The following is a testimony recently received here at International Headquarters:

I owned an auto parts store for 25 years. I never hesitated to share my faith with my customers and I would frequently invite them to church with me. Several years ago I invited Leonard to church. Leonard lived in a small camper behind an abandoned gas station. I always liked Leonard but he kept telling me, “No, I don’t like to be around a lot of people.” Leonard would never agree to go to church. In Luke 9:3-5, Jesus told his disciples to shake the dust off their feet. In other words, move on. And that is what I did with Leonard.

About eight years ago Leonard came into my store and as he was leaving he said, “Can I talk to you outside?” I responded, “Of course,” not having any idea what he wanted. He proceeded to tell me that he had been reading his Bible and he felt he needed to be baptized. I was overcome with emotion as I led Leonard down the Roman Road and prayed the sinner’s prayer with him. Leonard accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior that very afternoon right outside my store.

I was so excited that I immediately called my pastor and we were at Leonard’s little camper that very evening. We knew that Leonard did not like to be around a lot of people, so we told him that we could go to the church which was a couple of blocks away and baptize him that very evening. He said no, he would be at church the next Sunday. I thought, right, I bet. Oh ye of little faith.

The next Sunday, as I was coming out of Sunday School, there sat Leonard close to the back of the church. I felt I should sit with Leonard to tell him what to do when our pastor gave the invitation. Leonard did not need me to tell him what to do, the Holy Spirit was directing him. When the invitation was given, I leaned over and started to say, “Leo ….”. Leonard was already gone. As he was walking up the aisle I noticed resting on the pew was a small, worn, and tattered New Testament that had a Gideon emblem on the front. I picked it up and it was a Service Testament. When I opened the front cover there was written, received May 3, 1954. Right before my eyes I saw evidence of how God’s Word will not return void, but it shall accomplish where He sends it. Fifty plus years later God’s Word was still strong and very active in accomplishing His purpose.

Leonard was baptized and did not miss a Sunday service until he had heart surgery and developed complications. He went home to be with his Father in heaven within a year of his accepting Jesus as his Savior. When our pastor and I went to the funeral home we met Leonard’s children and spoke with them about the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior. Two of Leonard’s children received Christ along with three of his grandchildren. Six souls were saved from hell by a little New Testament that was given to a sailor over 50 years ago. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Praise be to God.

Morris Hypes

Teri Hensley was a single mom working a full time job – life was tough. She believed her life was meaningless and was spiraling downhill. When she looked in the mirror she saw a failure. Having reached the bottom, she found herself sitting in a dark closet with a pistol and planning to end her life. In desperation she cried out loud to God, “If for some reason I should not end my life right here right now, you need to do something.”

Just then her son burst through the front door of their home shouting, “Momma, Momma, come look what I have.”

Teri put the pistol away, composed herself as much as possible and walked out to meet her son. He was waving a New Testament he had received from a Gideon after school that day.

“A Gideon was listening and doing God’s will, though he had no idea that a life was literally seconds away from eternity,” says Teri. That day she and her son opened God’s Word together and began the journey of faith.

Billings, Montana

While on a Scripture Blitz in Malawi, a group of Gideons had brake trouble and their bus was stopped on the side of the road.

While the driver and one of the Gideons worked on the bus, a group of local people gathered. Of course, the remaining Gideons started to witness, through their interpreter. But just as the Gospel was shared, and it was time to lead the group in the sinner’s prayer, there was a long, long pause.

Then the interpreter said in English, “I can’t lead them in this prayer until I accept Christ myself.”

So he prayed and accepted Christ. Then he helped the Gideons with him lead many others to Christ. What a powerful statement of character and faith. And what a blessing for him to assist in leading so many people to Christ as a brand new Christian!

While all this was going on, the bus driver and a Gideon from the USA who “just happened” to bring tools with him from home, were working on the brakes. They were able to fix the brakes while others in the group witnessed, and wouldn’t you know . . . they didn’t have any more trouble with the brakes for the rest of the blitz. Praise God for the blessings and opportunities presented by what some Gideons call “Holy Ghost breakdowns.”

