Category Archives: Global News

one heart, thousands of souls

testimony

By daniel p. kinkade

July 19, 2019

God often shows His power during our greatest struggles. For Zuleika Camilo and her family, what seemed to be a hopeless situation has become a platform for Zuleika to share her faith. God continues to strengthen her testimony…and heal her grandson’s heart.

Journey to reach 1,000 people

In 2015, Zuleika Camilo began praying to God for opportunities to share her faith. A year later, her son and daughter-in-law learned they were expecting—it would be the first grandchild in the family following a previous miscarriage. Sadly, the baby had a rare heart condition and was not expected to live. Even if the child survived, there was a considerable chance he would have several complications.

Praise God; her grandson was born healthier than expected on October 27, 2016. He had a scheduled surgery at just three days old, followed by another surgery at three months. While he still has a long time of healing ahead of him, his survival has been nothing short of a miracle. God continues to strengthen Zuleika’s faith, and she continues praying for God to give her grandson a full, healthy heart.

Throughout all of this, God spoke to Zuleika’s heart. She felt as if God was saying, “I have given you a grandson, and I want you to use this experience to share Jesus with others. I’m going to give this baby a full heart, and this will allow you to tell people about Me.” Zuleika promised God she was going to share her faith with 1,000 people over the next year.

She (Zuleika) felt as if God was saying, “I have given you a grandson, and I want you to use this experience to share Jesus with others…”

Zuleika’s method of witnessing

To accomplish this, Zuleika began approaching people with a Scripture provided by The Gideons, looking at them, and smiling. She would ask, “Would you like to receive a gift today? I have just brought a present to you from God. Let me tell you about a present God gave me. My grandson’s heart was half missing, and God is going to give him a full heart. Will you pray for this baby’s heart?” People would almost always reply, “Yes!”

Zuleika is still successfully using this method today. She takes the opportunity to share the Gospel with the person by sharing the plan of salvation. She tells them, “If you read the Word of God, He will speak to you.” She genuinely cares about the person she is having a conversation with and often asks if she could pray for him/her in any specific way.

Zuleika’s Commitment continues

Indeed, God provided 1,000 people for Zuleika to witness to, but she did not stop with 1,000. In 2018, Zuleika made another commitment to God to reach 2,000 people. After reaching 1,900 people, she and her family returned to the doctor for another scheduled surgery. However, the doctors were amazed that her grandson had improved and would not need surgery until the age of five.

Zuleika made another promise to God—she would share her faith with 5,000 people by the time her grandson turns five years old. Throughout this process, many people who have prayed for her grandson have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, been baptized, and now actively attend a local church.

God has taught Zuleika many things through the experience with her grandson. “Start by praying for a specific situation so that God can open the doors,” she says. She has seen firsthand how a tough situation can be used the bring glory to God and looks forward to the stories of life-change that continue to take place.

not just free, free indeed

Inspirational

By Beth Brannan

July 5, 2019

Around the world, people long for and fight for freedom. This includes human rights and the ability to worship as they please, pursue their dreams, succeed or fail based on their own talent and hard work, and so much more. This freedom is precious, and hope exists for those of us who enjoy this type of freedom. We earnestly pray for those who don’t and for the elimination of political oppression and corruption around the world.

The tricky part about earthly freedom, though—the thing so many millions of people never understand—is that in this life, we’re never fully and completely free. We can’t be because we are not God. Only God is completely self-existent, self-determinant, omniscient, all-powerful, outside of time, and unconstrained by this physical world. We who are not God remain governed by the physical and spiritual laws of the universe. Romans 13:1 (ESV) says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”

What’s more, our history proves free will can be very dangerous, and we’re not equipped to handle it. Consider Adam and Eve, the first and most perfect humans. They sinned, and humanity (plus the physical world) has borne the consequences ever since. We are fallen, and even the best of us can’t change our eternal destinies alone.

The wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23), and this debt must be paid. Thankfully, God was willing to not only rescue us from the consequences of Adam’s sin, but our own, as well.

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”—Romans 5:8 (ESV)

Jesus paid for all sins committed by all people—past, present, and future—with His blood on the cross. However, His gift must be freely accepted. With that, our illusions of self-direction are purposefully traded for the acknowledgement of Jesus as not just Savior, but Lord.

