Category Archives: Global News

Why I’m a member: Mike Johnson

testimony

By Daniel P. Kinkade

February 22, 2019

Mike Johnson was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. His father, Frank, was a computer engineer and his mother, Helen, a retired real estate agent. Mike grew up in a small Baptist church where his family faithfully attended. As a seven-year-old boy, Mike accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior after conversations with his parents.

stories and the Bibles

There are two things Mike vividly remembers as a child growing up in this small Baptist church. First, his family was at church almost every time the doors were open. Second, once a year, a man would come to speak about Bibles. As a child, Mike had a hard time following everything the speaker would say, but one thing was clear, the speaker was going to start with a story that typically had a happy ending. The stories intrigued Mike—they involved a person’s life that was forever changed, turning to Christ as a result of reading God’s Word. He recalls sitting on the pew as a typical, fidgety child, anticipating the story and absorbing every word.

On one occasion, Mike was again fascinated by one of the stories, and he felt a leading of the Holy Spirit. He didn’t know where, when, or how, he knew one day he would be the person telling these stories to others.

Public Speaking Class in College

In the late 1970’s, during Mike’s second semester of his junior year of college, he needed an elective to complete a full load for the semester. Mike went to a small liberal arts college and the selection for electives was limited. This particular semester he had only one option—public speaking. Mike had no desire to take public speaking, but he had no other choice if he was going to graduate on time.

Mike entered his public speaking course with great reluctance. The plan was to keep a low profile, get by with doing minimal speeches, and finish the course with a C-average. On the first day of class, Mike observed three things about the professor: he enjoyed teaching, had a gift for it, and he recognized Mike as a reluctant student. The professor taught Mike to write out his thoughts in a way others could understand, verbalize thoughts in a way others would listen, and control his nervousness to provide a smooth delivery. By the end of the semester, Mike felt confident enough to deliver a prepared speech and ended up with an A in the course.

Mike graduated from college in 1982 and found that jobs were scarce. He decided to enlist in the United States Navy, where he repaired medical equipment for the next eight years. After this, Mike began to work for hospitals employing the same skill set he acquired in the Navy – biomedical engineering.

Membership and Ministry with The Gideons

In the fall of 1996, Mike and his family moved to a mid-sized community in Florida, where Mike started a new job. The family found a church home, and Mike met a man who would influence his life more than he could ever imagine. The man’s name was Len Plisk, an older man, now deceased, who was the president of a Gideon camp. Mike observed that Len was a passionate follower of Jesus, practicing what he preached.

As an engaged Gideon, Len took Mike to a membership dinner and Mike answered God’s call to join the Association. “One of the best aspects about being a Gideon is the ability to take skills learned in the workplace and use those skills to glorify our Lord,” says Mike. “Our camps require skilled treasurers (accounting), presidents and vice presidents (administration), computer and media skills (IT), promoters and speakers (marketing), church relations (customer service), and other skills.” Mike’s advice to fellow believers is to be faithful in following the Holy Spirit’s leading.

One month after joining, Mike qualified to begin giving presentations in churches. Within two months of joining, he spoke during a service on a Sunday evening at a small church with about 20 people in attendance. Mike told a story of a man who had stumbled through life without direction, a plan, or hope, until a Gideon gave him a New Testament. The man accepted Jesus Christ as His Lord and Savior, forever changing his life. At the end of the service, an offering was taken up that amounted to US$67.00.

“One of the best aspects about being a Gideon is the ability to take skills learned in the workplace and use those skills to glorify our Lord.”

As Mike drove home that evening, he looked at the small gray envelope that contained US$67.00, funds that would go completely toward purchasing Scriptures, so people will have the opportunity to read the greatest story ever told—the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Mike stopped the car and began to sob, realizing the Lord had taken him on an incredible journey to get him to this point.

“It had always been about the Lord,” says Mike. “God was present with me as a child, as a college student, and in that car. It is not about Mike, it is about God and what God can do in and through a person for His glory. It is about being obedient to what God has called you to do.”

In the 21 years following his first church presentation, Mike has had the privilege and honor to speak in many churches to thousands of people, but the message is still the same. “It’s never about me, it’s always about Christ.”

Scripture Event: Haiti

By Daniel p. kinkade

february 8, 2019

On the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean, located directly next to Haiti, sits the Dominican Republic. Twice the size of the state of New Jersey, the Dominican Republic is a Spanish-speaking, predominantly Roman Catholic nation that is generally open to the Gospel.

In November 2018, a team of Gideons and Auxiliary gathered in Santo Domingo, for a Scripture event. Dominican Gideons worked intentionally to connect church congregations, pastors, and Gideons, with the end goal being to reach the people of Santo Domingo for Christ.

Striving Side by Side with Churches

There is great respect for God’s Word and the ministry of The Gideons in Santo Domingo. When you invite a pastor to join you for a meal, it is normal to converse about what God is doing in and through the ministry. Such conversations help pastors better understand the mission of winning people for Christ, which strengthens relationships between church congregations and Gideons. Carlos, a Gideon for ten years, emphasized the importance of these relationships:

We have a burden to build relationships, have church presentations, and explain the different aspects of the Association. The ministry needs churches—after all, we are the Church. We go to churches, recruit new members, and this helps expand Kingdom work. The more people we meet, the more we meet potential members who help fulfill the Great Commission. As a ministry, we have an incredible mission to engage a lost culture with the Gospel and God’s Word. Gideons reach people where they are, in their world, and this is what makes the ministry effective.

Pedro, also a Gideon for ten years, knows about the work that goes into building relationships with pastors. “We call and visit pastors to inform them about how God is at work in the community.”

Cindy, an Auxiliary, knows her calling is to complement her Gideon husband in ministry. “We get close to the pastors’ wives of the churches and build relationships with them to see if there are any candidates who would want to be a part of the ministry.”

