Gideon's International Ministry

We have a rep speak about every other year. They are doing a good job of getting the Bible into people's hand. At a local HS 2 weeks ago they passed out almost 1,000 NT to students even though they could not set foot on school property. They do the same at several area colleges and universities.

Our only problem with them has been making certain they stay within the time alloted. One guy was supposed to take 5-7 minutes. I finally stepped up to stop him at the 12 minute mark.

 

Ever met a lady Gideon?
Ever met a Gideon who is a pastor?

 

If I understand Gideons correctly they are a group consisting of local businessmen of good report and standing in their home church that have undertaken the business of putting the Scripture into as many hands as possible. How could someone make this controversial or look down upon their work?

 

Actually, the next year, I gave them nothing.

 

Nope. My dh was a Gideon before he became a pastor. The organization is specifically for Christian businessmen, pastors cannot join. This is not a slam against pastors, but a specific group that targets businessmen who want to spread the gospel. Gideons have high regard for pastors. Our local groups hold annual pastor's banquets and invite my dh and I every year to come free of charge.

Women can join as auxillary members, if I remember correctly. They can give Bibles to nurses and doctors' offices, but they are not sent as speakers to local churches.

Don't be too hard on the Gideons who come share their work. They are businessmen, not orators. Some of them are just not well trained to stand up and speak in front of crowds, but they do love the Lord and they are doing a good work in sharing God's word with others. Honestly, it can be hard for the groups to find men who are willing to miss their own church services to go share the ministry with another church, so please be patient with them when they do come. In fact, it might be nice if some pastors would get together and offer a short training class in public speaking for the Gideons. The ones I know would be thrilled to get some loving pointers!

 

Is there a point you're making?

 

These men do a great deal of good in the name of Jesus Christ. They take the word of God to every place in the world they are allowed to go and to some places where they aren't. Their membership is heavily Baptist but they accept Christian men of all denominations except LDS and JW's, and they are truly international in scope. Most of us view the Gideons as being Bible distributors and they do this very well. However, they also send people out on mission trips to proclaim the gospel, especially in third world countries. I admire them a lot.