Every day, copies of God’s Word are being placed by Gideons and Auxiliary throughout the world. Here is a testimony we received from someone whose life was touched by one of those Scriptures.

Dear Gideons:

When I heard one of your men speak recently, it made me remember some bad stuff from when I was a kid. I made a lot of really poor decisions as a young girl that led me into drug addiction and life on the streets.

In Bellingham, Washington one night about 22 years ago, I overdosed on cocaine and heroin. I spent the night behind a dumpster in an alley, hoping no one would find and attack me. Scared and afraid I might die, I made it through the night by God’s grace.

I checked into a cheap hotel for a couple of weeks and locked myself in to go through withdrawal. It was a lonesome, hard time. On a shelf, I found a Bible placed by The Gideons and after a few days I began to read. It wasn’t an instant transformation, but I found hope and made another step toward Jesus.

I am grateful to have been drug-free and walking with Jesus for many years now. Thank you for putting Bibles where people can find them.

—A grateful supporter of your ministry

Ryan’s dad was a pastor. But Ryan didn’t want to go to church when he was growing up. He just wanted to do his own thing. After high school he started promoting concerts and traveled the world multiple times. He did everything and anything that he wanted, including drugs, sex and alcohol. He indulged himself over and over again for about 15 years.

Eventually, while on a tour going through Central and South America, he found himself in a hotel room, loaded up and thoroughly intoxicated. He was tired of his life in the fast lane. He was at his wit’s end, not knowing what to do next.

He remembered that his parents told him that wherever he traveled there would be a Bible in the room next to the bed. He opened the drawer and found a Gideon-placed New Testament. He opened it and God’s Word changed him.

He returned home a changed man. Ryan currently shares his testimony in his and other churches.  His father is still a pastor.

Ryan and three of his friends from Calvary Chapel have since joined The Gideons International.

My childhood was not a happy one. My mother was always telling me she didn’t want me around.

I do, however, remember a few “God moments” in my life, one of them being a sign at one of the vacation Bible schools I attended. It read, “Ye must be born again.” I didn’t know what it meant, but it stuck with me.

By the time I reached my upper teens, I was having major problems at home and ended up in the county jail. I had no TV, radio, visitors, cellmates or even hygiene products.

There were only a few books—including a Bible placed by The Gideons. I started reading it, and everything that I had ever read in all vacation Bible schools seemed to finally “click.” I got down on my knees and prayed for the Lord to come into my heart. Immediately, I felt at peace, and knew that I was loved by Someone at last.

My step-grandmother said she would like to give me a home, so I was released into her custody. I know this also was God-ordained, because I had nowhere else to go.

I am an adult now, and my mother and I have made peace. She is a believer now, also. I am now very active in jail ministry, because I believe this is where the Lord wants me. I have been commissioned as a women’s chaplain. I want the women to whom I minister to know that no matter what they’ve done, or who they are, God’s saving grace is there for them also.

Thank you for putting Scriptures in the hands of prisoners, hospitals, and all the other places they are found.

On July 21, 2012, my wife, JR., and I were returning from our first international convention of The Gideons International, in Dallas. I have been a Gideon for 3 years and my wife has been an Auxiliary member for 2 years.

We were just north of Waco, Texas when my wife suggested that we stop at the Dairy Queen. When we were leaving, I backed into a young lady’s Lexus. There was no damage to my Nissan, but there was a good-sized dent in her car’s bumper. As we exchanged insurance information, I asked my wife for one of the periwinkle New Testaments we had in our car to give to the young lady.

The lady was very appreciative of our gift and explained that God’s Word was just what she needed. She said that she had felt very fallen away from the church and God and that she was thinking about going back to Church again. I told her that God had sent us to tell her to go back to church.

I explained the “Helps” in the front of the Testament. Then I showed her the back and how to accept Christ as her Savior, where to sign her name and date it.

We cried, we laughed, and we prayed.

So as you can see God has a plan, even in times of stress and accidents. Did I save this young lady? No, only God can do that. But maybe God used my wife and I to head her in the right direction. Glory be to God.

