MEN OF GOD, MEN OF FAITH, MEN OF ACTION

June-July 2023

Leveraging the unique influence of Gideons and Auxiliary to

win people for Jesus Christ.

INTRODUCING THE
BARNABAS FUND
Launching a new giving effort to allow you to strive side by side
with fellow members around the world. Learn more about how this
opportunity will help drive the ministry forward on page 16.
 PUBLISHING
June–July 2023
Volume 123, Number 3
Subscribe to the official
PUBLISHER
Gideon Blog today!
Dan Heighway

MANAGING EDITOR

GIDEONS.ORG/BLOG
Allison Ferguson

EDITORIAL BOARD + CONTRIBUTORS

Brian Stromsoe
Mary Lynn Barrett
Mike Mbugua
Trish Willis
Rogerio Mirabili
Daniel Kinkade Check out our blog for stories of hope,
Mike DeWoody
Kevin McIntosh encouragement, and ministry impact.
DESIGN + LAYOUT
Randall House

PUBLICATION OFFICE
P.O. Box 140800,
Nashville, Tennessee 37214-0800, U.S.A.

CONTACT
TEL 615.564.5000
FAX 615.564.6000
EMAIL thegideon @ gideons.org
WEB www.gideons.org

THE GIDEON Yearly subscription $6.00 each for Gideons

in the United States and Possessions; $8.00 for non-
Gideons. Accepted for mailing at special postage rates
provided in Section 1103, Act of Oct. 3, 1917. COPYRIGHT
2017 by The Gideons International. All rights reserved.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated,
are taken from the English Standard Version: Copyright
©2001, Crossway Publishing. Used by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be
reproduced in any ­manner without written ­permission.
Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs will be
carefully ­considered, but the publishers assume no
responsibility for their return. CHANGE OF ADDRESS:
Allow one full month for change of address. Both old
and new addresses must be given. Printed in U.S.A.

The Gideon (USPS 218440) is published bi-monthly, 6

times a year by The Gideons International, 50 Century
Blvd, Nashville, TN 37214. Periodicals Postage Paid
at Nashville, TN and at additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Gideon,
PO Box 140800, Nashville TN 37214.
 June – July 2023

COMING EVENTS
INTERNATIONAL SCRIPTURE BLITZES USA STATE ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS
Zambia (Livingstone) Florida (Orlando), August 24 – 27, 2023
June 11 – 17, 2023 International Representative: Kevin B. Keck
International Auxiliary Representative: Patsy Pigford
Tanzania (Dodoma)
June 17 – 24, 2023
NATIONAL CONFERENCES
Colombia (Cali) Panama (David), August 4 – 6, 2023
August 12 – 19, 2023 International Representative: Mark Becknal

Indonesia (Kupang) Ecuador (Cuenca), August 11 – 13, 2023

August 19 – 26, 2023 International Representative: David Jarrott

Mexico (Mexico City), August 11 – 13, 2023

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION CONVENTIONS International Representative: Asish Pradhan
Norway (Oslo), June 23-25
International Representative: Jeff Brown Togo (Lome), August 11 – 13, 2023
International Auxiliary Representative: Luanne Triplett International Representative: Bruce Condrey

Nigeria (Jos, Plateau State), June 30-July 1 Cote d’Ivoire (Daloa), August 18 – 20, 2023
International Representative: Asish Pradhan International Representative: Bruce Condrey
International Auxiliary Representative: Patsy Pigford
Ethiopia (Dire Dawa), August 18 – 20, 2023
Republic of Korea (Busan), June 30-July 2 International Representative: Renato Attorri
International Representative: Kevin Beal
International Auxiliary Representative: Kenya (Kisumu), August 18 – 20, 2023
Stephanie Becknal International Representative: David W. Martin

Finland (Jyväskylä), July 7 – 8, 2023 Malawi (Lilongwe), August 18 – 20, 2023

International Representative: André du Plessis International Representative: André du Plessis
International Auxiliary Representative: Deena Hubler
Cameroon (Bertoua), August 25 – 27, 2023
Japan (Nagoya, Aichi), July 7 – 8, 2023 International Representative: Manfred Wiegel
International Representative: Allen J. Huth
International Auxiliary Representative: Lynne Peterson Egypt (El Minia), August 31 – September 3, 2023
International Representative: Angelo Greco
Republic of China (Taiwan) (Kaohsiung City),
August 17 – 19, 2023
International Representative: Dr. Kim Powell
International Auxiliary Representative:
Stephanie Becknal

THE GIDEON 3
 12 Making Scriptures
Available When Hearts
Need Them
A Look Inside Scripture Inventory
Management

16 Introducing the
Barnabas Fund 12 16
Three Ways to Move the Ministry
Forward

18 A Path to Purpose
Auxiliary Journey of Debbie Rotunno
(Tujunga Camp, Pacific Southwest)

22 From No Peace to the 18

Depths of God’s Love
Feature Testimony of Deepa Sukumar

24 Best Practices for

Church Relations
How Your Camp Can Engage Pastors
(2 of 2)

22 24
26 Insights to Leadership
Part 2 of 2 – Presentation by
Dr. Richard Blackaby

26

4 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG
 June – July 2023

TUESDAY Bible Message – Dr. Philip Ryken

Thursday evening
International Fellowship Banquet
Tuesday evening, 6:30 p.m. FRIDAY

WEDNESDAY Bible Message – Dr. Philip Ryken

Friday morning
International President’s Address –

CONTENTS
David W. Martin Business Session
Wednesday morning session Friday afternoon

Executive Director’s Address – Pastors Banquet

Dan Heighway Friday evening, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday evening session
SATURDAY
International Auxiliary President’s
Address – Cindy Davis Elections
Wednesday evening session Saturday morning

Bible Message – Dr. Philip Ryken Auxiliary Luncheon

Wednesday evening Saturday afternoon, 1:00 p.m.

