Each year, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His journey from the garden to the cross and beyond was the accomplishment of His mission on Earth. What looked like an ignoble defeat was the most important victory ever won. Only God could have enabled and envisioned such a powerful plan, and only Jesus could have fulfilled it. That said, Jesus isn’t the only victor. As believers through the ages trusted Him for salvation, they became victors as well.
As we move further into 2020, with all its tragedy and challenge, let’s celebrate the many ways Jesus shares His victory over sin—snatching life from death, providing hope and healing, and helping us move from dark to light. Here are a couple of examples of how Gideons share the Good News of Christ’s triumph and the personal victories that result:
answering god’s call
Gideons in Armenia visited the Karabakh area about three times each year during the Armenia and Azerbaijan conflict. They provided Scriptures to military bases and other institutions. While traveling, they met Hasmik, a girl studying to become a journalist. The Gideons shared the Gospel with her, and she was touched by the Word of God. Armen, one of the Gideons present, exchanged contact information with Hasmik, then the Gideons returned home.
Some time had passed before the Gideons returned to the Karabakh region. Being in the area again, Armen remembered the conversation with Hasmik and wanted to follow up. The men had a bit of free time in their schedule and decided to visit her place of work.
That day, though, she had not shown up. The Gideons felt uneasy about the situation and gave her a call, but there was no response. Armen tried again and again. Finally, Hasmik answered and agreed to meet with the Gideons.
When she arrived, she confessed where she had been. Hasmik was in her house, standing with a rope at her neck ready to take her life. The phone started to ring suddenly, and it wouldn’t stop. Hasmik heard a voice that said, “Do not pick up the phone! You won’t be able to finish what you’ve started!” Another voice came, louder, “Pick up the phone. Your friends are calling.” She answered the phone, and Armen was on the other end.
Hasmik shared about her life since she had first met the Gideons. Her parents and brothers were killed during the political unrest. She thought nobody cared, leaving her lonely and desperate. This hopelessness was all-consuming, and Hasmik could only think of escaping it by ending her life.
Armen and the other Gideons told her about God’s deep love for her. It took time in conversation, but Hasmik began to understand God’s love for her. She rededicated her life to the Lord, excited to learn more about Him and hear His voice in her life.
A hope that changes everything
At age 15, Natalya was addicted to drugs. There wasn’t much in her life going right. Everything soon came to a head when she became gravely ill. Her body couldn’t support the lifestyle she had been maintaining for so long, which was full of chaos, sin, and despair.
Natalya stayed in the hospital for over a year, but her health only worsened. Her spine and heart valve started to rot. She couldn’t walk or even stand. Natalya saw no hope for her life. One day, though, she caught a glimpse of something more.
Gideons and Auxiliary visited the hospital, presented her with a Testament, and prayed for her. No one had prayed for her before, especially not strangers. Natalya began to read her gifted Testament and search for fellowship with other believers. All the while, God was at work. He began to heal her broken body and spirit. It was the Lord who gave her hope when she had none.
After Natalya joined a local church, she became completely healthy. Now, she is married with children. She and her husband, Dmitry, are members of The Gideons International, and Natalya often returns to the hospital where she stayed and witnesses to the ill and broken.
Hasmik and Natalya had people step into their life when they thought all hope was lost. In some of their toughest moments, they experienced the power of salvation in Christ. May you be encouraged in your faith today. He has Risen!
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” —Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He spoke of the Kingdom of God being lived out on Earth as it is in heaven. What a powerful statement. This has the potential to change the way we live and how we view the things of this world. Living out the Kingdom of God here on Earth can change how we love our spouse, how we parent our children, and how we reflect Christ to others.
During these unprecedented times, we don’t have control of many areas of our lives, but we can still pray. Notice the words of Jesus from Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV) and how He taught His disciples to pray:
“Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.’”
Stories are circulating in the news of how people are struggling amidst COVID-19. Many are losing their jobs, unable to visit family members in nursing homes, and having to rearrange even the most fundamental aspects of their lives. As the body of Christ, we can pray strategically for the people God has placed in our lives. We can pray for God’s will to be done on Earth as it is heaven. Below are seven groups of people you can strategically pray for through this pandemic. If you want, print these suggestions out and post them in a specific place in your house that will serve as a daily prayer reminder. During your time alone with the Lord, look up the passages of Scripture, read them, and highlight them in your Bible or a Bible app.
seven people to pray for through Crisis
Pray for those who struggle with anxiety and depression. (Psalm 46:1; Psalm 34:4)
Pray for those who are curious about God. (John 14:6)
Pray for those who are seeking guidance. (Psalm 32:8)
Pray for those who are lonely. (Psalm 23)
Pray for those who are dealing with sickness and pain. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Pray for those who struggle with worry. (1 Peter 5:6-7)
Pray for those who feel a sense of hopelessness. (Hebrews 10:23)
Praying the way Jesus taught will naturally change the way we live our lives. Maybe this kind of praying will cause you to evaluate how you interact with other people. We may not know what the person standing next to us is currently dealing with in their life. As we pray with a Kingdom-mindset, we can also demonstrate the love of Christ in the following ways:
Serve others. (1 Peter 4:10)
Share your faith. (Matthew 10:19-20)
Practice sincerity. (1 Peter 1:22)
James, the half-brother of Jesus, reminds us that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16b ESV). Take time in the coming days to pray strategically for the people God has placed in your life.
We are living in unprecedented times in light of the coronavirus. Yet nothing surprises our Heavenly Father. How Christians engage others now may result in someone responding to Jesus in faith. Here is a word of encouragement from our Executive Director, Dan Heighway.
There are ways the body of Christ can serve and engage during this crisis.