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”—John 8:36 (ESV)

Yes, to be free we must deliberately relinquish control and submit our lives to God. It’s a little mind-bending to be sure, but we are all in “service” to something or someone at all times, and the freedom we enjoy in this life is best used to secure the hope of Heaven and to help others do the same.

So, as we contemplate and celebrate freedom—with all its pleasures and pitfalls—let’s also be sure to share with our family and friends that the path to spiritual freedom can’t be found in success, power, fame, money, physical beauty, or any other worldly gain. The greatest freedom is liberty from the eternal penalty of sin through Jesus Christ.

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”—John 8:36 (ESV)

Freedom at 30,000 Feet in the Air

testimony

By Kevin Mcintosh

June 21, 2019

The following testimony was edited based on the original account as shared by Terry Land.

Born into a Jewish family, Terry Land experienced a traditional Jewish upbringing that included Bar Mitzvah, nine years of Hebrew school, and celebrating all of the Jewish holidays. However, his Jewish roots were not deep enough to keep him growing in his faith as he matured, and he began to drift.

The drifting continued through college and during Terry’s service in the military in the 1970s during which he served as a firefighter.

His roommate, Dan, was a fellow firefighter. Dan received news his brother had tragically died and he prepared a eulogy, which he asked Terry to proofread.

“All throughout his eulogy were references to God—my Jewish God,” says Terry. Dan’s quotations from the apostle Paul rattled Terry, including this verse:

“So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” —Romans 11:11 ESV

Terry himself became jealous, as he began to perceive that Dan seemed to enjoy the deep kind of relationship with God that Terry desired.

This frustrating feeling led Terry to decide he needed time to get a fresh perspective on his faith, so he decided to visit a friend from basic training who lived in Germany.

In Germany, Terry spent several days visiting historic sites that were grim reminders of the horrific travesties of the Holocaust. While the somber tour gave Terry a deeper connection to his heritage, it didn’t give Terry the deeper connection to God he’d hoped to gain.

Flight Cancellations lead to a divine appointment

Disappointed, Terry returned to the USA and made plans to travel from Dover Air Force Base to his home base in Washington in time to report back to work. It was the holiday season. And through a series of events including flight cancellations, Terry found himself on a medevac C-9 Air Force plane flying west with a stop in Illinois.

Terry settled into his seat on the flight and noticed an Air Force major sitting next to him reading a little brown book—a Testament from The Gideons. The two men engaged in a conversation, and Terry began to share about his recent experience in Germany and how the trip was inspired by reading the eulogy draft that contained references to his Jewish God.

“When the major, whose name was Tom, heard I was Jewish, he turned about 180 degrees in his seat and looked squarely in my eyes,” says Terry.

Terry asked Tom questions like, “How can I be Jewish and believe in Jesus? If I convert, will I still be Jewish? What happens to my heritage? Will I still be a Jew? I don’t want to give up who I am. What about my family?”

When they landed, it was discovered that Terry’s next flight from Scott Air Force Base was postponed until the next morning. Tom invited Terry to spend the night with his family. To Terry, this invitation was beyond generous, as in those days, for an Air Force officer to invite an enlistee to his home would have been unthinkable.

At the major’s home, Tom led Terry into his study, which featured a huge bookcase filled with books explaining the differences between Christianity and Judaism.

That night, Tom gave Terry some materials from his library that included testimonies of modern-day Jewish converts to Christianity. He then presented Terry with a Testament from The Gideons. In the front, he wrote Terry’s name and the date—November 23, 1979.

Lying in bed that night, Terry gazed out the window. “Lord, if you’re real, make yourself real to me,” he prayed. That night, Terry slept peacefully.

Terry gazed out the window. “Lord, if you’re real, make yourself real to me.”

Another Plane, Another Spiritual Conversation

The next day, Tom put Terry on the plane thinking he’d probably never see him again. After landing in California, Terry caught a connecting flight travelling to his home base in Washington.

On the plane, Terry pulled out his Testament and began reading. A woman sitting next to him spoke. “Now I know why I packed my Bible,” she said.