Installation of Officers
THURSDAY
Saturday evening
Zone Breakfasts
Thursday morning, 7:30 a.m. SUNDAY

International Treasurer’s Address – Consecration Services and Church

Kevin Beal Presentations
Sunday morning
3 6
Thursday evening session

C O MIN G E V E N T S F U L F IL L IN G O U R
SIN G L E O B J EC T I V E
See upcoming blitzes, conventions, and conferences
happening around the world.
1119_043 Magazine Agenda Spread_print_RVSD.indd 3 5/13/19 1:07 PM
Testimonies received from the field as God works
through obedient believers to share the Gospel.

10 14

ROOTED & BUILT UP—EMBRACING PASTOR’S POINT

SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES TO
BE EFFECTIVE MEN OF ACTION Pastor Jeremy Dawson of Covenant Life Chapel in
India will be the Bible Message Speaker at the 2023
Message from International Chaplain Dr. Kim G. International Convention.
Powell sharing how we live in light of having a
changed heart.

29

WITH THE LORD

Remembering those Gideons and Auxiliary who have

passed during the months of February 2023 and
March 2023.

THE GIDEON 5
 GOD WILL COME THROUGH (ALABAMA/NORTHWEST FLORIDA)

Submitted by Michael Wesley Garner (Mobile West Camp)

When you pray for God to put someone in your path to share your faith with, be on standby because God
will come through. On March 16, 2023, I met a homeless couple at an exit off the interstate. Keith approached
my truck and told me his current predicament. After he finished speaking, I told him that I understood his
situation and that I would buy him some gas.

I asked him if he knew who Jesus was and if he died today, would he go to Heaven. He wasn’t sure, and God
opened the door for me to share with him the plan of salvation in a Personal Workers Testament I had with me.
Through tears, Keith prayed the sinner’s prayer and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He signed his name
in the Testament.

Afterwards, we went to his wife, Sandra, and Keith told her what just happened. She started crying, and she
wasn’t sure if she would go to Heaven and asked me to share Jesus with her. Through tears, she accepted Christ
into her heart also. Praise the Lord!

“WHEN YOU PRAY FOR GOD TO PUT SOMEONE IN YOUR

PATH TO SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH, BE ON STANDBY
BECAUSE GOD WILL COME THROUGH.” —MICHAEL

GOD GAVE HER A DOUBLE PORTION (NIGERIA)

Submitted by Past National Auxiliary President Nkechi Okoli

A Gideon’s wife befriended me and a couple of the other Auxiliary in our camp. One day, she went for a check-
up at the doctor. Investigations revealed ovarian cysts, and the doctor’s recommendation was surgery. I took
her aside and prayed with her. God answered more than we could have imagined.

We advised her to go for another checkup. Miraculously, the results showed there were no ovarian cysts and
that she was pregnant. Since then, she has grown in faith and is now one of our committed Auxiliary. The Lord
has blessed her with three children, and her testimony is God gave her a double portion. God not only healed
her of an ovarian infection but gave her children. To God be all the glory!

6 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Fulfilling Our Single Objective

 June – July 2023

I WANT TO THANK THE GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL (IOWA)

Submitted by Frank Gonzales (Cedar Rapids Camp)

My name is Beth, and my story begins at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). I want to thank
The Gideons International for coming to my campus back in 1983. I grew up with a very religious
background, yet I felt lost. Some righteous, kind-hearted man had a box of Testaments on a corner and
offered me one. It was my first Scripture. Twenty years later, the Holy Spirit wrestled with my soul until I
called upon the Lord and received Jesus as my Savior. I married a born-again Christian, and together we
have had five children. We also serve in our local church.

“SOME RIGHTEOUS, KIND-HEARTED MAN HAD A

BOX OF TESTAMENTS ON A CORNER AND OFFERED
ME ONE. IT WAS MY FIRST SCRIPTURE.” —BETH

FROM STUDENT TO PASTOR (CÔTE D’IVOIRE)

Submitted by International Director Mike Mbugua

The Gideons went to a school in Ferkessedougou,

Côte d’Ivoire, for a distribution. Zamble Bi Tah Paulin
received a Testament. He was greatly interested in
the Word of God, and he kept reading the Testament
on a regular basis. About a year later, he decided
to surrender his life to Jesus. In that period, God
arranged things in his favor, and he met several
evangelical church missionaries in his city. He started
to attend their local church, enabling God to continue
transforming his life. He testifies that while reading
the Testament, he was deeply touched by John 14:6
and the plan of salvation verses in the back. God not
only transformed his life after he surrendered his heart
to Christ, but he also received God’s call to become a
pastor. Today, he is the lead pastor of the International
Church of Revival in Bouake.

Fulfilling Our Single Objective THE GIDEON 7

 TESTAMENT BECAME A SHIELD (UKRAINE)

Oksana Korchynska works as a military medic on the front lines in Ukraine. In February, a wounded soldier
was brought in with an abdominal injury. “According to the other soldiers, the explosion was near him causing
very large debris,” said Oksana. “We were preparing for the worst.”