A resource you can share is The Gideon Bible App. The Helps section it includes is similar to the often-appreciated list printed in the front of Scriptures from The Gideons. It can help aid in Gospel conversations, online and offline, with people who are seeking answers for the chaos in the world.
Another resource for you to share would be a GideonCard, to send a word of encouragement and let someone know you are praying for them. Families are being stretched in ways they have never been before. As the body of Christ, find practical needs and seek to meet those needs. Be the hands and feet of Jesus.
Fear is a natural response in uncertain times. Maybe you feel afraid or unsettled right now. As Christians, we can take refuge in the fact that God is still at work and in control. We can find strength and encouragement from Romans 15:13 and “abound in hope” in the coming days.
At a young age, the Holy Spirit grabbed hold of Ron German. Even though he didn’t know at the time, the Lord wanted him to know Jesus.
Ron was raised in a Jewish home. In fact, his entire community in Cleveland, Ohio, was Jewish. The school systems didn’t honor Christmas and Easter as holidays—instead, they celebrated Passover and Hanukkah.
His curiosity about Jesus grew, but he couldn’t go to his family. The name of Jesus was forbidden in their home unless it was used in vain, which was often. He only had one place to go for answers: the local library, where he checked out an encyclopedia. “Alone, I opened it and found a black and white etching of Jesus on the cross at Calvary,” remembers Ron.
surprised by faith
Fast forward many years, he is at school in Cincinnati, Ohio. The wife of a dear friend of his had fallen ill. The illness progressed to the point that doctors were telling them to get their affairs in order. They didn’t think she would make it through the night. Ron’s friend and his wife came before the Lord and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They were in an impossible situation, but they committed it to the Lord.
Contrary to doctors’ predictions, she survived the night. Because of her illness, though, she had to deal with kidney failure. Ron’s friends weren’t discouraged, as he had expected. That’s the beauty of new Christians—they’re on fire for the Lord, and Ron became the target of their fire.
“Do you know you’re the apple of God’s eye, Ron?” they said. “The Jews are God’s chosen people.” Ron rolled his eyes in response. “I already know that, and I don’t want to hear about this Jesus business,” he replied. He was pretty stubborn then, and upon reflection, Ron says, “They should have given up on me, but they didn’t; they kept sharing. I’ll never forget the day they asked me to pray with them.”
Rather uncertain, Ron told his friends he had never prayed before. His friends weren’t shaken. “We’re going to lay a fleece before God,” they continued boldly. Ron was mortified and thought they had lost their minds. His friends remained calm and patient with Ron. “Gideon’s fleece. It’s Jewish,” they replied. Ron had no idea what they were talking about. “Well,” his friend continued gently, “we’re going to lay a fleece before God and ask Him to bring a kidney for my wife’s disease.”
They began praying, and as far Ron as could tell, they never stopped. This was during the 1970s, and kidney transplants weren’t readily abundant. When they found a match, it was a big deal. By the time the kidney got to the hospital in Cincinnati, though, the doctor was skeptical. “We’re going forward with this procedure,” he said, “but this kidney looks near dead.” It felt like his friends couldn’t win. They put the kidney in, and as the doctor drew the last stitch and released the clamps, the blood flowed through. “It was like somebody turned on a light bulb,” he said, “and it just came to life.” They did a tissue match and said the chances of getting a kidney this perfectly matched were one in six million. It was a miracle, and God let Ron witness it. The Lord was, is, and always will be in the business of miracles.
Granted salvation
A few years later around Christmas time, Ron was at the mall when one of the kiosks caught his attention. He didn’t really want to buy anything, but he began talking with the husband and wife who were working the kiosk. He felt this nagging question for the husband, so he asked, “This may sound random, but are you a radio announcer?” The man beamed. “As a matter of fact, I am.” Ron asked what he did, and he replied, “I announce Jesus Christ.”
“Listen,” Ron said, “you have my curiosity. What do you do for Jesus?” The man didn’t hesitate. “I record the Bible on tape and send it all over the world.” They talked a bit more, and the man asked if Ron would like to be sent a tape. Ron politely declined at first, but after a while, he wore him down with his persistence. Ron gave him his info, went on his way, and didn’t think much more about it.
A week later, he received an envelope in the mail with a cassette tape. He couldn’t explain how this man seemed to know what he needed. He knew nothing of Ron or his background, but sent him the Gospel of Matthew, which was written to…Jews.
Now Ron, a man not interested in the Bible, had the Gospel of Matthew. He was a salesman, which meant spending a lot of time in his car, so he started to listen out of curiosity. He didn’t mind it so much, and this became a rhythm for him. One night, after a long day of driving, he pulled into a hotel in Columbus, Ohio. It was in that hotel room, while trying to find something to do, he stumbled upon a Bible from The Gideons on the nightstand.
God’s relentless pursuit of our hearts
Ron sat in that hotel room in silence for a while. Eventually, he opened the Bible. It was clean and fresh; he doubted it had been used much before. He paused, not knowing where to start reading. “As I began flipping through, yellow highlighter caught my eye—Romans 10:1. It was the only mark in the entire Bible,” recalls Ron. He read the passage. “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God…” For whom? Israel, the Jews—that they might be saved.
He put down the Bible and went to bed. A few weeks later, he was back in Columbus at the same hotel but a different room. The Bible was on the nightstand just like the last time. He picked it up again. It was clean, and there was only one part highlighted in the entire Bible—Romans 10:9 (ESV), which reads, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
“As I began flipping through, yellow highlighter caught my eye—Romans 10:1. It was the only mark in the entire Bible.”
