Summary
The Gideons International ("Gideons") was founded in 1899 and serves as an extended missionary arm of the church and is the oldest Christian business and professional men's association in the United States of America. In response to the emergence of more than 2,000,000 readers in the world each week creates an unprecedented need for reading material. This offers a challenge to Christians to supply the tremendous void by making available God's Word. This is a primary function of The Gideons--placing and distributing Bibles and New Testaments in the human traffic lanes and streams of national life. Gideons as laymen, stand shoulder to shoulder as "missionaries" of local churches and their pastors in going to the four corners of the world to win others for the Lord Jesus Christ.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | 50 Century Boulevard
Nashville, TN
37214-2509 |
| Website: | www.gideons.org |
| Phone: | (615) 564-5000 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 362270051
| CEO/President: |
Mr. Kevin Fuller |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
|
Fiscal Year End: |
May 31 |
| Board Size: |
22 |
Financial info from: |
|
| Founder: |
Samuel Hill, John Nicholson, William Knights |
Member of ECFA: |
No |
| Year Founded: |
1899 |
Member of ECFA since: |
|
The Gideons International ("Gideons"), founded in 1899, serves as an extended missionary arm of the church and is the oldest Christian business and professional men's association in the United States of America. A board of distinguished Christian laymen, international in makeup, supervises the worldwide Gideon ministry, ensuring an efficient, economical operation. The organization takes its name from the mighty warrior, Gideon, in the sixth and seventh chapters of Judges in the Bible.
The association has more than 236,000 members, located in 178 countries of the world. They are united in carrying out the same program using the same methods to accomplish the one objective of winning others to Christ.
The emergence of more than 2,000,000 readers in the world each week creates an unprecedented need for reading material. This offers a challenge to Christians to supply the tremendous void by making available God's Word. This is a primary function of The Gideons, placing and distributing Bibles and New Testaments in the human traffic lanes and streams of national life. Gideons as laymen, stand shoulder to shoulder as "missionaries" of local churches and their pastors in going to the four corners of the world to win others for the Lord Jesus Christ.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The Gideons International expresses its mission as follows:
To win others for the Lord Jesus Christ through:
Association
Personal Testimony
Placing the Bible-God's Holy Word
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
The Gideons International uses the following to express its Program Accomplishments for the fiscal year ending 12/31/2003:
A new record was set for worldwide Scripture distribution with 60,370,636 copies of God's Word placed. Gideon camps were organized in three new countries: East Timor, Tajikistan, and the British Virgin Islands. GI established 272 new local Gideon groups (camps) worldwide
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
This organization has not provided a Statement of Faith. At such time that MinistryWatch receives this information it will be posted.
In the autumn of the year 1898, John H. Nicholson of Janesville, Wisconsin, came to the Central Hotel at Boscobel, Wisconsin, for the night. The hotel being crowded, it was suggested that he take a bed in a double room with Samuel E. Hill of Beloit, Wisconsin. The two men soon discovered that both were Christians, and that John Nicholson, as a 12-year-old boy, had promised his dying mother that he would read God's Word and pray daily. It had been his custom for many years to read the Bible before retiring for the night. They had their evening devotions together, and on their knees before God the thoughts were given which later developed into an association.
On May 31, 1899, they met at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, concluded to band Christian commercial travelers together for mutual recognition, personal evangelism, and united service for the Lord. They decided to call a meeting in Janesville, Wisconsin on July 1, 1899, in the Y.M.C.A.
Only three men were present at that meeting: John H. Nicholson, Samuel E. Hill, and Will J. Knights. They organized with Hill as president, Knights as vice president, and Nicholson as secretary and treasurer. Much thought was given to what the name of the association should be, and after special prayer that God might lead them to select the proper name, Mr. Knights arose from his knees and said, "We shall be called Gideons." He read the sixth and seventh chapters of Judges and showed the reason for adopting that name.
Gideon was a man who was willing to do exactly what God wanted him to do, regardless of his own judgment as to the plans or results. Humility, faith, and obedience were his great elements of character. This is the standard that the Gideon association is trying to establish in all its members, 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.
In view of the fact that almost all of the Gideons in the early years of the association were traveling men, the question quite naturally arose regarding how they might be more effective witnesses in the hotels where they were forced to spend so much of their time. One suggestion was that a Bible might be placed at the reception desk in each hotel so that the patrons would have the privilege of borrowing it if they wished. It also occurred to these men that this would be a silent witness remaining in these hotels when they were elsewhere.