From the outside, the wound was very extensive. The doctors did a quick ultrasound to prepare for the
operation. To their shock, they found no debris inside of him. Below his bulletproof vest, the medical team
found a belt bag. Inside, they removed a Testament from The Gideons cut in half from the explosion. Praise
God for saving another soldier!

“Big thanks to the Gideons in Ukraine who are helping save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, both physical and
spiritual,” expressed Oksana.

SALVATION COMES FROM JESUS CHRIST (NEPAL)

Testimony of Sagar Thapa; Submitted by International Director John Edwin

As a 15-year-old boy from a strong Hindu religious family, Sagar Thapa joined the Maoist Revolutionary Party
and was selected for student president. Growing up, Sagar was taught that salvation comes from the trigger of
gun. When he passed secondary school, he went to the capital city of Nepal for higher education and to enroll
in college. That same year, he was elected as the president of the student union out of 8,000 students from the
Student Revolutionary Union. During this time, Nepal was going through Civil War.

In 1998 (the final year of his education), he was assigned to teach eighth grade at a secondary school nearby
his college. One day, Gideons came and distributed Testaments in the school. A Christian girl took one and
gave it to him. He started to read the first chapter of Matthew, but he didn’t understand Jesus’ genealogy. “After
a week, I went to church because I didn’t understand the Bible. I started to debate with leaders because I heard
salvation comes from Jesus Christ, but before I was told salvation comes from the trigger of a gun,” he said.
After some weeks, Sagar received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He began grow in his Christian
faith. “Five years later, I got married to the same Christian girl who handed me the Testament,” recalls Sagar.

In 2002, we joined The Gideons International. I was called by the National Leadership Team as a national
membership coordinator in 2007. I was appointed as a field representative for Nepal by The Gideons
International in 2014.

8 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Fulfilling Our Single Objective

 June – July 2023

MOUNT MERAPI ERUPTS THIRTY MINUTES AFTER SCRIPTURE DISTRIBUTION (INDONESIA)

Submitted by Field Representative Totok Krisdianto

On Saturday, March 11, 2023, several Gideons from the Magelang Camp in Indonesia distributed 1,480
Scriptures at several schools on the slope of Mount Merapi—one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia.

The skies were clear and the weather was nice on Mount Merapi and the surrounding areas during the
Scripture distribution. After the distribution at the final school that day, Gideons took a picture of the
mountain and presented a Testament to Sister Nur Harjani, a Muslim villager who was planting mustard seeds
in a field on the slope of the mountain.

Thirty minutes after the Gideons left the mountain, Merapi erupted. While volcanic ash has affected at least
eight villages near the volcano, no casualties have been reported. Praise the Lord for His protection. “Pray for
the students that the Holy Spirit will lead them to know Christ more deeply,” said Field Representative Totok
Krisdianto.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support that allow more Scriptures to be shared by fellow Gideons
and Auxiliary around the world.

Fulfilling Our Single Objective THE GIDEON 9

 Rooted & Built Up—
Embracing Spiritual Disciplines
to be Effective Men of Action

A purpose for being rooted and built up is to enable

us to be obedient as Christ followers and to “work
out (our) own salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in (us), both to will and to
work for his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12–13) Verses
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, 14-16 point to the way we should live in light of our
so walk in him, rooted and built up in him changed heart, and the reason for it:
and established in the faith, just as you were taught, 14
Do all things without grumbling
abounding in thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6–7)
or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless
By God’s grace and enabling, we are growing in and innocent, children of God without
Christ, becoming better “rooted and built up in him blemish in the midst of a crooked and
and established in the faith.” The theological term twisted generation, among whom you
for this process is sanctification. But what would you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast
say are the purposes for which we are being rooted to the word of life, so that in the day of
and built up? Christ I may be proud that I did not run in
vain or labor in vain.
As we focus on the theme of our 2023 International
Convention, Holding Fast, and look at the context It points to what Colossians 2:6 implies when it says
of Philippians 2:16, we see that God wants us to “walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him.” It
to be Christlike in both mind and action. (Phil. also makes very plain the reason that our testimony
2:1–13) A close look at those verses reveals traits would be clear as “blameless and innocent, children
of a Christlike mind, Christlike love, Christlike of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked
selflessness, Christlike humility, with the ultimate and twisted generation, among whom (we) shine as
example of Christ who “humbled Himself by lights in the world.” (Phil 2:15) That also, by the way,
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death is why we should “do all things without grumbling
on a cross.” (Phil. 2:8) or disputing.” (Phil 2:14)

10 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Rooted & Built Up— Embracing Spiritual Disciplines to be Effective Men of Action
 June – July 2023

