LET’S SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS MINISTRY IMPACT Annual Report 2016 LET’S SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS MINISTRY IMPACT Annual Report 2016 “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ACTS 1:8 (ESV) LET’S SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS BE Part OF A GOD-INSPIRED 9 MISSION SHARE CHRIST’S LIFE-CHANGING 21 STORY GIVE SUPPORT IN REACHING 27 THE LOST FINANCIAL RESULTS 39 2 Dear Friend in Christ, Together, let’s praise God for all He has accomplished this past year through The Gideons International. It has been extraordinary to see our Lord at work through this ministry. We are indeed part of a God-inspired mission. He has provided us with more Scripture funds than ever before. As a result, over 91.8 million people have received God’s Word — a record number reached in one year. Often, that Scripture a man, woman, or child received was accompanied by a word of witness from the Gideon or Auxiliary providing it. A LIFE OF Sharing Scriptures is an integral part of what we do; however, we strive to do much more. We must stay focused on our primary goal and objective of reaching a lost and dying world with the glorious news that Jesus — and only Jesus — saves. In addition to sharing God’s Word, we need to be associating together with MINISTRY one another to serve and more effectively support this unique calling. Most importantly, we each should pray for boldness to personally witness at every God-given opportunity. As Jesus commissioned all of us who follow Him, we are to: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” Jason and Paula Hall (MATTHEW 28:19 ESV) joined The Gideons This past year, Gideons and Auxiliary around the world purchased and shared International in more than two and a half million Personal Workers Testaments. Praise the Lord! If each and every member will seek God’s guidance and share at least one New 2005 in western Testament every week along with our personal testimonies, we will easily meet North Carolina the Vision 2020 goal of distributing 120 million Scriptures annually by 2020. More when Paula’s father, a Gideon since importantly, we will impact millions of lives for Christ. 1989, invited them to attend a dinner As I complete my term of office as your president, I want Estimates for potential members. “I actually to finish with a word of challenge. Let me offer a little indicate that, didn’t have any intention of becoming reality. Although we have been greatly blessed over the worldwide, four a member, because I couldn’t see how past years, Joshua would remind us that, “…there remains to five billion I would have time for it,” said Jason. yet very much land to possess” (Joshua 13:1 ESV). Estimates people today are “But as I looked around, I saw men of indicate that, worldwide, four to five billion people today various professions, all of whom had one are unsaved. unsaved. common goal: witnessing to the lost. By Yes, the task ahead of us is an awesome challenge, but the end of the meeting, I knew this was remember the task ahead of us is never greater than the power behind us. Our something I wanted to be a part of.” Lord Jesus Christ will continue to bless this Association, and those who support us, if we will dedicate ourselves to serving Him. With kind regards Yours sincerely, Dr. William E. G. Thomas International President 4 5 Gideon events, particularly Scripture distributions, slowly began to populate the Hall family calendar. “It actually became part of our family naturally,” explained Paula. “As the kids grew older we began taking them with us. They developed really special relationships with The Gideons, and it’s been the perfect way for us to teach them ministry is the most important thing in life. We have also made countless friends, not only at local meetings, but also at North Carolina state conventions and International Conventions.” “It’s a continuity that transcends cultures and time zones. With this A L I Association, F as possible to schools, hospitals, prisons, E Gideons and O and more. Jason has participated in F M Auxiliary across the International Scripture Blitzes to Malaysia, “Anyone can INISTR globe are working find a place, and Argentina, and Kenya. “It’s nothing like as one unit, for being a tourist,” he said. “When you go on Y one purpose.” together we can a blitz, you meet the locals, and you get to make a difference know the culture and the language. They invite you into their home and make you by spreading the part of their family. You live their lives with Good News.” them, and you do ministry with them.” The Halls have attended four International Conventions. “Nothing compares to it,” said Paula, “We hear countless testimonies from men Jason’s international experience