At The Stairs

Testimony

By KEVIN MCINTOSH

October 19, 2016

During a recent International Scripture Blitz, Gideons were distributing Scriptures at the National University of Mexico.

“As we were distributing New Testaments, a man came down the steps wearing a Dallas Cowboys shirt,” says Fred Jenkins, a Gideon from North Carolina, who was taking part in the week long blitz in Mexico City. “Dallas Cowboys. Bravo!,” Fred said to the man.

Fred asked the man if he would like a copy of God’s Word. He politely declined. However, after the crowd thinned out a little bit, the man returned and said to Fred, “Can I ask you a personal question? Why do you do this?”

Fred replied that he was a member of The Gideons International and that Gideons distribute Scriptures to reach the lost with the Gospel. Then the man said, “No, no, that’s not what I’m interested in. Why do you do this?”

Fred thought a moment and replied, “I do it because I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and He has asked us to do this.”

The man said, “I’ll be right back.”

Fred thought he’d never see the man again. However, a little while later he returned, this time with a young lady, his daughter, Sam. The man told Fred he was dropping Sam off at college, and had been trying to explain to her the most important thing in life. He said his daughter believed money, cars, and a good job were the most important things.

Her father, a Christian, wanted her to know Jesus Christ was the most important thing. He then asked Fred, “Will you tell my daughter about Jesus?”

Opening the New Testament to the back cover, Fred shared the plan of salvation. As he walked Sam through the verses, the Holy Spirit began to move on the young lady’s heart, revealing to her the preciousness of Jesus’ sacrifice so that by faith, she could receive eternal life. And in the moments to follow, Sam accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior.

Both Sam and her dad then hugged Fred. As they departed, her dad said, “Now I can leave my child here at school, because I know she’s going to heaven and we’ll be together through eternity.”

Gospel in a hot tub

The following email was received at National Office this week:

“Hello,

My name is Amy and I live in Swindon. Last week I was staying at the Britannia Country House Hotel, Manchester, whilst at the Youth for Christ Conference.

One day I used the pool and then used the hot tub, a man was also in the hot tub and he asked me if I was “with the conference” to which I replied with “yes” he then asked if we were all Christians to which I again answered yes. He then commented on how the world is in a mess right now and basically asked how God could allow so much suffering. I ended up having a massive conversation with him about creation, sin, Jesus’ birth/death/resurrection, other religions, revelation and the authenticity of the Bible!

At the end of the conversation he asked if he could get a Bible and I said I would find him one, so I got dressed went to my hotel room and took the Gideons Bible from the room and gave it to him!

I wanted to let you know so that you hear a good story, can pray for him and replace the Bible, hope this was ok!

Thanks,

Amy”

You never know when you will have the opportunity to share the Word of God with someone!

Birmingham Christmas Market 2015

The publicity said it all: “Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market and Craft Market, now having run for over a decade, has become a massive favourite with both residents and visitors to the city from all over the UK and Europe. With over 180 stalls, it is claimed to be the largest outdoor Christmas Market in the Britain”.

Amongst the Pretzels, schnitzels, bratwursts, and knoblauchbrot another feature was on offer on the evenings of the 10^th and 17^th December – Gideon New Testaments!!

2,000 were delivered into the hands of surprised and delighted Birmingham Christmas Shoppers. Thanks to the support of Steve Bavington and his team at Chaplaincy Plus in Colmore Row, thirty Gideons, Auxiliaries and Friends from Birmingham branches and beyond were able to meet, pray in Steve’s office and then fan out into the cold and wet pre-Christmas Birmingham streets. The streets were filled with Christmas bargain hunters. What could have been more appropriate than for 2,000 of them to have received the best bargain of all – the gift of a free book at Christmas that could possibly start a journey of exploration and a chapter of new life with the Lord Jesus Christ at their sides?

Please pray for all who received a book from the hands of a Gideon, Auxiliary or Friend. Please thank the Lord for the enthusiasm and dedication of those who took part and please pray for Chaplaincy Plus as they continue with their work to support Christian believers in the heart of Birmingham’s business community.

We hope that this will be an annual event and we pray that the Lord is already working in the hearts of the shoppers and the stall holders we met.

Michael Hodges

Zone 4 Trustee

An Exciting “First” for The Gideons

Members of the Rugby Branch present the first Badged Testaments for Prison Officers at HMP Onley

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.

Pictured from left to right Jo Wheway, Mary West, Governor Steve Ruddy, Managing Chaplain David Spademan, Steve West, Mark Mair

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’.”