The theme of the church of which Lynette and I be found faithful as we personally share the life-
are members is “You are loved, rescued, and given changing, eternity-changing Gospel—placing,
a purpose.” To me, that covers God’s call on every distributing, and personally sharing His Truth. And
true believer in Christ. He has poured out His love, may we show integrity in the process by doing it
grace, and mercy upon us, who were “dead in our according to the policies and procedures that are
trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) He has rescued given to us through those that God has called to
us from eternal punishment due to no merit of our serve on the International Cabinet of The Gideons
own. And He has given us a purpose. What is the International. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
purpose? Think about it, why doesn’t He just take us and do not lean on your own understanding. In
home? all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make
straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5–6)
I must admit, I am personally somewhat earth
bound. I think the blessing of our children and the Heavenly Father, I thank you for your amazing grace,
11 grandchildren may have something to do with love, and mercy. I stand in awe that you would choose
it. However, if I really had a grasp on what heaven to use us as frail, unworthy sinners and that you see
would be like, it would be a no brainer. The apostle us as blameless through the shed blood of your Son,
Paul had a good handle on it; read Philippians Jesus Christ. Thank you, Jesus, for humbling Yourself
1:21–27. God desires our worship, He desires our to the point of death on a cruel cross and paying the
fellowship, and He desires our prayers and our penalty that we deserve to pay. Please enable and use
reliance upon Him. However, all of those will be us as we serve You on this earth as lights in a dark
much greater and effective when we are in His world. Father, we see the incredible needs around
presence. There is just one thing that He has called us as we live in a time when men call good evil and
us as His children to do that we will not be doing in evil good. We see the results spoken of in Romans 1
heaven: evangelism. Thus, it is so important that we where you have turned men and women over to their
shine as lights in the dark world, among the crooked own lusts. The deception of the enemy of our souls is
and perverse generation that surrounds us. great, but greater is He that is in us than he that is in
the world. We look forward to the day when we will
Dear brothers and sisters, may God richly bless you meet your Son face to face as we meet Him in the air.
and use you for His glory and the advancement Meanwhile, as You give us life and breath, please keep
of His Kingdom while He gives you life and us from the fiery darts of the evil one and use us as
breath. May He give you the discipline to embrace Your faithful ambassadors. We will be sure to give You
the spiritual disciplines and the Seven Spiritual the praise and glory, for we ask it in the name of our
Objectives of this Association. May each of us Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

It is so important that we shine as lights in the

dark world, among the crooked and perverse
generation that surrounds us.

Rooted & Built Up—Embracing Spiritual Disciplines to be Effective Men of Action THE GIDEON 11
 MAKING SCRIPTURES AVAILABLE
WHEN HEARTS NEED THEM
Scripture distribution is one of the three mission challenges require even more engagement with our
strategies Gideons utilize to fulfill our objective of partners and our members to improve inventory
winning people for Christ—a calling God has placed management.
in the heart of each member of this Association.
What you may not realize is that the process to get The multiple variables in the supply chain of Scripture
the Scripture you put into someone’s hands today production, such as the availability of raw materials,
began as far back as 18 months ago or more. labor, and transportation, create a complex matrix
of decision points that are negotiated across various
ON-TIME SCRIPTURE FULFILLMENT cultures, time zones, languages, currency exchange
rates, and communications channels. This variety of
REQUIRES GLOBAL TEAMWORK
The COVID-19 pandemic created global supply
chain issues, which we all experienced when we
went shopping for anything from hand sanitizer
to automobiles. Those issues continue to impact
the printing industry, including Scripture printing
for The Gideons International. The Global Supply
Chain and Logistics division of International
Headquarters is committed to ensuring Scriptures
are available to members in camps around the world
to place into the hands of individuals in search of
the hope found only in God’s Word. Supply chain

12 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Making Scriptures Available When Hearts Need Them

 June – July 2023

why it is so important that camps are diligent in their

goal-planning. If a camp is planning to distribute
7,500 Testaments at an event, and only has 500
Testaments of that style in inventory, the other 7,000
Testaments need to be accounted for far in advance
of the event during the camp’s goal-planning process.
This impacts not only your camp’s Scripture goals but
the worldwide Scripture goals for the Association.

Our hope is to maintain our current delivery

schedule, and planning for large orders helps us
better prepare our available inventory. The following
table shows recommended order submission times
for various quantities for the USA. Keep in mind,
submission times for international orders can require
significantly greater advance notice.

TIMELINE FOR USA

SCRIPTURE ORDERS*
SCRIPTURE RECOMMENDED ORDER
QUANTITY SUBMISSION TIME
NEEDED FOR YOUR CAMP

5,000 – 9,999 30 days in advance

10,000 – 29,999 60 days in advance

production factors must be carefully navigated over
many months, and in some cases, even years.
30,000 + 120 days in advance
The Gideons International is fortunate to have long-
standing relationships with suppliers throughout *International Scripture orders may require
the world––partners who not only appreciate the significantly greater advance notice
unique intricacies of producing our Scriptures, but
who also understand the importance of their role
in the printing of God’s Word. Our partners are We thank you for all you do in winning others for Jesus
mindful of our need to be godly stewards of the as you serve in The Gideons. Please pray for all who
resources the Lord has entrusted to us, so they are touch the printing and production of God’s Word,
committed to finding the best options to provide and that through their faithful efforts, Scriptures will
the highest quality of printing and production. land where the Lord wants them at just the right time.

Knowing that hands are reaching out to receive a

HOW YOU AND YOUR CAMP CAN HELP copy of God’s Word somewhere in the world today
reminds us all of the urgency to make sure Scriptures
You and your camp play a critical role in our Scripture are available. If we all continue working to improve
inventory management. The planning and reporting worldwide Scripture inventory management through
of your camp’s Scripture needs actually have global thoughtful planning and clear communication, we
implications for our Scripture inventory, which is can all help win more people for Christ.

Making Scriptures Available When Hearts Need Them THE GIDEON 13

 PASTOR JEREMY DAWSON
Covenant Life Chapel

While Jeremy knew what it meant to follow Jesus

from a young age, he did not truly trust Jesus as his
Savior until he was eleven.