Dedicated and Devoted to the Ministry of The Gideons

Cal Lucas, a Gideon from Mississippi, was blessed to be the team leader. “This was an outstanding event, well-organized and executed by the Gideons in the Dominican Republic. The international team was dedicated and devoted to the work of The Gideons—each man had experiences that will be with them for the rest of their lives giving them new insight into the Association.”

The Scripture distributions began on Monday and continued throughout the week. Each day began in prayer and ended with praise for what God had done. The team was amazed at the openness and almost universal acceptance they experienced while distributing Scriptures. For several of the team members, it was the first time they were able to participate in classroom Scripture distributions, which included opportunities to share with the students how they could receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Praise the Lord by the end of the event, 195 institutions were visited and over 131,000 people received a Scripture.

Community Engagement in Santo Domingo

A significant part of The Gideons International is community engagement—this is no different during Scripture events. The team was able to visit not only schools and universities, but also hospitals, jails, hotels, and fire and police stations.

Steve Newton, a Gideon from South Carolina, had impactful experiences at hospitals. “On Monday, we visited hospitals and found the openness to the Gospel refreshing—prayers with patients and their families were welcomed. A young lady prayed to receive Christ at the first hospital we visited, and a hospital worker prayed to receive Christ at the second hospital. After lunch, we went to a large hospital where we had the opportunity to pray with a family of around 10 people to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.” Steve was moved by the warmth of the local Gideons and their families. Even though there was a language barrier, the obvious recognition that we are all a part of the family of God made the experience together meaningful.

“As a ministry, we have an incredible mission to engage a lost culture with the Gospel and God’s Word. Gideons reach people where they are, in their world, and this is what makes the ministry effective.” -Carlos, a Gideon from the Dominican Republic

Lindsay Brown, a Gideon from Australia, recalled his experience at a fire station, “On Monday, the local fire chief had eight officers’ line up and receive Testaments, along with hearing the Gospel from the ‘Australian missionary.’” Lindsay said it was a joy to see the Gospel shared through an interpreter and have the Dominican Gideons pray for them.

The Impact on Schools and Universities

Capitalizing on the open doors at schools and universities, the Lord provided opportunities for over 121,000 Scriptures to be received by students.

Jimmy Fitch, a Gideon from Mississippi, had impactful experiences in how the schools received The Gideons. “We were welcomed and escorted to the classes by principals or their assistants. The teachers seemed glad to see The Gideons visiting their schools, and students were attentive and graciously received their Scriptures. As we walked from classroom to classroom, you could see students reading their new gift,” says Jimmy.

Howard Copeland, a Gideon from Colorado, had the incredible opportunity to speak with a school principal about her love for the Lord and for educating the next generation. The principal originally wanted to be a doctor or a nurse in the medical field. As she was sharing this with Howard, she began to tear up, remembering the time her pastor asked her to be a Sunday School teacher. “It was through this experience the Lord showed me the need for educators in my country,” said the principal. Today, she allows religious classes to be taught in her schools and welcomes the Gideons to distribute Scriptures to students and staff members. She has seen firsthand the excellent relationships the local Gideons have with the schools.

Drew Mock, a Gideon from Florida, was blessed by a distribution at one of the universities in Santo Domingo—over 55,000 Testaments were distributed among two universities during the event. “I was truly blessed by the staggering number of New Testaments we all had a hand in distributing throughout the week, but especially at the University in Santo Domingo. I thought about the untold number of lives that will be eternally impacted by those thousands and thousands of Scriptures going home to friends and families,” says Drew.

“Working with such a committed group of local Gideons and Auxiliary, seeing their boldness in presenting God’s Word, and sharing about Jesus, made for an impactful experience.” -Drew Mock, a Gideon from Florida

Kingdom Expansion

Praise the Lord for memorable Kingdom work accomplished in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. “Working with such a committed group of local Gideons and Auxiliary, seeing their boldness in presenting God’s Word, and sharing about Jesus, made for an impactful experience,” says Drew.

open doors and hearts in ghana

Scripture Blitz

By daniel p. kinkade

january 11, 2019

“I’ve never seen a country so hungry for the Word of God and communities so open to the Gospel.” This was the response of Doug Vaughan, a Gideon from Bellingham, Washington, who was part of a team of Gideons and Auxiliary that participated in a 2018 Scripture outreach event in Ghana, referred to as a blitz.

The country of Ghana is located in West Africa and has a population of approximately 29.4 million people that spans a variety of ethnic, linguistic, and religious groups. According to the Joshua Project, there are approximately 7.6 million evangelical Christians, representing 26% of the population in Ghana, and 6.5 million Muslims, representing 22% of the country’s population.

In the midst of this wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and religious diversity is The Gideons International, an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments. Members of The Gideons have been reaching the people of Ghana with God’s Word since 1966. Since that time, over 34 million people there have received copies of the Word of God, with many coming to faith in Christ. Today, more than 890 Gideons and 370 Auxiliary in Ghana are reaching countless people for the cause of Christ.

dedicated gideons and auxiliary in ghana

Several Gideons from other countries traveled to Ghana to participate in the November Scripture blitz. Scriptures were placed and distributed in schools, universities, hotels, hospitals, a local jail, and to military and police personnel. Some of these Gideons traveled for many hours to participate in the event. One of the local Gideons from Accra was married two days prior to the event, and he chose to postpone his honeymoon in order to share Scriptures with people during the blitz. Bill McAfee, a Gideon from Indiana, was inspired by the commitment of Ghana’s Gideons. “It was great to serve alongside Gideons and brothers in Christ from Ghana. They had tremendous dedication, especially those from Accra, who travelled to Kumasi to work a second week. Some men even worked over the weekend to transport, unload, and deploy Scriptures to storage locations in Kumasi.”

Forty-four churches opened their doors to invite Gideons to share about the mission of The Gideons International. During a meeting with the head of one of the larger churches in Kumasi, the bishop asked if Gideons could train 4,000 of his leaders in reaching people for Christ.

open doors, open hearts

2 Thessalonians 3:1 reads, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.” As a result of what God did in Ghana, over 500,000 people received Scriptures. During most of the distributions, Gideons were able to present the plan of salvation to those receiving a Scripture. Gideons saw thousands of people respond by making public decisions for Christ, and many souls were saved through one-on-one witnessing opportunities the Lord provided.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 reads, “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.”