has given him insight to better and women who have come to know the Lord under dire circumstances, understand The Gideons’ relationship with local churches. As an or who have experienced God move in mighty ways. It’s amazing for extended missionary arm of the church, Gideons take the Word to the me to consider how there are men and women on the other side of the world and point the world back to the church. The church, in turn, world who are doing exactly what we are. It’s supports The Gideons through donations and, more importantly, through a continuity that transcends cultures and time prayer. “A pastor in Argentina and his entire congregation fasted for us, zones. With this Association, Gideons and prayed for us, and supported us. There was so much love in that church, Auxiliary across the globe are working as one it was amazing. It made me realize that, as partners in ministry, we can unit, for one purpose.” do more and go farther working together than working alone.” This continuity became a reality to Jason Jason and Paula joined The Gideons with a desire to impact lives with the when he began to travel for International Gospel. Along the way, they discovered ministry had a way of making just Scripture Blitzes. Blitzes partner local Gideons as big an impact on their lives, as well. “We’ve been truly blessed,” said in specific countries with visiting international Jason. “If anyone wants to be a better witness for God, there’s no better teams, and together over one to two weeks, way than to be involved with The Gideons. Anyone can find a place, and they take as many Bibles and New Testaments together we can make a difference by spreading the Good News.” 6 7 BE Part OF A GOD-INSPIRED MISSION WINNING THE LOST FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST through associating together for service, personal testimony & personal work, and placing & distributing Scriptures. ASSOCIATING TOGETHER FOR SERVICE PLACING & PERSONAL DISTRIBUTING BE PART OF A GOD-INSPIRED MISSION BE PART TESTIMONY SCRIPTURES “Go therefore and make & PERSONAL WORK disciples of all nations…” MATTHEW 28:19 (ESV) 8 9 THE GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL— MUCH MORE THAN hotel BIBLES. The Gideons International is an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together, personal witnessing, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments in strategic public areas. The Gideons International Annual Report 2016 International The Gideons The Gideons International serves as an extended missionary arm of the protestant or evangelical church, working alongside pastors and churches across the globe. The Gideons A UNIQUE AND International partners with churches anywhere to reach the unreached everywhere. EFFECTIVE approach TO INTERNATIONAL EVANGELISM. OF A GOD-INSPIRED MISSION BE PART Spreading the Good News means much more Hotel Bibles than distributing Scriptures. The Association’s represent Our members serve in the primary mission is winning the lost for Christ. countries where they live. First and foremost, members share their just a small personal testimonies with those who need to portion of THEY MAKE A POWerful impaCT BECauSE: know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. In fact, the ministry GIDEONS MAKE • Local Gideons speak the language, understand Gideons and Auxiliary (wives and widows of INROADS TO CHINA and respect the customs. Gideons) purchased more than two and a half efforts. In seeking to reach the million New Testaments on their own last world for Christ, God • They know the locations of hotels, schools, year to give out while witnessing. has opened countless prisons, hospitals, and other places where Bibles doors for us. Over and New Testaments need to be provided… 200,000 copies of God’s Hotel Bibles represent just a small portion of the ministry efforts — Word were shared in and they might personally witness. about 2%. Approximately 80% of the Scriptures are shared The People’s Republic of • Sometimes, the Association is able to establish one-on-one with students in schools and colleges. Bibles and New China during the last twelve months. local groups of Gideons in countries where Testaments are also offered in other ways, including distributions traditional missionaries aren’t allowed to go. BE PART OF A GOD-INSPIRED MISSION BE PART to inmates in prisons and jails, as well as Scripture placements in hospitals and medical offices. During these distributions, Gideons and Auxiliary pray for God-appointed opportunities to tell the Gospel story. 10 11 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” I PETer 4:10 (ESV) Vanessa was one of the Annual Report 2016 International The Gideons earthquake survivors to receive a New SHARING GOD’S WORD Testament from Gideons.