Ron finally understood the words of the Bible. He had never been to church or heard a preacher, but he knew God in that moment. That night, in his own way, he got on his knees and prayed. “Lord,” he said, “You have gone to an awful lot of trouble to touch my heart.” He paused, and he could feel it. “I believe. I believe what you say to be true,” he continued.
In Luke 15:10, Scripture teaches there is pure joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Ron knew there was shouting that night many years ago when he, a sinner, came to repentance.
Susan Punt’s story is one filled with God’s redemptive love, unending grace, and victorious mercy. She grew up in a wonderful home with parents who loved and cared for her. They did all the right things and thought they had everything. Yet, her family had no idea they needed a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
When Susan was a senior in high school, she encountered a group of Gideons handing out Scriptures outside of her school. She took her Testament home and placed it in a dresser drawer. At the time, she had never read the Bible and knew very little about the things of God.
A New Approach to Life
Months later, a girl at her school asked her a simple question: “Do you know for sure you’re going to heaven?” Taken back, she replied, “Well, I’m 99% sure I’m going to heaven.” She thought to herself: Why wouldn’t I go to heaven? I love my parents. I go to church. I can’t think of anything I’ve done to prevent me from getting into heaven. That night, she went home and thought about the conversation. She knew exactly how to prove she was going to heaven — by reading the Testament given to her by The Gideons.
She took out the Testament, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, started in the Gospel of John. No one ever shared with her the concepts of repenting of your sins or accepting Jesus into your heart, but as she read the Gospel of John, she was moved to tears. By the power of Scripture, she knew Jesus died on the cross for her. At that moment, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
She remembers going downstairs and proclaiming she was a sinner for whom Jesus had died, and her parents sweetly rejected her words saying, “Susan, you’re not a sinner.” She was conflicted but held fast to the truth of God’s Word. From that moment on, she could not get enough of the Bible. She went to Bible studies, and soon after, to the Nazarene church where the girl who questioned where Susan would spend eternity attended. She knew she needed to learn more about God, so she changed her plan of going to a state university and enrolled at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Unchanging God
The first day there, Susan met her future husband, Gary. He loved Jesus and came from a family that loved Jesus. The couple dated for a while and then got married. Together, they raised two sons, and today, have grandchildren as well. God has always been good to their family. Still, it hurt when Gary was diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago. This was the first time their faith was put to the test, but God never changed. Gary went through numerous surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation. Through it all, the couple never saw God differently in their lives. Gary never wavered in his faith.
They noticed when they would get a good report from the doctor, people would say, “Praise God.” But when they got a bad report, often people would respond, “We’ll keep praying.” Gary and Susan understood God to be in both situations — He did not change. When they received bad news, they knew God was in control. Gary suffered for about seven and a half years; they knew his time on Earth was coming to an end.
Gary and Susan decided to take a five-week trip to visit their favorite places. In those places, they praised God. They cried, laughed, and knew God did not change. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and Scripture, Susan knew she was a believer. She didn’t depend on her feelings or her emotions like she had previously done. She now depended on His trusted Word. When they came to Craters of the Moon in Idaho, Gary fell to the ground, saying, “Sue, I can’t get up anymore.” Susan went and got her sweet husband into the car. “I think it’s time to go home,” she replied.
God in the midst of grief
They drove back to Wisconsin, and two weeks later, Gary went to be with Jesus. Susan knew she could count on God because He is faithful and true. She recalls the following from her grieving process:
Someone asked me what stage of grief I was in, and I thought about that. Denial. How can I deny a great God who loved and saved me? I can’t. Anger. How can I be angry at God when He, in His own wisdom, brought me to a saving relationship with Him? Bargaining. How can I bargain with God of the universe? What could I possibly give Him? God cannot be bargained with. Depression. There are many days I feel sad, but I rejoice greatly in the Lord. I have learned to be content, no matter the circumstance, and the secret to being content in any and every situation. Acceptance. I accept what happened. I know God was in control of the situation.
Susan doesn’t know what the next stage of her life is going to be, but she knows God is faithful and true, and He will never leave nor forsake her. When she feels sorry for herself, she looks at Psalms 8. She inserts her name and says, “Sue Punt, who are you that God is even mindful of you?” But God is mindful of her. This truth overwhelms Susan — that He thinks about her, loves her, and cares for her.
“‘Sue Punt, who are you that God is even mindful of you?’ But God is mindful of her. This truth overwhelms Susan — that He thinks about her, loves her, and cares for her.”
There are many Sue’s out there who don’t even know they need Jesus. Yet, they are longing for someone to be consistent in their life and never change. A Gideon handed her a Testament long ago and forever changed her life. The moment she read it, she knew the words contained truth. Because of that single Testament, her mom, dad, and sister all became believers. Her brother also became a believer and is now a pastor. “Every good thing in my life came from opening that Testament. Because of The Gideons International, I get to spend eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ. For that, I am forever grateful,” she says.
We were made for community. We weren’t made for isolation, for walking through life alone. After all, our creator is God in three persons, a God who is Himself living in community. How could He have wanted anything more for us than fellowship with Him and each other? Associating together is at the heart of the Gospel because we follow a relational God. Just as we grow in relationship with the Lord, we seek to deepen and strengthen our relationships with friends, family, and strangers around us.
Prioritizing personal relationships in culture today is often easier said than done. We find it challenging in booming, metropolitan cities, in which the focus of society is career and achievement. It can be equally, if not more, challenging when interpersonal barriers become physical. There are people in this world fighting for community because, geographically, it doesn’t exist for them. They don’t have the chance to take their neighbors for granted; their closest neighbor is hours away. These friends have to be very intentional with how they pursue community.