But life was not easy for Jeremy in many ways,

especially regarding academics. As a young boy,
he struggled in school. In India, there was much
pressure to succeed by getting the highest grades.
This pressure became his breaking point. “I was told
I was not smart growing up by teachers for eight
years. I actually failed the eighth grade and had to
repeat it,” he remembers. At the end of the tenth
grade, he trusted God had a plan but nothing was
working. “I cried out to God, and He renewed my
spirit and helped me in my schools and learnings,”
Pastor Jeremy Dawson is the 2023 International says Jeremy.
Convention Bible Message speaker. Born and raised
in India, Jeremy has spent over twenty-five years in Jeremy’s prayer became his calling and mission a
full-time ministry and currently pastors Covenant couple of years later. He knew he could do nothing
Life Chapel, a congregation he planted in 2016. His less than serve God his entire life. His salvation was
passion is to help people heal, mend the broken, and fleshed out into complete service to the Lord at 17
repurpose the redeemed. He also has a heart for the years old.
health of the local church and pastor.
WORKING THROUGH A CALL
A FAMILY OF EVANGELISTS He didn’t know what “complete service to the Lord”
Jeremy Dawson was born in Bengaluru, India, after would mean but knew he wanted to read, study, and
his father came to the area as a refugee.. His mother understand the Word of God at a deeper level. This
was the daughter of a full-time evangelist, and his led him to enroll in Bible college in Australia a couple
father felt led to leave the accounting profession to of years later. Then, something different happened
enter full-time ministry as an evangelist. The family in his life—He did well in his studies for the first
moved to Northern India in 1971, where very few time he could remember. “The Lord used this season
evangelical churches existed at the time. to begin to heal my heart. I didn’t go to school to
study vocational ministry; I simply wanted to study
New Delhi became home to his family, which the Word. I wasn’t sure if I would pursue ministry
eventually included the addition of three siblings. or music.” The Lord taught Jeremy that while he
Jeremy says, “I grew up in a loving and beautiful struggled academically, he was blessed with a great
home. It was Godly, Bible-centered, and Great- life. Others had a more challenging upbringing than
Commission-minded in all aspects. As far back as I him. He knew God was calling him back home to
can remember, I was raised to love the Lord.” serve those who had broken lives.

14 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Pastor’s Point

 June – July 2023

After Bible school, Jeremy returned to India and

worked as a music teacher…at the same school where
teachers humiliated him. In God’s providence, he now
“You did not choose
worked for the people who once didn’t think much of me, but I chose you and
him.
appointed you that you
He had the opportunity to minister to students as should go and bear fruit
a music teacher for five years. At the same time, he
volunteered with his church’s youth ministry, which and that your fruit should
included many of the same students he taught at abide, so that whatever
school. This eventually led Jeremy to resign from his
position at the school and become the youth pastor at
you ask the Father in my
this church. name, he may give it
Jeremy knew it was a call from the Lord. While he to you.” —John 15:16
came from a family filled with full-time ministry
professionals, this was what the Lord had for his life.
He wasn’t simply pursuing ministry because of his and believes so much in the mission and work of
familiarity and comfort with it or to feed a need for The Gideons that it is the only organization he will
approval. It was a calling to serve. “Dad never pushed give up his pulpit to. Why? “Because I trust them,”
any of us to go into ministry. He wanted us all to he says.
serve the Lord but never pushed full-time ministry Pastor Jeremy is thrilled to join the Association as
on us. God clearly called me, I have no doubt,” says the Bible Message speaker for the 2023 International
Pastor Jeremy. Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. In an expository
way, he will speak on the themes of holding fast to
After five years at the church, Jeremy became the
the Word and our commitment to the Lord. When
congregation’s senior pastor, spending 22 years at
thinking about Gideons and Auxiliary, he says, “You,
this church. In 2015, he resigned, and his family took
as the professionals, are the real missionaries. You
three months to hear from the Lord about what He
can go into places that pastors cannot get into. It is
had next for them. They considered a move from New
your co-workers, your business partners…you can
Delhi but felt strongly the Lord was keeping them in
reach them. You can place Scriptures as the Lord
the area. God led them to plant Covenant Life Chapel
opens their hearts.”
in 2016, where he continues pastoring today.
He loves seeing the Gideon emblem. “Whenever I
A TRUST PARTNERSHIP AND saw the Bible in my younger years, it was a Bible
from The Gideons. And every time I see one now, it
RELATIONSHIP reminds me it’s all about God’s Word and sharing
The ministry of The Gideons International has Jesus. That, my friends, is the greatest mode of
impacted Jeremy for most of his life. “I can’t evangelism.”
remember when I was not connected to The
Gideons. Several businessmen in our churches over His life verse is John 15:16, which reads, “You did
the years were Gideons. I saw Bibles placed by The not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
Gideons in hotels all around me as I traveled...and if that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit
I am honest, it is always something I still look for to should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father
this day.” in my name, he may give it to you.” This one verse
is a great summary of his life and ministry. He
One of his best friends is John Edwin, international knows God uses pastors, ministry leaders, Gideons,
director for The Gideons in Asia and the Pacific Rim. Auxiliary, missionaries, and so many others to carry
The two grew up in the same church together. Pastor out the name of Jesus. And together, we can hold
Jeremy has spoken at the India National Convention fast to this calling until the Lord calls us home.

