Every Easter, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the value it offers: the payment for our sins, the completion of God’s redemptive plan, the defeat of spiritual death, and the assurance of eternal life for those who believe.
Yet, before the victory, there was agony. We must not miss the powerful lessons we can learn from His final hours. In the verse above, we see our Savior in prayer expressing Himself to His loving Father and reaffirming His submission to God’s will. As loyal servants of God, our response should be the same. Obedience. Surrender. It’s so simple, and yet sometimes so . . . incredibly . . . hard. What can we learn from Jesus’ example in this moment? Here are a few thoughts:
It’s okay to express how you feel to God. If anyone knew what was about to happen, and why, it was Jesus—He is fully God and fully man. On Earth, He had lived a sinless life and ministered for three years to prepare his followers for what must happen. Yet, in that moment, He didn’t try to avoid His human feelings; He shared them with His Father. Following Christ can be difficult—that’s okay. It’s what you do in the difficult moments that displays your faith and the strength of your surrendered heart.
“Saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’” —Luke 22:42 ESV
Being in a hard place doesn’t mean you’re in the wrong place. Sometimes pain and difficulties are necessary. Jesus was in a hard place. He was about to fulfill His mission on earth; but to get there, He had to die. It was a tough reality, but it was part of the plan. If you are in a hard place today, remember, God is sovereign. He can help you see the purpose for the pain, give you a path around it, or help you get through it.
His will deserves our willingness. While Jesus made his request known to God, He knew the ultimate goal, and He willingly submitted to the Father’s will. How much more should we stay surrendered! God is all-powerful and could force His plans on the earth and its people. However, He has given us free will. We need to demonstrate our love and trust for God in obedient surrender.
As we prepare to celebrate His death, burial, and resurrection this Easter, let’s prepare our hearts by asking Him to reveal His will in various areas of our lives. Are there feelings or concerns we need to share with Him? Are we in a tough place and need some perspective? Do we need to reaffirm our obedience and surrender? Our Heavenly Father is waiting for us to say, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Yours.”
The greatest spiritual challenge facing evangelical Christians in Taiwan remains the vast number of people holding fast to traditional religions such as Buddhism, Taoism, and other folk religions. According to Pew Research Center, the religious composition of Taiwan in 2020 is estimated to be made up of only 5.8% Christian citizens—most of these Christians also identify as aboriginal peoples. In fact, one of the more reliable signs of an aboriginal village is the presence of a church building—a welcomed sight for Gideons, as the Church remains a valuable partnership for sharing a message about Jesus Christ with communities across Taiwan.
A Taiwanese woman begins her daily pruning routine at sunrise.
It was over 22 years ago when David Chen picked up a Scripture in his darkest hour and discovered the life-saving light of Jesus Christ. Like many inmates arriving to serve a sentence, David reached Kaohsiung Prison believing he was innocent. His reality, however, was played out in the physical toll of heavy substance abuse to his body and a criminal conviction of drug trafficking. He was ushered into a narrow cell isolated from most other prisoners, where his three-year sentence began, slowly. As his body began to withdraw from the drugs it had grown accustomed to, David knew he would have to keep his mind occupied if he was going to make it.
He determined to read and re-write the words of a book he found in his cell. “I began hand-writing about 500 words per day,” he says. “Over time, the words in that book began to speak to me—words like ‘…If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:31-32).’” It was easy for David to understand the absence of freedom surrounded by prison walls. He felt the bondage of his addictions, as his thoughts day and night clung to the substances his body was craving.
Time passed, and David remained faithful to reading and hand-writing the words in that Bible. On October 20, 1996, he surrendered his life to the Lord and discovered true freedom as a child of God. “I remember kneeling on the floor in my cell, asking God to help me never find myself in prison again because of drugs.” Six months later, David was released on probation for good behavior. David admits his transformation was not perfect, but he kept up his habit of writing 500 words a day from Scripture. He returned home and began attending church regularly. His pastor encouraged him to look for a new source of income, one unconnected to his past. So, he began to ask God to bring him a new job to provide for his family.
“I had such a passion for spreading the Good News that had changed my own life, I wanted to share what had happened to me with everyone.”—David Chen
“God led me to open a string of my own businesses,” says David, “anything from used car shops to selling recycled car parts. I’m so thankful I experienced God’s guidance with each new venture.” Today, David owns a successful solar energy company in Pingtung City, where he lives with his family.
God Equips the Called
David came to know about The Gideons International after he was released from prison. “I had such a passion for spreading the Good News that had changed my own life, I wanted to share what had happened to me with everyone,” he says. One day, he was visiting a hospital in the city to ask if he could leave some pamphlets about the Gospel in the patients’ waiting room. He was given permission and moved to the next room to distribute the literature, but he was quickly approached by a Gideon who was there placing Bibles in the same waiting room. The two men traded stories about their ministries, and before long, realized their hearts were aligned towards the same efforts. The Gideon suggested David should become a Gideon himself, as Gideons could provide him the skills and tools to best carry out the calling God had placed on his life. Of course, David couldn’t wait to join.
David Chen discusses plans for a new solar panel installation with an employee.
“I’ve been a Gideon for fifteen years now,” David says, “And I’ve learned a lot from others in this ministry—like how to be brave enough to approach a stranger to share the Gospel. He even keeps New Testaments in his office at the solar plant to share with clients as the Lord provides opportunities. “Being a Gideon equips me to step outside of my comfort zone and share the Gospel with non-believers.”
Every moment of sharing his faith is another encouragement to David as it reminds him to not walk in the past. As in other parts of the world, many people in Taiwan are consumed with traditional religions and ancestral worship. However, David finds hope in the Bible for the Taiwanese people. “God’s Word is still relevant to the people in Taiwan,” he says, “God is still speaking to this generation all over the world. I see so many working day and night chasing material possessions, not knowing about the blessings only God can give. I believe the Bible reminds us again and again to understand the true meaning of life and it helps us to chase eternal value.”
