New York City can be a place of unpredictability. Almost nothing is unheard of in this dynamic center of world influence and contrast. When a team of Gideons participated in a Metropolitan Scripture Blitz to the city earlier this year, the experience matched the reputation of the city in excitement and wonder. Vernon McDaniel, a Gideon from South Carolina and a veteran of New York City blitzes, has traveled to the city for 10 years just for this occasion. “God has given us favor,” he said of all his previous experiences. His trust remained strong that the same favor would be present for this year’s blitz. Covered in prayer, these men entered the heart of a cultural juggernaut, trusting God for courage and divine appointments.
The first day began early. Gideons distributed New Testaments at six high schools and a college in Queens. In the afternoon, they visited The Bowery Mission in Manhattan. A historic institution, this long-standing mission has been providing hope to the city’s homeless for over a century. The visiting men received a tour and were shown the podium from which Billy Graham once remarked, “If Jesus was still alive, this is where he would be.”
As the tour was coming to an end, mission staff received word the speaker for that evening had cancelled. The slot was offered to the Gideons, and they accepted. After prayerful preparation, these few men had the complete attention of hundreds of homeless New Yorkers. The reception was astonishing. Some confessed sin, many asked for prayer, some received Christ, and all heard the message of salvation. After speaking, Gideons walked pew-to-pew, praying with people individually. One of these individuals was Joseph, a 30-year-old musician, who had become convinced of the truth of the Gospel and decided to give his life to Christ. “Drugs had ruined his life” Vernon said, yet “he said he was going to see if maybe God could use him again.” It was a divinely orchestrated scenario.
Later in the week, Gideons visited Rikers Island, the world’s largest prison. Upon arrival, their mission was delayed by complications. Their paperwork had been misplaced, and they did not have the clearance they needed. They prayed fervently, and in time, were allowed through every checkpoint of the maximum security facility. Gideons were also given an opportunity to present the Gospel message to a group of inmates. After sharing, one of the men asked who among the prisoners needed Christ. Hands went up everywhere, and together they spoke aloud a prayer of salvation.
Many firehouses and police stations were also visited by the blitz teams over the course of the week. In honor of the 15th anniversary of September 11, Gideon members presented an “In Memory” GideonCard to staff members who lost their fellow servicemen on that tragic day. There were many opportunities to share the Good News with the men and women who have dedicated their lives to helping others. “Each year we are welcomed into more firehouses and police stations,” noted Gideon Tor Torkelson of New York, “In each facility the desire for the Word of God is tremendous. It’s truly encouraging.”
While the Gideons were accomplishing their work, several teams of Auxiliary were also traveling throughout the city to deliver and place Scriptures at medical facilities and safehouses. The safehouses exist primarily to assist men and women who are homeless or who have recently been released from prison. The residents vary in background, culture, and language; however, they all have one very desperate need – hope. “We had the staff of one of these facilities tell us they could take 1,000 Scriptures every few months and never experience a shortage,” remembered Katie McCormick, an Auxiliary from South Carolina. “The desire for the Word of God is so great. When people realized we had Bibles in different languages, they were so amazed, and they would ask us earnestly if they could have one.”
“A blitz is a monumental task, and there are always a thousand setbacks, but God can do what we cannot”
When the blitz came to a close at the end of the week, Gideons and Auxiliary had placed and distributed over 190,000 Scriptures in over 10 different languages. “It’s amazing how God goes before us,” said Torkelson. “People often wonder why I’m never very worried about the details. God always seems to put the right people in the right places, despite what I plan. A blitz is a monumental task, and there are always a thousand setbacks, but God can do what we cannot.”
As Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus Christ, Gideons go into the world sharing copies of God’s Word. During an International Scripture Blitz, such as the one that took place for two weeks this October in Mexico, local members as well as several members from around the world, distribute Scriptures and share their faith with others all day long.
The first of these blitz events by Gideons took place in Mexico City in 1978. In those seven days, Gideons distributed 45,650 Scriptures. During this year’s blitz, almost 40 years later, Gideons and Auxiliary distributed over 75,000 Scriptures on the first day.
More than 200 Gideons and Auxiliary from the 25 local and outlying camps participated in the blitz. From transportation problems to school access, many things can go wrong during a Scripture blitz. However, the team experienced minimal problems, thanks to prayers from around the world.
Sharing God’s Word With Mexico’s Students
“Gideons had a hard time keeping up with the constant flow of outstretched hands.”
Parents would walk their high school students to campus and smile at the Gideons. One parent mentioned in her best English, “This is good, congratulations!” At a middle school, one parent became so interested in what the Gideons were doing, he decided to pursue membership.
Gideons had a hard time keeping up with the constant flow of outstretched hands. David Eslinger from the Tulsa County North Camp, Oklahoma, said, “You’ve heard about the rate at which Gideons distribute God’s Word – about two Scriptures per second. That was us as we were distributing to the rush of students entering or exiting a school.” It was noted if the first few students did not take a Scripture, the next ones would not. However, if someone accepted the gift, everyone following behind took one as well.
One of the high school students who received a New Testament was Omar. After accepting it, he then tried to set fire to it. He had trouble keeping it lit.
That’s when he felt a change in his heart. He brought the New Testament back to the Gideons and said, “I shouldn’t have done that.” Gideons walked Omar through God’s Word, and this time the Gospel burned in his heart. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. His friends watched from afar and came over after he left. They asked the Gideons, “What just happened?” This gave the Gideons the opportunity to share the good news about Jesus with them as well. And all four friends prayed to receive Christ.
Auxiliary Distribute Scriptures
The Auxiliary, who are wives of Gideons, were out in full-force. Grace Rivera of the Pueblo Camp led the Auxiliary team. “I love what every Auxiliary gets to do, every day,” she said. Grace and her team handed out over 7,000 Scriptures to medical staff at La Raza Hospital on the first day. The Auxiliary in Mexico are bold to step out and share Christ personally when an opportunity arises.