Your brother and sister in Christ,

C.G. & JR. Hare

Edited by The Gideons International

In Dallas, Auxiliary member, Rhea Clunan, shares a New Testament and the Gospel with Wanda who that day accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.

“Did you get one?” I asked Wanda as I handed her a Personal Worker’s Testament (PWT) from The Gideons International. This opportunity had arisen during a Witness In Action distribution in Dallas on July 20th at the 2012 International Convention.

As Wanda reached for the PWT, I explained that I was an Auxiliary member of The Gideons International and that this was a free gift to her.

“It’s a New Testament,” I said. I opened it to show her the “Where to Find Help,” section explaining that we all face challenges. I showed her the Scripture verse and page number references. Then I explained the back section.

“This holds the answer to the most important question you could ever be asked,” I said. As she looked at me, I took that opportunity to ask her if she knew what that question might be. She said she didn’t know.

I asked her, “If you were to die today and face Heaven’s Gates, when they ask why should they let Wanda in, what would you say?”

She hesitated and said, “You’re not going to believe this but I’m waiting for the train to take me to my chemotherapy treatment.” It turned out that she was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2004, and it went into remission. But now it had come back.

I was speechless. I know that God spoke through me when I told her, “God loves you so much and He wants you to have peace.” That was why He had sent me there.

“Are you ready to accept Jesus as your Savior,” I asked. She said yes. Next, I asked Wanda if I could pray for her. Through my tears, I prayed for Jesus to heal her body of this horrible disease.

Brothers and sisters, please pray for Wanda, for her health and for God’s mercy to flow through the hands of her medical team.

Rhea Clunan
Pennsylvania Eastern Region Vice President

Edited by The Gideons International

In June, an international team of Gideons conducted an International Scripture Blitz in Malaysia. It is within Malaysian laws for Gideons to place Scriptures in certain approved venues including medical facilities that permit our placements. So here, from Dr. William E.G. Thomas, are the details from one of those placements made during the blitz.

Upon visiting a surgeon’s practice to place Scriptures, we were greeted in a very friendly manner by the doctor. He said we could place New Testaments in the waiting room, but added that he did not believe in religion.

When I told him that I did not believe in religion either, he looked rather surprised. I explained that Christianity is all about a personal relationship with a Savior–God. This led to more discussion.

He then asked if I was a pastor. When I told him I was a surgeon he looked even more surprised. He then asked what I was doing in Malaysia and I explained that I was there for a week of distributing God’s Word with The Gideons International.

He could not believe it at first. But I convinced him with my business card and he responded by promising to read the New Testament, because if I had come all the way from England to give it to him it must be important.

He gave me his business card and made me promise to keep in touch because he may have some questions to ask me. Please remember this physician in your prayers that he may come to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr. William E.G. Thomas
International Vice President
The Gideons International

(Edited by The Gideons International)

The Gideons in Sweden received a letter from a former soldier requesting a New Testament because he had lost the copy he received during his military service. They sent him one and received another letter from him in response. Here is an excerpt:

Some years ago in Lebanon, serving the UN, we happened to be under fire in a small village. We had to seek shelter in the basement of a house as our vehicle was not bullet-proof. After several hours together with a family in the basement, the father asked me what book I had in my hands. When I told him it was God’s Word, he asked me to start reading.

I read it aloud, even though I had difficulties translating from Swedish to English. Almost immediately the group of people felt a significantly increased calm. Some of my soldiers, and especially the family members, expressed their thanks for my reading aloud. They said it helped them to divert their thoughts from hearing the grenade explosions around and within the village. Everything turned out well and nobody got hurt.

I really want to say thank you for your work sharing the Gospel with the world.

Michael, a student in Wyoming, had trouble understanding God’s Word until he starting reading The Life Book.

“Before I was saved, there was a lot that I didn’t understand about what Jesus would say or some of the comparisons He made to other things. Through God and The Life Book, I’m beginning to understand what He’s trying to convey to us and why He went through all the pain to die for me and my sin.  It’s amazing to see God’s Word come to life in my own life all these thousands of years later. God bless all of you!”