Introducing People to a Personal God
David Chen is just one of 1,637 Gideons living in Taiwan. Members like An-Ji Cheng, and his wife Tai Ying Cheng, have been dedicated to the ministry efforts in their community for over 28 years, and currently serve as part of the Chao-Chou Camp. “We joined The Gideons because we know as Christians, it is our duty to fulfill the Great Commission,” says Tai Ying. “When we joined, we didn’t know how to go about sharing the Gospel with strangers. Within the ministry, we pray for each other and we see how God works through all of us. The opportunity to grow with one another has encouraged us even more to share our faith.”
Gideon An-Ji Chen, his wife Tai Ying Cheng, and their grandson, “Yo-Yo,” stand outside their shop in Chaozhou Township, Pingtung.
Tai Ying and her husband know sharing the Good News about Jesus is not always carried out as a literal hand extending the Word of God to another person. Often, a relationship of trust must be built over time to lay the groundwork for a person to open his or her heart to hear about Jesus Christ. Because of the religious climate in Taiwan, as with many other cultures across the globe, the concept of having a one-on-one relationship with God may be a difficult concept to grasp. It’s primarily through watching the way Christians live, or their daily testimonies, that someone may come to understand the value of a one-on-one relationship with God.
Since An-Ji and Tai Ying own a lighting shop that has been active in the community for generations, the family name is well-known to many. As businessmen and families come into the shop to request repairs on a light or to purchase new lighting for their homes, the couple is able to build relationships that allow them to openly share their faith in natural conversations with customers and friends who visit. “Our personal testimony is proof of a personal God,” says An-Ji.
The opportunity to spend time getting to know a person before opening a deeper conversation about his or her spiritual beliefs is helpful when sharing the Gospel with strangers. However, as the Bible says, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4) Sometimes it takes a courageous step forward when we feel the Holy Spirit nudging us to approach a stranger about a subject as important as following Jesus Christ.
“Our personal testimony is proof of a personal God.”—An-Ji Chen
Every year, Gideons in Taiwan boldly step out with this level of faith to distribute God’s Word to those attending the annual Lantern Festival; which, in recent years, has had an attendance of more than 10 million people.
Shang-Xian Tsai, of the Puzi Camp, distributed God’s Word to many people attending the 2019 Lantern Festival in Pingtung, Taiwan last February.
Gideon Shang-Xian Tsai, of the Puzi Camp, participated in Scripture distribution during a busy Saturday night at the festival in February 2019. “This is the best thing a Gideon could wish for,” he says. “With the majority of people in Taiwan believing in Taoism and Buddhism, it is usually very difficult sharing the Gospel. But we believe God will give open doors here…I hope one day all the people on this island will be God’s people, and they will praise His name on earth.” Shang-Xian stood in his place at the festival until the sun fell that evening. In his hand, he held a New Testament stretched out into the crowd of people walking by. “We offer the New Testament to others knowing this Book will help them understand the Savior. Although most people will reject us, we know one or two of them may take a Scripture and come to know Jesus Christ. This is what brings us joy.”
“We offer the New Testament to others knowing this Book will help them understand the Savior… this is what brings us joy.” —Shang-Xian Tsai
We trust God will continue to speak through His Word, the Church, and the small, Spirit-empowered group of Christians living in Taiwan.
A motorbike rides through a typical street scene in Pingtung, toward one of the over 9,400 temples officially registered in Taiwan.
Eddie grew up in the small town of Penwell, Texas, an area rich in oil production. “My mother made sure we were in church every Sunday,” he recalls. “She was persistent about that, and I’m thankful she had the foresight to send me to a church camp when I was young—that’s where I accepted Christ.”
Kathy grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, as the youngest of seven children. Her father was raised in a household with a contentious mix of Irish Catholic and Protestant beliefs. Her mother, however, was raised Methodist, and she took Kathy and her siblings to church often. “Religion was something I did because all the other kids were doing it. I didn’t really believe it,” says Kathy. “I was the kind of person who would argue people into religion. I could thump people with a Bible and convince them to come to Christ, but I never felt like I really understood what it meant to have a relationship with the Lord.”
In the late 1960’s, one of Kathy’s brothers came to west Texas to pastor the church where the Rhodes family attended. Upon visits to Phoenix, he told his sisters one of them was going to marry Eddie. He also told Eddie, “Someday, you will marry one of my sisters.” In 1975, he opened a steel fabrication business and eventually called Kathy to work for him as a steel estimator. Kathy arrived in west Texas in 1982. She met Eddie shortly after, and they were married within a year.
Eddie and Kathy Rhodes have been married for 36 years and currently reside in Odessa, Texas. They have three children and four grandchildren and run a family heating and air-conditioning wholesale chain throughout west and central Texas.
joining the gideons international
For Eddie and Kathy, joining The Gideons International was both a journey and a moment. Eddie had a close friend, a Gideon, who had talked with him several times about becoming a Gideon. About three years later, Eddie and Kathy joined as lifetime members.
The Rhodes are members of the Odessa Camp. For Eddie, having the opportunity to associate with other Christian business and professional men has meant great spiritual growth in his walk with Christ. “It’s one thing to be part of a ministry, but another to be around people who daily strengthen you spiritually. It inspires you to conduct yourself in an upright manner no matter what you are doing. It’s a reminder that I need to set a Godly example for the people I encounter in business whether they’re associates, employees, or customers,” says Eddie.
“It’s one thing to be part of a ministry, but another to be around people who daily strengthen you spiritually. It inspires you to conduct yourself in an upright manner no matter what you are doing.” —Eddie Rhodes
Kathy loves and appreciates the network of support and encouragement within the ministry. “When I went through some health complications about a year ago, the main support I received was from Gideons and Auxiliary from various states. I received such an outpouring of love and cards filled with support from other members. That’s something I’ve never experienced in another ministry,” says Kathy.
sharing jesus at a hospital
A few months before Eddie and Kathy Rhodes joined The Gideons International, God presented an opportunity for them to minister and share their faith in the midst of their daughter being hospitalized for surgery.
At that particular hospital, pediatric patients shared community rooms, so there was another family there visiting their daughter in the same room where the Rhodes’ daughter was assigned. Hearing the Rhodes talking, one of them asked what they meant when they talked about how they couldn’t handle the situation without Jesus. Later, the mother said, “I watched your family, and I want what you have.”