Pastor’s Point THE GIDEON 15

 Introducing the
Barnabas Fund
Three Ways to Move the Ministry Forward
How can one person impact the ministry of and Qualified National Associations. This article
thousands? The book of Acts introduces a man highlights three ways the Barnabas Fund helps move
named Barnabas by the apostles, which means “son the ministry forward by equipping, encouraging,
of encouragement.” In the early days of the Church, and executing the sharing of the Gospel.
Barnabas financially supported the apostles for
ministry outreach and later introduced Paul to
other Christian leaders. His example illustrates the
Equipping Gideons to
value of a new giving opportunity now available for Share the Gospel
Gideons and Auxiliary called the Barnabas Fund. The Gideons International is comprised of a
network of Christian business and professional men,
The International Cabinet has approved a new with our wives alongside us. God has effectively
giving opportunity called the Barnabas Fund as a accomplished His purposes through the structure
way members can strive side by side to accomplish of this Association for more than 120 years. Rather
our objective. This new giving method provides than send missionaries around the world, Gideons
non-Scripture support in countries that do not are equipped to carry out the Great Commission in
have the staff structure found in the United States our own communities—on a global scale.

“The Barnabas Fund will go a long way in facilitating ministry leaders

to be in contact with members to help them realize their impact;
for without contact, there is no impact.”
—Africa South Regional Director Kennedy Rotich

16 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Introducing the Barnabas Fund

 June – July 2023

Over the years, we have experienced substantial ministry leaders to be in contact with members
growth in many countries. With this growth, and help them realize their impact; for without
the opportunities for ministry activities such as contact, there is no impact,” said Africa South
distributions, blitzes, and membership recruitment Regional Director Kennedy Rotich.
efforts have increased. Thankfully, we have been
able to cover the costs needed to print and purchase As Barnabas encouraged the work of the Apostles
the Scriptures through the International Countries and Paul, we, too, associate together for service by
Fund, which is financially supported by gifts from helping and encouraging one another worldwide.
the Faith Fund, church presentations, GideonCard Giving to the Barnabas Fund is a direct way to
Bible Program, and Auxiliary Scripture Fund. extend our reach by supporting Gideons and
However, there are other non-Scripture costs Auxiliary we may never meet who live in countries
that help members fulfill their calling such as we may never personally visit. Jose Luis Maturana
camp visitations and trainings by field personnel, serves as a field representative in Bolivia and
providing translated educational materials, and encourages members to give as a response to the
sponsorships to International Convention to further blessings God has provided. “For you to give,
strengthen international ministry leaders. God has blessed you first. Your giving is a sign of
gratitude to the Lord,” he says.
Africa International Director Mike Mbugua
shared, “Internationally, members of strong camps
work together with under-resourced camps when
Executing Our
conducting in-country blitzes. This is an example of Single Objective
how members support each other. The Barnabas Fund It is important to recognize that the expenses
gives all members the opportunity to strengthen our covered by the Barnabas Fund are not new, and
brothers and sisters around the world by providing Gideons and Auxiliary are not being asked to
specifically for the administrative expenses related give more. Rather, members will shift some of
to these ministry activities.” their Faith Fund giving to the Barnabas Fund
at the monthly camp meeting. This new fund is
Encouraging Gideons to specifically covering the current and ongoing
administrative costs associated with executing
Fulfill Their Call ministry in international countries.
One of the most valued parts of ministry through
The Gideons is the encouragement found in Ministry activities are the means by which we
serving alongside a likeminded brother in Christ. accomplish our objective and reach men, women,
Gideons come together in camps worldwide, and boys, and girls with the hope of the Gospel. “As a
leaders serve in various positions to guide and result of the Barnabas Fund, we expect more souls
direct ministry activities. Camps in international will be won for Christ,” says Mbugua.
countries do not have the same support structure
at the camp, state, or regional level as camps in the God gives us special opportunities to strive side
USA and qualified national associations. Without by side for the faith of the Gospel. Praise Him for
equipping and supporting leadership, camps a unique, God-honoring place of service, where
struggle with normal, daily ministry activities. we can encourage each other to engage the enemy
Field representatives are assigned in areas of the of this world in the battle for souls. Ask the Lord
world to strengthen the local leadership and ensure how He might use your encouragement and giving
members are able to faithfully serve as Gideons. through the Barnabas Fund to impact thousands
They provide hands-on training to members to of fellow members internationally. Many might
help them carry out ministry activities. “The be saved for eternity by your response to this new
Barnabas Fund will go a long way in facilitating giving opportunity.

Introducing the Barnabas Fund THE GIDEON 17

 A Path to Purpose–
Auxiliar y Journey
of Debbie Rotunno
Tujunga Camp (Pacific Southwest)

Matthew 4:19 says, “Follow me and I will

make you fishers of men.”

