By Karen McBride
All Gideons uphold these core beliefs: The Bible is the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God and Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God.
The Gideons International is a ministry of Christian businessmen and women. You may have heard of them as the missionaries that leave Bibles in hotels. This practice began in 1899 when the organization was formed. Since many of the members were traveling men, they began witnessing in hotels. The Bible distribution has expanded to hospitals, businesses, universities, high schools, middle schools, and more. Since its inception, Gideons have distributed over 2.5 billion Bibles.
It is important for Christian men and women to be continually strengthened in their faith. By serving the Lord together and sharing their testimonies with others, they are building on that foundation.
The Gideons International is trying to establish in all its members, for each man to be ready to do God’s will at any time, at any place, and in any way that the Holy Spirit leads.
The organization is active in over 200 countries with over 200,000 members. To become a member, you must meet the following criteria:
1. be a member of a church
2. be a professional businessman or the wife of a businessman
3. be recommended by a pastor in your church.
Ron White has been a member for over 25 years. He partners with local churches in northern Hillsborough County. He and other members of the Gideons visit churches to bring awareness to their ministry and to provide reports on the number of Bibles distributed in the local community. Another way to connect with local churches is to hold pastor appreciation breakfasts. This is a time to fellowship with the pastors and their church members, while enjoying a delicious breakfast together.
At Idlewild Baptist Church, the Gideons were visiting and had a display of 40-50 Bibles in various languages. An Asian woman approached the table, and they were able to give her a Bible in her native language. How amazing is that?
Church members are often generous with their support of the ministry. The “love offering” goes to fund the purchase of more Bibles to distribute throughout communities to those who may not step inside a church. But, if a person is visiting the area and staying at a hotel, he/she may open the nightstand drawer, and there it is, ready and waiting to be read by God’s divine appointment, and then taken by the guest if they choose – God’s word.
In March 2023, Gideons held a Blitz Tampa event, where over one hundred Gideons from across Florida distributed 38,000 Bibles in the Tampa Bay area. The Bibles were handed out to people at hotels, hospitals, universities, high schools, and middle schools.
“Kids are going by 50 miles an hour, so you quickly hand them a New Testament, which consists of Psalms and Proverbs, and hope that they read it. But some do stop, and you get to engage in conversation,” said Ron. The Gideons take that opportunity to plant the seed and let God do the rest.
You can help the Gideons to continue to serve the community by making a donation at https://www.gideons.org/donate. Your donation will go to the purchase of New Testaments and Bibles.
Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)
“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”