Kathy knew they needed a Bible, and Eddie looked various places throughout the hospital, yet couldn’t find one. When they approached the nurses’ station and requested a Scripture, one of the nurses took a medical Testament from her pocket and gave it to them. Afterward, Kathy was able to take the mother to a common area where she prayed to receive Jesus Christ.
Kathy Rhodes and other Auxiliary sharing testaments in a hospital in New York City.
This was the first time the Rhodes used a Scripture from The Gideons to share with others in need. For the Rhodes, that experience was the beginning of a great adventure with The Gideons. They returned to Odessa and joined as members. Upon returning to the hospital for a follow-up appointment, they were able to place God’s Word and share Testaments with the staff. “That’s how God works. He knew the facility needed Bibles, and we were blessed to be the ones God used,” says Kathy.
This experience also reminded Kathy that opportunities to share the Gospel drew her to be an Auxiliary when she and Eddie were learning about the Association. “What inspired me most was the opportunity to learn how to effectively tell someone about the life-changing message of Jesus Christ and gift them with a copy of God’s Word,” she says.
New york city and hope for the future
Since then, Eddie and Kathy have participated in several large Scripture distribution events in New York City. After experiences with such events, Kathy knows you can’t get enough of that feeling when you place a copy of God’s Word for someone else to pick up in His timing. “It’s always a lot of work, but it’s worth it. You know it’s what God wants you to do when a week or two before the event, the Devil begins to try and distract. But you just have to say, ‘I know what this is, and I’m not succumbing to you.’ The Devil really doesn’t want us to win, and he is always lurking; but all we have to do is continue to keep our eyes on what God has called all Christians to do—tell others about Jesus.”
One evening during a New York City Scripture distribution, Kathy watched as four young Gideons who were on fire for the Lord shared God’s Word with others. “I see the future in them. I see hope in them. We need to continue to encourage these young people to come forward where they are,” she says. Eddie fully believes in younger generations, as well. He encourages young men to take a step of faith. “The Lord will take care of whatever they need. Those of us who have been in the ministry for a long time can mentor them,” says Eddie.
God has shown Eddie and Kathy Rhodes a lot through the years, and they have seen Him move in mighty ways through their involvement in The Gideons International.
It’s the high school football coach who drove us to not settle for mediocrity. It’s the school teacher who saw our gifts and challenged us to develop them. It’s the youth pastor who took us on the mission trip that opened our eyes to the world around us. It’s the leader who engages us, pushing us to do and be better.
It’s the mentor—the people in our lives who deepen our walks with Jesus, push us to be better, and disciple us in maturity.
Webster’s Dictionary defines mentorship as “the influence, guidance, or direction given by a mentor.” A mentor carries the appropriate balance of encouragement and development. Hebrews 13:7 is a verse that speaks to directly mentorship. It reads, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”
alf and Johnny
In the hills of East Tennessee live two Gideons—Alf Taylor and Johnny Molloy. They have had a mentoring relationship for many years, building a lifetime of partnering together in serving the Lord. “I understand the value of mentorship, because I have been on the receiving end,” says Johnny.
Johnny believes building the relationship is key. This is accomplished by doing things like fishing together, going to ball games, and spending time building a rapport with each other. “There is a spiritual component to it, but also a relationship-building aspect, in being there for each other,” says Johnny.
“I understand the value of mentorship, because I have been on the receiving end.” —Johnny Molloy
Johnny looks up to several men who have served the Lord faithfully for decades. He has seen the value of mentorship through their faithfulness that is genuine, based on a love for Christ and His glory. “These men are titans of the Christian faith,” says Johnny. His faith has grown exponentially since joining The Gideons and serving the Lord with these men of deep faith.
Alf Taylor and Johnny Molloy
One time, after wondering who the person would be to speak at a church on behalf of The Gideons International, Alf told Johnny, “You are going to do this Gideon service in our church.” After that day, Alf joined Johnny for several church presentations in their area, mentoring him and helping him grow in his knowledge of ministry of The Gideons.
“I want my life to be held accountable, because I want to always be better,” says Johnny. “I want to be a better servant today than I was yesterday.”
There is a give and take in the relationships we build—being poured into and then turning around and pouring into others. Alf invested in Johnny; and similarly, Johnny is working with new Gideons as well—building relationships with these men, encouraging their walk in Christ, and mentoring them. Why? To reach the end goal of looking more and more like Jesus every day.
mentors in the bible
Scripture is full of narratives that show a biblical model of mentor relationships. The driving factor is missional living that develops your faith and points people to Christ. Consider the following examples:
Moses and Joshua. In Deuteronomy 31, Moses summoned Joshua and told him, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)
Naomi and Ruth. In the first chapter of Ruth, we read about a conversation between Ruth and Naomi. “But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.’ And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.” (Ruth 1:16, 18)
Jesus and His Disciples. In the Gospel of Matthew, we see Jesus mentoring His disciples. He told them, “’Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:19-20)
These biblical examples of mentorship provide insight into how the Holy Spirit works through a Godly mentor to invest into another person. The end result is for the person being mentored to look more and more like Jesus every day.
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7 (ESV)
mentorship resource
As Christ followers, every aspect of our lives should be grounded in God’s Word. With that understanding, the second chapter of Titus provides a great model of mentorship. Click HERE to download The Titus 2 Model of Mentorship resource to learn more.
Mike Johnson was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. His father, Frank, was a computer engineer and his mother, Helen, a retired real estate agent. Mike grew up in a small Baptist church where his family faithfully attended. As a seven-year-old boy, Mike accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior after conversations with his parents.
stories and the Bibles
There are two things Mike vividly remembers as a child growing up in this small Baptist church. First, his family was at church almost every time the doors were open. Second, once a year, a man would come to speak about Bibles. As a child, Mike had a hard time following everything the speaker would say, but one thing was clear, the speaker was going to start with a story that typically had a happy ending. The stories intrigued Mike—they involved a person’s life that was forever changed, turning to Christ as a result of reading God’s Word. He recalls sitting on the pew as a typical, fidgety child, anticipating the story and absorbing every word.