Terry looked at her and asked, “Are you talking to me?” She replied that she normally carried her Bible on board, but this time the Lord told her to pack it away.

“For some reason, I started to tell her my story,” says Terry. The woman listened carefully as Terry shared the recent events in his life that led to his seeking the Lord.

After listening for some time, the woman spoke. “Are you ready to accept the Lord into your heart?” Terry paused and thought for a moment. “Yes, I am.”

“Somewhere between Oakland, California, and Tacoma, Washington—about 30,000 feet in the air—I turned my life over to Yeshua,” says Terry.

Terry says he was honored to lead his mom to Jesus on her deathbed two days before she died of lung cancer, and he led his dad to the Lord before his dad succumbed to Alzheimer’s.

“Somewhere between Oakland, California, and Tacoma, Washington—about 30,000 feet in the air–I turned my life over to Yeshua.”

Full Circle, More Than 20 Years Later

In 1993, a prominent Messianic Jewish ministry magazine featured an interview with Terry and his wife about his conversion. That article found its way into the hands of Major Tom Trotta, the officer who presented Terry with that Testament. Tom reconnected with Terry, and in 1995, Terry took his family to visit Tom and his wife. Tom had the opportunity to see what the Lord had done in Terry’s life as a direct result of Tom’s obedience in witnessing to him all those years earlier.

Today, Tom Trotta and his wife, Murray, serve together with other Gideons and Auxiliary in Jacksonville, Florida. Tom still remembers the rush of joy he felt when he learned of Terry’s testimony years later in that magazine article.

“Reading it and recalling our encounter, I was humbled and full of joy simultaneously. God’s Word did not return void in Terry’s life just as it had led me to a life of faith years before.”

Tom says he’ll never forget the person who encouraged him to read the Bible and was glad to discover Terry followed through on reading the Testament he received from Tom.

Getting to reconnect with Terry in person all those years later, Tom was moved to see how the Lord had worked in Terry’s life. “I thought, wow! The results of our daily witness are really God’s business.”

Tom says he also realized how important—and how simple—sharing Jesus, a word of witness, and a copy of God’s Word can be.”

“There’s no pressure,” Tom adds. “Witnessing is not a contest and it’s not about numbers. We are the messengers and just respond to the Spirit’s leading. God does the heavy lifting.”

Building better leaders: How Doers become leaders

inspiration

By Dr. andrew Johnston

june 7, 2019

Building Better Leaders is a three-part series of articles from Dr. Andrew Johnston, in which he shares strategic principles of effective leadership based on Biblical principles. In this first article, Dr. Johnston describes a crucial difference between doers and leaders and equips leaders to empower their teams.

The Difference between great doers and great leaders

If you’re a “leader” now, I’ll bet you were a great “doer” in the past. Your inclination to take charge and get busy distinguished you from the other doers and won you the opportunity to lead. Unfortunately, the same do-it-yourself attitude that made you a great doer can make you a lousy leader, because leaders and doers have very different perspectives on power and what to do with it.

Great doers are distinguished by their direct achievements, their ability to personally take the ball and run. They focus directly on the outcomes, amass their own power, roll up their sleeves and get busy. Great leaders are distinguished by their indirect achievements, their ability to give the ball to someone else and then help them run well. Simply put, doers focus on the outcome and work to wield power themselves. Leaders focus on the people and build others’ abilities and inclinations to use them well.

Leaders who miss this distinction often wind up confusing and competing with the people they lead. They inadvertently steal power from them and create dependencies instead of opportunities. They often become the limiters of their team’s talents and capacity. Alternatively, leaders, who reframe their perspective on power and rework the habits they learned as doers, create potent, independent contributors and teams that transcend the sum of their parts. Here are three counterintuitive tips that will help you shift from a doer to a leader and power up your people.