—Michael, Wyoming

Funded by The Gideons International, The Life Book Movement (TLBM) is an innovative strategy to reach high school students with God’s Word. TLBM works through churches and their students to saturate high schools with God’s Word. Learn more about The Life Book Movement here.

Alexander and his championship belt. Photo used with permission.

However, life changed for the young man as he began to spend time with friends who were involved with drugs and in other criminal activities. As his life began to spiral out of control, he gave up his promising kickboxing career.

One day Alexander was approached by a man who was carrying a little book. It was a New Testament from The Gideons International. The man offered the book to Alexander, saying it could help him, however, Alexander refused to accept it. The man continued to encourage him to read it, and finally Alexander agreed to take the New Testament.

Alexander stuck the book in his car and simply forgot about it. About a year later, he reached such a low point in life that he didn’t see any hope. Then he remembered that New Testament. He opened the trunk of his car and there it was. So he began to read a chapter a day.

He came to Matthew 7:12 and read, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them…” The verse pricked his heart. The last thing he would want someone to do to him would be to deceive, beat and rob him. Yet that was the kind of activity Alexander himself had been involved with. The verse convicted Alexander of his need for a Savior. He then dropped to his knees and cried out for the Lord to take control of his life.

Soon after that experience, a friend of Alexander’s shared how his own life had been changed by Christ and that he no longer used drugs. He invited Alexander to his church. Through the discipleship of others at the church, Alexander began to rely on his faith in Jesus to free him of his sinful state, including his addiction to drugs.

Today, Alexander is married and has three children. He is very active in ministry, and through his witness, many of his old friends have now placed their faith in Jesus as well.

Abdul was born in Ghana. His father was a spiritualist and Abdul was initiated into his father’s religion. The boy dropped out of school at a young age, began running with a gang of criminals, and became an armed robber.

Abdul’s life of crime caught up with him when he robbed a bank in Kumasi, Ghana. The authorities apprehended him and sentenced him to life in prison. He was routinely transferred from one prison to another because he was considered extremely dangerous.

One day, a group of men visited Abdul’s prison and distributed Scriptures. Abdul took one and tore out the pages to wrap up the marijuana he was selling. One of his cellmates, who was a Christian, warned him what he was doing was wicked. Abdul ignored him. However, a few days later Abdul had a dream in which an angel warned him to turn from his wicked ways. One of his Christian inmates compelled him to repent and turn to Jesus Christ.

The fellow inmate used a Gideon-placed Scripture to present the Gospel, and Abdul surrendered his life to Christ. Months later, he was released from prison for good behavior. Today Abdul serves in security for that same bank he robbed and shares the Gospel with unbelievers.

My name is Mike Nicholas. I grew up in a broken home and was forced to live with many people: grandparents, an uncle, an aunt, church members, and whoever else would take me in.

I was also forced to go to church every time the doors were open. I knew who God was; however, I didn’t believe in Jesus because I could not touch Him or see Him.

At an early age, I was introduced to sex, drugs, and alcohol. You name it, if it was bad for me, I knew about it.

I married my wife, Staci, at the age of 17. My problems with drugs and alcohol kept us far away from the church. We had three daughters, Ashley, Brittany, and Loren, who I also kept from church, except on rare occasions.

Alcohol consumed me. I worked hard every day, but I drank from the time I got off work until bedtime. Sometimes, I would pass out somewhere, and the people I was with would leave me there.

I never physically hurt my wife or daughters, but I was verbally abusive to all of them. I did a lot of damage over the 23 years of my marriage.

Then in October 2012, my wife kicked me out of the house. She was hurt and stunned, as were my kids, by the terrible things I had done. I had ripped my family apart.

There I was . . . alone in a motel room. I opened the drawer to the nightstand, saw a Bible that had been placed by a Gideon, opened it and started reading. I stayed in that room for six days, just God and me, all day and all night.