On one occasion, Mike was again fascinated by one of the stories, and he felt a leading of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t know where, when, or how, he knew one day he would be the person telling these stories to others.
Public Speaking Class in College
In the late 1970’s, during Mike’s second semester of his junior year of college, he needed an elective to complete a full load for the semester. Mike went to a small liberal arts college and the selection for electives was limited. This particular semester he had only one option—public speaking. Mike had no desire to take public speaking, but he had no other choice if he was going to graduate on time.
Mike entered his public speaking course with great reluctance. The plan was to keep a low profile, get by with doing minimal speeches, and finish the course with a C-average. On the first day of class, Mike observed three things about the professor: he enjoyed teaching, had a gift for it, and he recognized Mike as a reluctant student. The professor taught Mike to write out his thoughts in a way others could understand, verbalize thoughts in a way others would listen, and control his nervousness to provide a smooth delivery. By the end of the semester, Mike felt confident enough to deliver a prepared speech and ended up with an A in the course.
Mike graduated from college in 1982 and found that jobs were scarce. He decided to enlist in the United States Navy, where he repaired medical equipment for the next eight years. After this, Mike began to work for hospitals employing the same skill set he acquired in the Navy – biomedical engineering.
Membership and Ministry with The Gideons
In the fall of 1996, Mike and his family moved to a mid-sized community in Florida, where Mike started a new job. The family found a church home, and Mike met a man who would influence his life more than he could ever imagine. The man’s name was Len Plisk, an older man, now deceased, who was the president of a Gideon camp. Mike observed that Len was a passionate follower of Jesus, practicing what he preached.
Mike sharing with a church congregation how God is using The Gideons International.
As an engaged Gideon, Len took Mike to a membership dinner and Mike answered God’s call to join the Association. “One of the best aspects about being a Gideon is the ability to take skills learned in the workplace and use those skills to glorify our Lord,” says Mike. “Our camps require skilled treasurers (accounting), presidents and vice presidents (administration), computer and media skills (IT), promoters and speakers (marketing), church relations (customer service), and other skills.” Mike’s advice to fellow believers is to be faithful in following the Holy Spirit’s leading.
One month after joining, Mike qualified to begin giving presentations in churches. Within two months of joining, he spoke during a service on a Sunday evening at a small church with about 20 people in attendance. Mike told a story of a man who had stumbled through life without direction, a plan, or hope, until a Gideon gave him a New Testament. The man accepted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, forever changing his life. At the end of the service, an offering was taken up that amounted to US$67.00.
“One of the best aspects about being a Gideon is the ability to take skills learned in the workplace and use those skills to glorify our Lord.”
As Mike drove home that evening, he looked at the small gray envelope that contained US$67.00, funds that would go completely toward purchasing Scriptures, so people will have the opportunity to read the greatest story ever told—the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Mike stopped the car and began to sob, realizing the Lord had taken him on an incredible journey to get him to this point.
“It had always been aboutthe Lord,” says Mike. “God was present with me as a child, as a college student, and in that car. It is not about Mike, it is about God and what God can do in and through a person for His glory. It is about being obedient to what God has called you to do.”
In the 21 years following his first church presentation, Mike has had the privilege and honor to speak in many churches to thousands of people, but the message is still the same. “It’s never about me, it’s always about Christ.”
On the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean, located directly next to Haiti, sits the Dominican Republic. Twice the size of the state of New Jersey, the Dominican Republic is a Spanish-speaking, predominantly Roman Catholic nation that is generally open to the Gospel.
In November 2018, a team of Gideons and Auxiliary gathered in Santo Domingo, for a Scripture event. Dominican Gideons worked intentionally to connect church congregations, pastors, and Gideons, with the end goal being to reach the people of Santo Domingo for Christ.
Striving Side by Side with Churches
Field Representative Robinson Candelario praying with Pastor Felix Hernandez in the Dominican Republic.
There is great respect for God’s Word and the ministry of The Gideons in Santo Domingo. When you invite a pastor to join you for a meal, it is normal to converse about what God is doing in and through the ministry. Such conversations help pastors better understand the mission of winning people for Christ, which strengthens relationships between church congregations and Gideons. Carlos, a Gideon for ten years, emphasized the importance of these relationships:
We have a burden to build relationships, have church presentations, and explain the different aspects of the Association. The ministry needs churches—after all, we are the Church. We go to churches, recruit new members, and this helps expand Kingdom work. The more people we meet, the more we meet potential members who help fulfill the Great Commission. As a ministry, we have an incredible mission to engage a lost culture with the Gospel and God’s Word. Gideons reach people where they are, in their world, and this is what makes the ministry effective.
Pedro, also a Gideon for ten years, knows about the work that goes into building relationships with pastors. “We call and visit pastors to inform them about how God is at work in the community.”
Cindy, an Auxiliary, knows her calling is to complement her Gideon husband in ministry. “We get close to the pastors’ wives of the churches and build relationships with them to see if there are any candidates who would want to be a part of the ministry.”
Dedicated and Devoted to the Ministry of The Gideons
Maxis, a street vendor, who accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
Cal Lucas, a Gideon from Mississippi, was blessed to be the team leader. “This was an outstanding event, well-organized and executed by the Gideons in the Dominican Republic. The international team was dedicated and devoted to the work of The Gideons—each man had experiences that will be with them for the rest of their lives giving them new insight into the Association.”
The Scripture distributions began on Monday and continued throughout the week. Each day began in prayer and ended with praise for what God had done. The team was amazed at the openness and almost universal acceptance they experienced while distributing Scriptures. For several of the team members, it was the first time they were able to participate in classroom Scripture distributions, which included opportunities to share with the students how they could receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Praise the Lord by the end of the event, 195 institutions were visited and over 131,000 people received a Scripture.
Community Engagement in Santo Domingo
An Auxiliary distributes a Medical Testament to a nurse.
A significant part of The Gideons International is community engagement—this is no different during Scripture events. The team was able to visit not only schools and universities, but also hospitals, jails, hotels, and fire and police stations.