Leaders focus on the people and build others’ abilities and inclinations to use them well.

stop doing what needs to be done

When you were a doer, and you went the extra mile or stayed after hours, you might not have enjoyed it at the moment, but you felt a certain satisfaction in the accomplishment. It felt good to be the hero and demonstrate your commitment to the cause. In time, some of these sacrifices became your badges of honor. Now, when these moments arise, try to remember they are your team members’ moments, not yours. It’s their opportunity to shine. If you dive in and do too much to deliver results yourself, you’re usually taking that opportunity away from someone else. Your team will quickly feel unnecessary, confused, frustrated, or demeaned. You mean well, but the problem isn’t your aspirations, it’s your inability to trust others with the responsibility of achieving them. It often takes more courage to direct others than to do things yourself, but ask them to step up before you do, if you want to make sure they feel empowered.

STOP answering questions

When you are a doer, your ability to deliver answers is the source of your credibility, the measure of your effectiveness, and likely your ticket to the “big time.” However, when you’re a leader, your success doesn’t depend on how much you know as much as on how much your people know. You need them to provide answers, and they tend not to do this if you’re busily doing it yourself. Your people adjust their behavior to yours, so if you are too full of answers, you will eventually discover that they are also full of questions.

They will increasingly pass the critical choices on to you and wait for your direction. This slows everything down and shifts the power unproductively away from the ones who need to be exercising it most. In short order, you will feel like your team only moves when you do. Stop answering questions and start asking them instead. Questions have a unique way of drawing people into more significant engagement. That’s one of the reasons Jesus asked his disciples so many of them and answered so many questions with questions of his own. When he asked things like, “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29), “Why do you ask me about what is good?” (Matt 19:16), or “Why do you not judge for yourself what is right?” (Luke 12:57) He caused the disciples to lean in and determine the truth for themselves. Of course, resisting the urge to give answers doesn’t mean you should stop offering feedback or guidance altogether. (Being clueless and disengaged isn’t a great strategy for leaders or doers.) Follow Jesus’ lead. Tailor your communication to prompt and shape others’ consideration and give the kind of assistance that empowers them to find answers themselves.

As a leader, you are most vulnerable when you lean on your sufficiency, and you grow stronger only when you give your power away.

Risk more on other people’s work

When you are a doer, your own work represents you for better or for worse, but when you’re a leader, your credibility rests on someone else’s work. You rise and fall on the choices they make. If you’re uncomfortable with this, it’s tempting to protect yourself by limiting the power of your team. You might hedge your bets and delegate only the choices that will have little impact or create a situation where the team is merely an extension of your imagination, judgment, and preferences. These tactics might make you feel more in control, but control is overrated; it limits even more than it protects. In the end, such tactics take power away from the people who need it most.

As a general rule, if you feel safe and are confident that your people can’t harm anything, you probably haven’t given them enough power. Take the risk; entrust them with essential things. Ease your discomfort by shaping the values and goals that guide their use of power instead of by limiting their access to it altogether. Again, Jesus models this strategy by calling us to play a vital role in His plan for redemption. As our creator, He knows our insufficiencies and still commissioned us to take His Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth (Matthew 28). He provides us power in the form of His own spirit (John 14) and guides us as we make important choices and commitments along the way.

As you lead in your business, in your home, or your local church, the shift from doer to leader can be difficult because it feels like you are giving power away. You are, but this doesn’t make you weak. It’s a paradox that confounds any doer sensibilities you have, but it also reflects the leadership style of the One who reminds us His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). As a leader, you are most vulnerable when you lean on your sufficiency, and you grow stronger only when you give your power away.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” —2 Corinthians 12:9a ESV

Andrew Johnston, Ed.D., serves as Director of Development for The Gideons International.

Sgt. Ron York lives again

testimony

By Daniel P. Kinkade

May 24, 2019

While Sgt. Ron York was serving in the Marines, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior by way of a Testament from The Gideons. God has opened doors for Ron to share his story all over the world. With the same passion he had while traveling to other countries, Ron continues impacting people for Christ who live right next door.

A Mining Town in north Idaho

Ron York’s journey began in the mining community of Kellogg, Idaho. His father worked at the local zinc plant that filled the city with massive smokestacks. Work at the mine was tough but steady, and it provided families with stability even during the Great Depression. During high school, Ron began working with his father making nine dollars a day. He purchased his first car with the money he earned.