“I love what every Auxiliary gets to do, every day.”
Brothers for Life
The population of greater Mexico City is 22 million people. The total Scriptures distributed in the first week in Mexico City was just over 300,000.
The second week was spent in San Luis Potosi, a metropolitan city four hours north of Mexico City with a population of about one million. This was the first time the city has had a Scripture blitz. There is only one camp in this city; however, Gideons and Auxiliary from all around the region drove in to help exceed the goal of 50,000 Scriptures for the week by twice that amount.
“By serving on a blitz, you get friends for a week – and brothers for life.”
One of the members in San Luis Potosi, Victor Martinez, is a professor of architecture. He doesn’t speak English. However, he does say what he likes best about International Scripture Blitzes is the “compañerismo” or fellowship. Team members all agreed, by serving on a blitz, you get friends for a week – and brothers for life.
Please pray for more lives to be changed as a result of the Scriptures placed and distributed by Gideons and Auxiliary during the Mexico International Scripture Blitz.
A Gideon leads two young men in prayer after they decide to receive Christ.
Shortly after Pastor Kenny Martin began serving at John Wesley Free Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, there was a knock at his office door. His administrative assistant poked her head inside and said, “There’s a student here who would like to see you.” She added that the youth, whom the folks in the congregation called “K-J,” had a speech impediment.
Pastor Kenny welcomed K-J into his office. The young boy was hesitant to talk, so the pastor handed him a note pad and pen and said, “Just write down what you’d like to say.” The boy took the pen, wrote his message on the pad, and handed it back to Pastor Kenny. On the pad was one simple sentence: “I want God to fix my voice.”
A Heart for Youth and Cross-Cultural Ministry
Edward Kenneth Martin (“Kenny”) was born into a middle-class family in Brooklyn. His parents were a godly couple and served as leaders in their church. Kenny went through a rebellious stage in his teens and got caught up in crime and drugs. In his mid-twenties, after serving in the Navy, the young man accepted Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. Soon after, he felt called to enter ministry and moved to Oklahoma to attend Mid-America Bible College. It was there he met his wife, Estelle.
Pastor Kenny began serving in Oklahoma at a church with a predominantly Caucasian congregation. Today, he laughs as he looks back on those days and serving with the church’s pastor. “I taught him to sing soul, and he taught me to sing country,” he remembers. That was just one of many experiences throughout the pastor’s ministry where he felt the Lord move him out of his comfort zone. “I believe God is always preparing us for the next place He wants to take us in ministry,” Kenny explained. For him, it was preparation for serving people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
From Oklahoma, the Martins moved to pastor at a church in St. Louis, where they served throughout the 1990s. Next, they re-located to Maryland, where they pastored a church for 15 years. In 2015, the Lord called Pastors Kenny and Estelle to serve in Indianapolis at the John Wesley Free Methodist Church. The congregation has an average weekly attendance of 150-180 people and just celebrated its 50th anniversary.
“Our mission is to reach all people with the love of Christ”
The Martins spent their first several months in Indianapolis focused on simply getting to know the folks in the congregation. As those relationships began to flourish, the Martins turned their attention to building the ministry team. Pastor Kenny has also been spending much of his time building relationships with the young people in their church, and with people in the multi-ethnic community surrounding the church. “Our mission is to reach all people with the love of Christ,” he says.
Lord, Please Heal Our Land
In the middle of a worship service during the summer of 2016, Pastor Kenny received the breaking news of the shooting of five police officers in Dallas. Shocked and heartbroken, the pastor immediately shared the tragic news with the congregation and called upon the church to pray. “This killing has got to stop,” he told them.
In the hours to follow, Pastor Kenny felt led to call pastors throughout the city to come together and pray for the nation. The following Tuesday night, several pastors representing a variety of denominations gathered with Pastor Kenny, and they prayed for healing and revival across the United States. The event was a clarion call according to Joel 2:15-17, “Blow the trumpet in Zion… call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders…Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, ‘Spare your people, O Lord.’”
“We have to keep seeking, and keep believing God will heal our land from hatred, because all lives matter.”
“We do need a healing,” Pastor Kenny says of the nation. “The main culprit in all this is Satan. What we have to do is put on the whole armor of God. We read in 2 Chronicles 7:14, ‘…if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’ My mandate is to call all Christian churches to work together in unity and to pray for our nation. That’s what God has placed on my heart,” says Pastor Kenny. “We have to keep seeking, and keep believing God will heal our land from hatred, because all lives matter.”
The Importance of God’s Word
“It’s so important to have a copy of God’s Word in my hands when I’m sharing the Gospel with someone,” says Pastor Kenny. For this reason, he always carries a pocket-sized New Testament he received from The Gideons.
Pastor Kenny has experienced first-hand the power of God’s Word and wants to see others experience it. “When I read the Bible, the words just seem to jump into my spirit. I want to see believers reading their Bibles daily,” he says. “I can’t stress how important it is. It’s the living Word of God. It’s active. It will get into your spirit and change your life. When Gideons place God’s Word into peoples’ hands, the Word shall not return void.”
Partnering with The Gideons
K-J
The Sunday following the 2016 International Convention, Pastor Kenny and the congregation welcomed the International Chaplain for The Gideons International, Jimmy Duren, who delivered a presentation. “He did a wonderful job presenting the ministry of The Gideons,” says Pastor Kenny. Within days of the presentation, the pastor began meeting with church leadership to review different opportunities for partnering with Gideons in reaching the lost with God’s Word.
As for young K-J, in the months since his timid entrance into Pastor Kenny’s office, the pastor and others in the congregation have continued to encourage him. The pastor has welcomed K-J at his home for cookouts and has also taken time to teach him valuable life skills. “We can see his confidence growing. There’s a glow on his face.” During altar calls, K-J will even come down front to lay hands on others.