Steve Newton, a Gideon from South Carolina, had impactful experiences at hospitals. “On Monday, we visited hospitals and found the openness to the Gospel refreshing—prayers with patients and their families were welcomed. A young lady prayed to receive Christ at the first hospital we visited, and a hospital worker prayed to receive Christ at the second hospital. After lunch, we went to a large hospital where we had the opportunity to pray with a family of around 10 people to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.” Steve was moved by the warmth of the local Gideons and their families. Even though there was a language barrier, the obvious recognition that we are all a part of the family of God made the experience together meaningful.
“As a ministry, we have an incredible mission to engage a lost culture with the Gospel and God’s Word. Gideons reach people where they are, in their world, and this is what makes the ministry effective.” -Carlos, a Gideon from the Dominican Republic
Lindsay Brown, a Gideon from Australia, recalled his experience at a fire station, “On Monday, the local fire chief had eight officers’ line up and receive Testaments, along with hearing the Gospel from the ‘Australian missionary.’” Lindsay said it was a joy to see the Gospel shared through an interpreter and have the Dominican Gideons pray for them.
The Impact on Schools and Universities
Capitalizing on the open doors at schools and universities, the Lord provided opportunities for over 121,000 Scriptures to be received by students.
Jimmy Fitch, a Gideon from Mississippi, had impactful experiences in how the schools received The Gideons. “We were welcomed and escorted to the classes by principals or their assistants. The teachers seemed glad to see The Gideons visiting their schools, and students were attentive and graciously received their Scriptures. As we walked from classroom to classroom, you could see students reading their new gift,” says Jimmy.
More than 65,000 grade-school students received a New Testament during the Scripture event.
Howard Copeland, a Gideon from Colorado, had the incredible opportunity to speak with a school principal about her love for the Lord and for educating the next generation. The principal originally wanted to be a doctor or a nurse in the medical field. As she was sharing this with Howard, she began to tear up, remembering the time her pastor asked her to be a Sunday School teacher. “It was through this experience the Lord showed me the need for educators in my country,” said the principal. Today, she allows religious classes to be taught in her schools and welcomes the Gideons to distribute Scriptures to students and staff members. She has seen firsthand the excellent relationships the local Gideons have with the schools.
Drew Mock, a Gideon from Florida, was blessed by a distribution at one of the universities in Santo Domingo—over 55,000 Testaments were distributed among two universities during the event. “I was truly blessed by the staggering number of New Testaments we all had a hand in distributing throughout the week, but especially at the University in Santo Domingo. I thought about the untold number of lives that will be eternally impacted by those thousands and thousands of Scriptures going home to friends and families,” says Drew.
“Working with such a committed group of local Gideons and Auxiliary, seeing their boldness in presenting God’s Word, and sharing about Jesus, made for an impactful experience.” -Drew Mock, a Gideon from Florida
Kingdom Expansion
Praise the Lord for memorable Kingdom work accomplished in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. “Working with such a committed group of local Gideons and Auxiliary, seeing their boldness in presenting God’s Word, and sharing about Jesus, made for an impactful experience,” says Drew.
“I’ve never seen a country so hungry for the Word of God and communities so open to the Gospel.” This was the response of Doug Vaughan, a Gideon from Bellingham, Washington, who was part of a team of Gideons and Auxiliary that participated in a 2018 Scripture outreach event in Ghana, referred to as a blitz.
The country of Ghana is located in West Africa and has a population of approximately 29.4 million people that spans a variety of ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. According to the Joshua Project, there are approximately 7.6 million evangelical Christians, representing 26% of the population in Ghana, and 6.5 million Muslims, representing 22% of the country’s population.
In the midst of this wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and religious diversity is The Gideons International, an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments. Members of The Gideons have been reaching the people of Ghana with God’s Word since 1966. Since that time, over 34 million people there have received copies of the Word of God, with many coming to faith in Christ. Today, more than 890 Gideons and 370 Auxiliary in Ghana are reaching countless people for the cause of Christ.
dedicated gideons and auxiliary in ghana
Several Gideons from other countries traveled to Ghana to participate in the November Scripture blitz. Scriptures were placed and distributed in schools, universities, hotels, hospitals, a local jail, and to military and police personnel. Some of these Gideons traveled for many hours to participate in the event. One of the local Gideons from Accra was married two days prior to the event, and he chose to postpone his honeymoon in order to share Scriptures with people during the blitz. Bill McAfee, a Gideon from Indiana, was inspired by the commitment of Ghana’s Gideons. “It was great to serve alongside Gideons and brothers in Christ from Ghana. They had tremendous dedication, especially those from Accra, who travelled to Kumasi to work a second week. Some men even worked over the weekend to transport, unload, and deploy Scriptures to storage locations in Kumasi.”
Forty-four churches opened their doors to invite Gideons to share about the mission of The Gideons International. During a meeting with the head of one of the larger churches in Kumasi, the bishop asked if Gideons could train 4,000 of his leaders in reaching people for Christ.
open doors, open hearts
2 Thessalonians 3:1 reads, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.” As a result of what God did in Ghana, over 500,000 people received Scriptures. During most of the distributions, Gideons were able to present the plan of salvation to those receiving a Scripture. Gideons saw thousands of people respond by making public decisions for Christ, and many souls were saved through one-on-one witnessing opportunities the Lord provided.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 reads, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.”
Open doors and open hearts seemed to be the recurring theme throughout the blitz. Will Ragan, a Gideon from South Carolina, said, “Our team saw nothing but open doors, open hearts, and hunger for the Word of God. The gratitude of the people receiving Scriptures can barely be described in words. We were able to share the plan of salvation directly with nearly everyone receiving a Scripture.”
In one classroom, a student asked Gideon Bill Sandel from Florida, “How do I know what a pastor tells me is true?” Bill was grateful for the opportunity to explain the Bible as ultimate Truth and how we know we can trust its teachings.
Gideon Bill Sandel speaks to students at a school in Ghana.
Dennis Perry, a Gideon from Texas, had an impactful experience at the University of Ghana. He witnessed a Gideon giving a Testament to a young man. A few minutes later the young man returned and thanked the Gideon for the Scripture. He said he had planned to go home to take his life that night. The Gideon sat down and shared the plan of salvation with the young man, who, as a result, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The young man committed to read and study the Testament and find a local church for fellowship and support.