Steve & Steve — Governor Steve Ruddy (left) is presented with a Badged Presentation Bible by Steve West, Rugby Branch Chairman

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

Marty travels through time (forwards)

Please see below a wonderful testimony we received which we would like to share with you for your encouragement:

Marty Brauer was raised in a Christian home. During his school years, he had an unusual vision of white gates opening and Jesus coming toward him with His arms open. At that point, Marty knew God was calling him to serve the Lord. He said to himself, “I am going to be a pastor.”

Marty soon regretted those words. In fact, he did everything he could from that moment on to undermine becoming a pastor. Marty’s disobedience left a hole in his life, and he tried to fill it up with whatever he could—drugs, alcohol, lying, and stealing.

For the next 20 years, Marty continued to make bad choices. The only thing that seemed to satisfy him was making money. He landed a job with great income, lots of travel, and many opportunities to store up earthly treasures.

However, God had not given up on Marty. In a hotel in Jupiter, Florida while travelling for work, Marty was feeling extremely proud of himself after closing a big deal. He had a drink in one hand and a smoke in the other, when suddenly he fell to his knees and began crying uncontrollably for no reason.

As he crawled to the side of the bed and wondered what was happening, Marty reached to the end table and hoped the Gideons had done their jobs. They had. He pulled a Bible from the drawer, trusting God would turn the pages to where He wanted him to read. Marty landed on Ecclesiastes 2:17: “So I hated life, because what is done under the sun was grievous to me, for all is vanity and a striving after wind…”

Marty cried out to God and asked His forgiveness for what he had become. Ever since the fifth grade, Marty had run from God. Now, he was desperately running toward Him. Marty knew no matter what he had done in life, he was forgiven by the grace of God through Jesus Christ. He trusted he could move forward from the past and believed God could still use him as a pastor.

Pastor Mark Brauer — Pastor Brauer (right) with his New Testament from The Gideons International

Marty has now been a pastor for the past 18 years. He and his wife had the opportunity to return to that hotel in Jupiter where the Lord first convicted him. When Marty told the front desk about this story, they looked at him in shock. The older gentleman gave a kind smile and said, “I know who put the Bible in that room for you, because he is a friend of mine. His name is Roy, and even though he is now in his nineties, he still brings Bibles and places them in every room.”

Pastor Brauer recently learned another way to partner with The Gideons by becoming a Friend of The Gideons. In fact, he and his wife ordered 1,000 New Testaments from The Gideons International to hand out to men, women, and children who live in their community.

Primary school lesson

An invitation for a Gideon member to share something about the Gideon work with some school children resulted in several blessings as you can read below.

Back in September you forwarded an email to our branch from a local primary school, requesting a talk about our work to be given to a class of Year two pupils. As a recently retired primary school teacher I was happy to volunteer. The children had been learning about the Bible as part of their RE topic. I talked briefly to the children about what the Gideons do, locally and internationally, and showed them some pictures (from the Gideons website) of presentations being made. They had a good look at the Bibles and their teacher and two other teaching assistants gladly received Personal Worker Testaments. There was a time for the children to ask questions which included the highly insightful “Is it true that Jesus can change a person’s life?” – highlighting that wonderful childlike faith (Luke 18:17). The teacher asked the children if they would like to do some fundraising to enable us to buy more Scriptures to distribute.

I have received an email today telling me that the children have raised an amazing £198.50 by doing a sponsored run in the playground. I have given the teacher the National Office address and you should hopefully receive a cheque shortly.

Italy International Scripture Blitz

San-Pietro

Our ministry was organized in Italy in 1965 and since then over nine million Scriptures have been distributed there through The Gideons International. The country is a heavily saturated in very traditional Roman Catholicism, which over 80% of the population claims as their religious affiliation.

This Scripture blitz in November covered the metropolitan city of Rome and its surrounding areas. The primary focus for this blitz was to distribute God’s Word to high school students and around the campuses of multiple large universities. Reception to the Gospel was more difficult with college students as many refused the free gift offered by visiting Gideons. However, the Holy Spirit used these opportunities to reach hearts in unique ways.

Renato Attorri, a Gideon member from the area, had an opportunity to speak with a philosophy student for over an hour as they debated over the Word of God. While the Gideon engaged the philosophy student in conversation, another student waiting for her bus nearby was following along and reading her own New Testament intently.

Another student who received a Scripture on his college campus, opened the book and began reading it immediately. One of the Gideons began talking to the young man and found out the student was a Muslim, who shared he could not read the Koran in Arabic, but he was excited to read the New Testament in Italian. Praise God for His transcending all languages and cultures.

God’s Softens Hearts

“You have to leave immediately!” Giovanni Bruno heard these words as he was sharing New Testaments with passing students at the main entrance of the Mathematics and Science Department of a local university. Bruno asked the officer if he had received a copy of the New Testament.