Making Connections Happen
Over two-thirds of Norway’s landscape is mountainous, which makes living in certain areas of the country nearly impossible. Populations live mostly in the south where the terrain is more manageable. There are people, though, who reside in the north — isolated from the rest. They can drive down to the southern region, but doing so would take as much as 30 hours by car. For Norwegians, this is normal. Yet, they adapt and find ways to connect. The Gideons in Norway recognize their deep need for community.
In spite of distance and hardship, these members remain faithful to God’s call on their life and to each other. They know God has uniquely positioned every member in Norway to win others for the Lord Jesus Christ. So Gideons and Auxiliary in Norway ask: How are we going to respond to His call?
Community in Norway
Geir handing testaments to students.
Geir grew up in Stavanger, and his father was a Gideon. As Geir got older, he stepped into God’s call on his life to share the Gospel as a Gideon. Geir wasn’t as passionate as he hoped he would be to serve; at least, not in the way he had seen his father do for years. After experiencing The Gideons International, though, he learned how truly life-giving it could be. Members offer salvation to non-believers, which is a priceless gift. As Geir was sharing the Gospel with people, he noticed something special happening in his own life. He was receiving the gift of community, fellowship, and accountability he didn’t even know he was missing.
Geir realized that we, as believers, need one another. Who else can we talk about sin and temptation with? Who will forgive and encourage us in this increasingly more secularized society? We come to the Father in prayer, but there is added value in joining a brother or sister in Christ for confession, repentance, and forgiveness. Gideons and Auxiliary are not all the same, but we have a mutual understanding and love for one another because Christ first loved us. Differences make us better, stronger, and our members stand out when we’re together on mission for the Kingdom. People are surprised by our Association, and even find themselves curious. These relationships may be their only picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Associating together is at the heart of the Gospel because we follow a relational God. Just as we grow in relationship with the Lord, we seek to deepen and strengthen our relationships with friends, family, and strangers around us.
Martin lives in Senja, which is in northern Norway and, from Stavanger, takes over a day by car to reach. He grew up in a family of believers, so by the age of 14, he claimed the Christian faith as his own. After getting married young, though, things got harder. He was away from family, which had been an integral source of community and support in his walk with the Lord. Martin doesn’t recall how or when it started until he was in the midst of a deep struggle with sinful desire. He was chasing money and achievement in his career. He was doing everything on his own and for himself. There was little time for the Lord. Martin felt like a fraud living a double life; everyone believed him to be a man of God, but he knew that wasn’t true.
Martin sharing his testimony.
His return home to the Father was much like the prodigal son. Expecting nothing, God gave him profound love and showered blessings upon him. Martin learned about The Gideons later, from Geir. The two met in Stavanger when Martin went to buy a car from Geir. Before even stepping on the lot, they sat, talked about God, and shared their stories. It was evident they had the same heart for fellowship with God, others, and His Word. Martin wanted this for his life. God created us for a relationship with Him but also for fellowship with one another. “You meet a part of Jesus when you meet other believers,” Martin realized. After all, we are His body on Earth.
Both Per Inge and his wife, Kirsten, grew up in Christian families. But they came to The Gideons in their own time — or rather, the Lord’s time. Per Inge questioned what it meant to take his faith seriously and make it his own. To him, this seemed to be an abstract concept. He and his wife spent 12 years in Taiwan while Per Inge worked in electrical engineering. This work resonated with his faith in ways he hadn’t expected. There was great power in radio transmission — getting information when you have none and connecting to people outside your community. He met Gideons for the first time while in Taipei, and Per Inge learned there was something purposeful in cross-cultural community.
Per Inge and fellow Gideons pray together during their Saturday morning prayer breakfast.
He joined The Gideons when they moved back to Norway in 1992. “The Association honored fellowship with the right focus on evangelism,” says Per Inge. Kirsten joined a bit later. Her husband was associating with brothers in Christ as well as deeply caring for his family. Per Inge and Kirsten weren’t choosing ministry over family or vice versa; their intentionality for time with each other and their children was more profound as a result of all they learned as members of The Gideons. They actually felt their relationships were stronger because of what community with fellows Gideons and Auxiliary taught them. “Fellowship is what strengthens and sustains our Association,” Per Inge says, and his wife agrees. This is what convinced Kirsten to join. “We encourage, teach, inspire, and motivate one another.”
Centered on the Gospel
The Gospel is foundational to how people are impacted through The Gideons International, which means our members are in the business of people — loving them, supporting them, and bringing them to Christ. God cares far more about who we are than what we do. He concerns Himself little with our occupational achievements and more with our significant relationships. We learn and grow in the faith by communing with the Lord as well as with His children. This is not a walk we can make alone. We each have a personal relationship with the King; but together, we encourage and affirm one another along the way.
God created us for a relationship with Him but also for fellowship with one another. You meet a part of Jesus when you meet other believers.
Because of the secular culture in Norway, our members there feel the need for deep, daily fellowship. Walk alone for a time, and you will see; there will be a profound longing in your heart because we were made for community.
Sometimes we end up in the most random of places, wondering and worrying through the disarray or hopelessness in our lives. Then, God uses someone to show us He never leaves or forsakes His children. Mike Larsen’s life is a picture of God’s beautiful timing, and the left turns he has taken to be where he is today.
trading one chaos for another
Mike Larsen grew up in Apple Valley, California. For years, his mother raised him and his three brothers on her own. In 1976, she married a man addicted to several substances. The man was abusive to the family and made life chaotic for them all. Mike despised everything about his stepdad. Finally, in 1980, his mom had the courage to leave the man after he was convicted of attempted murder.
