“The Gideons organization was begun in 1899 by two traveling salesmen with a heart for evangelism. They later adopted the goal of putting a Bible in every hotel room in the United States starting in 1908.”1
From this humble beginning the Gideons International, a nonprofit organization, has insured that no matter where we travel in America or, for that matter, in the free world, the Bible is sure to be found. The Gideons are in the Bible-placing business. In every major hotel and motel room in our country, as well as in over 200 other countries worldwide, they have placed a Bible, free of charge, for any traveler to view while away from home.
In addition to hotel rooms, hospitals in many cases, also have been supplied by the Gideons with this great book of spiritual healing. Even our jails, where permissible, have an abundance of Bibles on hand for the men and women who many times, have no one to turn to but God as they try to piece together their broken and shattered lives.
In Fact, the Gideons, according to their website, place on average more than two copies of God’s Word per second and over one million Bibles and New Testaments every four days. This amazing global outreach comprises some 200 countries, territories, and possessions across the globe and in more than 95 languages, all at no cost to those they benefit.2 No matter where we go in this land of ours or almost the entire world, it’s hard to deny the Bible’s influence or its physical presence.
On a personal note, I have my own story of how the Gideons impacted my life.
Back in 1975 I was working as a security stock analyst in Stamford, Connecticut. I had recently graduated from college and had a great job. The only problem was I was living with my parents in Manhattan and had a two-hour commute to work each way. So, I decided to move to Stamford. I rented a room in the Stamford YMCA and went about looking for an apartment near my job. The one thing I vividly remember was that I was very lonely and depressed while staying at the YMCA. But I will never forget that one evening I opened my dresser draw and saw a Gideon Bible.
Back then I was an atheist and would never have opened a Bible if people were around. But I was curious, and no one was around, and right there in the front of the Bible one page said if you need help in time of need to turn to the following Bible verses depending on your need. Well as I said I was lonely and depressed and right there in the Gideon Bible it gave me verses to read for both problems. So, there I was an atheist going to the Bible looking for comfort. And you know what, when I read the verses, I felt a great deal of comfort. To me this speaks powerfully about the ability of the Bible to offer comfort. I didn’t even believe the Bible was a book of truth but, yet it spoke to my heart, even as an atheist. If the Bible can comfort an atheist, who didn’t even believe in God, how much more comfort can it bring to those that have a personal relationship with Him.
It would be six more years from that point to when I eventually gave my heart to Jesus but the seeds that night were already being planted. Honestly, it has been over 45 years since that time and I can’t remember what verses I read but I still, 45 years later, remember the impact the Holy Scriptures had on my heart.
I just looked at my Gideon Bible to see what verses I must have read under the topic of depression and here are the ones listed:
(Psalm 34:4): “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”
(Psalm 40:1-2): “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”
(Psalm 43:5): “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
What beautiful words of comfort when we are going through a trial or a storm. And I praise God for the Gideon Bible for offering me comfort and playing a role in my coming to Christ.
1 Who are the Gideons International, and what do they believe? | GotQuestions.org
This is very interesting Curt…My step-father was a Gideon. He used to make a short speech at church services about the Gideon work. He had some wonderful stories…many funny ones…of how God used the Bibles. The Gideons also used to place Bibles in the hands of grade school children.