The officer said he had received one the previous day while outside the Engineering Department. He added that he gave the book to his wife, who was a frequent reader of the Bible. Bruno then asked if he would like another copy. While he was still thinking whether to accept the gift or not, Bruno wrote a dedication in the front of the New Testament and presented the officer with the book.

A campus officer in Rome receives a copy of God’s Word.

However, the officer’s face softened as Bruno promised he would pray regularly for his family. Tears came to the officer’s eyes, and he allowed the Gideons to stay and continue the distribution on school grounds.

God’s message always gets through through your prayers and support. The international team had selected Isaiah 6:8 as its theme verse: “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

The team believed this verse through every opportunity to share God’s Word during the blitz, and we join with them in praising God for the almost 25,000 Scriptures distributed in and around Rome that week. Please share our blog with others you know today as we continue our world tour in 2016.

Aberdeen Branch’s 50th Anniversary

Aberdeen 2

Up to 90 people attended Aberdeen Branch’s 50th Anniversary Event held on the 19th Nov 2015. A number of former members who have moved south or retired joined us, along with some of our Friends and others who had been invited to come along. Some of the Zone 1 Cabinet also attended.

The Guest speaker was Bill Thomas our International President who gave a very encouraging and challenging address about the Good News in a world full of bad news. Bill reminded us of this window of opportunity to share God’s Word. He encouraged us with his experiences of answered prayer, and how people have responded in many countries he has visited of late to receiving a Gideon Bible or Testament. He illustrated his address with many pictures from his travels, showing boys and girls, men and woman gladly receiving the Word of God.

Bill Thomas addresses an attentive audience

The evening included a local update of the Branch’s work and emphasised how those not involved in the Gideon Ministry could get involved by becoming Friends or joining as Members. Many people signed up as Friends on the evening and a number are considering membership. Local members intend to follow up those who are considering joining as members.

Some of the Aberdeen Branch members on the Gideon Bible stand

Please pray for the work in Aberdeenshire that doors will remain open and that God will bless the placements of His Word as He calls boys and girls, men and women to repent of their sins and come to a saving faith in Christ.

A tale of two nursing homes

What started off as a request from one gentleman for a Large Print New Testament & Psalms, resulted in 3 Nursing Homes being filled with the Word of God. This was the report we received from the Gideon member who was sent the initial request:

“Just to let you know that, as a result of this contact, I was able earlier today to deliver a total of 50 large print testaments and 10 medical testaments to three different Rest Homes in Brighton and Hove.

I wasn’t able to meet the gentleman in person, but I despatched a member of staff with a large print copy for him: apparently the Home had found him a book of hymns and prayers, but no Bible until today.

Fortuitously, he was moving between Nursing Homes on the day we were first contacted, so that gave an opening to two Homes – and the third was a ‘divine appointment’ with the Manager of another Home who happened to be present while I was making one of my deliveries!

Just thought you’d like to hear the initial results of passing the message down the line – of course what will be achieved as those testaments are read and responded to, we may never know!”

Birmingham “Pop Up Christmas Market Blitz”

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the anniversary of who’s birth we will be celebrating in less than a month’s time!!

Secular activities attached to Christmas are now well underway. The Christmas Lights are already lighting up most high streets across the country and the Christmas trees are being decorated! Up and down our land folk are flocking to Christmas markets. The largest German Christmas Market outside Austria and Germany is held annually in Birmingham. It is a dazzling affair that involves 180 stalls and is described as the centrepiece of the city’s festive event calendar. Here you will find jewellery, decorations, handmade toys, delicious German fare and of course the ever popular Gluhwein

During the five weeks of this market over 1 million people from all parts of the country will visit Birmingham with the aim of coming away with either something special or a bargain. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that “something special” was a new found faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It could happen because Gideon members in the Birmingham area, with the support of members further afield are planning to be at the market on 10^th and 17^th December between 3 and 7pm to mingle with the crowds and offer Testaments to all who will receive one. Up to 4,000 Testaments will be available to be given free of charge and for many who will accept a copy this could be the first time they will have read the Christmas story for themselves.

For this witness to be effective your prayers are needed. Please pray! Here are some suggestions of things you could pray for.

A good number of members able to be at one or both of the chosen dates.
For a dry afternoon and evening that will bring out the crowds.
For freedom to wander and speak to the shoppers.
For an openness on the part of the shoppers to accept a copy of the New Testament and Psalms that they are offered.
For good conversations that allow a word of witness to be shared.
For an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those who read the Testaments.
That many will come to know Jesus in a new and personal way.

The Gideons International in the United Kingdom

Providing the Christian Bible Around the World for Over One Hundred Years