Open doors and open hearts seemed to be the recurring theme throughout the blitz. Will Ragan, a Gideon from South Carolina, said, “Our team saw nothing but open doors, open hearts, and hunger for the Word of God. The gratitude of the people receiving Scriptures can barely be described in words. We were able to share the plan of salvation directly with nearly everyone receiving a Scripture.”

In one classroom, a student asked Gideon Bill Sandel from Florida, “How do I know what a pastor tells me is true?” Bill was grateful for the opportunity to explain the Bible as ultimate Truth and how we know we can trust its teachings.

Dennis Perry, a Gideon from Texas, had an impactful experience at the University of Ghana. He witnessed a Gideon giving a Testament to a young man. A few minutes later the young man returned and thanked the Gideon for the Scripture. He said he had planned to go home to take his life that night. The Gideon sat down and shared the plan of salvation with the young man, who, as a result, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The young man committed to read and study the Testament and find a local church for fellowship and support.

Even during their return journey home, the Lord continued to provide the team with opportunities for sharing the hope of Christ. As six members of the team missed their connection flight out of Accra, they waited at the check-in counter where an airline employee named Ernies noticed they were Gideons. Ernies came and thanked them for the Scripture he was given the night before. After an initial conversation with Ernies about how he was engaging the Scripture, Wisconsin Gideon Titus Mathews, asked, “If you died today, where would you spend eternity?” Using John 3:3 and the verses on the back pages of the Testament, Titus shared the Gospel with Ernies. Standing in front of the airline counter, Ernies prayed to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He signed and dated his Testament to forever remember his decision.

challenges and provisions

The Scripture event did come with its challenges, which in the end, revealed more of God’s working and provision. Samuel Frank, a Gideon from Germany, shared how he saw God work in the midst of Scripture shipment delays. “First, the shipment was diverted through Spain, which caused unforeseen delays. Next, there were problems with a broken seal in one of the 14 containers, which prevented us from being able to access the Scriptures. There was also an electricity outage that prevented the dispatch of the Scriptures. Praise the Lord for His provision as access to the Scriptures was granted just at the needed time. All of this kept us in constant prayer as we know prayer is the foundation of all of our endeavors.”

Will Ragan also saw God’s hand move as Scriptures were delayed.

“There were extraordinary difficulties getting the shipment of Scriptures through the port so we could begin the second week of distributions in Kumasi. The Scriptures were finally being offloaded in Kumasi at four depots, as we were beginning our blitz efforts on Monday. The following morning, my team was waiting at a church for a driver who was running late. Suddenly over the horizon about two miles away, an enormous fireball erupted, followed by a huge pillar of smoke. The streets erupted in panic, as no one knew what was happening. Later we found out that the gas station very close to the depot had exploded, and the ensuing fire destroyed surrounding buildings. We realized that if our driver had been on time, we would have passed directly by the gas station around the time of the explosion. Arriving at the depot by an alternate route, we found the fire had been stopped before reaching the Scriptures—God had stopped a final attempt to prevent the people of Kumasi from receiving the Gospel.”

overwhelming eternal joy

“Behind every victory of the Word of God is a victory of the prayers of God’s people. We thank and praise our awesome and wonderful God for the many victories of His Word throughout the two weeks of the blitz. We were overwhelmed with joy by the open doors to the Word of God and the response to the proclamation of the Gospel,” said Doug Vaughan.

The Gideons International is grateful to the Lord for His protection over the Gideons and Auxiliary serving in Ghana and for the life-change experienced by so many during the Scripture event.

the fragrance of life

scripture blitz

By Daniel P. Kinkade

September 6, 2019

The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”

Fragrances tend to get people’s attention. Even if the fragrances are unappealing, they get noticed. The purpose of Paul’s letter to the believers in Corinth was to communicate that advancing the Kingdom will come with its share of attacks and suffering, but Christ will prevail in the end. This past summer, members from several countries joined efforts in Piura, Peru, as God called them to be this same fragrance of life and share the Gospel.

The team, who had been mostly strangers before the event, met every morning at 5:30 a.m. for devotions and prayer. In God’s providence, the New Testament readings were from the book of Acts (chapters two to five) and told of how God blessed the early Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Every day, the team prayed for the power of the Holy Spirit to use them as a Gospel witness in Peru.

surrounded by religion

The city of Piura lies in the northwestern desert area of Peru. A poor city with a population of nearly 500,000, Piura was the first city in Peru established by the Spanish conquerors who sought to convert the indigenous populations to Christianity. These days, there is visible evidence of Roman Catholicism in most of the city’s congregations, schools, and universities. According to the 2017 Census, 76% of the population in Peru identify as Roman Catholics, and 14% identify as Protestants.

whiteboard sessions

Every day during the event, Juan Ramirez, a Gideon from Lima, did exceptional work recruiting other members from Lima and Trujillo to assist the team in Piura. Brother Ramirez, a former police commander, organized a centralized command post tent in the courtyard of the hotel. The team met daily for assignments and reports as a large whiteboard was used to communicate the assignments. God used Brother Ramirez’s business relationships with local law enforcement officials to open a Scripture distribution at a large prison with 4,200 prisoners each receiving a New Testament. The prison inmates were happy to receive the Word of God, and prison officials encouraged Gideons to return each year.

During Gospel conversations, the team found the local citizens were receptive to hearing about Jesus Christ. Andreas, a Gideon from Germany recalled, “I found many opportunities to use a Testament and introduce people to the plan of salvation.”

