“This morning in Stockholm a couple discussed over breakfast the thoughts that they recently had about religion and things spiritual.
They flew into London Heathrow and then sat next to me on my flight to Miami en route to Jamaica.
We enjoyed good conversation over the ten hour flight and towards the end of it I offered them a truly wonderful souvenir of their trip to Europe, namely a Gideon Bible each and one for the man’s mum with whom he lived.
When I told them of the Gospel and God’s love for them by sending His Son to die for us it became apparent that God had appointed the three of us to meet in the sky and share the Good News! They both, together, responded to God’s call and trusted Him for their salvation.
They were so impressed with the Scriptures and kept on looking at the ‘Helps’ section in the Gideon New Testaments saying how useful it would be for them and were eager to sign the believers prayer at the back. The three of us were just blow away by it all! They were so enthusiastic about their future and the promises that we all have about that. We all prayed as we approached landing and I leaned towards them to be heard over the engine.
All’s well until I get to Miami to find the two hour queues to get processed made me miss my flight and then on top a two and three quarter hour wait to sort out immigration and tracing my luggage took another hour of queuing.
But you know I would just love to go through all that again. I said to them after all that I could go home mission accomplished! I asked them to write their names in my book so I, we, could pray for them and I have just looked it up and I see they have written “best flight ever!”
Their names are Cali and Veronica and they live in Costa Rica. Cali’s sister and brother in law are Christian missionaries; been praying for them no doubt…so should we!
May God bless you and all honour and glory go to Him…WOW God is great!”
Sharing Peace By Sharing God’s Word
While earning his degree at South Texas College, Daniel Silguero received a New Testament from a Gideon participating in a Scripture distribution. Already a believer, he thanked the Gideon, slipped the New Testament into his backpack and promptly forgot about it.
On 24 July 2015, Daniel was diagnosed with leukemia. The news came as a terrible shock to him and his family. “You are never prepared to hear something like that,” says Daniel, who now lives with his family in Weslaco, Texas. “It was devastating. I did not know how to comprehend the news.”
He began to consider what the road ahead would look like and how the cancer would affect the remainder of his life, as well as the lives of his wife, Maricela, and his two young children, Danielle and Andrew. Just as he was beginning to lose hope, Daniel came across the New Testament that had been handed to him years earlier.
He read the New Testament cover to cover and was surprised by how much encouragement it brought him. “I cannot express how helpful that New Testament was,” he says. “It was small enough that I was able to carry it with me everywhere. The more I studied it, the more it continued to bring me closer to God. It was a frightening time but the Word gave me hope. I knew that no matter what, I needed to have faith that God would see me through it.”
Sixteen days after his diagnosis, Daniel went into remission. It was a miraculous turn of events that left his oncologist stunned. For the Silguero family, it was a humbling demonstration of the incredible power of prayer. “God is mighty,” says Daniel. “Matthew 17:20 tells us that faith as small as a mustard seed can make great things happen. I am living testimony that this is true.”
Daniel’s experience convinced him that he needed to be more intentional about witnessing to others so they could experience the same peace he is experiencing. He decided one way to do that was to sign up to become a Friend of The Gideons. As a Friend, Daniel has opportunities to participate closely with Gideons in reaching the lost with God’s Word. He also receives regular updates about the impact Gideons are making throughout the world.
“After everything I have been through and all the battles I fought, I have realised that there is a tremendous amount of need,” he says. “So many people either do not know God or are too involved in their daily routine that they forget about how He can deliver them from their pain and hardships. The Gideon New Testament was given to me so that I would have it in my most desperate time of need, and it gave me peace when I needed it most. In return, I would like to continue spreading His Word by providing people with New Testaments.”
Daniel plans to take New Testaments to the cancer centre he visits so he can provide them to the patients undergoing treatment. He explains, “When you get news like the news that was given to me, it is devastating. The people undergoing treatment are in a lot of pain, both physically and emotionally. I know that receiving a New Testament will be a real blessing, just like it was to me.”
“I feel connected to The Gideons by being a Friend,” says Daniel. “I am thankful for the opportunity to be part of this Association, because I know that we are making a difference in the world.”
As a Friend of The Gideons, you can impact the next generation where they are – in the classrooms of 200 countries around the world. Your gifts make sure when students fill school rooms, the hands of each student are also filled with a copy of the Word of God.
Since the introduction of Friends Testaments two and a half years ago, copies of the New Testament and Psalms that registered Friends of The Gideons can purchase, over 25,000 copies have been handed out by Friends of The Gideons in the British Isles.
Become a Friend of The Gideons today and watch God use you to reach many in His name. Click here and sign up today.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you”
Dear Gideons,
I recently had cause to be on an overnight ferry going to mainland Scotland. In my cabin I found myself reading through a copy of your New Testament and Psalms, the blue hardback version. While I’ve never considered myself to be a Christian in the proper sense I have always had a firm belief in God, though my knowledge of the Bible would be somewhat limited.
I found reading your New Testament and Psalms a most comforting, and most illuminating experience, which ended up occupying some four or five hours of my time, all told. In particular I thought your introduction and your suggested readings and references very helpful.
Your version, with its encouraging words and references is exactly what I need, as I’m not “Biblically literate” and I’d like some help in getting started.
Yours Sincerely
Martin
Equipping The World’s Military For Spiritual Battle
The Gideons International officially began distributing Scriptures to soldiers in 1941 at induction centres under the motto, “arm them with the Gospel too.” While Gideons are mostly known for placing God’s Word in hotels, reaching the lost with the Gospel includes the distribution of Scriptures at the military installations of a number of countries include the USA, The British Isles, The Republic of China, Korea, Latin America, West Africa and Japan. Last year, Gideons placed and distributed over 1.7 million Service Testaments.