After Jimmy Duren’s presentation that Sunday, Pastor Kenny drove K-J back to his house. K-J noticed one of the New Testaments from The Gideons in the console. He asked, “Can I have that?” Pastor Kenny gladly let him take it, knowing K-J would put the Scripture to good use.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month – a wonderful opportunity for us to express gratitude to pastors for their dedicated service. By sending a GideonCard, you can send warm messages of thanks and encouragement to your pastor and, in turn, donate Bibles worldwide in their name. Visit www.sendtheword.org for details.
For many, the presence of sin in their lives is an idea that is staunchly resisted. After all, no one wishes to feel evil or desperate. But for others, the course of their life brings undeniable awareness of the severity of the human condition. Such is the framework for JC’s story.
JC’s discovery of her need for a Savior began at an early age. Without the luxury of a godly or stable home, JC was exposed to human depravity in her youth. Abuse was a normality, and thus became a foundation for a life of self-abuse.
“When she was in her late teens, she put down the Bible, not to pick it up again for over 20 years.”
As a kid, JC’s parents dropped her off at Sunday School, but Christ remained a stranger. She had little assistance in cultivating the Spirit of Christ, and without any guidance, she soon lost her way. Trying to read Scripture on her own only brought frustration and anger. When she was in her late teens, she put down the Bible, not to pick it up again for over 20 years. By her own admission, JC was guilty of many things, and none of the labels she accumulated throughout the years – thief, adulterer, murderer, alcoholic, drug abuser – brought her any sense of happiness or significance. They only brought despair.
In 2013, she began living in a motel room to avoid homelessness and provide shelter for her then four-and-a-half-year-old daughter. When authorities discovered methamphetamines in her room, JC was arrested, and her little girl was turned over to Child Protective Services. This motel room proved fateful in many ways, as it was from this room that JC stole for the last time; not contraband or something commercially valuable, but a Gideon-placed Bible. In the days following her release, JC neither sought out the same old vices that had previously controlled her life, nor any new vices to distract her from her desolation. She simply began to read.
Soon, JC found herself living in an alley between an Alcoholics Anonymous office and a vacuum cleaner repair shop. Both were owned by Gideons. These men began to form relationships with JC, and she was welcomed into the repair shop each morning for coffee and fellowship. The men taught and encouraged JC, and under their care, she flourished. Through the revelation provided by Scripture and the influence of the men on whose doorsteps she lived, JC began to be transformed. She stopped using substances of any sort, began attending AA meetings, and endeavored to fill the void in her life with Christ rather than chemicals. Though JC had very few worldly comforts, she was at last receiving shelter from the destruction that defined her entire life.
“In her destitution, JC saw clearly, and where every earthly treasure was removed, there she found the greatest treasure of all.”
In 2015, JC lost her father and any access to her daughter. Nevertheless, she would describe 2015 as the best year of her life. This counterintuitive claim comes only from the power of Christ to bring joy even in the most abysmal situations. As JC said herself, quoting Nehemiah: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” In her destitution, JC saw clearly, and where every earthly treasure was removed, there she found the greatest treasure of all.
Though JC’s story may not have a happy ending as many may define it, she would say otherwise. JC has spent much of her life addicted and enslaved to sin, but no longer. She is no more a felon according to the law, but far more significantly, she is no longer an enemy of her Maker. She is grateful to the God who never counted her a criminal though her crimes were many, and today her life is marked by obedience instead of rebellion. JC lost many things in her life, some never to be regained, but she has gained the only thing that can never be lost – the salvation of Jesus Christ.
The hallways of James Buchanan High School are filled with students representing small-town life in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. Like most high school students, some strive for excellence in the classroom, while others push their limits on the field. Then there are those like Violet Clark—enthusiastic, a dreamer—those who exude joy and a heart for the Lord in everything they do.
An Impactful Presentation
On March 6, 2016, David Kipp from the Franklin Southwest Camp, Pennsylvania, gave a presentation at Ebenezer United Brethren Church. During his presentation, David briefly shared about The Life Book and how God is using it to impact students across the country. Listening from the congregation was Youth Pastor Chip Stottlemyer. Chip was intrigued by the opportunity he heard about The Life Book, which features the entire Gospel of John (ESV), and ordered 600 free copies online following the presentation.
Six cases arrived in his office, and he presented the opportunity to students at the next youth group meeting. The students were excited and began making plans to share the books with their peers at James Buchanan High School. Violet Clark, one of the most popular students at the high school, was also a member of this youth group.
Violet asked Chip if she could have a whole case—100 copies of The Life Book. Over the next few weeks, she literally skipped through the hallways giving copies to friends and strangers. She wanted to share the message of Christ with her peers. Violet shared nearly the whole case within six weeks, and she shared the last three books just before April 21, her eighteenth birthday.
Primed for Prayer
Violet Clark, a student whose Christian testimony touched many.
On Friday, April 22, Violet was involved in a serious automobile accident as she left school. In a school where prayer is not promoted, many students and teachers began a prayer vigil asking for God to touch and heal Violet. They gathered in groups from the band room to the library, joined hands, and prayed for a miracle. However, on April 25, God called Violet home.
It is not by accident these individuals had been primed with God’s Word. Luke Spurgeon works with the drama club at the high school. Shortly after the accident, he wrote, “There are flyers around the school proclaiming the Word of God. There has been more prayer in the past five days than there has been in many years. Students are turning to Christ, looking for answers and yearning for some of that joy that radiated from Violet.”
The finale of young Violet’s work on Earth was just the beginning of the work for those in her youth group. Since the accident, many have come to Christ as a result of Violet’s life. One of her friends asked Pastor Chip if she could also have a case of The Life Book copies to share.