During his senior year of high school, Mike ended up getting his girlfriend pregnant. With the baby on the way, Mike went to work for a moving company right after graduation. It was at this job where Mike was exposed to methamphetamines—a substance that would take control of every aspect of his life. Mike began to give up every meaningful relationship for the drug. He quit his job and started using and selling drugs full-time. This led to a life of crime. “I had become the man that I despised in my youth,” recalls Mike.
in over his head
This life of crime culminated in Mike masterminding the burglary of a doctor’s house to fund his drug habit. Mike was apprehended by the police and found himself in the first offender’s section of the county jail with nearly 40 other men. Frustrated and coming down off of drugs, he grew impatient. Mike found out from some inmates that there were two pathways for an exit from their cell: to be released from jail or get sent to solitary confinement due to disciplinary issues. He chose the quickest option and picked a fight with the first person he could find.
“I had become the man I despised in my youth.”
While in solitary confinement, one of the prison guards handed Mike a book called God’s Prison Gang that included a true story about a man named Jack Murphy. He was a notorious jewel thief who stole a 260-carat sapphire out of the natural history museum in New York––Murphy initially got away with the crime until he bragged about it to his buddies. Three days later, the authorities arrested Murphy, and he was sentenced to prison. As the story unfolds, it was in prison where Jack Murphy came to faith in Jesus.
Jack Murphy’s conversion wasn’t what resonated with Mike. What resonated with him was the fact that a professional jewel thief got caught and sentenced for his crimes. Mike thought to himself, “If a professional thief can get caught, then an amateur has no business doing this either.” Mike decided enough was enough. At that moment, he gave up his life of crime.
ministry in a tattoo shop
A few years after being released from prison, Mike made another life-altering decision—he decided to get a tattoo. He visited a tattoo shop and asked the owner about the price of a particular tattoo. The owner, Kelly, looked at the piece and said, “It’s kind of big, I don’t know, I’ll charge you $100 an hour, and we’ll just keep track of the time.” Mike thought that was fair, so he agreed.
Mike returned to the shop the next Saturday morning to begin with the tattoo work. Customers began to trickle into the shop. They would point to a pattern on the wall, and Kelly would address them in a similar way with a different price. He would say, “Yeah, that’s a pretty big tattoo. How about $50 an hour, and we’ll just keep track of the time?” Mike wondered why he was paying double. He assumed maybe the people were good friends of the owner’s, so he let it go. Eventually, he asked, “Who are these people? Are these all your friends?” Mike found out the clients were from the local church Kelly attended. Kelly took the opportunity to invite Mike to come and visit. Mike was intrigued for the sole purpose of getting his tattoos at a discounted cost. Mike went to church for the first time the following Sunday—on Easter.
Kelly invited Mike and his wife, Sheila, back to church and to their Bible study. That led to Kelly asking Mike to be part of their motorcycle ministry. Kelly used this ministry for discipleship and outreach opportunities. Mike thought, “Man, this is getting better by the moment. Good deals on tattoos, motorcycles, how fun can this be?” Kelly assigned an “older brother” to Mike who told him he needed to get a biker vest, a notepad, a pen, and a pocket Bible. Mike was to have those items in his biker vest at all times while doing ministry with them.
Every Sunday morning, an older brother would ask a younger brother to pull out their pocket Bible and recite Scripture. They would make some announcements, and then they would go into the church service. Mike could not find his pocket Bible. Week after week, Mike hoped he would never be called upon to read Scripture because he did not want to be humiliated in front of the men. The fear of being humiliated kept his head down as he tried to never make eye contact with his older brother at that time. Mike was never called upon to read.
One Sunday morning, Mike came to church frustrated and afraid this would be the week his older brother was going to ask him to read. This did not happen, yet Mike still felt frustrated. After church, he made a beeline to the car to avoid interaction with anybody. Mike cried out to God and said, “If You are real, man up and give me this Bible. No tattoo is worth this frustration.” Still frustrated, he drove his family to a local pizza restaurant where Sheila had promised the kids they would go
a left turn in the right direction
While the family pulled into the restaurant parking lot, God answered Mike’s plea in a way he never saw coming. A car pulled into the parking spot next to the family. The driver couldn’t get out of his vehicle because Mike’s car doors were open. “I recall his window being down, so I told him I was going to get out of his way as soon as I got my son out of the car seat,” Mike remembers. The man replied, “It’s Sunday; I’m in no hurry.” Mike paid little attention to his response. Then, Mike got a tap on the shoulder and turned to face the man who was in the vehicle. The man was a Gideon. He handed Mike a Testament and said, “The Father told me to give this to you.”
Mike was shocked. “I couldn’t remember the last time I had cried, but I just started weeping. I knew God had answered my prayer.” Mike hugged the man as he thanked him for the Testament. The man got in his car and left. Mike could not shake what just had occurred as he thought, “That man took a left turn into the pizza parlor when he had no earthly business doing so.” As Mike started to contemplate what had happened, he knew the man was on a mission for God.
“The Father told me to give this to you.”
This faithful encounter with a Gideon forever changed the course of Mike’s life. He had this amazing experience where God answered his prayer, and he had this Testament in hand. About three years later, Mike surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Three years after that, Mike’s entire family had the same conviction, and, as a result, the family was baptized as a public profession of their newfound identity. Mike says, “It was then that I recalled the Gideon who gave me that Testament. I will never forget him. I knew that he had heard from the Lord and taken a left turn into the parking lot when he had no business being there.” Mike dared to pray a second prayer. His prayer was, “God, I want to make left turns into places where it makes no earthly sense.”
Since then, Mike’s life is a testimony to a series of left turns where God has guided him. First, God called him to go seminary to study for pastoral ministry. He became a commissioned pastor in 2009, and entered full-time ministry in 2012.