As Christians, we are all called into a spiritual battle. Ours is a fight for the hearts of men, women, boys and girls. By sharing God’s Word with the military, Gideons are equipping servicemen and servicewomen with the greatest weapon of all:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Just In Time For Pearl Harbor
In 1940, Charles J. Pietsch, a members of The Gideons International, felt led to contact the Chief Chaplains of both the U.S. Army and Navy. He was seeking permission to give a copy of the New Testament to every man and woman in the armed forces of the US who wished to receive one.
Navy Chief Chaplain R.D. Workman met with Mr. Pietsch in Washington DC and immediately granted approval to the proposal to offer Testaments to naval personnel.
So in January 1941, the decision to supply armed forces with copies of God’s Word was approved by The Gideons International and 50,000 Testaments were ordered.
On December 2 1941 some of the fist Service Testaments from The Gideons were distributed to the US Navy personnel at Pearl Harbor. Five days later, Pearl Harbor became ground zero for a date that would live in infamy.
Years later, in 1949, US General Douglas MacArthur sent a telegram to The Gideons International asking that a representative of The Gideons International be sent to Japan to “Make first hand survey of situation [sic]” in regards to distributing New Testaments to the people there stating that, “Your assistance will be of inestimable value.” The Gideons responded to the request and in 1950 the first Gideon Camp in Japan was established.
God’s Word Brings Peace, Even In War
Veteran Carl Crisp received his New Testament from The Gideons at an induction centre in Houston, TX. Crisp served in the US Army as a UH-1 helicopter crew chief during the Vietnam war. “I carried my New Testament with me at every duty station during my time in Vietnam. It was a comfort to me – a constant reminder of God’s love and of my salvation should I not return home.” Carl says he remembers his comrades also held onto their New Testaments and often saw his fellow servicemen reading the Scriptures. Today, Carl serves the Lord as a Gideon in the Palestine Camp, Texas.
One way The Gideons International has been able to reach servicemen and servicewomen is by working through military chaplains throughout the world. Michael Kelly, Chaplain at Fort Jackson, SC, knows just how great the need for spiritual guidance is among soldiers. “With every new group of soldiers that comes through for training, I get to see an entire cross-section of American and really from around the world. They come from all walks of life, with the same problems we all face, most of them looking to fill a void. It is at this moment that they reach out and we place a book in their hands – the New Testament provided by Gideons.”
Answering Another Call To Active Service
While disembarking from the U.S.S. Breckenridge after its return from the Korean War, serviceman Orv Room received a New Testament from The Gideons. “Over 50 years later, I still have it in my possession,” says Orv. He says its message transformed his life. In fact, Orv began serving in The Gideons in 1956 and his wife, Corine, joined a year later in 1957. They still serve in the Sacramento North Camp, California.
After graduating from the University of Houston, Jim Blunk joined the military. He attended flight school and became an Army helicopter pilot. While serving overseas in Operation Desert Storm, he noticed a chaplain bringing boxes of New Testaments into the mess tent. Jim witnessed lives being transformed and baptisms taking place in the middle of the desert. Though his father was a pastor and had always taught him about the Lord while growing up, Jim admits he didn’t fully understand what it meant to be a Christian until he was an adult.
In the mid 1990s, Jim was recruited for a different type of service by a retired colonel who also served in The Gideons. Since 1997, Jim and his wife Lannis, have served with the Granbury Camp of The Gideons in Texas, helping to reach lost men, women, boys and girls with God’s Word.
When we introduce soldiers to Scripture, we’re introducing those who are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for their nation to the One who sacrificed his life for the sins of the whole world.
What’s Happening In The British Isles?
Over recent years we have witnessed a number of our traditional areas of Scripture Distribution in decline and therefore it has been necessary to consider how we can reach those to whom the door is now closed in another way.
The development of Badged Testaments has given us the opportunity to reach people who we wouldn’t usually have access to with the normal Service Testament. Badged Testaments have allowed us to offer Scriptures to people that are often hidden behind protocol, security and other barriers.
In the past few years, over 270,000 Badged Testaments have been given to members of the Armed Forces, Emergency Services, Veterans and other personnel by members of The Gideons International in the British Isles. We have received reports from Padres in the British Army who have told us that soldiers are carrying these Testaments as if they were part of their uniform. It is our responsibility to ensure that no soldier is missing this vital piece of kit.
We thank God for bringing so many from the trenches to His side through the reading of His Word. Please continue to pray for the safety of the men and women in uniform around the world and for the chaplains who serve them.
God Brings a Harvest in Uganda
The Gideons International partners with churches in 200 countries, territories and possessions to reach lost men, women, boys and girls with God’s Word, so that lives may be transformed by the Gospel as they receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. One of the countries where Gideons place and distribute God’s Word is Uganda.
This June, The Gideons hosted the 2016 Uganda International Scripture Blitz in the cities of Hoima and Masindi. Gideons from the USA and the British Isles also came to Uganda to help carry out the distributions.
“When you talk about the uttermost parts of the world, this is it,” says blitz team leader Gary Richardson of the West Wilson Camp, Tennessee. “It leaves you with a sense of how far-reaching The Gideons International is.”
Gideons in Uganda did an excellent job of planning for the blitz. Transportation, which can be a big challenge in such rural areas, was in place and Scriptures were boxed up and waiting for distribution.