I asked God to forgive me, come into my heart, save me from my alcohol addiction, and take it completely out of my mind. I cried and begged, “Lord Jesus, please don’t let me lose my family. If You do this for me I will serve You for the rest of my life.”

I haven’t had a drink since October 17, 2012. With no outside help—just God and me. John 14:14 says, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” God said it, and I believed it.

After this miracle, I returned home. With forgiveness from my family, I told them I was a changed man, and was going to live my life for Jesus.

We started attending church the last week of December 2012. Now, all three of my daughters have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior. All three are baptized and living by the Word of God. Praise Jesus!

“The Lord really blessed the Salt Lake City Blitz,” says Ken Anderson, who served in the blitz. The event took place in early April. Three times as many Gideons showed up this year compared to the last blitz held there five years ago.

Gideons placed copies of God’s Word into the hands of thousands of people – people who need to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. “For every one of those copies, we lean on the promise of Isaiah 55:11 – that God’s Word will not return void,” says Anderson.

Scriptures were distributed and placed at college campuses, jails, motels and medical facilities. By the end of the event, more than 50,000 Scriptures had been distributed.

One of the people who needed a copy of God’s Word was Kim, a motel desk clerk in Ogden, Utah. She told them she had been wanting to know more about Jesus. Her grandfather told her about Him years ago, but she never chose to make Jesus her own personal Savior.

The Gideons gave her a New Testament. “This contains the greatest love story ever told,” they said. Kim’s eyes brightened when the Gideons then told her that she could be with her grandfather someday in heaven.

Kim received Jesus Christ that day and signed the decision page in her New Testament. We rejoice for what God did through His Word that day.

How One New Testament Changed A Family Legacy from the gideons on Vimeo.

Judy was given her first New Testament as a nursing student. However, Judy’s story doesn’t end with her own salvation. She went back home to share what God had done in her life. Listen to how her family legacy was changed by the power of just one New Testament.

The sun beat down in the unrelenting stream of 110 degree heat of Africa in November. Unhindered by the extreme conditions, Gideons diligently piled boxes of Scriptures into cars, anxious to begin the 2014 Ghana International Scripture Blitz. With a population of over 27 million people, Ghana holds over 75 ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages. The opportunity to reach out and touch the life of a non-believer in Ghana is great.

This November, a team of 21 international Gideons traveled to the cities of Accra and Kumasi for the 2014 Ghana International Scripture Blitz. On the first day of distributions, team members met up with local Gideons to place Bibles in hotels. The manager of the Allisa Hotel was thrilled to receive the Bibles in his hotel rooms. He told Gideons he had a guest check out and demand a refund because there was not a Bible in the room. The manager began looking for a way to provide Scriptures, and shortly after, the Gideons showed up. He was amazed Gideons provided Bibles at no cost to hotel managers. A full day of hotel distributions resulted in 12 personal salvation experiences and 19,570 Scriptures placed.

Sharing God’s Word in the Schools of Ghana

Years ago, Bright Ntow came to know Jesus through a Gideon-placed New Testament. Today, he is a teacher in Ghana, and he received his second New Testament from Gideons who distributed Scriptures to the children in his school. Photo: © 2014 The Gideons International

I was unsaved at age 23. I had completed my university training to be a teacher, and returned to my village in the Volta Region to teach. My friend had a Gideon-placed New Testament, and after reading it, he became a follower of Christ and a strong Christian witness to me. My friend led me to know Christ using the same New Testament. Today, I live in Darkuman, Accra with my wife and two children. I founded a Scripture Union at Nii Okini and have shared Christ’s love with many students, resulting in many changed lives for Christ. On November 6, 2014, my students and I received our own copies of the Word of God from the Gideons.”