In his senior year, Ron’s parents decided to divorce—it was news that filled their small town like the fumes from the mine. The event rocked Ron, as all he knew was now uncertain. He recalls, “The bottom dropped out of my secure, little life.”

Ron felt an overwhelming desire to get out of his small town. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps with two of his friends. It was 1950, the same year as the start of the Korean War. It wasn’t long until Ron and his friends found themselves serving on the ground in Korea. Sadly, he lost both of those friends in the war.

“The bottom dropped out of my secure, little life.”

A car wreck leads to salvation

Meanwhile, back home in Kellogg, Ron’s father began to drink heavily and was in a terrible car accident that left him hospitalized. The situation started to turn, however, when someone talked to him about a personal relationship with Jesus. The Holy Spirit began to work through this encounter, and Ron’s father came to realize he needed Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. At age 48, he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. Ron’s father then had the privilege of leading his daughter to Christ.

Thankfully, God had more planned for the York family, especially Ron. His father and sister began ministering to Ron and looking for ways to influence him with the Gospel while he was serving abroad. They would write letters to Ron that included Scripture passages. He read the notes and looked up the passages using a Military Testament he received from his chaplain, which was provided by The Gideons. After reading God’s Word, Ron came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit. In August 1951, he accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior and signed the back page of the Testament signifying his decision.

Spiritual maturity in Ron’s Life

In December of that same year, Ron came back to the United States after receiving the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his service in the Korean War. The Marines then sent him to Parris Island in South Carolina for recruiter training. This led to Ron’s first recruitment assignment across the country in Seattle, Washington.

When he arrived in Seattle, he found room and board at the local YMCA. Soon after, he began attending a Saturday evening Bible study, which was regularly attended by ten other men. Two of these men worked at the Army Corps of Engineers; and after getting to know Ron, they invited him to come to live with them. God used this friendship to change the direction of Ron’s life, and he began to grow spiritually by experiencing the way these men walked with the Lord.

Day after day, Ron saw his new friends spend dedicated time in the Word. He saw them memorize Scripture. He saw them pray together. He saw them grow in their faith. Ron realized that when it came to his relationship with the Lord, he didn’t want to go through the motions—he wanted something more.

Ministry in the United States and East Asia

After getting out of the Marines in 1954, Ron was invited to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to begin work with a ministry called The Navigators. In 1957, Ron moved to Spokane, Washington, to partner with local churches in ministry to servicemen. His ultimate aim was to be a great witness for Christ. While serving in this ministry, Ron met a young woman from one of the local churches whose name was Betty. They began dating, married in 1958, and had three children together.

Ron and Betty had the joy of ministering all over East Asia, winning people to Christ and equipping them to reach their family and friends with the Gospel. After years of serving together, Betty became ill with cancer and passed away.

A friend encouraged Ron to pursue marriage again. In God’s timing, he married Joyce in 1968. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on October 6, 2018.

SHARING JESUS WITH OTHERS

In 2018, Ron and Joyce attended a service at North Vancouver Community Church where they met Daniel, a Gideon from Vancouver, who spoke to the congregation about what God was doing through The Gideons International. Afterward, the pastor of the church shared a copy of Ron’s story with Daniel, and he was intrigued by what God had done in his life. This introduction sparked a friendship between Ron and Joyce and Daniel and his wife. In December of that same year, the York’s joined The Gideons International.

“And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” —Matthew 4:19 ESV

Ron and Joyce now live in an assisted living community in Vancouver, Washington. He carries the same Testament he received in the Korean War in his pocket and uses it at meal times when talking with those who sit next to him. People often ask the question, “What did you do before coming here?” Ron replies, “Have you ever heard of The Gideons?” Ron then turns to the back page of the Testament and uses it to share his story of how Jesus changed his life.

Ron lives by Matthew 4:19, which reads, “And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” He knows from personal experience that God can change a life through His Word. In return, that life can impact many others around world or right at home.

Destination on Right: the influence of Dr. Gladys West

testimony

By Daniel P. Kinkade

May 3, 2019

If you were to invite company to your home from out of town, what directions would you give them? Perhaps, you would simply start by giving them your address. Next, they would plug that address into a smartphone’s maps application and, because of data that has been programmed and coded, the app would tell them turn-by-turn where to go.