Some roads the teams drove on had not seen any automobile traffic in weeks or months.
“We encountered washed out roads that were virtually impassable by any standard in the USA or Europe,” said one Gideon on the blitz. “We can literally feel the prayers from people all over the world for us. There’s no other way we could continue to move forward under these conditions.”
Worshipping With The Uttermost
The first Sunday in Uganda, one team member presented at a local church that partners with The Gideons International. In these churches, it is not uncommon to see people bringing produce such as bananas or mangos as their offering.
A collection was taken for The Gideons International and the total amount was about 40,000 shillings, which equals about $15 USD. Given that the annual wages for 60 hours of labour a week in Uganda would likely be less than $500, the collection total was an example of people giving abundantly, even in their lack.
Going In Faith
Dwight Carter, a Gideon from Tennessee, ran into some early problems securing his visa. Someone asked him, “Aren’t you worried?” “Nope” replied Dwight. “The Lord put this team together. I just follow through with what I’m supposed to do and let the Lord take care of the rest.”
Tim Thuemling is a Gideon from the Waukesha West Camp, Wisconsin/Upper Michigan. As a partner in a manufacturing company, he shifted his focus from his busy schedule to help out in this Scripture Blitz.
One of the blessings Tim experienced occurred as the Word of God was placed at a large health clinic. By the end of the placement, 21 souls had received Christ. “What a joy, as these people came in search of physical healing, and instead left the clinic with the pure spiritual healing that only Jesus Christ can provide,” says Tim.
Early in the blitz, one of the distribution teams drove their truck into a huge mud hole. If the truck got stuck, it could create a serious dilemma in reaching many of the schools scheduled to receive Scriptures. After three attempts to power the truck out of the mud, the Gideon behind the wheel of the vehicle told the other three Gideons in the vehicle their best hope was to pray. The team prayed and the driver made one more attempt. “This time it felt as if there people from behind pushing the vehicle out of the mud,” said one of the Gideons. “We just drove right up onto the road.”
Gideons Sow and Witness The Harvest
Schools were just starting back for the summer and for the first few days,student attendance was very light. By the end of the week, attendance was back to normal. As Gideons made their distributions the students bowed after receiving their Scriptures as a sign of respect.
In Masindi, Gideons arrived at a military base to distribute Scriptures at two schools inside the base. When they approached the officials, the team was turned away because they did not have all of the required authorisations. That night at the hotel, the team shared their experience with some of the other Gideons. A Gideon employed by Uganda’s Department of Defense, accompanied the team the next day as they returned to the base. As the other Gideons prayed for an open door, the Gideon was able to speak with the military officials and secured the opportunity to distribute Scriptures. Those open doors allowed about 1,600 students and faculty to receive Scriptures that day.
At a prison in Masindi, Gideons distributed over 1,300 Scriptures to inmates and were able to deliver a full presentation of the Gospel. When they offered the prisoners an invitation to receive Christ, 44 inmates came forward ready to place their faith in Jesus.
Gideons saw evidence that other Gideons had been to Uganda’s uttermost areas years ago. They met one woman who received a Scripture at a school when she was a child. It let to her receiving Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. Today, she is the director of a school. They also met another woman who grew up in a Muslim home in Uganda. As a child, she received a New Testament from Gideons. After reading it, she placed her faith in Jesus and today she is a school teacher.
Gideons Return Home Eager to Continue Sharing Christ
Representing the UK, blitz participant John Coldwell has operated a travel agency for the past 20 years in the British Isles. While he has made travel arrangements for many other Gideons on International Scripture Blitzes, this blitz in Uganda was his first to participate in himself.
“I was greatly impressed by the children,” says John. “They were polite, courteous, obedient, joyful and thoroughly charming.” At each distribution, John told the children how precious they were, how much God loved them and how much He desired they love Him back.
“The experience had made a deep impression on me. The people and children in Uganda were, almost without exception, some of the kindest and most hospitable I have ever met, making it easy to witness to them.” John, who attends a church in the village of Dinnington, says it also reminded him that the people of the UK are just as precious to God, although they are not as easy to witness to. “I must redouble my efforts to reach them in whatever way I can. In a sense, I have received a gift from Uganda – seeing anew God’s love for mankind through these wonderfully gentle people.”
Blitz participant Tim Thuemling is a member of Highview Evangelical Church in Wisconsin. He says this experience left him with a deeper conviction and love for the lost in his hometown. “Sometimes we can forget about the people who live close to us but this trip reinforced to me the truth that the Gospel must be shared with everyone and that my busy schedule should not hamper that.”
While Gideons rejoice that so many in Uganda received Scriptures and made public decisions to receive Christ, they also know many more lives need to be reached with the Gospel. That thought has been weighing heavily on one of the Gideons who shared, “We would be at a school giving out Scriptures to students in fifth grade. We would see some of the younger children watching us from behind trees or through school windows, wishing they were old enough to receive a copy of God’s Word. I just wonder, will someone be able to reach them with a copy of God’s Word in the years to come?”
Blitz Results
By the end of the blitz, 80,717 copies of God’s Word were sown in Hoima and Masindi. We praise God for the open doors and receptivity the Gideons experienced during this blitz. We pray that as men, women, boys and girls read the Scriptures received, they will place their faith in the Lord and continue to draw closer to Him. We thank the pastors, churches, donors and others who supported this blitz through their prayers and donations.