Even during their return journey home, the Lord continued to provide the team with opportunities for sharing the hope of Christ. As six members of the team missed their connection flight out of Accra, they waited at the check-in counter where an airline employee named Ernies noticed they were Gideons. Ernies came and thanked them for the Scripture he was given the night before. After an initial conversation with Ernies about how he was engaging the Scripture, Wisconsin Gideon Titus Mathews, asked, “If you died today, where would you spend eternity?” Using John 3:3 and the verses on the back pages of the Testament, Titus shared the Gospel with Ernies. Standing in front of the airline counter, Ernies prayed to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He signed and dated his Testament to forever remember his decision.
challenges and provisions
The Scripture event did come with its challenges, which in the end, revealed more of God’s working and provision. Samuel Frank, a Gideon from Germany, shared how he saw God work in the midst of Scripture shipment delays. “First, the shipment was diverted through Spain, which caused unforeseen delays. Next, there were problems with a broken seal in one of the 14 containers, which prevented us from being able to access the Scriptures. There was also an electricity outage that prevented the dispatch of the Scriptures. Praise the Lord for His provision as access to the Scriptures was granted just at the needed time. All of this kept us in constant prayer as we know prayer is the foundation of all of our endeavors.”
Will Ragan also saw God’s hand move as Scriptures were delayed.
“There were extraordinary difficulties getting the shipment of Scriptures through the port so we could begin the second week of distributions in Kumasi. The Scriptures were finally being offloaded in Kumasi at four depots, as we were beginning our blitz efforts on Monday. The following morning, my team was waiting at a church for a driver who was running late. Suddenly over the horizon about two miles away, an enormous fireball erupted, followed by a huge pillar of smoke. The streets erupted in panic, as no one knew what was happening. Later we found out that the gas station very close to the depot had exploded, and the ensuing fire destroyed surrounding buildings. We realized that if our driver had been on time, we would have passed directly by the gas station around the time of the explosion. Arriving at the depot by an alternate route, we found the fire had been stopped before reaching the Scriptures—God had stopped a final attempt to prevent the people of Kumasi from receiving the Gospel.”
overwhelming eternal joy
“Behind every victory of the Word of God is a victory of the prayers of God’s people. We thank and praise our awesome and wonderful God for the many victories of His Word throughout the two weeks of the blitz. We were overwhelmed with joy by the open doors to the Word of God and the response to the proclamation of the Gospel,” said Doug Vaughan.
The Gideons International is grateful to the Lord for His protection over the Gideons and Auxiliary serving in Ghana and for the life-change experienced by so many during the Scripture event.
Mark Olsen witnessing and praying for a man on the streets.
The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
Fragrances tend to get people’s attention. Even if the fragrances are unappealing, they get noticed. The purpose of Paul’s letter to the believers in Corinth was to communicate that advancing the Kingdom will come with its share of attacks and suffering, but Christ will prevail in the end. This past summer, members from several countries joined efforts in Piura, Peru, as God called them to be this same fragrance of life and share the Gospel.
The team, who had been mostly strangers before the event, met every morning at 5:30 a.m. for devotions and prayer. In God’s providence, the New Testament readings were from the book of Acts (chapters two to five) and told of how God blessed the early Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Every day, the team prayed for the power of the Holy Spirit to use them as a Gospel witness in Peru.
surrounded by religion
The city of Piura lies in the northwestern desert area of Peru. A poor city with a population of nearly 500,000, Piura was the first city in Peru established by the Spanish conquerors who sought to convert the indigenous populations to Christianity. These days, there is visible evidence of Roman Catholicism in most of the city’s congregations, schools, and universities. According to the 2017 Census, 76% of the population in Peru identify as Roman Catholics, and 14% identify as Protestants.
whiteboard sessions
Juan Ramirez and his team
Every day during the event, Juan Ramirez, a Gideon from Lima, did exceptional work recruiting other members from Lima and Trujillo to assist the team in Piura. Brother Ramirez, a former police commander, organized a centralized command post tent in the courtyard of the hotel. The team met daily for assignments and reports as a large whiteboard was used to communicate the assignments. God used Brother Ramirez’s business relationships with local law enforcement officials to open a Scripture distribution at a large prison with 4,200 prisoners each receiving a New Testament. The prison inmates were happy to receive the Word of God, and prison officials encouraged Gideons to return each year.
During Gospel conversations, the team found the local citizens were receptive to hearing about Jesus Christ. Andreas, a Gideon from Germany recalled, “I found many opportunities to use a Testament and introduce people to the plan of salvation.”
Andreas vividly remembers one encounter. He and a team went to a local supermarket to buy water. On their way, they noticed a group of four young men. At the encouragement of Andreas, Mark Olson, a Gideon from Illinois, offered each of the young men a Testament. They accepted. When the team arrived back at the hotel, Mark had a strong desire to go back and talk to the young men. When they returned, the boys were reading the Testaments. Andreas and Mark felt led to walk the boys through the plan of salvation. The young men accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and signed the back page of their Testaments as evidence of the decision they had just made.
Andreas witnessing to four young men.
Mark also had the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Raul, a waiter in the restaurant at a hotel. Raul was open to meet Mark in the hotel courtyard one evening after work. They talked about God’s design and purpose for our lives. After sharing the Gospel with Raul, Mark felt led to ask him if he believed Jesus was the Savior. Raul affirmed that he believed Jesus came to save him from his sins, and he confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Thrilled with Raul’s confession, Mark encouraged him to find a Bible-believing church and grow in his faith in Christ.
Children excited about the gospel
Ministry and Gospel conversations were also prevalent in schools and universities. One day, a team of Gideons headed to a particular school to share New Testaments with students. Each Monday, before this school begins, students assemble in the multipurpose area. The principal leads the children in group prayer, the pledge to the Peruvian flag, and the national anthem. Like most people of Piura, these children come from primitive homes with rusty, tin roofs. Their homes were small, concrete block sheds, which looked like storefront buildings sitting side-by-side. The concrete walls help them stay cool in the desert climate. However, the children were spotless, wearing their well-kept school uniforms bearing the school logo.