Andreas vividly remembers one encounter. He and a team went to a local supermarket to buy water. On their way, they noticed a group of four young men. At the encouragement of Andreas, Mark Olson, a Gideon from Illinois, offered each of the young men a Testament. They accepted. When the team arrived back at the hotel, Mark had a strong desire to go back and talk to the young men. When they returned, the boys were reading the Testaments. Andreas and Mark felt led to walk the boys through the plan of salvation. The young men accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and signed the back page of their Testaments as evidence of the decision they had just made.

Mark also had the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Raul, a waiter in the restaurant at a hotel. Raul was open to meet Mark in the hotel courtyard one evening after work. They talked about God’s design and purpose for our lives. After sharing the Gospel with Raul, Mark felt led to ask him if he believed Jesus was the Savior. Raul affirmed that he believed Jesus came to save him from his sins, and he confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Thrilled with Raul’s confession, Mark encouraged him to find a Bible-believing church and grow in his faith in Christ.

Children excited about the gospel

Ministry and Gospel conversations were also prevalent in schools and universities. One day, a team of Gideons headed to a particular school to share New Testaments with students. Each Monday, before this school begins, students assemble in the multipurpose area. The principal leads the children in group prayer, the pledge to the Peruvian flag, and the national anthem. Like most people of Piura, these children come from primitive homes with rusty, tin roofs. Their homes were small, concrete block sheds, which looked like storefront buildings sitting side-by-side. The concrete walls help them stay cool in the desert climate. However, the children were spotless, wearing their well-kept school uniforms bearing the school logo.

The classrooms had essential supplies but many times lacked good lighting and fresh paint. Each classroom looked different, but the reaction was the same—children thrilled to receive a Scripture. “In each classroom, we were given time to explain why we came to visit, the importance of God’s Word, and the plan of salvation. It was a joy to see the children respond,” said one of the Gideons.

The next day, Bill Bugg, a Gideon from Colorado, and three Peruvian Gideons went to a Catholic school to share Scriptures. At this school, God opened doors for Bill to share the Gospel with a high school senior class through a local interpreter. The whole time Bill was speaking, the school director was standing beside him. In the end, the interpreter had students recite a prayer of salvation if they wanted to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Before long, the school director was reciting along with the students and accepted Jesus as his Savior.

“It was pure joy.”

On the last day of the event, two Gideons named Jose and Rodney visited a small hotel in a poor area of the city and met the hotel manager, Liliana. She was open to them placing Bibles in the hotel rooms. After they finished, one of the Gideons began a conversation with Liliana about her faith as he offered her a Testament. After heartfelt conversation back and forth, there was a real peace and conviction of the Holy Spirit as Jose and Liliana discussed the things of God. Next, Jose and Rodney witnessed a new spiritual birth as Liliana became a new creature in Christ after Jose led her in prayer. Rodney recalled, “It was pure joy! Jose later shared Liliana had read the Bible but was confused about the different religions and confusing doctrines on how to please God. Jose shared with her the one thing is needed to please God—place your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

“I can see God in the middle of everything.”

Throughout the event, God provided opportunities for Gideons and Auxiliary to win people for Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit moved through every team member. Even one of the local interpreters was so excited about the mission, she began to share a word of witness in their “off-time.”

“As I look back at the events of the week, I can see God in the middle of everything. With His help, I pray that many will come to the loving knowledge of our Lord through the seeds that we planted while in Piura,” said Rodney Clay, a Gideon from Kansas.

The pure fragrance of life can only be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The team members know nothing can be sweeter than a new believer embracing the Savior.

“As I look back at the events of the week, I can see God in the middle of everything. With His help, I pray that many will come to the loving knowledge of our Lord, through the seeds that we planted while in Piura.” –Rodney Clay, Kansas

the christmas eve when Gideon Scriptures circled the moon

HISTORY

By Kevin McIntosh

December 24, 2018

In December 1968, the world was in great need of a message of hope and peace. It had been a tumultuous year. War. Assassinations. Riots.

That Christmas Eve, the world witnessed history. The Apollo 8 spacecraft with its three-man crew became the first manned spacecraft to leave the earth’s orbit.

As with any journey into the unknown, there were no guarantees. The brave crew members realized their chance of becoming the first humans to see the far side of the moon was balanced against the risk they may not return home alive.

Robert Zimmerman’s book, Genesis, The Story of Apollo 8, details the events leading up to that historic Christmas Eve in 1968.

According to the book, a press conference was held a few weeks before the mission’s launch. A news reporter asked the crew members if they planned to make a “Christmas-type gesture from space,” given their lunar orbit would coincide with Christmas Eve.

The crew members didn’t have an answer. For the next several days, the question continued to nag at Frank Borman, the commander for the Apollo 8 crew. What message could they share that might help unite a world that had become divided in so many ways?

In Search of the Right Words

With the Apollo’s launch growing close, Frank talked with his fellow crew members, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, about what message they should share with the world once they entered the moon’s orbit. Suggestions ranged from citing the words of a prayer to reading an adaptation of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The astronauts agreed, none of their ideas seemed fitting for such a momentous event, especially in light of all that had taken place in the world that year.

Help was sought from a professional writer, Joe Laitin. The challenge of finding the right words to say proved just as challenging for him. Hoping to draw inspiration from an artist’s rendering of the view that the astronauts would see from space, Joe began to write.

In the late hours of the evening, all he had to show for his efforts was a floor covered with paper wads. Then, in a moment of sudden inspiration, he thought, “Why not go to the Bible for the right words?”

Joe reached for a Gideon-placed Bible he had taken earlier from a hotel room. At the suggestion of his wife, Joe turned to the book of Genesis. As soon as his eyes landed on Genesis Chapter 1, Joe knew the words on that page would be the perfect words to mark the occasion.

The message was sent to the Apollo 8 crew. They all agreed the Genesis passage was perfect. Borman took the letter containing the Scripture and photocopied it onto fireproof paper. He stuck it inside the crew’s flight manual.

Incidentally, there were other copies of God’s Word aboard Apollo 8. After permission had been granted, Service Testaments from The Gideons International had been placed onboard.

For all the People back on Earth

At 9:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the evening of December 24th, people throughout the world tuned in for the live TV broadcast from the Apollo 8 crew’s historic lunar orbit.