I was in prison and you came to me
It is Monday evening at the Henry County Corrections Facility in west Tennessee. A cold, stainless steel table is cemented to the floor. On one side of the table, four inmates sit on metal stools listening to a member of the local First Baptist Church deliver an emotional devotion. Other inmates stand off in the shadows, riveted to the speaker’s words. Next, a Gideon begins to share God’s plan of salvation. He finally asks the inmates, “Who here would like to know for certain where they will spend eternity?”
Incarceration rates in the United States are currently at record level highs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice, over 2.2 million Americans are locked away in state and federal prisons and in local jails. It is the highest population of incarcerated men and women of any country.
Gideons and Auxiliary have been distributing Scriptures to those in jails and prisons since 1916. No matter what the circumstances, there has always been a passion to get God’s Word behind bars.
Left Behind
When Gideons in Henry County first began visiting the local jail back in the 1970’s, conditions were considerably different than they are today. “It was very rough, much like conditions we see in jails in other countries,” says Bob Bertouille, a Gideon from Tennessee. He was instrumental in organizing the first group of Gideons to visit the county’s jail. “It was a rat’s nest. You could not get inside, and you could only talk to inmates through the cell bars.”
However, a change in the jail’s administration and a new corrections facility helped turn things around. When the new jail opened, 173 New Testaments placed by The Gideons International were waiting in the cells.
Bob’s wife, Madalyn, served in the Auxiliary and worked with female inmates. Madalyn spoke about the jail ministry with Anita Berry, a fellow Auxiliary from Tennessee. Madalyn asked Anita to make sure the ministry continued if a time ever came where she could no longer serve. Anita gave Madalyn her word she would.
Months later, Madalyn went to be with the Lord. Her death was sudden and unexpected. Days later, Bob asked Anita if she would pick up the jail ministry where his late wife had left off.
Anita thought, “What am I going to do? I had promised Madalyn.”
The Forgotten Inmates
Despite her initial apprehension about serving in jails, Anita kept her promise to Madalyn to keep the Auxiliary engaged in reaching female inmates. “It was really hard in the beginning,” she says, “God is still building me.” The Lord has also shown Anita the importance of reaching women behind bars. “The women are forgotten, and it is critical to reach them with the Gospel. They are the ones who will take God’s Word back to their families. In many cases, they will be the single parent raising a family. Without a life-transforming relationship with Christ, when they are released from jail, they will likely return to the same lifestyles that led to their incarceration.”
“The women are forgotten, and it is critical to reach them with the Gospel.”
Gloria Hill serves in the Auxiliary in Texas. Since she was a little girl, she loved sharing Jesus with people. At that time, she never imagined she would someday share Jesus inside the walls of a jail. The first time she entered a jail block, one of the female inmates asked her, “What are you in here for? Forgery?”
“No,” Gloria responded, “I’m here to tell you about Jesus.”
Gloria had once seen the video testimony of the late Mary Kay Beard, who came to faith in Jesus after receiving a New Testament from The Gideons International while serving a prison sentence. The morning after seeing Mary Kay’s testimony at church, the passage from Jeremiah 33:8 touched her heart: “I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.” Knowing God forgives the guilt of even those found guilty by courts of law, she enlisted two other women in the Auxiliary to join her in sharing God’s Word with women in the local jail. “We stepped out in faith and went.”
“I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.” Jeremiah 33:8
Many of the women Gloria meets in prisons are there because of the dysfunctional homes they grew up in. “Often, they come from homes where the parents were in and out of jail. Many of the women simply want to be loved and are looking to fill that void. They turn to drugs and alcohol to gain acceptance and cope with the pain,” says Gloria. However, those who receive Christ can be released from strongholds in life that otherwise would be much harder to break free from than a jail cell.
Last summer, Gloria and other Auxiliary visited a drug rehabilitation facility to distribute Scriptures. She saw one of the employees of the facility and recognized the name on her name tag. “I know you,” Gloria said to her, “I introduced you to Jesus at the county jail.” The lady recognized her and said, “Oh, Mrs. Gloria, I went away to prison, but when I got out I did not leave Jesus there.” The woman shared how the Lord is now using her to help women break free from the same struggles she had fought prior to receiving the Lord.
Getting the Word Out
Brian Stromsoe has served as a Gideon in the Los Angeles area for decades. As a member of the Pomona Camp, his faithful service in lining up people and resources facilitates the distribution of over 20,000 Scriptures into the Los Angeles County jails each year. During his career as a defense attorney, Brian saw the desperation and hopelessness felt by those facing long prison sentences. As Gideon camps receive worn Bibles that have been removed from hotel rooms during Scripture blitzes, Brian sees those Scriptures are repurposed for jails. The process of refurbishing Scriptures for jails and prisons offers an opportunity to engage pastors and members of churches with whom Gideons have built strong relationships.
“We can get about a hundred Gideons, Auxiliary, and church members together on a Saturday morning and refurbish thousands of Scriptures,” says Brian. “Pastors love it because it gets their members engaged deeper with ministry. We’ve seen church members from the ages of 12 to 98 show up to help.”
The Gideon camp creates an assembly line where Scriptures are cycled through the process of removing covers and replacing them with soft covers that are compliant with jail and prison requirements.
Vern Steedly is a member at First Baptist Church in Paris, Tennessee, where Bob Bertouille also attends. He shares The Gideons’ passion for reaching the lost with God’s Word. He has been involved in reaching out to inmates, thanks, in part, to the members in Henry County. “I was a little apprehensive at first, but that apprehension has turned to enthusiasm.” Vern is seeing what he is doing is making an impact. “Sometimes when we get out of the way, God speaks in a loud and clear manner.”