Making an impact for Jesus
Today, God continues to grow, stretch, and use Mike and his family for the Kingdom. Mike and Shelia live in Bellflower, California, where Mike serves as lead pastor of Encounter Christian Church—a body of believers celebrating its 84th year. Under Mike’s leadership, the congregation has gone through a revitalization process, coming out of decline and into reaching the community with the Gospel. Bellflower is a unique place with a church on every corner but most are empty—they are property rich and missional poor.
Mike explains the community and church growth in this way:
“The community used to be thriving, built up around Dutch dairy farms. The growth strategy was basically to have more babies and, for a season, it worked. The Gospel was being preached, and people were coming to faith. There was a struggle for some members to reach out to the community because they felt as if the reach was already occurring. As the dairy farms began to move out and new neighbors started moving in, the mission and strategies never changed. However, the congregation began to get older, and they noticed the decline was soon to follow. I believe God gave me the vision to love our neighbors. The people among us look a lot different than they did in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. So how do we reach our neighbors who are culturally diverse? That’s what we’ve been doing thus far. God has been faithful to bless us, and we have seen over 50 baptisms in the last four years.”
Mike is eternally grateful for each left-hand turn God has placed him on since he accepted Christ as Savior. Words will never be able to describe the day that Gideon placed a Testament in his hand. “I think about that man who gave me the Testament a lot. I know one day I’m going to see him in Heaven, and I’m so grateful for his obedience,” says Mike.
Through the Holy Spirit, Mike is making an impact in Bellflower, California, and his prayer is that he will make an impact across the world for Jesus. “I’m just a small-town pastor now, which is awesome, but it never would’ve happened if God hadn’t used that Gideon.”
“God, I want to make left turns into places where it makes no earthly sense.”
The Word of God changes lives and equips believers for every good work. This powerful reality is what drove a team of Gideons and Auxiliary to reach the people of San Salvador, El Salvador, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in late 2019.
God and gangs
El Salvador has a population of over six million people. San Salvador is the capital city, yet it is a poor area with little income for families. A good education for students is hard to come by due to heavy gang influence and activity. The primary result of gang activity is an extremely high rate of homicides.
In the midst of the ongoing violence, God is continuing a great work in El Salvador. Francisco and Elijah are two great examples. Alcohol was a way of life for Francisco. One night after a bout of drinking, he came home to find his wife had left him and taken their children with her. The only thing she left behind was a sack of dirty clothes and a sack of trash. With nothing left, he decided to continue drinking with his buddies at a local bar. Later, he returned to the empty house and laid down on the bare floor. As he laid on the floor looking up at the ceiling, all he could see were his children now gone. Depressed and hopeless, Francisco decided to hang himself. He searched through the trash, looking for materials. Instead, what he found was his wife’s Testament from The Gideons. He sat in the middle of the floor and read the Scriptures for hours. As he read, God’s Word ministered to his hardened heart. He accepted Jesus Christ as His personal Lord and Savior.
Nearly thirty years ago, Elijah was broke and had nothing but time. He began to wander all over El Salvador and ended up in Panama. He was hungry with no money, so he stopped at a Salvation Army. While there, he received a warm meal and a Testament from The Gideons. Elijah sat for hours as he began to read. He read the entire Testament in one sitting. When he got to the back page, he read the plan of salvation. At that moment, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.
Francisco and Elijah are now both Gideons in El Salvador. Hearing the testimonies of these two Gideons last Fall fueled members to continue being used by God during the following week.
The gospel in Action
The team of Gideons and Auxiliary met every morning for prayer and came back together in the afternoon to share testimonies and information from the day. Guided by the Holy Spirit and the power of the Word of God, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 were theme verses for the week. In this passage, Paul reminded young Timothy, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV) These verses resonated in the hearts of those who participated throughout the week. By the end of the event, over 79,000 people in El Salvador were reached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including work from the Auxiliary as they ministered to nurses and other medical personnel in hospitals.
The Word changes lives
Two students at a public school in El Salvador with their Testaments
The team visited public schools and some Catholic schools during the week. Students were open to receiving a personal copy of God’s Word, and one principal who had received a Testament as a child said, “The Word has changed my life.”
A huge move of God took place when the team received permission to do ministry at the University of El Salvador. Locals were excited by the opportunity to reach people on campus as nearly every student took a Testament.
On the first day, the team was eager to start at a large school. A security guard met three team members at the front gate. A local Gideon named Moises led the conversation, and they were allowed inside the first gate, followed by three other team members. The later three members were able to bring 600 Testaments in and wait while the first three members headed back towards the principal’s office to ask for permission to distribute the Scriptures.
They approached the secretary and explained the purpose of their visit. The secretary said she did not think distribution was possible, and the principal was not in his office. Just about that time, the principal arrived and invited the team into his private office. He listened to Moises, and graciously said, “No, I cannot have a group promoting religion.” Being prompted by the Holy Spirit, Moises tried to kindly persuade him to reconsider. The principal said, “If the government official over the department of education will tell me directly, I will reconsider.”
While Moises was looking through his contacts, the other Gideons prayed. They knew the principal cared for his students, and they knew the Word of God had the power to make the students better citizens in the community.
Soon after, Moises got the number of the person in charge of education, and she answered the phone. Moises shared the request with her, and then he handed the phone to the principal. As soon as the principal finished speaking with her, he said, “You may distribute the books.” This was an incredible answer to prayer.
“The Word has changed my life.” –a principal in San Salvador
Further, the principal had someone take the team to every classroom. He also called another school in the area and instructed them to allow the team to distribute at their school.
While team members were waiting outside in the courtyard, so amazed at what God had just done, Moises began to get emotional. He shared, “Last night, I got a text to me of the national director of education in a group photo. I thought to myself, ‘Why am I getting this picture?’ Now I know why, as this is the picture I just shared with the principal.” The entire team was filled with gratitude as God opened a previously-closed door so students could get a copy of His precious Word.