Through a strong relationship with a church, a Gideon was able to share about The Life Book. Through one presentation, a youth pastor was touched. Through one youth pastor, a young girl was equipped and empowered. And through that girl’s testimony, many were exposed to the Gospel and received the miracle of eternal life.
Find out how you can equip your church’s youth group with free copies of The Life Book to share with their classmates. Click here for details.
Each day throughout the world, countless travelers check into hotels, motels, and inns. The purpose of their journeys differ, and their accommodations vary in style, size, and prestige, but in the nightstand of nearly every room there is one thing sure to be found: a Bible. With a small emblem in the bottom right corner and print that reads “Placed by The Gideons,” these Bibles are the focal point of a far-reaching endeavor by The Gideons International over a century in the making. However, the very thing that has made us the most recognizable as an Association often leaves many wondering – who exactly are the Gideons?
Gideons are the average businessman. They are managers, engineers, and doctors. They are young entrepreneurs and seasoned retirees. They live in rural towns and bustling metropolises. Collectively, they have a desire to spread the Good News. Individually, they have stories that, when told, help illustrate what it means to be a part of The Gideons International.
Jason met Paula in 1998 through a mutual friend. He was studying at North Carolina State University, and Paula was just miles away at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon graduation, Jason decided to join the Navy. He trained in Rhode Island for six months before relocating to a naval base in Hawaii. Over the course of the next four years, he was deployed twice – once to the Persian Gulf and once to the Mediterranean Sea. Nevertheless, Jason and Paula’s relationship thrived on emails, phone calls, and the occasional visit until, finally, Jason was stationed in Florida and the couple was able to formally date.
They married in October of 2004 and settled in Paula’s hometown of Andrews, North Carolina, a charming municipality nestled in the quietly stunning Great Smokey Mountains. Paula was employed at Murphy Medical Center, where she continues to work as a speech language pathologist. Jason found a job at Nantahala Talc and Limestone Co., a family owned business founded in 1890 to harvest the natural resources of the Nantahala Gorge. Today, he is the company’s operations manager. Soon after their move, Jason broke ground on what is now a beautiful two-story log cabin that is home to the couple; their young sons, Jesse and Jacob; and the family dog, Mudbud.
The newlyweds had been in North Carolina for less than two months when Paula’s father, a Gideon since 1989, invited them to attend an informative dinner for potential members. “Having grown up with a Gideon, Paula was obviously quite familiar with the Association, but my knowledge was limited. I actually thought The Gideons was some kind of secret society,” admitted Jason. “At the time, I had no intention of joining. We had just moved, we were in the beginning stages of building our house, and I had just started a new job, so I couldn’t see how I would have time. But as I looked around I saw men of various professions, all of whom had one common goal: witnessing to the lost. By the end of the meeting, I knew this was something I wanted to be part of. We filled out applications that evening.”
Over the next several years, Gideon events, such as monthly camp meetings, weekly prayer meetings, and of course, Scripture distributions, slowly began to populate the Hall family calendar. “It actually became part of our family very naturally,” explained Paula. “As the kids grew older, we just began taking them with us. Sometimes, they show up at camp meetings in their Taekwondo uniforms. They have developed really special relationships with the Gideons, and it has been the perfect way for us to teach them that ministry is the most important thing in life. Whatever we can do and however God can use us, it’s all to further His kingdom.”
Paula grew up alongside many of the women she now serves with as an Auxiliary. “It’s a mentorship, and it’s people genuinely trying to support each other spiritually. Some of the ladies have been an encouragement to me in my service just by giving me a hug. It really connects you with people,” she added. “We have made so many friends, not only at camp meetings, but also at state conventions and International Conventions.”
Hosted annually in major cities throughout the United States, International Convention gathers Gideons and Auxiliary from the corners of the earth under one roof. The week-long Convention provides members the opportunity to conduct the business of the Association and to share how God is working in their respective regions and countries. The Halls have attended four International Conventions in Charlotte, Orlando, San Jose, and, most recently, Indianapolis. “Nothing compares to it,” said Paula, “We hear countless testimonies from men and women who have been persecuted for being Christians, who have come to know the Lord under dire circumstances, or who have experienced God move in mighty ways. We often tend to have a perspective that is USA-centric, so it’s amazing for me to consider how there are men and women on the other side of the world who are going to camp meetings and conducting distributions – just like we are. It’s a continuity that transcends cultures and time zones. With this Association, Gideons and Auxiliary across the globe are working as one unit, for one purpose.”
“It’s a continuity that transcends cultures and time zones. With this Association, Gideons and Auxiliary across the globe are working as one unit, for one purpose.”
This continuity became a reality to Jason when he began to travel for International Scripture Blitzes. Blitzes partner local Gideons from specific countries with international teams, and together over the course of one to two week periods, they take as many Bibles and New Testaments to as many approved areas of distributions – such as schools, hospitals, prisons – as possible. Jason has participated in blitzes to Malaysia, Argentina, and Kenya. “It’s nothing like being a tourist,” he said. “When you go on a blitz, you meet the locals, and you get to know the culture and the language. They invite you into their homes and make you part of their families. You live their lives with them, and you do ministry with them.
“I’ve jumped out of planes; I’ve been scuba diving; I’ve swam with sharks; I’ve participated in ocean rescues; and I’ve jumped on ships at night while working for the Navy, and to me there has been nothing more exciting than participating in an International Scripture Blitz. It’s not an adrenaline rush – it’s an experience you can’t buy. To be part of the body of Christ going out into the world in this one little niche that we have as Gideons has been a blessing of immeasurable value.”