Dr. Trent Bullock serves as the senior pastor at First Baptist Church where Bob and Vern are members. He is excited to see members in his congregation getting involved with The Gideons International in jail ministry. “It always does a pastor’s heart good to see members become involved in ministry, especially ministry outside the walls of the church,” he says.
A Step of Faith
Anyone who has served in jail ministry will tell you it requires a big step of faith. Jesus reminds us to show no partiality to others on the basis of their status in life. He knows the loneliness and desperation that fills the hearts of men and women locked behind bars. Therefore, He entrusted His followers with the responsibility of visiting them and sharing the Gospel.
Across the world, Gideons and Auxiliary are working with local chaplains to gain access to prisons and have been truly blessed by their experiences. While they arrive thinking they are bringing Jesus to these people, they quickly discover Jesus is already inside and ready to use them.
A Wait in Kenya
Deep in the Central Highlands of Southwestern Kenya, two lone men sat on the side of a steep mountain road. Their truck had lost its hard-fought battle against the road’s spongy orange clay, and it rested idly a few feet away from them, useless. To add to their setback, the nearest mechanic had taken a job in a town an hour away and, finding themselves in the rural outskirts of Nyeri county, the two men had no choice but to wait for him to return, however long that may take.
It was approaching noon when a motorcycle came darting up the hill and slowed to a stop in front of them. “Can I help you?” the rider asked in Swahili, visibly confused by the men’s business attire. The men explained their dilemma. They were Gideons, and they were scheduled to visit several local schools that afternoon to deliver copies of God’s Word. The cyclist nodded understandingly and rode off back in the direction from which he came. Fifteen minutes later, he arrived in front of them again, this time accompanied by a passenger: a mechanic. Soon, the truck had been revived, and the two men were ready to be on their way again, just in time to make their next appointment.
As they left, the Gideons noticed a small, hand-written sign attached to the rear of the motorcycle. It read, ‘God is able.’
Several months earlier, Gideons in the city of Nyeri had begun to organize an International Scripture Blitz. Nyeri is the largest city in Nyeri county, and it serves as both the commercial center for trading crops harvested from surrounding farmlands, as well as the gateway for tourists to access nearby national parks and safari lodges. Amid this daily commotion, Gideons perceived a deep spiritual need among the district’s inhabitants. As a predominantly Christian region, churches in Nyeri are plentiful. However, few people possessed their own copy of the Word of God.
A team of local Gideons, led by Nyeri native and blitz general chairman Francis Wahome, devised a plan to meet that spiritual need. Together with the help of an international team, they would take Bibles and small, pocket-sized New Testaments to as many schools as possible over the course of a one-week period, beginning with schools in the outermost areas of the county and gradually working their way to the schools in the city proper.
It was an ambitious goal, as unpredictable weather and road conditions could create logistical obstacles. Nevertheless, the team diligently began preparing for the blitz. “Gideons contacted all school administrators, prepared a detailed itinerary, and pre-positioned hundreds of boxes of New Testaments and Bibles,” said Mike Pitts, a Gideon from Georgia. “It was an incredible amount of work, and it was clear to us from the beginning this blitz would only be possible because of the prayer and organization that went into it ahead of time.” The international team, eight from the United States, one from Germany, and one from the Republic of China, arrived in Nyeri on Sunday, March 6, 2016, anxious to set about their task.
“At times, it seemed we had reached the ends of the earth.”
Each day of the blitz began at dawn with breakfast and prayer. At 7:00, the Gideons gathered outside their hotel and divided into small teams. Local Gideons partnered with international Gideons and, depending on their route for the day, enlisted the help of guides. With their assignments in hand, the teams fanned out across Nyeri county and beyond, traversing valleys and mountains, weaving their way through coffee and tea plantations, and navigating the densely forested foothills of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second tallest peak. Some traveled more than three hours to reach their destinations. “The countryside was as vast as it was beautiful,” said Washington native Doug Vaughan. “At times, it seemed we were too far removed from civilization to be near any schools. At times, it seemed we had reached the ends of the earth.”
The schools they visited varied in size and structure, but none of the Gideons could deny an earnest, palpable hunger for God’s Word at each and every one of them. Teams received warm welcomes from administrative staff, some of whom found it difficult to conceal their excitement. “I was in awe of their anticipation for the Gospel to be shared and their hospitality in welcoming us,” remembered Keith Tombs of Pennsylvania. “After our initial meeting with the principals and faculty, they would have all the students stop whatever they were doing and convene in assembly.”
With the students gathered in courtyards and open fields, Gideons shared the Gospel message. “I will never forget looking out at the sea of little faces, all of them sitting very quietly and listening intently,” recalled Mike Pitts. “Sometimes, the teacher had to translate what I said into Kiswahili, and it was obvious I was the first white man many of them had seen. They were mesmerized.”
Each student received their own New Testament, and each principal was presented with Bibles for the schools’ individual use. “It was such a joy to see how delighted the students were to be gifted a New Testament,” said Kansas native Jerry Leuthold. “The experience was unusual and eye-opening for most of us, because we are not used to being welcomed into schools. But at these schools, they have the ten commandments on the walls, they are being taught the fruits of the spirit, and they sing songs about reading their Bibles and spending time in prayer. To receive their own copy of God’s Word was, for many of them, a momentous occasion.”
This eager and sincere response to the Gideons’ efforts became a familiar scene as they moved from school to school throughout the week. Each evening, teams returned to their hotel with personal anecdotes of God’s power at work, lending strength and reinforcing their purpose for conducting the blitz.