A new creation
A Gideon prays with Carlos after a church service.
God also used the team to encourage church members in San Salvador. One of the Gideons spoke at the Iglesias Chistiana Josue Church. After the service, a couple of people approached the Gideon and humbly asked for prayer. As the Gideon finished praying, a young man in his 20s named Carlos walked up to them. Carlos shared with the Gideon he had strayed from the Lord and had not been in church for some time. The Gideon asked Carlos if he had ever trusted Jesus as His Savior. He replied, “No.” The Gideon shared with Carlos he could be a new creation in Christ and experience peace and joy. Carlos prayed with the Gideon to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. A smile came over his face as he embraced his new identity as a follower of Jesus.
Revival in El Salvador
During another moment, a local man named Henry came up to Scott, a Gideon from Georgia, asking for help. As a regular church attender, Henry asked Scott to help him stop cussing. This led Scott to question Henry about where he would spend eternity. Henry did not know with certainty what this looked like for him.
Scott showed Henry several Scriptures. After going over those Scriptures, Henry accepted Jesus as his Savior.
Henry is studying public relations and wants to become a writer. Scott says, “I believe God is going to use Henry to restore and bring revival to El Salvador.”
Stories like these are reasons for hope throughout El Salvador, as God continues working through Gideons and Auxiliary to expand His Kingdom.
“From the moment I was asked to consider going to Kenya, I felt God begin to work in my heart. The Scriptures that kept coming back to me were the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV), which reads, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” The words Go therefore significantly impacted me. As I was seeking God’s will, I kept hearing the question, ‘Why can’t you go?’ I didn’t have a good excuse.” These heartfelt words were from Les Rogness, one of the ten Gideons who traveled thousands of miles to Nairobi, Kenya, to join over 150 local Gideons and Auxiliary for a week of ministry this past spring. The sincere time together brought an infectious joy that comes from living in the fullness of all Christ has to offer.
In God’s perfect timing, this ministry activity took place right before the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic was in full effect. Even a one-week delay in the original schedule would have greatly altered plans. Thankfully, the team placed and distributed over 400,000 Scriptures at schools, universities, and facilities that were closed just a week later.
Delight and hunger
Micah Rigoni giving Testaments to students.
Nairobi, the nation’s capital, is largely a Christian city. Sam Siple, a Gideon from Tennessee, puts it this way: “The people of Nairobi—from local Gideons, school administrators, the students themselves—all have a contagious and infectious joy about them and welcomed our efforts with open arms.” This joy was met with a hunger for the Word of God. Micah Rigoni, a Gideon from Alabama, says, “When I was boarding my plane to Kenya, I was excited God was sending us to give Testaments to those who truly desired the Word.” True to the nature of most people in Kenya, those who received a copy of God’s Word were incredibly grateful.
Many distributions throughout the week took place at public and private schools, ranging in size from 40 students to over 2,000 students. The well-organized and enthusiastic local Gideons organized the school distributions and could not wait to see how God would move. Team leader Kevin Beal had the following to say about their passion for ministry: “The local Gideons truly rallied around this week of ministry. They used this as an opportunity to revitalize Nairobi.” Some of the Scriptures were even pre-delivered to make the process run with more ease once the week commenced. There was such a desire for God’s Word that when the local Gideons arrived at the schools to pre-deliver Scriptures, the administrators wanted them to go ahead and distribute.
“Our students need this”
God continued to reveal the excitement for His Word. On various occasions, the team was welcomed with the singing of hymns or Headmasters starting the day with Scripture and prayer. Some days ended with Gideons standing in the middle of a group of students joyfully waving their Testaments.
Kenyan students praying at their school.
Even during some reluctance, the Holy Spirit was moving. One day, several participants visited a primary public school. The principal was hesitant to allow a disruption of classes to distribute Testaments. One of the Gideons was able to share the Gospel with her using the back page of a Testament. The Holy Spirit’s working was evident as she declared, “Our students need this.” The team was then able to distribute Testaments as the principal had all the students brought to the school courtyard for an assembly.
In some cases, students with a different religious background respectfully turned down a Scripture. At other times, there was a holy curiosity. One middle school student looked at one of the Gideons and sincerely said, “I would like one of those little Bibles” after all of his friends had left. Gideon Micah Rigoni also had a similar experience. At one school, all the students had come through a line. Micah was packing up to leave and looked up to see a student heading his way. He handed her a Testament after she had previously turned one down.
“The people of Nairobi—from local Gideons, school administrators, the students themselves—all have a contagious and infectious joy about them and welcomed our efforts with open arms.” –Sam Siple
“I will get you one”
Several Gospel interactions took place at schools, but this was not the only place that God moved. The team’s hotel also presented opportunities to share the Gospel. Gideon Dennis Kantz experienced this firsthand. As he was heading back to his room after a Sunday morning church presentation, two hotel employees were in the elevator. He asked them if they had received a Testament. Both employees said they had not received one and would like to have a copy. He reached in his pocket and soon realized he only had one Testament left. Dennis said, “I’m sorry, I only have one remaining Testament. I’ve given all the others away.” The lady employee immediately raised her hand and started jumping up and down, saying, “Please give it to me; please give it to me.” He handed it to her as the elevator door opened, and she went on her way. The other employee looked at Dennis and asked, “Do you have one for me?” Dennis responded, “I promise I will get one for you.” The gentleman told Dennis his name was Josaphat and that he would be working on the fourth floor. Dennis knew God was opening a door for him to share his faith. Immediately, Dennis went to his room and messaged members of the team looking for another Testament as he personally wanted to give one to Josaphat. Just a minute later, Trevor Thompson, a Gideon from New York, whose room was on the fourth floor, had one for Dennis.