As viewers watched the grainy black and white images of the moon’s surface, they heard the voice of Major Bill Anders breaking through the static.

“For all the people back on earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.” Anders then began reading from Genesis 1:1,

“In the beginning, God created the heaven[s] and the earth…”

He read through the end of verse four, and Captain Lovell took over reading with, “And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night…”

After Lovell finished with verse eight, Colonel Borman picked up. “And God said, “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered unto one place.” He continued through the end of verse 10, “And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas: and God saw that it was good.”

Borman signed off saying, “And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas. And God bless all of you, all of you on the good earth.”

Mission Accomplished

On that December 24th, Scripture pulled from a Gideon-placed hotel Bible was read live to an estimated one billion people in 64 countries, one of every four people on the planet at that time. No single event had ever drawn such a large TV viewing audience.

At some point in history, a Gideon placed a Bible in a hotel room as part of a mission to reach the lost with God’s Word. When Apollo 8 left Earth, it was carrying Scripture pulled from that Bible. That Christmas Eve in 1968, in the dark expanse of space, those two missions came together, while the world watched and many celebrated the birth of a Savior who came to Earth to redeem us from our sins — the greatest mission of all.

Sharing Jesus in the Big Apple

Scripture blitz

By daniel p. kinkade

december 21, 2018

New York City is considered the business capital of the world. With renown attractions like Wall Street, Times Square, Broadway musicals, and the iconic Statue of Liberty, an estimated eight million people have made the city their home—more than 22 million in the metro area. With 700,000 middle and high school students, 500,000 college students, 260 major hospitals and nursing homes with 80,000 beds, major prisons with over 100,000 inmates, more than 34,000 police, and 220 fire companies with over 10,000 firefighters and 3,600 EMTs, the possibilities for Gideons and Auxiliary to impact people for eternity are endless.

New York City is a true melting pot, as men and women from all over the world settle in communities and neighborhoods often reflective of their homelands. “For many of the people traveling to New York City from out of state, this is a strange land. It’s a noisy, crowded place where over 120 languages are spoken in the midst of endless traffic,” says Blitz General Chairman Tor Torkelson. “Coordinating the blitz can become exhausting, but I really think God deconstructs everything and puts it all back together again, so He can show us it’s not about us—it’s about trusting Him to make it work.”

2018 new York city blitz

One morning, Gideons visited several police precincts and fire departments to offer Scriptures. “Saturday was fire department day. A junior firefighter came out and we were able to speak with him. We gave him New Testaments, and this led to the opportunity to share the Gospel. One young man, Thomas, had a Buddhist background. After talking to us and hearing the Gospel message, he made the decision to pray and receive Jesus,” says Gideon Tim Thomas of the Aiken County East Camp, South Carolina.

Two days included chapel services and distributions at city prisons. The New York City Blitz has a long-standing relationship with Rikers Island Prison, which is one of the world’s largest correctional institutions. The jail complex has a staff of 9,000 officers and 1,500 civilians, as well as an average daily population of 10,000 inmates.

Over the years, there have been testimonies and stories of inmates who were positively impacted by the New Testaments they were given or by the discipleship offered by Gideons and Auxiliary who visited with them. Often the Gideons and Auxiliary discover they are ministered to as well.

Another morning, Gideons made over 100 church presentations in the four boroughs. In the afternoon, they partook in an event unique to the New York City Blitz – personal witnessing in Times Square. Some Gideons stayed and well into the evening, talking to people about the hope found only in a relationship with Christ.

Curtis Schmidt, a Gideon from the Newton Camp, Kansas, recalls his experience. “On Sunday we went to Times Square to share about Jesus. We grabbed a bunch of New Testaments and handed them out one at a time. When my wife and I went to get more, a lady made her way across the sidewalk and came up to us. I offered her a Personal Workers Testament. Her name was Jasmine, and her daughter, Sophie, wanted one too. We opened the Scripture and showed her the Helps in the front and the plan of salvation in the back. As she began to pour out her life to us, she said, ‘My husband left me, I’m homeless, everything I own in the world is in my backpack, and I’m headed to a shelter. I prayed only one hour ago that I could get another Bible.’ She was overjoyed to receive the New Testament. We prayed with her and she was blessed by our interaction.”

a variety of distributions

Throughout the week, Gideons and Auxiliary visited many schools, colleges, nursing homes, and hospitals to distribute God’s Word and reach people for Christ.

“One of the places we visited was a women’s shelter, says Linda Heckman of the Putnam Westchester Camp, New York. ‘The women had finished lunch, and we were able to go into the lounge and place Bibles. As we did so, the women began to line up to receive Bibles. We didn’t instruct them, they were just excited. I was introduced to a young nurse named Gloria. She was a single mother raising a 10-month-old baby. She told me her grandmother was praying for her, so I knew she had probably been exposed to the Gospel. I asked her if I could pray for her as well and show her the plan of salvation. As we prayed, she decided to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. With every place we went, we could see the hunger in the city, the hunger to know who God is.”

After an experience with a student at a community college in the Bronx, Jonathan Bauch (Laurinburg Camp, North Carolina) said, “God is faithful. If we just trust in Him, He will take care of us. Sometimes we get rejected when handing out Testaments, but we keep on doing what we are doing because we know there are people out there who will be blessed by this work.”

Another important part of the New York City Blitz are the Bible drop teams. Organized locally, Bibles are pre-placed in nursing homes, hospitals, and hotels so chaplains or other Gideons can come by and get them. George Robinson (Nashville South Camp, Tennessee) says, “This is the greatest piece of the blitz in my mind. We leave here with Bibles, pre-call, so they know we are coming, and they are there to meet us at the loading docks or at the front of the buildings. It’s built-in time to share the Gospel with whoever is coming to meet you.” One day a drop team was parked in a standing area, and a policeman came to tell them they need to move. When they told the policeman what they were doing, he directed the team to the front of the building, where they waited for the chaplain. When she came, the team met a police officer named Clifford, who accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.

being a vessel

The Gideons and Auxiliary on the 2018 New York City Blitz had incredible opportunities to share Jesus with people from all over the world. Some of these God-ordained moments were not directly part of a specific distribution, simply a leading of the Holy Spirit. In the end, people at schools, nursing homes, prisons, shelters, and other places were ministered to as Gideons and Auxiliary continued to fulfill the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations.