“We were delayed in getting to one school because we had to return to our hotel to get more New Testaments,” said Christian Morgen, a Gideon from Germany. “We were afraid we had missed our opportunity. However, rather than turn us away, the principal insisted we address the students. To my surprise, he then gave an extremely moving testimony about how he had received his own New Testament over 40 years ago, and it remained one of his most prized possessions.”
On another visit to a secondary school, the principal lamented how two weeks earlier someone had broken into their school and stolen all of their Bibles. When the Gideons finished their distribution, he turned to his students and said happily, “See how God is faithful? We prayed for new Bibles, and God has sent these Gideons with Bibles for the school and a New Testament for each one of you.”
“You are the ones God sent to preach about Christ. You are the answer to all of our prayers.”
Then there was the story of Margaret, who traveled over two hours, on foot, in pursuit of the men who had visited her school earlier that morning. “I needed to thank you,” she explained when she found them. “My husband is a pastor, and for many months our congregation has been praying for someone to bring the Gospel to the students in our schools. You are the ones God sent to preach about Christ. You are the answer to all of our prayers.”
As the blitz concluded Friday afternoon, the Gideons were thoroughly exhausted, but also greatly encouraged. Together, they had begun the week as witnesses for the Lord’s infinite mercy, and together they had ended it as witnesses of His steadfast faithfulness. “We spent a great amount of time in prayer, and each day we saw those prayers answered in mighty ways,” said James Chen of the Republic of China. “Indeed, my soul has been awakened, and my spirit has been revived.”
“…my soul has been awakened, and my spirit has been revived.”
The teams visited a total of 607 schools, and over 150,000 copies of God’s Word were now in the possession of men, women, and children across Nyeri county. “It was the book of Acts in action – the church united in a single purpose of reaching others for Christ,” said Doug Vaughan. “We saw hundreds dedicate their lives to the Lord, and it reminded us that the greatest and most humbling miracle of all is when people are saved.” As these individuals take Scriptures home to their families and friends, opportunities become available for countless souls to read the Good News. The full extent to which those Scriptures will impact lives is unknown, yet the Gideons remain joyfully and prayerfully confident in the promise that where their work ends – God is able.
Purpose of the Journey
Each day throughout the world, countless travelers check into hotels, motels, and inns. The purpose of their journeys differ, and their accommodations vary in style, size, and prestige, but in the nightstand of nearly every room there is one thing sure to be found: a Bible. With a small emblem in the bottom right corner and print that reads “Placed by The Gideons,” these Bibles are the focal point of a far-reaching endeavor by The Gideons International over a century in the making. However, the very thing that has made us the most recognizable as an Association often leaves many wondering – who exactly are the Gideons?
Gideons are the average businessman. They are managers, engineers, and doctors. They are young entrepreneurs and seasoned retirees. They live in rural towns and bustling metropolises. Collectively, they have a desire to spread the Good News. Individually, they have stories that, when told, help illustrate what it means to be a part of The Gideons International.
Jason met Paula in 1998 through a mutual friend. He was studying at North Carolina State University, and Paula was just miles away at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon graduation, Jason decided to join the Navy. He trained in Rhode Island for six months before relocating to a naval base in Hawaii. Over the course of the next four years, he was deployed twice – once to the Persian Gulf and once to the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, Jason and Paula’s relationship thrived on emails, phone calls, and the occasional visit until, finally, Jason was stationed in Florida and the couple was able to formally date.
They married in October of 2004 and settled in Paula’s hometown of Andrews, North Carolina, a charming municipality nestled in the quietly stunning Great Smokey Mountains. Paula was employed at Murphy Medical Center, where she continues to work as a speech language pathologist. Jason found a job at Nantahala Talc and Limestone Co., a family owned business founded in 1890 to harvest the natural resources of the Nantahala Gorge. Today, he is the company’s operations manager. Soon after their move, Jason broke ground on what is now a beautiful two-story log cabin that is home to the couple; their young sons, Jesse and Jacob; and the family dog, Mudbud.
The newlyweds had been in North Carolina for less than two months when Paula’s father, a Gideon since 1989, invited them to attend an informative dinner for potential members. “Having grown up with a Gideon, Paula was obviously quite familiar with the Association, but my knowledge was limited. I actually thought The Gideons was some kind of secret society,” admitted Jason. “At the time, I had no intention of joining. We had just moved, we were in the beginning stages of building our house, and I had just started a new job, so I couldn’t see how I would have time. But as I looked around I saw men of various professions, all of whom had one common goal: witnessing to the lost. By the end of the meeting, I knew this was something I wanted to be part of. We filled out applications that evening.”
Over the next several years, Gideon events, such as monthly camp meetings, weekly prayer meetings, and of course, Scripture distributions, slowly began to populate the Hall family calendar. “It actually became part of our family very naturally,” explained Paula. “As the kids grew older, we just began taking them with us. Sometimes, they show up at camp meetings in their Taekwondo uniforms. They have developed really special relationships with the Gideons, and it has been the perfect way for us to teach them that ministry is the most important thing in life. Whatever we can do and however God can use us, it’s all to further His kingdom.”
Paula grew up alongside many of the women she now serves with as an Auxiliary. “It’s a mentorship, and it’s people genuinely trying to support each other spiritually. Some of the ladies have been an encouragement to me in my service just by giving me a hug. It really connects you with people,” she added. “We have made so many friends, not only at camp meetings, but also at state conventions and International Conventions.”