This question of advanced activities, as they called them, was carefully considered in the Cabinet meeting held in Chicago, October 19, 1907. One trustee went so far as to suggest that The Gideons furnish a Bible for each bedroom of the hotels in the United States. He commented," In my opinion, this would not only stimulate the activities of the rank and file of the membership, but would be a gracious act, wholly in keeping with the divine mission of the Gideon Association." This plan was adopted by the convention at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1908.
It is interesting to note that the practice of the churches contributing to the support of the Gideon Scripture program originated with a pastor. Just two months after the 1908 Louisville Convention, a state convention convened in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. National Secretary Frank Garlick and Mr. A. B. T. Moore attended a meeting of the Ministerial Union, and after their program they asked if Brother Garlick could address the ministers on the work of the Gideon Association. He spoke of the needed Bible distribution, and at the close of his 10-minute address, Mr. Moore's own pastor, Dr. E. R. Burkhalter, First Presbyterian Church, arose and moved, "...that Gideon Bibles be placed in all local hotels and that the Union be responsible for the funds." The motion was unanimously carried and a committee appointed to apportion the cost to the churches, according to their strength.
Thus the idea of the Gideon ministry as an "extended arm" of the church came into being, and the church took an initial stand to give financial support to the Bible placement program. The Gideon association praised God for the revelation of His plan whereby the local church would supply the needed funds.
The Gideons International uses the following to express its ministry needs:
This ministry is generously supported by pastors and churches, who realize that presenting people with the gospel message is an indispensable element in winning people to Christ. Every dollar contributed by members of the churches is used to make it possible for others to have their very own copy of God's Word.
There are several ways in which Christians can provide the Word of God through The Gideons. These include cash gifts, securities, life insurance, Memorial Bibles, or a bequest through a will or Revocable Trust.
The program of The Gideons International offers a practical opportunity for Christians to invest their funds in a spiritual work and thus lay up treasures in heaven. Gifts to The Gideons automatically utilizes the specialized efforts of thousands of Christians who volunteer their time and services in distributing the Holy Scriptures in 178 countries of the world. Your gift to The Gideons International to provide God's Word is surely a means of investing in eternity.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 100 | 3/30/2006 12:07:33 PM: Organization made financial information available less than 5 ½ months after their fiscal year end. |
| Financial Information: | 100 | 3/30/2006 12:07:39 PM: Organization provided all financial information requested. Information was clear and thorough. |
| Foundational Clarity: | | |
| Level of Cooperation: | | |
Click here to compare ministries on transparency and other stats
Click here to learn more about how ministries are graded
MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
This ministry has not been rated
Learn how the ratings are calculated for this ministry
Learn how ratings are calculated in general -- or here for a longer explanation
Click here to compare ministries
2006 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list
Prior MinistryWatch.com Shining Light ‘Top 30’ Exemplary Ministry. Previously listed from 2005 - 2007.
MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary. The list is a sampling of the “best ministries” and outstanding examples when we consider Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.
These ministries are called ‘Shining Lights’ because they are indeed models of letting their Christian light shine before men so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and God be glorified. Consequently, we are shining a figurative light on them so that donors may be aware of their good works and other ministries may learn from their examples.
While identifying the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ, MinistryWatch.com believes that the list of 30 excellent ministries will be helpful to many. Each of the ministries has the following important features in common:
- Legitimate nonprofit ministry and purpose.
- Have shown a willingness to treat donors fairly via a Transparency Grade of “A”.
- Are unashamed of being identified as an evangelical Christian ministry.
- MinistryWatch.com researchers knows of no significant issues that would be of concern to donors.
A high MinistryWatch.com Financial Efficiency Rating was not a requirement for inclusion on this list although most do have good ratings. Many factors were reviewed and strengths in other areas can offset weakness in financial efficiency when determining whether a ministry should be of interest to donors seeking to be good stewards of their giving. Only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan.
This is just another step in our mission of encouraging Christians to give more of their talents and resources to Kingdom-building efforts. In short, we wish to help spread the Gospel of Christ by helping Christians give more and more effectively to the works of the Lord. If the Lord uses our list as part of that process, we will have been a blessing to both those ministries who have been ‘good and faithful servants’ with the Lord’s resources and to Christian donors who are seeking to be good stewards of their giving.
==============================
MinistryWatch.com’s Take
August 2003 (updated May 2005)
By J. Andrew Preslar
Who Are the Gideons?