The classrooms had essential supplies but many times lacked good lighting and fresh paint. Each classroom looked different, but the reaction was the same—children thrilled to receive a Scripture. “In each classroom, we were given time to explain why we came to visit, the importance of God’s Word, and the plan of salvation. It was a joy to see the children respond,” said one of the Gideons.
The next day, Bill Bugg, a Gideon from Colorado, and three Peruvian Gideons went to a Catholic school to share Scriptures. At this school, God opened doors for Bill to share the Gospel with a high school senior class through a local interpreter. The whole time Bill was speaking, the school director was standing beside him. In the end, the interpreter had students recite a prayer of salvation if they wanted to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Before long, the school director was reciting along with the students and accepted Jesus as his Savior.
“It was pure joy.”
A hotel employee in Piura, Peru, holding a Scripture placed by Gideons.
On the last day of the event, two Gideons named Jose and Rodney visited a small hotel in a poor area of the city and met the hotel manager, Liliana. She was open to them placing Bibles in the hotel rooms. After they finished, one of the Gideons began a conversation with Liliana about her faith as he offered her a Testament. After heartfelt conversation back and forth, there was a real peace and conviction of the Holy Spirit as Jose and Liliana discussed the things of God. Next, Jose and Rodney witnessed a new spiritual birth as Liliana became a new creature in Christ after Jose led her in prayer. Rodney recalled, “It was pure joy! Jose later shared Liliana had read the Bible but was confused about the different religions and confusing doctrines on how to please God. Jose shared with her the one thing is needed to please God—place your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“I can see God in the middle of everything.”
Throughout the event, God provided opportunities for Gideons and Auxiliary to win people for Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit moved through every team member. Even one of the local interpreters was so excited about the mission, she began to share a word of witness in their “off-time.”
“As I look back at the events of the week, I can see God in the middle of everything. With His help, I pray that many will come to the loving knowledge of our Lord through the seeds that we planted while in Piura,” said Rodney Clay, a Gideon from Kansas.
The pure fragrance of life can only be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The team members know nothing can be sweeter than a new believer embracing the Savior.
“As I look back at the events of the week, I can see God in the middle of everything. With His help, I pray that many will come to the loving knowledge of our Lord, through the seeds that we planted while in Piura.” –Rodney Clay, Kansas
In December 1968, the world was in great need of a message of hope and peace. It had been a tumultuous year. War. Assassinations. Riots.
That Christmas Eve, the world witnessed history. The Apollo 8 spacecraft with its three-man crew became the first manned spacecraft to leave the earth’s orbit.
As with any journey into the unknown, there were no guarantees. The brave crew members realized their chance of becoming the first humans to see the far side of the moon was balanced against the risk they may not return home alive.
Robert Zimmerman’s book, Genesis, The Story of Apollo 8, details the events leading up to that historic Christmas Eve in 1968.
According to the book, a press conference was held a few weeks before the mission’s launch. A news reporter asked the crew members if they planned to make a “Christmas-type gesture from space,” given their lunar orbit would coincide with Christmas Eve.
The crew members didn’t have an answer. For the next several days, the question continued to nag at Frank Borman, the commander for the Apollo 8 crew. What message could they share that might help unite a world that had become divided in so many ways?
In Search of the Right Words
With the Apollo’s launch growing close, Frank talked with his fellow crew members, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, about what message they should share with the world once they entered the moon’s orbit. Suggestions ranged from citing the words of a prayer to reading an adaptation of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The astronauts agreed, none of their ideas seemed fitting for such a momentous event, especially in light of all that had taken place in the world that year.
Help was sought from a professional writer, Joe Laitin. The challenge of finding the right words to say proved just as challenging for him. Hoping to draw inspiration from an artist’s rendering of the view that the astronauts would see from space, Joe began to write.
In the late hours of the evening, all he had to show for his efforts was a floor covered with paper wads. Then, in a moment of sudden inspiration, he thought, “Why not go to the Bible for the right words?”
Joe reached for a Gideon-placed Bible he had taken earlier from a hotel room. At the suggestion of his wife, Joe turned to the book of Genesis. As soon as his eyes landed on Genesis Chapter 1, Joe knew the words on that page would be the perfect words to mark the occasion.
The message was sent to the Apollo 8 crew. They all agreed the Genesis passage was perfect. Borman took the letter containing the Scripture and photocopied it onto fireproof paper. He stuck it inside the crew’s flight manual.
Incidentally, there were other copies of God’s Word aboard Apollo 8. After permission had been granted, Service Testaments from The Gideons International had been placed onboard.
This photo taken from the Apollo 8 that historic Christmas Eve shows the earth rising above the lunar horizon. Called “Earthrise,” the photo is now considered one of the most historically significant photographs of all time.
For all the People back on Earth
At 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the evening of December 24th, people throughout the world tuned in for the live TV broadcast from the Apollo 8 crew’s historic lunar orbit.
As viewers watched the grainy black and white images of the moon’s surface, they heard the voice of Major Bill Anders breaking through the static.
The Apollo 8 mission control center, as NASA engineers view images broadcast from space during the historic lunar orbit.
“For all the people back on earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.” Anders then began reading from Genesis 1:1,
“In the beginning, God created the heaven[s] and the earth…”
He read through the end of verse four, and Captain Lovell took over reading with, “And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night…”
After Lovell finished with verse eight, Colonel Borman picked up. “And God said, “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered unto one place.” He continued through the end of verse 10, “And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas: and God saw that it was good.”
Borman signed off saying, “And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas. And God bless all of you, all of you on the good earth.”
Mission Accomplished
On that December 24th, Scripture pulled from a Gideon-placed hotel Bible was read live to an estimated one billion people in 64 countries, one of every four people on the planet at that time. No single event had ever drawn such a large TV viewing audience.
At some point in history, a Gideon placed a Bible in a hotel room as part of a mission to reach the lost with God’s Word. When Apollo 8 left Earth, it was carrying Scripture pulled from that Bible. That Christmas Eve in 1968, in the dark expanse of space, those two missions came together, while the world watched and many celebrated the birth of a Savior who came to Earth to redeem us from our sins — the greatest mission of all.
