as the CAT scan showed that the cancer has disappeared. The consultants exact words were that the scan showed no cancer as before and that they are so pleased with me but it is a complete mystery to them how this could happen so quickly.
I have no doubt the medical things helped but I know that the prayers from all my friends and especially the Bath Gideons have been the main reason for my recovery.
I cannot thank you enough and hope you will keep up such good work in the hospitals.
God bless you
Margaret
Merseyside Police testaments
Hello All,
A few weeks ago, we received an email from Tony Lovering, Scripture Manager for The Gideons International, regarding the Christian Police Association National Day of Prayer.
Our Branch had been in contact with Alan, a Community Engagement Officer with the Merseyside Police and asked if they would like to receive some New Testaments, embossed with the Merseyside Police crest on the front. Alan had already received some before which had all been passed on to either Officers or retired Officers.
We had a small stock left which I passed on and ordered another 100 which I took round to the Police Headquarters one afternoon. Alan was delighted to receive them and other Officers were coming over and asking for one before I had even finished opening the box!
God’s Blessings
Ron Barber, Member of the Wirral South Branch of The Gideons
Madagascar and Spain: Two Blitzes, One Purpose
Testimony
As Christians, we are called to make disciples. In ministry through The Gideons International, Gideons and Auxiliary accomplish this calling by associating together for service, sharing personal testimonies, and placing and distributing copies of God’s Word. Our ministry requires steps of faith. We never know how the Lord will use a single copy of His Word to touch lives, but we trust He always will.
Over the past several months, a number of countries have hosted International Scripture Blitzes, including Madagascar and Spain. While these are two countries with seemingly different cultural perspectives on the value of God’s Word, the Lord used Gideons and Auxiliary in both to reach others with the Gospel.
No problems in Madagascar
Madagascar is a mostly rural country. With a per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$1,500, it is also one of the poorest countries in the world. The Gideons International first organized in Madagascar in 1979. Today, there are 75 Gideon camps with a total of 585 Gideons and 481 Auxiliary in Madagascar.
The blitz committee in Madagascar was chaired by Dr. Raminoelina from Madagascar’s Antananarivo Analakely Gideon Camp. “Dr. Raminoelina was undoubtedly the Lord’s man for this job. He inspired, encouraged, and challenged me every day,” says blitz team leader Dennis Donnelly with the Osage Gideon Camp in Kansas.
There are seven Gideon camps in the city of Antananarivo, and each camp had four teams working each day. Commitments from 103 Gideons and 72 Auxiliary to help with the blitz, resulted in 28 teams.
The unofficial name of this blitz could be the “No Problem Scripture Blitz.” When Donnelly met with the local blitz committee, the first question he asked Dr. Raminoelina was, “The goal is 200,000 Scriptures, which is a large goal. Can we make the goal?”
“No problem,” Dr. Raminoelina replied.
“Do we have a car, driver, and interpreter to go with each team every day?” Donnelly then asked.
Dr. Raminoelina responded again, “No problem.”
“Does every team have a list of at least six schools to visit each day?”
“No problem.”
“Have the Scriptures been pre-delivered to the schools?”
“No problem.”
“Have appointments been made with each school so they know when we will be coming?
“No problem.”
In every instance, Dr. Raminoelina’s assurances proved true for accomplishing the mission. Teams were assigned cars, drivers, and interpreters; appointments were made with every school where distributions were to take place, and the Scriptures were pre-delivered, secured in storage, and waiting for Gideons when they arrived.
“We visited 763 schools, and as far as I know, we had no problems,” says Donnelly.
Schools welcomed Gideons with open arms. In most cases, as Gideons arrived, students were gathered together in one assembly, which allowed Gideons to present the Gospel message and distribute personal copies of God’s Word to each student, all in a single gathering.
Many team members expressed how humbled they felt to be used by God to reach so many students at once.
Distributions at university campuses were just as successful. Five Gideons were distributing Scriptures at one large university. The team was originally supplied with 2,500 New Testaments, which were distributed in one hour, averaging 41 people per minute receiving a Scripture. Many students sincerely thanked the Gideons for what they were doing.
A request for more Scriptures was sent to others on the team, and another 2,500 New Testaments were soon delivered. Students received all of those, too. That day, in less than three hours, 5,000 New Testaments were distributed by five Gideons.
a strong finish
By the end of the week, 300,629 Scriptures were placed and distributed by Gideons and Auxiliary at schools, universities, hotels, hospitals, jails, and other approved locations. The majority of those who received a Scripture would likely never have the financial capacity to purchase one.
Bjorn Berg, a Gideon from Germany who served on the blitz team, was excited for the receptivity to the Gospel in Madagascar. It was a sharp contrast to the challenges he experiences in terms of sharing God’s Word at schools in his homeland.