When I started my journey as a new believer, I had Medical Testament. I picked it up, went to the back
no idea those words would pertain to me. When I page, and knew at that very moment that I would be
married my husband, John, he was already a member part of The Auxiliary of The Gideons International.
of The Gideons International. Our first two years of
marriage were busy, as we blended our family together
A Medical Testament had been used by a nurse to lead
and added a new baby boy to our mix, as well. We
me to my Heavenly Father 10 years prior. I’ll never
received a monthly phone call from a very faithful
Gideon inviting us to the monthly camp meeting, and forget how the Scriptures on the back page of that
every single month I would have to decline because Medical Testament and the nurse’s prayer changed
we had soccer practice Monday through Thursday my life forever. Only God could lead me right back
and three soccer games to attend on Saturday. to that Testament and open the door for me to serve
and partner with Him as an Auxiliary of The Gideons

A Memory Turns
International.

into a Mission Going and Growing

However, one very rainy evening soccer practice
was canceled, and we were able to attend the camp
with God
meeting. I was impressed with their warm welcome. We were able to change our schedule so we could
As we took a seat, I noticed the array of Scriptures attend every camp meeting from that night on. I was
on a nearby table. My eyes went directly to the white very impressed with the blessings of establishing a

18 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG A Path to Purpose—Auxiliary Journey of Debbie Rotunno

 June – July 2023

stronger prayer life. I watched and I learned how to be

a prayer warrior. I had never prayed out loud before,
and the sweet Auxiliary sisters were patient with me
and never made me feel uncomfortable. Only God
I have always said many
could take a shy baby Christian and grow her into an
international Auxiliary chaplain. people go to church for
many different reasons,
but as Gideons and
That’s only one of the areas God has grown and
directed me into during this incredible journey. He
grew me into each camp office and into many state
cabinet offices, as well. I remember attending my
first state convention sitting next to the lady who was
Auxiliary, we come
being nominated to the office of Auxiliary president.
I thought, “Oh, wow. I could never do something
together for the same
like that.” God has a plan, and we can sometimes be
very, very surprised at the paths that He has for us.
reason—to win men,
women, boys, and girls
to our Lord Jesus Christ.
My first appointed office was Auxiliary Scripture
coordinator. As I grew and learned my responsibility
as an encourager in all areas of distribution, there was
just one area I felt I couldn’t be a part of: jail ministry.
I was scared to go into a correctional facility. The
Lord worked on my heart, and I decided to go on a blessed to lead Auxiliary distribution teams to the
jail distribution. I was overwhelmed by the women Linwood Correctional Facility for the past 20 years.
and their eagerness to have a Testament. I remember

Ongoing Blessing
thinking, “These women don’t look like hardened
criminals.” These were hurting, scared, broken
women looking for comfort. That experience opened
a new door that only God could open. I have been and Purpose
There are so many stories and journeys I have been
blessed to be part of because I joined my husband in
The Gideons International. I know our marriage is
stronger. Our service to our Heavenly Father has been
an example to our children and our grandchildren.
And the opportunities are ongoing. Do I step out
in faith? Oh, absolutely. Have I seen firsthand God’s
hand at work? Absolutely. I can tell you I wouldn’t
want to be anywhere else. Some of my personal
blessings come in the friendships that we have made
along the way.

I have always said many people go to church for many

different reasons, but as Gideons and Auxiliary, we
come together for the same reason—to win men,
women, boys, and girls to our Lord Jesus Christ.

A Path to Purpose—Auxiliary Journey of Debbie Rotunno THE GIDEON 19

 W
E
REGISTER TODAY
F OR T HE 20 23 IN T E R N AT ION A L C ON V E N T ION!
WHAT TO
In just a few weeks, Gideons and Auxiliary
from around the world will gather in Louisville,
Kentucky, from July 18–23 for the 2023

EXPECT
International Convention! There is still time to
register by visiting theConnection and clicking
on the International Convention banner.

Here is a preview of what to expect during

this exciting event…

SCHEDULE PREVIEW*
EDUCATION SESSIONS
Convention attendees will experience
18 tuesday 21 friday several Education Sessions as part of the
main program agenda. These sessions will
First-Timers Bible Message help you understand important topics and
Reception encourage you as you continue to serve and
Victory Fair increase your Kingdom impact.
Meet the Cabinet
Auxiliary Elections
Fellowship Dinner (afternoon session) VICTORY FAIR
Join Association leaders in thanking the
Pastors Banquet
Lord through a Victory Fair on Friday
afternoon. This event for Gideons was first
held last year and will be expanded this

19 wednesday year. It’s an encouraging time to share how

God is giving victories or ministry successes

Officer Reports 22 saturday throughout the various programs of

The Gideons International.
Ministry Emphasis Gideon Elections
(Finland) (morning and
afternoon sessions)
SPECIAL GUESTS
Rev. Jeremy Dawson, Michael Slaughter,
Bible Message and Brian Free & Assurance, plus others,
Auxiliary Luncheon
will share powerful messages and worship
Youth Program to inspire and exhort you in your faithful
Report and service to the Lord.
Testimonies
20 thursday Officer Installation
(evening session)
HOSTING
Hosting an international delegate to a meal
Zone Breakfasts (along with his wife or family, if they are
also at Convention) is a great blessing. You
Ministry Emphasis are enhancing our delegates’ International
(Korea & Mexico/
Nicaragua) *Reflects in-person Convention experience and learning more
schedule preview. Live about how God is working through Gideons
Bible Message streaming schedule and Auxiliary around the world. There will
will be available in be several hosting opportunities during
Auxiliary Session early July. Convention and a wide range of restaurants
from which to choose.
 FROM NO PEACE
TO THE DEPTHS OF GOD’S LOVE
ANXIETY AND NO PEACE
Her family moved around often due to her dad’s job,
but they instilled in her and her younger brother the
idea of “moral goodness.” She would soon find out
this moral goodness and studying well did not lead to
happiness or contentment. “Growing up, I felt a dark
oppression over me,” recalls Deepa.