Hosted annually in major cities throughout the United States, International Convention gathers Gideons and Auxiliary from the corners of the earth under one roof. The week-long Convention provides members the opportunity to conduct the business of the Association and to share how God is working in their respective regions and countries. The Halls have attended four International Conventions in Charlotte, Orlando, San Jose, and, most recently, Indianapolis. “Nothing compares to it,” said Paula, “We hear countless testimonies from men and women who have been persecuted for being Christians, who have come to know the Lord under dire circumstances, or who have experienced God move in mighty ways. We often tend to have a perspective that is USA-centric, so it’s amazing for me to consider how there are men and women on the other side of the world who are going to camp meetings and conducting distributions – just like we are. It’s a continuity that transcends cultures and time zones. With this Association, Gideons and Auxiliary across the globe are working as one unit, for one purpose.”
“It’s a continuity that transcends cultures and time zones. With this Association, Gideons and Auxiliary across the globe are working as one unit, for one purpose.”
This continuity became a reality to Jason when he began to travel for International Scripture Blitzes. Blitzes partner local Gideons from specific countries with international teams, and together over the course of one to two week periods, they take as many Bibles and New Testaments to as many approved areas of distributions – such as schools, hospitals, prisons – as possible. Jason has participated in blitzes to Malaysia, Argentina, and Kenya. “It’s nothing like being a tourist,” he said. “When you go on a blitz, you meet the locals, and you get to know the culture and the language. They invite you into their homes and make you part of their families. You live their lives with them, and you do ministry with them.
“I’ve jumped out of planes; I’ve been scuba diving; I’ve swam with sharks; I’ve participated in ocean rescues; and I’ve jumped on ships at night while working for the Navy, and to me there has been nothing more exciting than participating in an International Scripture Blitz. It’s not an adrenaline rush – it’s an experience you can’t buy. To be part of the body of Christ going out into the world in this one little niche that we have as Gideons has been a blessing of immeasurable value.”
“…to me there has been nothing more exciting than participating in an International Scripture Blitz. It’s not an adrenaline rush – it’s an experience you can’t buy”
Jason’s international experience has also given him insight to better understand the special relationship between The Gideons and local churches. Operating as an extended missionary army of the church, Gideons take the Word to the world and, in doing so, point the world back to the church. The church, in turn, supports The Gideons through donations and, more importantly, through prayer. “A pastor of a local church in Argentina called for a fast while we were there. He and his entire congregation fasted for us, prayed for us, and supported us. There was so much love in that church, it was amazing,” remembered Jason. “It made me realize that, as partners in ministry, we can do more and go farther working together than working alone.”
For that reason, Gideons in the Murphy Camp host an Annual Pastor’s Event, which is customarily a semi-formal banquet held at Tri-County Community College. “It’s a big event where we love on local pastors and show them how much they are appreciated, because we couldn’t do our work without them,” explained Jason. Gideons also call pastors on a regular basis simply to enquire about prayer requests. Three pastors are prayed for by name every week at Saturday morning prayer meetings. The Auxiliary, similarly, offer support to the pastor’s wives. “We pray for churches that don’t have pastors and for pastors who don’t have churches,” continued Jason. “We also send out two to three GideonCards per week, just to say thanks and provide a little encouragement. It’s an effort that has connected Gideons with pastors and, as it happens, pastors with other pastors, and it has resulted in this unique community of believers.”
The more they became connected with Gideons and Auxiliary in their community, the more Jason and Paula began reaching out to those who do not know Christ. After all, the mission of the Association is about more than distributing the Word – it’s about evangelism. “I knew I needed to be witnessing more, but as an introvert, I hardly ever did,” explained Jason. “But that’s where The Gideons came in. I had hands-on mentorship from Gideons in my camp. They took me on distributions, and I watched as they shared Jesus with boldness. More than that, they encourage one another to share stories about personal witnessing, and in doing so they teach each other how to look for opportunities to witness. It’s made me realize that witnessing doesn’t have to be intimidating. Sometimes, it’s as simple as asking someone how their day is going.”
“Anyone can find a place, and together we can make a difference by spreading the Good News.”
Jason and Paula joined The Gideons with a desire to impact lives with the Gospel. Along the way, they discovered ministry had a way of making just as big an impact on their lives, as well. “We’ve been truly blessed,” said Jason. “If anyone wants to be a better witness for God, there’s no better way I can think of than to be involved with The Gideons. It can be anything from praying for the Association, to carrying a little New Testament with you each day, to being fully active in leadership, going to Conventions, and participating in Scripture blitzes. Anyone can find a place, and together we can make a difference by spreading the Good News.”
Keep the Bedside Light Shining!
God’s Word is a light to many people’s paths.
For a number of years The Gideons International in the British Isles has enjoyed a strong relationship with hotel managers and guest house and B&B proprietors, which has resulted in a Gideon Bible being placed at the side of virtually every guest bed in the country. Over the years many of these Bibles have been used by the Lord to bring people staying in those rooms to saving faith, including some at the edge of despair or on the verge of suicide.
However, during the last decade we have become increasingly aware that the light has been dimmed by a growing reluctance of some establishments and hotel groups to allow a Gideon Bible to be where it is needed.
The reason behind this can vary but it often centres around the hotel’s desire not to offend people of other faiths. Another reason mentioned is simply that managers never see any evidence of people having read the Gideon Bible.
Well how about this young man’s story for evidence?
In my experience, the maxim that ‘You get what you pay for’ is by and large true. At £25 a night, our hotel at Manchester Airport is definitely not an exception to this. But I was happy enough in a room there, sitting with my girlfriend on Easter Sunday morning.
Officially, I became a Christian when I was 10 years old. Truth be told, though, I’ve spent more of my life running away from God than following Him. That Easter Sunday morning, I had breakfast on my mind. God, it seems, had other ideas.