Because such technology is readily available, you can thank Dr. Gladys West, an Auxiliary from Sutherland, Virginia.

Learning Her Way through Town

The town Gladys West was born in is Sutherland, Virginia—a community where people spent long hours working in fields and gardening to provide for their family. She remembers walking three miles one way to a little red school that had only one teacher for students in seven different grades. It was not until her high school years that she rode a bus to a larger school with more students, teachers, and curriculum. Gladys’ mother worked at a tobacco factory, and her father was a farmer who also worked for the railroad.

Gladys, along with her sister and two brothers, grew up in a Christian home where going to Sunday church services was a priority and reading from the Bible was a regular occurrence. She remembers this part of her life fondly. “I don’t ever remember a time where Jesus and His Church were not a part of my life,” Gladys recalls. With great influence from her parents, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior as a young girl. Through the years, her devoted Christian faith has kept her grounded.

“I don’t ever remember a time where Jesus and His Church were not a part of my life.” –Dr. Gladys West

As grateful as Gladys was for her faithful parents, friends, and church family, she had no desire to stay and work on the farms in Sutherland, Virginia. She desired more and saw education as her way out.

Navigating a Path to Success

Upon graduating from high school in 1948, Gladys received a scholarship to attend Virginia State College (now Virginia State University) in Petersburg, Virginia. “I didn’t even have a car, but they told me to come anyway,” Gladys remembers. She graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She found it difficult to find employment after graduation and eventually took a position in Waverly, Virginia, as a math and science teacher. Two years later, she went back to Virginia State to obtain a Master of Mathematics degree. After graduating in 1955, she took another teaching position, this time in Martinsville, Virginia.

In 1956, Gladys was hired at The Naval Proving Ground in Dahlgren, Virginia, (now called The Naval Surface Warfare Center) as a mathematician where she worked in computer programming and coding. Her husband, Ira, was also employed at the center. Over time, the couple was blessed with three children.

For the next 42 years, Gladys created and coded several programs. In the midst of all this programming and coding came her most significant professional accomplishment. Gladys helped develop the coordinates for the first Global Positioning Software (GPS)—technology that still helps millions of people all over the world get from point A to B.

At the same time, she earned a second master’s degree—this time in public administration, from the University of Oklahoma. After retiring in 2000, she completed and received her PhD from Virginia Tech in Public Administration. Gladys says education has always been important to her growth and attributes it as the vehicle God used to allow her to be a part of such special work.

On Track with God’s Direction

While working in Dahlgren, Gladys and Ira became good friends with members of The Gideons. Over the years, those friends would continue to invite the couple to join in the mission of winning people to Jesus Christ. Seeing the eternal value and benefit of such a ministry, Ira and Gladys joined the Association in 2001. “I love the family atmosphere of The Gideons,” says Gladys.

For the past 17 years, Gladys and Ira have served together with Gideons and Auxiliary in Dahlgren, Virginia, reaching people for Christ. Today, they enjoy sending out cards to local pastors letting them know they are being uplifted in prayer. They join other local camps in the area for a large Scripture distribution at the Virginia State Fair, where last year 14,000 people were exposed to the Gospel.

In speaking about the value of being a part of the Association, Gladys says, “The Association is an active ministry that keeps me focused and aware of Christ’s Kingdom. The ministry has eternal implications and keeps me in line with Christ.” They love being members of the Association, not only for the community with brothers and sisters in Christ, but more importantly for the impact camps can make in the community.

“I love the family atmosphere of The Gideons.” –Dr. Gladys West

Just as Gladys has used her career to help people easily get from one place to the next, we are grateful for the many other believers like Gladys and Ira in ministry—helping people in this life prepare for eternity.

Not my Will, but yours

inspirational

By Beth Brannan

April 18, 2019

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.”

Challenge in Taiwan

By Abigail Bass

april 5, 2019

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

Why I’m a Member: Eddie & Kathy Rhodes

testimony

By Daniel P. Kinkade

March 27, 2019

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.

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.

the power of mentorship

inspiration

By Daniel P. Kinkade

march 8, 2019

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.

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.