“…to me there has been nothing more exciting than participating in an International Scripture Blitz. It’s not an adrenaline rush – it’s an experience you can’t buy”
Jason’s international experience has also given him insight to better understand the special relationship between The Gideons and local churches. Operating as an extended missionary army of the church, Gideons take the Word to the world and, in doing so, point the world back to the church. The church, in turn, supports The Gideons through donations and, more importantly, through prayer. “A pastor of a local church in Argentina called for a fast while we were there. He and his entire congregation fasted for us, prayed for us, and supported us. There was so much love in that church, it was amazing,” remembered Jason. “It made me realize that, as partners in ministry, we can do more and go farther working together than working alone.”
For that reason, Gideons in the Murphy Camp host an Annual Pastor’s Event, which is customarily a semi-formal banquet held at Tri-County Community College. “It’s a big event where we love on local pastors and show them how much they are appreciated, because we couldn’t do our work without them,” explained Jason. Gideons also call pastors on a regular basis simply to enquire about prayer requests. Three pastors are prayed for by name every week at Saturday morning prayer meetings. The Auxiliary, similarly, offer support to the pastor’s wives. “We pray for churches that don’t have pastors and for pastors who don’t have churches,” continued Jason. “We also send out two to three GideonCards per week, just to say thanks and provide a little encouragement. It’s an effort that has connected Gideons with pastors and, as it happens, pastors with other pastors, and it has resulted in this unique community of believers.”
The more they became connected with Gideons and Auxiliary in their community, the more Jason and Paula began reaching out to those who do not know Christ. After all, the mission of the Association is about more than distributing the Word – it’s about evangelism. “I knew I needed to be witnessing more, but as an introvert, I hardly ever did,” explained Jason. “But that’s where The Gideons came in. I had hands-on mentorship from Gideons in my camp. They took me on distributions, and I watched as they shared Jesus with boldness. More than that, they encourage one another to share stories about personal witnessing, and in doing so they teach each other how to look for opportunities to witness. It’s made me realize that witnessing doesn’t have to be intimidating. Sometimes, it’s as simple as asking someone how their day is going.”
“Anyone can find a place, and together we can make a difference by spreading the Good News.”
Jason and Paula joined The Gideons with a desire to impact lives with the Gospel. Along the way, they discovered ministry had a way of making just as big an impact on their lives, as well. “We’ve been truly blessed,” said Jason. “If anyone wants to be a better witness for God, there’s no better way I can think of than to be involved with The Gideons. It can be anything from praying for the Association, to carrying a little New Testament with you each day, to being fully active in leadership, going to Conventions, and participating in Scripture blitzes. Anyone can find a place, and together we can make a difference by spreading the Good News.”
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16
Deep in the Central Highlands of Southwestern Kenya, two lone men sat on the side of a steep mountain road. Their truck had lost its hard-fought battle against the road’s spongy orange clay, and it rested idly a few feet away from them, useless. To add to their setback, the nearest mechanic had taken a job in a town an hour away and, finding themselves in the rural outskirts of Nyeri county, the two men had no choice but to wait for him to return, however long that may take.
It was approaching noon when a motorcycle came darting up the hill and slowed to a stop in front of them. “Can I help you?” the rider asked in Swahili, visibly confused by the men’s business attire. The men explained their dilemma. They were Gideons, and they were scheduled to visit several local schools that afternoon to deliver copies of God’s Word. The cyclist nodded understandingly and rode off back in the direction from which he came. Fifteen minutes later, he arrived in front of them again, this time accompanied by a passenger: a mechanic. Soon, the truck had been revived, and the two men were ready to be on their way again, just in time to make their next appointment.
As they left, the Gideons noticed a small, hand-written sign attached to the rear of the motorcycle. It read, ‘God is able.’
Several months earlier, Gideons in the city of Nyeri had begun to organize an International Scripture Blitz. Nyeri is the largest city in Nyeri county, and it serves as both the commercial center for trading crops harvested from surrounding farmlands, as well as the gateway for tourists to access nearby national parks and safari lodges. Amid this daily commotion, Gideons perceived a deep spiritual need among the district’s inhabitants. As a predominantly Christian region, churches in Nyeri are plentiful. However, few people possessed their own copy of the Word of God.
A team of local Gideons, led by Nyeri native and blitz general chairman Francis Wahome, devised a plan to meet that spiritual need. Together with the help of an international team, they would take Bibles and small, pocket-sized New Testaments to as many schools as possible over the course of a one-week period, beginning with schools in the outermost areas of the county and gradually working their way to the schools in the city proper.
It was an ambitious goal, as unpredictable weather and road conditions could create logistical obstacles. Nevertheless, the team diligently began preparing for the blitz. “Gideons contacted all school administrators, prepared a detailed itinerary, and pre-positioned hundreds of boxes of New Testaments and Bibles,” said Mike Pitts, a Gideon from Georgia. “It was an incredible amount of work, and it was clear to us from the beginning this blitz would only be possible because of the prayer and organization that went into it ahead of time.” The international team, eight from the United States, one from Germany, and one from the Republic of China, arrived in Nyeri on Sunday, March 6, 2016, anxious to set about their task.
“At times, it seemed we had reached the ends of the earth.”
Each day of the blitz began at dawn with breakfast and prayer. At 7:00, the Gideons gathered outside their hotel and divided into small teams. Local Gideons partnered with international Gideons and, depending on their route for the day, enlisted the help of guides. With their assignments in hand, the teams fanned out across Nyeri county and beyond, traversing valleys and mountains, weaving their way through coffee and tea plantations, and navigating the densely forested foothills of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second tallest peak. Some traveled more than three hours to reach their destinations. “The countryside was as vast as it was beautiful,” said Washington native Doug Vaughan. “At times, it seemed we were too far removed from civilization to be near any schools. At times, it seemed we had reached the ends of the earth.”
The schools they visited varied in size and structure, but none of the Gideons could deny an earnest, palpable hunger for God’s Word at each and every one of them. Teams received warm welcomes from administrative staff, some of whom found it difficult to conceal their excitement. “I was in awe of their anticipation for the Gospel to be shared and their hospitality in welcoming us,” remembered Keith Tombs of Pennsylvania. “After our initial meeting with the principals and faculty, they would have all the students stop whatever they were doing and convene in assembly.”