A Special Education

By daniel p. kinkade

november 30, 2018

God brings people into our lives who forever change our direction and ministry. Arthur Bush experienced this in a powerful way.

Born and raised in Many, Louisiana, Arthur grew up in church and accepted Christ as a young boy in large part due to the influence of his mom, a home economics teacher, and his dad, a World War II veteran and lead custodian at a local school. Arthur was baptized in August 1968 at Bethel Baptist Church. As he matured in his faith, he served in various volunteer capacities at church.

Years later, while working as a special education teacher for 5th-8th grade students, Arthur saw Gideons passing out New Testaments to students at his school. Little did he know that what he witnessed would one day become his passionate calling and personal ministry. For a long time, Arthur hesitated to apply for membership in The Gideons, because he never saw much ethnic diversity in his encounters with Gideons. He wondered if he would be accepted. Now, as a member, he enjoys diversity as he serves with men of every race and ethnicity, at home and around the world.

A life-changing meeting at a baseball game

Arthur met Joe Ladner at a little league baseball game one day. Joe was wearing his Louisiana State University class ring and Arthur, his LSU apparel—they enjoyed a conversation about their affinity for LSU. Joe mentioned he was a Gideon, and Arthur felt the Holy Spirit impressing on his heart there was something Joe needed to tell him or show him. Arthur did not know what would come of this but believed he “needed to be around him.” When Joe invited Arthur to a home Bible study he was leading, Arthur immediately agreed.

a community of brothers

Arthur attended this home Bible study for the next seven to eight years. Through this, the two men built an incredible friendship.

Joe approached Arthur about joining The Gideons in 2003; however, Arthur delayed joining until 2006. Initially, Arthur felt overwhelmed by the invitation because of the vastness of the ministry—it was a lot to process.

However, Joe never gave up on Arthur. After Arthur became a Gideon, Joe began mentoring him by taking him to church rallies, camp meetings, and other ministry-related events. To this day, Arthur is eternally grateful for Joe’s mentorship, because it allowed Arthur to gain a deep understanding of the ministry through personal experience instead of simply being told about what the ministry entailed.

Other seasoned Gideons from Texas and Louisiana have also played a huge role in Arthur’s life. A group of men from the Hemphill/San Augustine Camp in Texas mentored Arthur and made him feel welcomed to the Association. Another group of Gideons told him that he could reach his goals and he had great potential within the ministry. In fact, Gideon John Lawery saw so much potential in Arthur, he encouraged him by saying, “You can do a whole lot more than you are doing.”

He encouraged him by saying, “You can do a whole lot more than you are doing.”

In 2010, Arthur began to see this encouragement to do more take root. He spoke at a small Pentecostal church in Pineland, Texas. After speaking, a lady came up to him and said, “The Lord told me to tell you, you keep doing what you are doing. Do not quit. He has great things in store for you.” On his way home, still processing what she told him, Arthur became overwhelmed by emotion. He pulled his car over to take in the moment and regain his composure.

Arthur’s faithful friend and mentor, Joe Ladner, passed away in 2016. In the last six months of Joe’s life, a very meaningful conversation took place with Arthur. Joe said, “Arthur, aren’t you glad you joined The Gideons?” Full of heartfelt emotion, Arthur replied, “Mr. Ladner, you don’t realize how much I love this ministry.”

“The Lord told me to tell you, you keep doing what you are doing. Do not quit. He has great things in store for you.”

Three Bibles in Dad’s Bedroom

Arthur would lose another person close to him a couple of years after the passing of Joe Ladner. His dad, Arthur James Bush, passed away on June 10, 2018. He was 51 days away from 100 years old.

A month after Arthur’s dad passing, Arthur’s mother, Evelyn Bush, invited him to her house. She wanted to give him something.

When he arrived, there were three Bibles on his dad’s bed. Arthur did not previously realize these Bibles existed, but he now knows it was the Lord’s plan for him to learn of them all at once.

The first Bible was large, heavily taped, with his father’s name on it. The inscription on the Bible read, “This Bible was placed by The Gideons.”

The second Bible was torn and tattered, making it hard to tell what it was. It was a small New Testament with a bullet hole on the front cover. His father, who served on the frontlines in World War II as a gunner, had been shot during the war. While Arthur’s dad was already a born-again Christian, this Bible saved his physical life that day.

The third Bible was also heavily taped. When opened, the words “White House” and “Washington” were on the first page. What followed was a personal note from President Franklin D. Roosevelt encouraging military to read the Bible while serving in war. Only 56,000 of these Bibles were printed.

Arthur treasures these Bibles because of the impact both his father and The Gideons International have had on his life.

Author Bush’s life and ministry has been completely changed by how God has used him and others through the ministry of The Gideons. Being a Gideon has allowed him to overcome previous fears and embrace a worldwide ministry that reaches people for Christ. This is a calling and passion that will never leave Arthur.

Ephesians 3:20 (ESV), “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us”

What it really means to share thanksgiving

inspirational

By beth brannan

november 16, 2018

Thanksgiving is much more than sharing a meal with family and friends or a polite response when you experience a kindness or receive a blessing. Thanksgiving is a vital aspect of our personal relationship with God. Paul sums this up in 1 Thessalonians:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”— 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)

All three of these commands—rejoice, pray, give thanks—indicate a state of the heart and involve communication. These are the proper responses of people in active relationship with the Heavenly Father—spiritual sons and daughters who have right standing before God through His Son Jesus Christ.