The Word that Truly Saves
Blitz teams also distributed Scriptures at many hospitals, prisons, police and military facilities with excellent reception. During a visit to a military installation, Gideons found 300 top officers gathered to welcome them. The national chaplain prayed in the name of Jesus, and blitz team members presented a New Testament to each officer. Before leaving, Gideons met with the admiral who gave his blessing on their mission to spread the Gospel throughout Ghana, granting them access to all military offices, schools, and hospitals. A gentleman who received a New Testament during the blitz tells his story:

The same day I met the Gideons, I had just purchased a new car. On the way home, I was pulled over by local police. After a search of the new car, police found small amounts of marijuana and asked me who it belonged to. I explained it was a new car and the seller must have left it in the car. The officer noticed the blue New Testament in my pocket and said, “Bibles and drugs don’t go together. I believe you.” He let me go! Driving home, I realized it was God’s Word that saved me that day, and that God would save me every day if I would give my life fully to Him. So I did.

While visiting Nsawam National Prison, the largest prison in Ghana with 3,600 inmates, Gideons attended a worship service with approximately 300 inmates. The Spirit of God was truly present as inmates lifted their hands, clapped, and sang along with the worship leader. After Gideons presented a message and shared the plan of salvation, 60 men came forward to dedicate their lives to Christ.

By the end of the week, the original Scripture distribution goal of 450,000 was far exceeded and over 575,000 Scriptures were distributed. To God be all glory!

Pastor Krainer with the Gideon-placed Bible instrumental in his coming to faith in Christ.

I was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Both my parents were heavily involved with drugs and alcohol. When I was younger, my mom took us to church but that soon ended. So did my parents’ marriage.

After they divorced, I stayed with my mom who constantly changed jobs and boyfriends, moving us from home to home. I never felt grounded or secure. I remember being abused and frequently called worthless.

I began smoking and drinking at age 11, and continued abusing substances through grade school. I was kicked out of high school my sophomore year and left home at the age of 16. I spent the nights anywhere other than my mom’s place. I ended up living in some very bad places, among the worst kind of people.

By my 21st birthday, I was in Denver, Colorado. My life was reaching the pinnacle of addiction, depression, and violence. I despised myself and any person who appeared to have a better life than I did. Consumed by so much hate and self-loathing, I would often get in fights just to feel something other than my own existence. I tried killing myself on several occasions—always ending in failed attempts. I was out of control.

At a party one night, I shot a full clip of ammunition into the car of someone I thought had stolen from me. I was duly arrested and prosecuted for two counts of attempted murder.

There I was—21 and facing up to 72 years in prison. I had no hope, no friends, and no family. However, there in my jail cell, I saw a Gideon-placed Bible. I had never read a Bible before. As I opened it up to the book of Matthew, I learned about Jesus and His love.

Matthew Chapter 5, verse 4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” I had never felt comfort, peace, or true love in my life. So I prayed for the first time and asked God to let me taste these things before my life was over.

In that moment, I felt the Father’s arms wrap me up and His love burned so hot through me I began to weep from my very soul. I was forever changed in one instant. I vowed to follow God and His love and to give my life to Him no matter what the rest of my life would bring.

I was incarcerated for nine months. During that time I went to addictions classes, continued my education, and earned my GED. I awaited my sentencing without an attorney. I only had Jesus. By the grace of God, I was sentenced to four years of probation and released the very next day. I was a free man.

After my release, I completed a year-long intensive program to aid my progress in resolving my addictions. I continued to feed my soul with the knowledge of Christ.

Today, I am a licensed pastor in Colorado with Teen Challenge. And I am newly married. In just a few short years, my life has been transformed from one of pain and suffering to a life of joy and service to the King. I daily thank God and His unrelenting love to call out my name in that jail cell and speak truth to me through His Word.

Pastor John Krainer

Edited by The Gideons International

Satabdi, whose life has changed since receiving a Scripture from a Gideon.

My name is Satabdi. I was born in an orthodox Hindu family in Calcutta, India. My family believes all religions lead to the same path and all gods are the same spirit by different names.

I attended a reputable Hindu school until grade ten, but transferred to a Methodist school to study mathematics. Every year, we were visited by Gideons who gave us blue New Testaments. Soon, my interest in the little book pricked my conscience and I decided to read it. After reading the Gospels, I began to favor the words of the Lord and thought He was like one of the Hindu gurus. However, when I came to the book of Romans, God’s Word changed my heart. I realized I had been idolatrous, and I was a sinner. I was amazed how a book written over 2,000 years ago could exactly depict modern society.