With the students gathered in courtyards and open fields, Gideons shared the Gospel message. “I will never forget looking out at the sea of little faces, all of them sitting very quietly and listening intently,” recalled Mike Pitts. “Sometimes, the teacher had to translate what I said into Kiswahili, and it was obvious I was the first white man many of them had seen. They were mesmerized.”
Each student received their own New Testament, and each principal was presented with Bibles for the schools’ individual use. “It was such a joy to see how delighted the students were to be gifted a New Testament,” said Kansas native Jerry Leuthold. “The experience was unusual and eye-opening for most of us, because we are not used to being welcomed into schools. But at these schools, they have the ten commandments on the walls, they are being taught the fruits of the spirit, and they sing songs about reading their Bibles and spending time in prayer. To receive their own copy of God’s Word was, for many of them, a momentous occasion.”
This eager and sincere response to the Gideons’ efforts became a familiar scene as they moved from school to school throughout the week. Each evening, teams returned to their hotel with personal anecdotes of God’s power at work, lending strength and reinforcing their purpose for conducting the blitz.
“We were delayed in getting to one school because we had to return to our hotel to get more New Testaments,” said Christian Morgen, a Gideon from Germany. “We were afraid we had missed our opportunity. However, rather than turn us away, the principal insisted we address the students. To my surprise, he then gave an extremely moving testimony about how he had received his own New Testament over 40 years ago, and it remained one of his most prized possessions.”
On another visit to a secondary school, the principal lamented how two weeks earlier someone had broken into their school and stolen all of their Bibles. When the Gideons finished their distribution, he turned to his students and said happily, “See how God is faithful? We prayed for new Bibles, and God has sent these Gideons with Bibles for the school and a New Testament for each one of you.”
“You are the ones God sent to preach about Christ. You are the answer to all of our prayers.”
Then there was the story of Margaret, who traveled over two hours, on foot, in pursuit of the men who had visited her school earlier that morning. “I needed to thank you,” she explained when she found them. “My husband is a pastor, and for many months our congregation has been praying for someone to bring the Gospel to the students in our schools. You are the ones God sent to preach about Christ. You are the answer to all of our prayers.”
As the blitz concluded Friday afternoon, the Gideons were thoroughly exhausted, but also greatly encouraged. Together, they had begun the week as witnesses for the Lord’s infinite mercy, and together they had ended it as witnesses of His steadfast faithfulness. “We spent a great amount of time in prayer, and each day we saw those prayers answered in mighty ways,” said James Chen of the Republic of China. “Indeed, my soul has been awakened, and my spirit has been revived.”
“…my soul has been awakened, and my spirit has been revived.”
The teams visited a total of 607 schools, and over 150,000 copies of God’s Word were now in the possession of men, women, and children across Nyeri county. “It was the book of Acts in action – the church united in a single purpose of reaching others for Christ,” said Doug Vaughan. “We saw hundreds dedicate their lives to the Lord, and it reminded us that the greatest and most humbling miracle of all is when people are saved.” As these individuals take Scriptures home to their families and friends, opportunities become available for countless souls to read the Good News. The full extent to which those Scriptures will impact lives is unknown, yet the Gideons remain joyfully and prayerfully confident in the promise that where their work ends – God is able.
“…I was in prison and you came to me.” Matthew 25:36
It is Monday evening at the Henry County Corrections Facility in west Tennessee. A cold, stainless steel table is cemented to the floor. On one side of the table, four inmates sit on metal stools listening to a member of the local First Baptist Church deliver an emotional devotion. Other inmates stand off in the shadows, riveted to the speaker’s words. Next, a Gideon begins to share God’s plan of salvation. He finally asks the inmates, “Who here would like to know for certain where they will spend eternity?”
Incarceration rates in the United States are currently at record level highs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice, over 2.2 million Americans are locked away in state and federal prisons and in local jails. It is the highest population of incarcerated men and women of any country.
Gideons and Auxiliary have been distributing Scriptures to those in jails and prisons since 1916. No matter what the circumstances, there has always been a passion to get God’s Word behind bars.
Left Behind
When Gideons in Henry County first began visiting the local jail back in the 1970’s, conditions were considerably different than they are today. “It was very rough, much like conditions we see in jails in other countries,” says Bob Bertouille, a Gideon from Tennessee. He was instrumental in organizing the first group of Gideons to visit the county’s jail. “It was a rat’s nest. You could not get inside, and you could only talk to inmates through the cell bars.”
However, a change in the jail’s administration and a new corrections facility helped turn things around. When the new jail opened, 173 New Testaments placed by The Gideons International were waiting in the cells.
Anita and her husband, Jerry.
Bob’s wife, Madalyn, served in the Auxiliary and worked with female inmates. Madalyn spoke about the jail ministry with Anita Berry, a fellow Auxiliary from Tennessee. Madalyn asked Anita to make sure the ministry continued if a time ever came where she could no longer serve. Anita gave Madalyn her word she would.
Months later, Madalyn went to be with the Lord. Her death was sudden and unexpected. Days later, Bob asked Anita if she would pick up the jail ministry where his late wife had left off.
Anita thought, “What am I going to do? I had promised Madalyn.”
The Forgotten Inmates
Despite her initial apprehension about serving in jails, Anita kept her promise to Madalyn to keep the Auxiliary engaged in reaching female inmates. “It was really hard in the beginning,” she says, “God is still building me.” The Lord has also shown Anita the importance of reaching women behind bars. “The women are forgotten, and it is critical to reach them with the Gospel. They are the ones who will take God’s Word back to their families. In many cases, they will be the single parent raising a family. Without a life-transforming relationship with Christ, when they are released from jail, they will likely return to the same lifestyles that led to their incarceration.”