“So, is today the day Jesus died?”, came an unexpected enquiry from my girlfriend.
What?! How could a perfectly intelligent girl, brought up in this at least nominally Christian country, not know her Good Friday from her Easter Sunday? I was flabbergasted.
“No, that’s Good Friday,” I said. “Today is when He rose from the dead.
Irked that people didn’t seem to know even basic truths, I suddenly found myself asking her if she’d ever read of what happened on the first Good Friday and Easter Sunday. “Er, not really.” Came her somewhat cautious reply. “There’ll be a Bible in this room somewhere,” I said, with an unusual amount of enthusiasm. And sure enough there was – a Gideon Bible faithfully resting in the drawer of the bedside cabinet.
I managed to find Luke 23 without betraying the fact that my Bible skills were seriously rusty, and I read Luke’s account of the crucifixion out loud to her. When I got to verse 45, where Luke tells us that the Temple curtain is torn in two, I stopped and said that this had always been one of my favourite verses in the Bible. “Why?” She asked. And so I explained the significance of the tearing of the curtain, how it showed that Jesus, by his death, had opened the way for sinful man to be in a relationship with God.
I’d like to say that she was instantly convicted of her sin, and repented and believed on the spot. But instead, I finished reading and we went about our day without any further mention of that first Easter. Looking back, though, this was one of the moments when God gave me something of a ‘kick up the backside’ because it made me realise that I, who at the time was a somewhat half-hearted Christian at best, knew these things to be true. I knew that I’d been bought with the precious blood of Christ and belonged to Him. How could I be annoyed at other people’s lack of knowledge, while at the same time I was failing to live out what I knew to be true? I therefore resolved to start trying harder to live like one of God’s people.
My girlfriend and I are not together any more but we’re still close friends. I hope and pray that she will come to put her trust in the Lord Jesus and I try to speak to her about the Gospel when I can. As for me, well I’m following Jesus more wholeheartedly than probably I’ve ever done. In part, this is because God inspired some people to make sure that His Word was to be found in a hotel room at Manchester Airport.
In my view, that makes a £25 hotel room priceless.
Will you help us to keep a Bible in every bedroom?
When you stay in a hotel, guest house or B&B, you have a unique opportunity to support this ministry. As a customer your views are important to the establishment that you plan to stay in. By asking for a Gideon Bible to be in your room, not only will you know that the Word is there for you, you will also be sending a message to managers and proprietors that says that the presence of a Gideon Bible is appreciated and valued by you.
Please help to keep a Bible in every room. It could change someone’s life!
Ride For Christ
Brent Young is a 54-year-old Gideon from Warsaw, Missouri. Like many of his fellow Gideons, he enjoys watching people come to Christ, handing out the Word of God, and hearing testimonies of how God is changing lives around the world. However, Brent’s ministry is unique in one way – he operates from the saddle of a red bicycle.
In 2012, Brent Young decided it was time to start over. He had been an alcoholic, a drug addict and bound by the desires of the world. God pursued him and he knew he had to stop running. In fact, he knew God was calling him to start riding.
Before the found the Lord, Brent had toyed with the idea of riding a bike on long expeditions just to see if he could. However, after he became a Christian he knew God was calling him to take his dream a little further, “I just prayed and asked God, ‘What can I do? You’ve done so much for me, what can I do for you?’ and He told me, ‘You love to ride your bike. Ride for me.” Since then, Brent has been biking across America under the motto “Ride for Christ.”
“This is not my first ride. The first ride I did was a thousand miles, and my second ride was over 2,500 miles,” says Brent. he is now on his third tour across the USA currently pedaling through mile 1,240 in Winslow, Arizona.
The Gideons in his home camp back in Missouri have not seen him in quite some time. However, Brent is still meeting with Gideons for prayer and encouragement in the towns he rides through. “I feel like part of a big family when I meet with Gideons across different states,” he says, “They hug me and recharge my spirit to continue spreading the Gospel.” Gideons along his journey often pray over him and replenish his saddle bag with New Testaments to share with those he meets on the road. So far, Brent has biked through 17 states and placed copies of God’s Word into around 300 hands.
Dan is one of the many people Brent had an opportunity to share the Gospel with. While resting at a traffic corner in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dan asked Brent why he was riding. Brent replied simply that he was spreading the Word of Jesus and handing out Scriptures. Without missing a beat, Dan asked for a copy and Brent was able to give him a New Testament and witness to him. “It was the best past of my day,” said Brent.
The road is not always easy. If fact, riding with the buzzing sound of trucks speeding by, going against the wind, through heat and exhaustion – these are common struggles Brent faces on a typical day’s ride. However, the heaviest burden he experiences is seeing the spiritual drought most people live in.
“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, ” he says, “I have been where people steal my clothes, I’ve been assaulted, I’ve been rejected. But I’ve also felt the Holy Spirit protect me every day. I’ve seen the beauty of God’s creation across many lands and I’ve seen the beauty of His people. When you’re actually out here in the world, among the people, you’re attuned to people’s needs in a different way. I am just trying to be the light in whatever way God leads me to be.”
In a recent post on his Facebook page, Brent sports a yellow poncho and talks about the beauty of riding in the rain, “This is Sunday. I got to worship, I got a wide road, and it’s all good. It’s good to hear the birds singing after the rain. The’re happy…and so am I. It’s good to be out here serving God.”
Lord willing, Brent plans to continue his ride to California before heading home. You can pray with us for his safety on the road, as well as his strength spiritually as he witnesses to those he meets.