To be consistent and focused in rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks increases the depth of your faith and the impact God has on this world through you. Further, the degree to which you exhibit thanksgiving is a signal of other healthy aspects of your walk with Christ. When you are thankful in all circumstances:

You acknowledge your relationship with the Heavenly Father—God gives good gifts to His children. What’s more, acknowledging God as the ultimate priority keeps your relationship in healthy perspective, while the fleshly world seeks fulfillment in anything but Him. Finally, to the extent you give thanks to God in ways others can see, your actions may provide opportunities to share Christ with them.

You are more aware of God’s activity in your life—Otherwise, who would you thank? Plus, you become more perceptive of His presence and responsive to His leading.

You practice humility—Giving thanks to God indicates you understand the true source of blessing. You are correctly attributing your success or blessing to the Master Giver and not the result of something you did.

You strengthen your faith—Thanksgiving in all circumstances includes times of trial. Trusting Him in difficult times can be a much harder obedience, yet it is through trials that we are refined and prepared for even greater intimacy with God. Remember “suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:4 ESV) It’s that hope we are able to turn around and share with others when trials come upon them. —2 Corinthians 1:3–4

The encouragement of 1 Thessalonians 5 is not all Paul has to say on the importance of thanksgiving. In 2 Corinthians, Paul indicates as we experience God’s blessings, we are to be generous in every way.

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.”
—2 Corinthians 9:10–12 (ESV)

Here Paul calls the results of Christian generosity a “harvest of your righteousness,” and points out that God enriches us in order for our generosity to increase. More than that, Paul says the ministry of generosity is “not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.” The results of our generosity and service should not be selfish attention. We are to point others to God. The passage continues:

“By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others. . .”
—2 Corinthians 9:13 (ESV)

Sharing of resources is important, but it is a small reflection of the most important gift that we must also share: the Good News. Elsewhere in 2 Corinthians, Paul says it this way:

“Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, ‘I believed, and so I spoke,’ we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”
—2 Corinthians 4:15 (ESV)

Grace generates gratitude—a surpassing gift offered, received, acknowledged, and celebrated. And the Giver, glorified.

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!”
—2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (ESV)

Rejoice! Pray! Give Thanks!

A Transformed Life in New York

testimony

By Daniel Kinkade

october 19, 2018

Aulton E. Herbert, Jr. grew up in Harlem, New York. As a young man, Aulton got involved in selling drugs. In December of 1989, he was arrested. From Aulton’s perspective, God arrested him, but God used the police to do it, as he was arrested for something he didn’t do. What started as an argument over a cab fare ended with the driver telling the police Aulton was attempting to rob him at gunpoint, which was not true. Due to his past record, he was taken to the Manhattan Detention Complex in downtown New York City. Anybody who has been there calls it by a different name, though. They know it as “The Tombs.” Aulton was placed in a cold, dark jail cell. As he sat in the darkness, his life began to flash by him. He had lost his mom six years prior and had buried his dad on his birthday earlier that same year, 1989. Aulton was in prison, completely alone, with no bright future.

“God, if you are real, come into my life”

Aulton didn’t grow up in church. He was into Islam, mysticism, transcendental meditation, and spent a lot of time in occult bookstores. He didn’t know anything about Jesus and didn’t want to know anything. But in that moment in that cell, Aulton fell to his knees. He said, “God, if You are real, come into my life.” After crying out to God, he looked over, and saw a Gideon-placed New Testament. He was unaware the New Testament was there previously. Yet, at that exact moment when he cried out to God, Aulton, for the first time, saw the Testament. He opened it and on the first few pages he read, “The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its history is true, and its decisions are immutable. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.” After reading those words, a peace that couldn’t be explained came over Aulton—he now knows it was the presence of the Holy Spirit.

For the next 13 months, Aulton went back and forth to trial. No matter where he went, the New Testament went with him. The more he read, the more the Holy Spirit made the Bible’s teachings clear. When he was in occultism, he would read the Bible solely to prove its tenets were wrong. But now, because of the transformation that happened in his heart, Aulton understood who He was in Christ.

God uses Aulton

Aulton ended up being sentenced to three years in prison, and he served his time in Wyoming Correctional Facility in upstate New York. The entire time he was there, he fed on the Word of God, and God began to do a work in his life. In 1992, Aulton came home on his first pass, and he was scheduled to be released in October of that year. He saw his family for the first time in two and a half years, and after seeing him, they were amazed at his life-transformation. His family would tease him and say, “Now we know there is a God, because we knew the man who left, and you are not him.”

Aulton remembered reading about the demon-possessed man in the Gospel of Mark. The man would hurt himself day and night and nobody could control him – until he saw Jesus. He cried out, and the Lord healed him. When he told Jesus he wanted to follow Him, Jesus said no and told him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (Mark 5:19 ESV) That story really resonated with Aulton, so that’s exactly what he did. At the time, none of Aulton’s family had a personal relationship with Jesus. Praise God Aulton ended up leading all four of his sisters to faith in Christ. Today, all of his nieces and nephews are also followers of Christ.

“Now we know there is a God, because we knew the man who left, and you are not him.”

Partnership with The Gideons International

Aulton soon became the director of an environmental service at a nursing home. It was while he was working at the nursing home in Queens that he had his first true encounter with Gideons and Auxiliary. As he saw the placing of Bibles, Aulton began sharing his testimony. This led to numerous opportunities to share his testimony with different people and places.

Pastoral ministry was the furthest thought in Aulton’s mind, but God had different plans. Today, he is the senior associate pastor at Christ Family Community Church in Bronx, New York—a position he has held for the past 13 years. As Aulton and other ministry leaders see strongholds in New York, they also see how partnering with The Gideons in evangelistic outreaches greatly impacts communities. “One of the hardest things in ministry is getting people Bibles. People are ready and willing to receive them—this is where the Gideons play a part,” says Aulton. New York City is wide-open, and Aulton looks forward to tremendous things happening as a result.

“When you get around Gideons, you get stirred to go after souls. It really challenges you.”