“The women are forgotten, and it is critical to reach them with the Gospel.”
Gloria Hill serves in the Auxiliary in Texas. Since she was a little girl, she loved sharing Jesus with people. At that time, she never imagined she would someday share Jesus inside the walls of a jail. The first time she entered a jail block, one of the female inmates asked her, “What are you in here for? Forgery?”
“No,” Gloria responded, “I’m here to tell you about Jesus.”
Gloria had once seen the video testimony of the late Mary Kay Beard, who came to faith in Jesus after receiving a New Testament from The Gideons International while serving a prison sentence. The morning after seeing Mary Kay’s testimony at church, the passage from Jeremiah 33:8 touched her heart: “I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.” Knowing God forgives the guilt of even those found guilty by courts of law, she enlisted two other women in the Auxiliary to join her in sharing God’s Word with women in the local jail. “We stepped out in faith and went.”
“I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.” Jeremiah 33:8
Many of the women Gloria meets in prisons are there because of the dysfunctional homes they grew up in. “Often, they come from homes where the parents were in and out of jail. Many of the women simply want to be loved and are looking to fill that void. They turn to drugs and alcohol to gain acceptance and cope with the pain,” says Gloria. However, those who receive Christ can be released from strongholds in life that otherwise would be much harder to break free from than a jail cell.
Last summer, Gloria and other Auxiliary visited a drug rehabilitation facility to distribute Scriptures. She saw one of the employees of the facility and recognized the name on her name tag. “I know you,” Gloria said to her, “I introduced you to Jesus at the county jail.” The lady recognized her and said, “Oh, Mrs. Gloria, I went away to prison, but when I got out I did not leave Jesus there.” The woman shared how the Lord is now using her to help women break free from the same struggles she had fought prior to receiving the Lord.
Getting the Word Out
Brian Stromsoe has served as a Gideon in the Los Angeles area for decades. As a member of the Pomona Camp, his faithful service in lining up people and resources facilitates the distribution of over 20,000 Scriptures into the Los Angeles County jails each year. During his career as a defense attorney, Brian saw the desperation and hopelessness felt by those facing long prison sentences. As Gideon camps receive worn Bibles that have been removed from hotel rooms during Scripture blitzes, Brian sees those Scriptures are repurposed for jails. The process of refurbishing Scriptures for jails and prisons offers an opportunity to engage pastors and members of churches with whom Gideons have built strong relationships.
“We can get about a hundred Gideons, Auxiliary, and church members together on a Saturday morning and refurbish thousands of Scriptures,” says Brian. “Pastors love it because it gets their members engaged deeper with ministry. We’ve seen church members from the ages of 12 to 98 show up to help.”
The Gideon camp creates an assembly line where Scriptures are cycled through the process of removing covers and replacing them with soft covers that are compliant with jail and prison requirements.
Vern Steedly is a member at First Baptist Church in Paris, Tennessee, where Bob Bertouille also attends. He shares The Gideons’ passion for reaching the lost with God’s Word. He has been involved in reaching out to inmates, thanks, in part, to the members in Henry County. “I was a little apprehensive at first, but that apprehension has turned to enthusiasm.” Vern is seeing what he is doing is making an impact. “Sometimes when we get out of the way, God speaks in a loud and clear manner.”
Dr. Trent Bullock serves as the senior pastor at First Baptist Church where Bob and Vern are members. He is excited to see members in his congregation getting involved with The Gideons International in jail ministry. “It always does a pastor’s heart good to see members become involved in ministry, especially ministry outside the walls of the church,” he says.
A Step of Faith
Anyone who has served in jail ministry will tell you it requires a big step of faith. Jesus reminds us to show no partiality to others on the basis of their status in life. He knows the loneliness and desperation that fills the hearts of men and women locked behind bars. Therefore, He entrusted His followers with the responsibility of visiting them and sharing the Gospel.
Across the world, Gideons and Auxiliary are working with local chaplains to gain access to prisons and have been truly blessed by their experiences. While they arrive thinking they are bringing Jesus to these people, they quickly discover Jesus is already inside and ready to use them.
Brent Young is a 54-year-old Gideon from Warsaw, Missouri. Like many of his fellow Gideons, he enjoys watching people come to Christ, handing out the Word of God, and hearing testimonies of how God is changing lives around the world. However, Young’s ministry is unique in one way—he operates from the saddle of a red Trek bicycle.
In 2012, Brent Young decided it was time to start over. He had been an alcoholic, a drug addict, and bound by the desires of the world. God pursued him, and he knew he had to stop running. In fact, he knew God was calling him to start riding.
God pursued him, and he knew he had to stop running. In fact, he knew God was calling him to start riding.
Before he found the Lord, Young had toyed with the idea of riding a bike on long expeditions just to see if he could. However, after he became a Christian, he knew God was calling him to take his dream a little further, “I just prayed and asked God, ‘What can I do? You’ve done so much for me, what can I do for you?’ And He told me, ‘You love to ride your bike. Ride for me.’” Since then, Young has been biking across America under the motto “Ride for Christ.”
“This is not my first ride. The first ride I did was a thousand miles, and my second ride was over 2,500 miles,” says Young. He is now on his third tour across the USA, currently pedaling through mile 1,240 in Winslow, Arizona.
The Gideons in his home camp back in Missouri have not seen him in quite some time. However, Young is still meeting with Gideons for prayer and encouragement in the towns he rides through. “I feel like part of a big family when I meet with Gideons across different states,” he says, “They hug me and recharge my spirit to continue spreading the Gospel.” Gideons along his journey often pray over him and replenish his saddle bag with New Testaments to share with those he meets on the road. So far, Young has biked through 17 states and placed copies of God’s Word into around 300 hands.