I continued reading Romans and realized all my efforts to be a religious person were in vain. In Chapter 3, I read how fully immersed I was in sin—from head to toe. I reasoned in my mind how God could be holy and still accept me. Then it hit me—God could not accept me the way I was living. Then, my eyes fell on this passage:

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” –Romans 5:6-8 (ESV)

The depths of God’s love for me was written in those verses. Because of all the sins I committed, my Lord suffered and died. Through reading His Word I believed in the Lord Jesus.

I didn’t know any believers back then. My spiritual journey has not always been smooth, but the Lord has always been with me in a very special way. He proved to me again and again how His Word is true, even when there was no one else to tell me about it. I tried to find believers for spiritual support. I joined a local church, which followed the truths of the New Testament. I wanted to share my joy with the millions of perishing people who have no knowledge of God. So I began asking God to show me His will.

Ever since the Lord saved me, He gave me a great interest in reading His Word in the original languages. I attended the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Asian Christian Academy in Bangalore, India. During my seminary studies, the Lord continued to break me down, showing me my weakness and His immense grace toward me. Through professors and peers, the Lord taught me the science of interpreting the Bible.

After receiving a Masters degree in Theology, I began serving the Lord as a missionary in various parts of northern India. During that time, the Lord showed me the great need among families in India for Christian counseling. Following the Lord’s will in my life, I applied to study counseling and psychology at Moody Bible Seminary, where I am at the present time.

I thank God for everything, and am always grateful to the ministry of The Gideons International whom the Lord used to bring me to Himself. May the Lord bring many more to know of His love through His holy Word.

Edited by The Gideons International

We praise God for how a single Gideon-placed Scripture impacted the life of Danny Sinquefield, who is now a pastor and helping promote the Gospel around the world.

We recently received this testimony of how a Gideon-placed Scripture touched the life of a young boy whom God would use to touch the lives of so many others.

For more than 20 years, Pastor Danny Sinquefield has served as pastor of Faith Baptist in Bartlett, Tennessee. It is one of the state’s largest churches. He is a past president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and a current member of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. Under his pastoral leadership, Faith Baptist church has planted new churches and sent missionaries around the world.

For this pastor, it all started with a single Gideon-placed New Testament. Here is his encouraging testimony.

I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. Our family was not connected to a local church. We lived in a neighborhood that had a Baptist Church nearby, but we never attended there and as far as I know, they never invited us. My dad was a functional alcoholic. Although he held a job and worked hard every day, his addiction added tremendous stress and trauma in our family. The only time we heard God’s name in the house, it was likely preceding a curse word. As the youngest of five siblings, I remember well the tension and the terror on those occasions.

While attending elementary school in the 5th grade, our teacher introduced a guest one day in the classroom. He identified himself as a Gideon and his purpose was to give each student a gift of a New Testament. It was my very first copy of God’s Word. Our teacher must have been a believer. She made a class assignment to read certain sections of the New Testament and to memorize the 23rd Psalm. To this day, I remember reading and memorizing those beautiful words for the first time.

In God’s plan, that one New Testament would plant the Gospel seeds in a 12-year-old boy’s heart that would soon grow into a harvest. The summer following my 5th grade year, I was invited to attend a youth camp sponsored by a Baptist Church. It was there that I would respond to God’s call of salvation. I soon found myself involved in a local church’s youth group and was baptized as a member. Soon, the Lord would call me into ministry during my high school days.

Upon preaching my first sermon in “big church” as a 15 year-old, my Dad also responded to the Gospel and surrendered his life to Christ. The dynamic of our family completely changed.

It all started with a faithful Gideon sharing God’s Word with a class of young students in a public school setting. I don’t know his name, but I will be forever grateful for his outreach and for those who continue serving in this wonderful ministry of sharing God’s Word. That dear man could never have known how his gift would impact my life, our family, and beyond.

Forever grateful,

Danny Sinquefield

Edited by The Gideons International