“It is incredible that the school gates here are widely open for us to distribute God’s Word.” Berg was further encouraged that the Madagascar school headmasters asked Gideons to come back to their schools for future distributions.
It was a marvelous experience for me to be able to give New Testaments to the Malagasy people,” says Berg. “Now there are 300,000 more road signs in Madagascar leading to Christ.”
Steve Stanley from the Grand Mesa Camp in Colorado, who also served on the team, was overjoyed in regards to the response. “I was truly amazed at how open and eager to receive God’s Word the people of Madagascar were. Their attitude was completely different than what I encounter in the USA.”
a different world in spain
Madagascar and Spain are just over 5,000 miles apart. However, they are much further apart in terms of culture and economic conditions.
More than half of Spain’s population of 48 million people identifies as Roman Catholic. Evangelical Christians account for a very small percentage of the population. The first Gideon camp was organized in Spain in 1968. Today, there are 247 Gideons and 109 Auxiliary serving in 47 camps in Spain.
This past April, Spain hosted an International Scripture Blitz in the city of Granada. Standing on a street corner, the sight of new cars and people dressed in modern attire make it apparent the overall culture in Granada is significantly different than that of Madagascar. With a per capita GDP of US$36,500, the people of Spain enjoy a high standard of living.
Gideons throughout Spain travelled to help blitz efforts in Granada. They came from Seville, Cordoba, Jaén, Algeciras, Almeria, Bilbao, Valencia, Zaragoza—just over seven hours away—and Madrid—roughly four hours away.
José Maria Bermejo from the Madrid South West Camp serves as church ministry coordinator for The Gideons International in Spain. He was very instrumental in the blitz planning. Bermejo says there is a real lack of interest for God’s Word in Spain’s Roman Catholic community and a pervasive indifference to all things related to God throughout Spain. He says those two factors make it very difficult to share God’s Word with the people of Spain.
However, Gideons were faithful to do their part during the blitz week. Scripture distributions took place at 12 schools, 16 universities, and at the offices of the national and local police, as well as the civil guard.
Security personnel on university campuses kept a close eye on the distributions. In accordance with local university policies, as well as our own Association policies, Gideons faithfully shared copies of God’s Word with those students who were open to accepting one. As they had opportunity, Gideons shared their own personal testimonies, further explaining to students how the Lord had worked in their lives.
While there were reports of many students refusing Scriptures, and even in some cases handing them back, Gideons remained positive throughout the distributions. They were encouraged by positive comments from university professors who thanked them for doing an extraordinary job in sharing God’s Word with the students.
A sweeping vista of Granada, Spain
Granada’s Pastors and churches show support
Pastors of the evangelical congregations in Granada were very supportive of Gideons serving in their community. Pastor Manuel Cabrera provided housing for several Gideons who had traveled from other parts of Spain. One church also provided a new van for Gideons to use during the week.
Gideons gave presentations in eight churches in Granada, and every church was generous in their giving to provide for God’s Word. A Pastors Appreciation Banquet was also held, which allowed pastors to hear how the Lord was working through the ministry of The Gideons International in their communities.
Gideons in Spain diligently work to strengthen relationships with local evangelical churches, as Gideons do worldwide. These partnerships result in more people receiving a copy of God’s Word. “We are sure that the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of people throughout the city of Granada,” adds Bermejo.
Different Number, Same Strong Finish
At the end of the blitz in Spain, the team rejoiced that over 22,000 more Scriptures were in the hands of people in Granada than had been there days before.
These two blitzes were complete opposites on many levels, yet God worked through Gideons and Auxiliary to accomplish the single purpose of sharing the Gospel. “We’re called to go and be witnesses,” says Donnelly. “In each blitz, we did what we were called to do.”
Warcop Army Training Camp
Hi Everyone
Greetings from sunny Cumbria.
Yesterday, bright and early, Jim and Jenny McCallum along with William and June Allen from South Lakeland Branch visited the Army Training Camp at Warcop in Cumbria. Nearly 400 Cadets from the Lothian and Borders Battalion were in the camp for two weeks training.
Their Padre, Cameron Mackenzie, a fantastic Christian ambassador, gave the Cadets a wonderful “Gideon Talk” on the parade ground, using the illustration of a sat nav. He emphasised the need for direction and guidance in all the complexities of life. The Bible provides both.
Jim then made a presentation of an Army Cadet Force Badged Camouflage Testament to a 17 year old young Cadet which was gratefully received after which we ended up in the camp coffee shop talking with the uniformed Army Cadet trainers.
A very worthwhile experience!