So far, Young has biked through 17 states and placed copies of God’s Word into around 300 hands.
Dan is one of the many people Young had an opportunity to share the Gospel with. While resting at a traffic corner in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dan asked Young why he was riding. Young replied simply that he was spreading the Word of Jesus and handing out Scriptures. Without missing a beat, Dan asked for a copy, and Young was able to give him a New Testament and witness to him. “It was the best part of my day,” said Young.
The road is not always easy. In fact, riding with the buzzing sound of semi-trucks speeding by, going against the wind, through heat and exhaustion—these are common struggles Young faces on a typical day’s ride. However, the heaviest burden he experiences is seeing the spiritual drought most people live in.
“This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he says, “I have been where people steal my clothes, I’ve been assaulted, I’ve been rejected. But I’ve also felt the Holy Spirit protect me every day. I’ve seen the beauty of God’s creation across many lands, and I’ve seen the beauty of His people. When you’re actually out here in the world, among the people, you’re attuned to people’s needs in a different way. I am just trying to be the light in whatever way God leads me to be.”
In a recent post on his Facebook page, Young sports a yellow poncho and talks about the beauty of riding in the rain, “This is Sunday. I got to worship, I got a wide road, and it’s all good. It’s good to hear the birds singing after the rain. They’re happy…and so am I. It’s good to be out here serving God.”
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
The Gideons International officially began distributing Scriptures to soldiers in 1941 at induction centers under the motto, “arm them with the Gospel too.” While Gideons are mostly known for placing God’s Word in hotels, reaching the lost with the Gospel includes distribution of Scriptures at the military installations of a multitude of countries, including The USA, The British Isles, The Republic of China, Korea, Latin America, West Africa, and Japan. Last year, Gideons placed and distributed over 1.7 million Service Testaments.
As Christians, we are all called into a spiritual battle. Ours is a fight for the hearts of men, women, boys, and girls. By sharing God’s Word with the military, Gideons are equipping servicemen and servicewomen with the greatest weapon of all:
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12
Just in Time for Pearl Harbor
In 1940, Charles J. Pietsch, a member of The Gideons International, felt led to contact the Chief Chaplains of both the U.S. Army and Navy. He was seeking permission to give a copy of the New Testament to every man and woman in the armed forces of the U.S. who wished to receive one.
Navy Chief Chaplain R.D. Workman met with Mr. Pietsch in Washington D.C. and immediately granted approval to the proposal to offer Testaments to naval personnel.
So in January of 1941, the decision to supply armed forces with copies of God’s Word was approved by The Gideons International and 50,000 Testaments were ordered.
On December 2, 1941, some of the first Service Testaments from The Gideons were distributed to the U.S. Navy personnel at Pearl Harbor. Five days later, Pearl Harbor became ground zero for a date that would live in infamy.
Years later, in 1949, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur sent a telegram to The Gideons International asking that a representative of The Gideons International be sent to Japan to “Make first hand survey of situation [sic]” in regards to distributing New Testaments to the people there stating that, “Your assistance will be of inestimable value.” The Gideons responded to the request and in 1950 the first Gideon camp in Japan was established.
God’s Word Brings Peace, Even In War
Veteran Carl Crisp received his New Testament from The Gideons at an induction center in Houston, TX. Crisp served in the US Army as a UH-1 helicopter crew chief during the Vietnam war. “I carried my New Testament with me at every duty station during my time in Vietnam. It was a comfort to me–a constant reminder of God’s love and of my salvation should I not return home.” Crisp says he remembers his comrades also held onto their New Testaments and often saw his fellow servicemen reading the Scriptures. Today, Crisp serves the Lord as a Gideon in the Palestine Camp, Texas.
“I carried my New Testament with me at every duty station during my time in Vietnam. It was a comfort to me–a constant reminder of God’s love and of my salvation should I not return home.”
One way The Gideons International has been able to reach servicemen and servicewomen is by working through military chaplains throughout the world. Michael Kelly, Chaplain at Fort Jackson, SC, knows just how great the need for spiritual guidance is among soldiers. “With every new group of soldiers that comes through for training, I get to see an entire cross-section of America, and really from around the world. They come from all walks of life, with the same problems we all face, most of them looking to fill a void. It is at this moment that they reach out and we place a book in their hands–the New Testament provided by Gideons.”
God’s Word Brings Peace, Even In War
While disembarking from the U.S.S. Breckenridge after its return from the Korean War, serviceman Orv Room received a New Testament from The Gideons. “Over 50 years later, I still have it in my possession,” says Orv. He says its message transformed his life. In fact, Orv began serving in The Gideons in 1956 and his wife, Corine, joined the Auxiliary in 1957. They still serve in the Sacramento North Camp, California.
After graduating from the University of Houston, Jim Blunk joined the military. He attended flight school and became an Army helicopter pilot. While serving overseas in Operation Desert Storm, he noticed a chaplain bringing boxes of New Testaments into the mess tent. Jim witnessed lives being transformed and baptisms taking place in the middle of the desert. Though his father was a pastor and had always taught him about the Lord while growing up, Jim admits he did not fully understand what it meant to be a Christian until he was an adult.
In the mid 1990s, Jim was recruited for a different type of service by a retired colonel, who also served in The Gideons. Since 1997, Jim and his wife, Lannis, have served with the Granbury Camp of Gideons in Texas, helping to reach lost men, women, boys, and girls with God’s Word.
When we introduce soldiers to Scripture, we are introducing those who are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for their nation to the One who sacrificed his life for the sins of the whole world.
When we introduce soldiers to Scripture, we are introducing those who are ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for their nation to the One who sacrificed his life for the sins of the whole world.
We thank God for bringing so many from the trenches to His side through the reading of His Word. Please continue to pray for the safety of the men and women in uniform around the world, and for the chaplains who serve them.