Almost everyone has seen a Gideon Bible. They lie on bedside tables in hotels and hospitals. They are found in schools, military bases, jails, and prisons. Many millions of people have personally been given a Gideon Bible. White, red, or green New Testaments imprinted with the Gideon emblem (a flame atop a jar surrounded by a circle; cf., Judges 7:16-21) are a familiar sight. The Gideons are, seemingly, everywhere. But who are they?
The Gideons International (GI) is an association of Christian laymen, which exists in order to be a witness to Gospel of Jesus Christ, principally by means of Bible distribution. GI was founded in 1899. Since that time, Gideon members have distributed more than one
billion Bibles. Gideons distribute Bibles, free of charge, all over the world. The express intent of this endeavor is to inject the Gospel message into the “streams of life,” i.e., the places where people regularly spend time. GI is a membership organization, whose members and leadership is comprised of Christian business and professional men. GI also has an auxiliary organization for the wives of GI members. Members of the Gideon’s auxiliary supplement the work of GI by aiding in Bible distribution and by prayer. Those who wish to support GI apart from becoming a member can join the
Friends of the Gideons, an association which involves commitment to support GI with regular financial contributions.
The work of the Gideons is promoted by various organization directors and field representatives who maintain regular speaking schedules (at colleges and universities, churches, etc.). Other Gideon ministries include a prison and jail ministry, and, of course, regular distribution of Bibles. GI members currently total 258,000. Gideons are located in 179 countries, and distribute more than 59 million Bibles in over 80 languages annually. A board of Christian laymen supervises the worldwide ministry of GI. Financial statements can be downloaded at the ministry’s website.
An Evangelistic Enterprise
The primary purpose of GI is to win others for Jesus Christ. The Gideons do this by means of
association (of Christian laymen),
personal testimony (speaking and personally handing out Bibles), and
Bible placement, (in hotels, hospitals, schools, dentist’s offices, colleges and universities, jails and prisons, military bases, and emergency worker stations).
GI members associate at the local level via “Camps,” which conduct monthly meetings, prayer breakfasts, and banquets. Local associations also serve the purpose of recruiting and training new members. The goals of recruitment and association have been summarized by the following expression:
“More members= more funds= more Scriptures= more souls saved!” The primary large gatherings of GI and Auxiliary members are the annual National Conventions and the International Convention. The latter regularly draws members from around the world. These associations provide forums for discussing goals, training, listening to and sharing testimonies and messages, mutual encouragement, and general fellowship. GI claims that its members are “united in carrying out the same program using the same methods to accomplish the one objective of winning others to Christ.”
GI members are not mere passive distributors of literature. Gideons are devout Christian laypersons who work for no pay, seeking to win souls for Christ. The personal testimony of a Gideon can be an important component of the overall mission. GI members have opportunities to share their testimonies and to present the ministry’s mission in a variety of venues, including churches, schools, and prisons.
Of course, the main feature of GI is Bible production and distribution. The primary version of the Bible printed and distributed by GI is the Authorized (King James) Version (the 1769 revision of the original 1611 edition). GI will, upon request, distribute the New King James Version (the modern [1982] revision of the 1769 edition). GI prints both whole Bibles (Old and New Testaments) and miniature New Testaments (with Psalms and Proverbs appended).
A GI Bible features “Bible Helps” sections in the front and back of the volume. These are short catalogues of Bible passages grouped according to subject matter, the purpose of which is to help the reader find Scripture verses, which deal with a particular topic of interest. The major divisions of the Bible Helps are: (1) Help in Time of Need (e.g., “lonely,” “depressed,” “tempted”), Suggested Readings (e.g., historical highlights, major doctrines, precepts for living), and (3) Practical Teachings (e.g., dealing with trials, avoiding sin, building character). Each GI Bible includes a simple Gospel invitation, featuring Scripture verses, which go step-by-step through the plan of salvation and the first steps of new life in Christ.
Summary
GI is an organization of Christian laymen who associate for the purpose winning people for Christ. Gideons practice evangelism via personal testimony and especially by producing and distributing Bibles. The effectiveness of this strategy of Christian outreach might be difficult to measure, but one indication of the impact of the Gideon’s work in the lives of people was provided by a Fodor’s poll taken in 1997. According to this poll, 23 percent of travelers read from the Gideon Bible placed in their hotel room. This translates into millions of people, most of them probably not regular Bible readers, who have spent time with God’s Word because of the efforts of the Gideons.