Together, Dennis and Trevor found Josaphat in a small room sitting behind a sewing machine. Dennis was thrilled to give him a copy of God’s Word, as both he and Trevor began to share the Gospel with him. In just a few short moments, Josaphat received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. As the Gideons were about to leave, Josaphat told them he was supposed to be off this day, but for some reason, he was called to work. God had different plans. Josaphat now understands that his being called into work was divine intervention.
Joy Leads to Appreciation
Local Gideons praying over a pastor.
By the end of the week, the team witnessed over 1,300 people enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray these new believers get connected to a local congregation and mature in their faith. Gideons spoke in more than 100 church services, and congregations were warm and receptive to the message of the Gideons. May local businessmen inquired about joining and over US$7,000 was given through generous donations. The week ended with an event for local pastors. Over 200 people attended, including the leaders of some of the largest churches and denominations in Nairobi. Pray for Gideons and Auxiliary as they partner with excited local churches and pastors, and for more people to come to faith in Christ because of these relationships.
“The local Gideons truly rallied around this week of ministry. They used this as an opportunity to revitalize Nairobi.” –Kevin Beal
God moved in several hearts and lives throughout the week. Kevin Beal concludes, “There are places hungry for the Word of God. He will meet that need in whatever way He sees fit, but it is a blessing He allows us to be a part of it.”
Building Better Leaders is a three-part series of articles from Dr. Andrew Johnston, in which he shares strategic principles of effective leadership based on Biblical principles. In this final article, Dr. Johnston gives Christian leaders valuable thoughts on responding to God’s nudging during our own “well-laid plans.”
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.—Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)
The most successful leaders I know are good planners. They often have good “radar”– a knack for anticipating the future and positioning themselves to meet challenges or make the most of the opportunities before they arise. This ability alone does not make them good planners. It’s the discipline to hold on to their predictions loosely as they advance that’s the real secret of their success.
They use their “radar” to anticipate the future, but they maintain only fragile confidence that what they anticipate will occur. These leaders stay vigilant for things to change as they move forward and keep their eyes open and their radar running even as they put their plans in motion. This posture enables them to move assertively toward their goals but flexes appropriately to take advantage of unexpected opportunities or address emergent needs. As I’ve thought more about this, I’ve realized this kind of vigilant posture is especially important for Christian leaders because it allows us to recognize and respond to God’s nudging during our own “well-laid plans.”
When we are committed to a mission, it’s easy to take aim and march determinedly towards our goals with little regard for things that aren’t on our pre-determined course. This feels purposeful and determined, like we’re avoiding the pitfalls that threaten to distract us from our purpose. Sometimes this kind of hard focus is what keeps us on track, it can also be the thing that keeps us from hearing God’s voice or preferring His priorities while we myopically pursue our own. In my own experiences, I’ve learned that if I truly want God to “direct my steps,” I need to be vigilant and willing for him to nudge me off the course I’ve predetermined. If I’m not actively anticipating His “divine detours,” I mistake them for distractions or wrong turns, and I resist His priorities in the pursuit of my progress.
I’ve learned that if I truly want God to “direct my steps,” I need to be vigilant and willing for him to nudge me off the course I’ve predetermined.
I’m not suggesting it’s wrong to set goals or to pursue them diligently. I’m clarifying that for Christ-followers, the ultimate goal is serving Him and His purposes. In pursuing that ultimate goal, it’s essential to recognize divine course corrections when they present themselves. This is where the priest and the Levite went wrong in Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10). They had laudable goals, and they were hurrying toward them, but they failed to set them aside when the Lord presented a task that wasn’t already on their to-do-lists. With their eyes fixed on their goals, they viewed the injured traveler as an interruption that would sidetrack them from their mission, so they stepped over him to continue on their path. Jesus’ story reveals that caring for the injured man was the mission, and they missed it when they failed to diverge from their plan.
That’s the nettling thing about the things God would have us do and the people he would have us serve– they’re often off the plan and pop up in unexpected ways we can easily miss if we’re too focused on the goals we’ve already set. I think this is part of what Jesus was warning the disciples about when He told them the opportunities to serve Him were often off-script, unimpressive, and inconvenient. He told them that serving one of these easily-dismissed people in one of these inauspicious moments was the same as serving Him, and I’m sure it changed their idea of goal-setting forever. After all, if this was true, it means that the God of Creation and Master of All has a penchant for presenting Himself to His followers in unimpressive ways, in moments that seem like anything other than encounters with the divine – like an injured traveler in the ditch, or, a newborn baby in a manger. God’s purposes and plans have little regard for our own, and being serious about following Him requires us to loosen our grip on our goals.
That’s a transformative realization, and I’m sure it was as challenging for the disciples to model in the first century as it is for us in the twenty-first. They were fired up from Pentecost and focused on the mission to take the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth (Acts 2, Matthew 28:16-20). With that kind of focus and devotion, they must’ve been ready to charge down the path with their eyes on the prize. It must’ve been challenging to chart a firm course and then stay poised to step off it when the Spirit moved, but that’s a good model of planning for a Christian leader. As leaders of people and programs, we need to use our radar and chart a course for success; but as followers of Christ, we should hold our plans loosely and watch for his intervention and redirection en route.
Geir handing testaments to students.
Martin sharing his testimony.
Per Inge and fellow Gideons pray together during their Saturday morning prayer breakfast.
Two students at a public school in El Salvador with their Testaments
A Gideon prays with Carlos after a church service.
Micah Rigoni giving Testaments to students.
Kenyan students praying at their school.