New York City is considered the business capital of the world. With renown attractions like Wall Street, Times Square, Broadway musicals, and the iconic Statue of Liberty, an estimated eight million people have made the city their home—more than 22 million in the metro area. With 700,000 middle and high school students, 500,000 college students, 260 major hospitals and nursing homes with 80,000 beds, major prisons with over 100,000 inmates, more than 34,000 police, and 220 fire companies with over 10,000 firefighters and 3,600 EMTs, the possibilities for Gideons and Auxiliary to impact people for eternity are endless.
New York City is a true melting pot, as men and women from all over the world settle in communities and neighborhoods often reflective of their homelands. “For many of the people traveling to New York City from out of state, this is a strange land. It’s a noisy, crowded place where over 120 languages are spoken in the midst of endless traffic,” says Blitz General Chairman Tor Torkelson. “Coordinating the blitz can become exhausting, but I really think God deconstructs everything and puts it all back together again, so He can show us it’s not about us—it’s about trusting Him to make it work.”
2018 new York city blitz
Gideons pray for firefighters at Fire Station 10
by ground zero.
One morning, Gideons visited several police precincts and fire departments to offer Scriptures. “Saturday was fire department day. A junior firefighter came out and we were able to speak with him. We gave him New Testaments, and this led to the opportunity to share the Gospel. One young man, Thomas, had a Buddhist background. After talking to us and hearing the Gospel message, he made the decision to pray and receive Jesus,” says Gideon Tim Thomas of the Aiken County East Camp, South Carolina.
Two days included chapel services and distributions at city prisons. The New York City Blitz has a long-standing relationship with Rikers Island Prison, which is one of the world’s largest correctional institutions. The jail complex has a staff of 9,000 officers and 1,500 civilians, as well as an average daily population of 10,000 inmates.
Over the years, there have been testimonies and stories of inmates who were positively impacted by the New Testaments they were given or by the discipleship offered by Gideons and Auxiliary who visited with them. Often the Gideons and Auxiliary discover they are ministered to as well.
A Gideon witnessing to a street vendor during open air witnessing in Times Square.
Another morning, Gideons made over 100 church presentations in the four boroughs. In the afternoon, they partook in an event unique to the New York City Blitz – personal witnessing in Times Square. Some Gideons stayed and well into the evening, talking to people about the hope found only in a relationship with Christ.
Curtis Schmidt, a Gideon from the Newton Camp, Kansas, recalls his experience. “On Sunday we went to Times Square to share about Jesus. We grabbed a bunch of New Testaments and handed them out one at a time. When my wife and I went to get more, a lady made her way across the sidewalk and came up to us. I offered her a Personal Workers Testament. Her name was Jasmine, and her daughter, Sophie, wanted one too. We opened the Scripture and showed her the Helps in the front and the plan of salvation in the back. As she began to pour out her life to us, she said, ‘My husband left me, I’m homeless, everything I own in the world is in my backpack, and I’m headed to a shelter. I prayed only one hour ago that I could get another Bible.’ She was overjoyed to receive the New Testament. We prayed with her and she was blessed by our interaction.”
a variety of distributions
Throughout the week, Gideons and Auxiliary visited many schools, colleges, nursing homes, and hospitals to distribute God’s Word and reach people for Christ.
“One of the places we visited was a women’s shelter, says Linda Heckman of the Putnam Westchester Camp, New York. ‘The women had finished lunch, and we were able to go into the lounge and place Bibles. As we did so, the women began to line up to receive Bibles. We didn’t instruct them, they were just excited. I was introduced to a young nurse named Gloria. She was a single mother raising a 10-month-old baby. She told me her grandmother was praying for her, so I knew she had probably been exposed to the Gospel. I asked her if I could pray for her as well and show her the plan of salvation. As we prayed, she decided to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. With every place we went, we could see the hunger in the city, the hunger to know who God is.”
After an experience with a student at a community college in the Bronx, Jonathan Bauch (Laurinburg Camp, North Carolina) said, “God is faithful. If we just trust in Him, He will take care of us. Sometimes we get rejected when handing out Testaments, but we keep on doing what we are doing because we know there are people out there who will be blessed by this work.”
An Auxiliary presents a New Testament to an employee at Sunny Medical Center.
Another important part of the New York City Blitz are the Bible drop teams. Organized locally, Bibles are pre-placed in nursing homes, hospitals, and hotels so chaplains or other Gideons can come by and get them. George Robinson (Nashville South Camp, Tennessee) says, “This is the greatest piece of the blitz in my mind. We leave here with Bibles, pre-call, so they know we are coming, and they are there to meet us at the loading docks or at the front of the buildings. It’s built-in time to share the Gospel with whoever is coming to meet you.” One day a drop team was parked in a standing area, and a policeman came to tell them they need to move. When they told the policeman what they were doing, he directed the team to the front of the building, where they waited for the chaplain. When she came, the team met a police officer named Clifford, who accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.
being a vessel
The Gideons and Auxiliary on the 2018 New York City Blitz had incredible opportunities to share Jesus with people from all over the world. Some of these God-ordained moments were not directly part of a specific distribution, simply a leading of the Holy Spirit. In the end, people at schools, nursing homes, prisons, shelters, and other places were ministered to as Gideons and Auxiliary continued to fulfill the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.
David Chen discusses plans for a new solar panel installation with an employee.
Gideon An-Ji Chen, his wife Tai Ying Cheng, and their grandson, “Yo-Yo,” stand outside their shop in Chaozhou Township, Pingtung.
Shang-Xian Tsai, of the Puzi Camp, distributed God’s Word to many people attending the 2019 Lantern Festival in Pingtung, Taiwan last February.
Kathy Rhodes and other Auxiliary sharing testaments in a hospital in New York City.
Field Representative Robinson Candelario praying with Pastor Felix Hernandez in the Dominican Republic.
Maxis, a street vendor, who accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.
An Auxiliary distributes a Medical Testament to a nurse. 
More than 65,000 grade-school students received a New Testament during the Scripture event. 
Mark Olsen witnessing and praying for a man on the streets.
Juan Ramirez and his team
Andreas witnessing to four young men.
A hotel employee in Piura, Peru, holding a Scripture placed by Gideons.