The aspect Aulton loves the most about The Gideons is their priority in reaching people for Christ. Aulton encourages pastors and ministry leaders to get involved with The Gideons. He says, “When you get around Gideons, you get stirred to go after souls. It really challenges you.”

In Isaiah 6, the Lord asked, “Who will go?” Isaiah replied, “Send me!” Aulton prays this will be the heartbeat of all Christ followers, as the world needs to experience the love of Jesus.

God’s word for all sinners

testimony

God’s word for all sinners

By Mandy liebig

october 5, 2018

Carmen Powers was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota. She was the eldest of five children and attended a Catholic school for most of her early childhood. Her dad was an alpha male. Though a very successful businessman, he always valued family life. He put God first, and he had a special gift of always fixing things. He often took Carmen and her siblings with him when he traveled. Each time they would stay in a hotel, she would check for a Bible in the drawer—something about it gave her comfort and assurance she was staying in a good place. When she married her high school sweetheart, Jon, her dad became a strong example of male leadership to him. Jon came from a broken family, and he admired Carmen’s dad and looked to him for guidance in many ways.

Not long into their marriage, Carmen’s father was diagnosed with cancer. The family knew he wouldn’t make it, but when he passed away shortly after the birth of Jon and Carmen’s first child, it hit them extremely hard. They grieved his death. Suddenly, the person they had always leaned on wasn’t there anymore, and their lives became confusing. They struggled to maintain their finances. As they were trying to put together a plan, a friend came to them and offered them a deal. He told them they could make US$100,000 by completing a one-time “transaction” for him. It sounded simple, until they were informed the transaction was selling cocaine. Jon and Carmen knew the offer was wrong, but it was too tempting to refuse. With that kind of money, they could build a house and start a savings account.

one time too many

Before Jon and Carmen knew it, one transaction turned to two and then to many more. Eventually, the product transactions turned to product using. They discovered it doesn’t matter who you are or what you tell yourself, once you have that much cocaine in front of you, it becomes hard to resist. This behavior lasted for about three years. Jon and Carmen had two children, and she would use drugs at night when they were sleeping. They were profitable, but we were far from satisfied. They continued spending more than they were making. Now, they were again in financial trouble and also addicted to drugs.

Wanting to get out of the situation, Jon and Carmen visited a friend in Florida, hoping time away would help them get some clarity. During that time, and with her friend’s help, Carmen decided she and the kids were going to move out of Minnesota, regardless of whether Jon wanted to join. When Carmen told Jon the plan, he agreed to come with them. “We’ve been through the mill,” he said, “I’m at the end of my rope.” So, they moved to Florida and opened a small pizza shop. For a little while, life was good. But not long after, they realized they didn’t move away from the cocaine but closer to it. Men who were part of the same cartel in Minnesota found Jon and Carmen, and before long they were sucked back into their old way of life.

When it all became too much, Carmen flew to Chicago for a weekend. She had no reason to go there other than needing to get away. She spent the entire weekend crying in her hotel room. On the last morning, Carmen stood in front of the bathroom mirror getting ready. Her thoughts flashed back to being in hotel rooms as a little girl, looking for those Bibles—and more importantly, looking for that feeling of comfort and assurance. She opened the bedside table drawer, and sure enough, there was a Bible from The Gideons. She didn’t have much time before her taxi arrived, and she questioned the implications stealing a Bible would have on her already dire situation. But for whatever reason, she felt she had to take it. On her flight home, Carmen opened the Bible, and God began His work.

one final escape

At the beginning of the Bible, Carmen noticed John 3:16 written in several different languages. For many years, she struggled with understanding why there were so many denominations in Christianity. Seeing Christians so separated was one of the main reasons she didn’t want much to do with religion. Seeing that verse in all those languages told Carmen that this Word, this Bible, was for everyone—even sinners like her. God knew that would get her attention. God also knew it would encourage her to continue reading.

“Seeing that verse in all those languages told Carmen that this Word, this Bible, was for everyone—even sinners like her.”

She landed on Proverbs 31 and was completely convicted about who she had become as a woman. Being a good mother was one of her only goals in life, and she was letting her addictive behavior get in the way. It felt as if God was chastising her—but at the same time, it wasn’t painful, it was beautiful. God led her to many other Scriptures that edified her and told her who she could be in Him. Carmen was crying and overjoyed, for she had truly found God. She was radically saved on that airplane and delivered from cocaine without one bit of withdrawal.

However, the hard work wasn’t over. Carmen still faced the challenge of going home to face Jon. He had been raised in the church and was saved at a young age. In his older years, he grew away from the faith. When Carmen told Jon she had been saved, he knew exactly what it meant, but he wasn’t quite ready to make a change. Something told her she needed to keep distance from him while he was still involved, so she made a commitment to continue working on her relationship with the Lord. Eventually, Jon admitted he couldn’t break away from the addiction and lifestyle while they were still in Florida, and they moved back to Duluth. It was there that Carmen saw Jon soften. One morning at church, Jon got up from his seat and went to kneel at the altar. One of his best friends from high school knelt with him, and they both began to weep. In that moment, Jon gave everything over to the Lord.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 (ESV)

forgiveness and freedom

From then on, Carmen and Jon were still on a bumpy road, but it was a road headed in the right direction. They got out of the cocaine business, but the consequences of their actions didn’t immediately disappear. Carmen and Jon had to hire a lawyer and go through an investigation and, eventually, a trial. The prosecutors were determined to send Jon to prison, but the presiding judge stated he could see Jon was a changed man. He was sentenced to a one-year work release program and a few years of probation. The felony charge was dropped. The Lord blessed them, and they slowly began to get their lives in order. They started a small business of buying and fixing up houses. They joined a wonderful church with a loving pastor and made many supportive friends.

Carmen and Jon are so thankful for that Bible. It was in exactly the place Carmen needed it to be. There is no denying God was with her during those hours in the hotel room and on that plane ride. Throughout her life, God has always drawn her back to the Scriptures, and the power of His Word continues to show up.