This dark oppression kept her trying to live the life

she thought she was supposed to live—to earn a
good education, get married, and be successful. She
was surrounded by this “ideal” way of life, yet high
suicide rates exist in trying to live this way.

“I was consumed with the idea that reading more and

more, being successful, and settling down was the
answer. I came across as a sweet person, but I was
FEATURE TESTIMONY OF quite selfish,” she remembers.

DEEPA SUKUMAR I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU

While pursuing her desires as a third-year medical
Deepa was born in India to a
student, she met a Christian in one of her classes.
Hindu family. Thinking about her One day, under the conviction of the Holy Spirit,
upbringing, she says, “My parents he later told her, “Deepa, Jesus told me, ‘I sent my
daughter to you, and you didn’t tell her about Me.’”
raised me right with a substantial Deepa’s heart was hard, and she did not listen. She
emphasis on education. I was later recalls thinking, “I had never heard something
like that before. I had no idea God loved me like that,
required to read a lot and get good
even when I was not receptive.”
grades. My parents wanted me to
For the next few years, she went through what she
attend the best school available, describes as a living hell existing only to please herself.
which was a Catholic school nearby.”
Around that time, Rohini, a close Hindu friend, had
In her parents’ view, this was her converted to Christianity and began to read the
ticket to a successful life. Bible to her frequently. Reflecting on these moments,

22 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG From No Peace to the Depths of God’s Love

 June – July 2023

Deepa says, “Despite our stubbornness, God still

loves and pursues us. At the time, my attitude and
heart was, ‘What sinner…I’m not a sinner! I’m not My attitude and heart was,
getting converted.’”
“What sinner…
By her final year of medical school in December
1997, she felt at the end of herself. “I was done; life I’m not a sinner! I’m not
had become very conditional for me. I didn’t think
someone could love me unconditionally, and this was getting converted.”
when I had reached my most hopeless point.”

In desperation, she cried out.

A NEW PATH FORWARD
“If there is a force in Heaven, do something about God continued to order her steps. While working
my life. If not, I will end my life in a week or so,”
in the emergency room, she met a fellow medical
she exclaimed. The next day, Rohini saw her, took
student. The two became close friends in 2001. While
her to the medical chapel, and began to read the
words found in Hebrews 13:5. “I will never leave you dating this man raised in a staunch Hindu family,
nor forsake you” pierced Deepa’s heart. After she Deepa got him a Bible and wrote: To my future husband,
read that verse to Deepa, Rohini saw the spirit of who is a believer.
hopelessness and suicide leave her countenance.
God was working in his heart, as well. In March 2004,
Deepa left having a different outlook on life for the he ended up reading the Bible during spring break.
first time. She didn’t have all the answers, but she did He was brought to tears after reading the Gospel of
know that her Heavenly Father’s embrace caused her John and accepted Christ as His Lord and Savior. A
to sit straight up, that God would take care of her, year later, he and Deppa were married.
and the fact that Jesus was Lord. “Before, I knew He
was a good man, but I would have never called Him After spending a decade in New York, the family
Lord. No one had to tell me He is Lord; I knew it moved to Florida, where Deepa’s husband took a
without a shadow of a doubt.” new job. In 2014, a Gideon came to their church and
She spent the next couple of years pruning and shared about the worldwide impact of The Gideons
removing other “gods” from her life. After that International. Having been personally touched by
experience in the medical chapel, it took her two years the power of God’s Word through a Testament from
to fully accept Jesus as her Lord and Savior. The Gideons, Deepa was ready to participate in these
efforts. She and her husband soon joined and have
Another thing happened amid all this change going been active members since.  
on in her life. She got her hands on a Testament
provided by The Gideons. “This became ‘my Bible,’ I Now, it is easier to look back and see exactly how
was reading it and carried it everywhere with me.” She God used situations, people, and His Word to reach
remembers small devotionals from Our Daily Bread her. When thinking about being an Auxiliary, she
and Testaments from The Gideons were the only two
says, “It’s the Word of God—that is why we joined
readily available things in India.
this Association. The words of Scripture changed me
In December 1999, she knelt in her living room and and revealed to me the love of the Heavenly Father.”
fully surrendered her life to the Lord. She took rest in She now takes great joy in praying for and sharing the
knowing God was always with her. “He has been so love of God through His Word with the people God
real in my life and is my Heavenly Father,” she says. brings into her life.

From No Peace to the Depths of God’s Love THE GIDEON 23

 #4
Best Visiting Churches at Times
Other than for Presentations

Practices Pastors’ schedules may limit their hours at the church

office, especially for those who are bi-vocational.
In these situations, camps say the best chances for

for seeing the pastor are to attend a church service or

event (other than a scheduled Gideon presentation).

Church One camp observed that this was the best way for
them to engage pastors:

Relations “With our rural county, 90% of our eligible

churches have bi-vocational pastors. The
only way to visit a pastor is to attend
(PART 2) their church service.”

Visiting during a service or event helps build

goodwill with the pastor, as one camp described:

How Your Camp “Attending their revivals on a weeknight.

They are greatly touched that we would
Can Engage take an extra night to support their
Pastors, churches, and they usually point out that
‘their’ Gideons are in attendance and
Article 2 of 2 often call on us to pray.”

In the April/May edition of The Gideon, Many churches open their doors at times other
than Sunday morning services for events such as
we shared three of the top best practices
evening services, prayer meetings, men’s meetings,
for building church relations based music events, revivals, and other. These moments
on input from over half of the camps present great opportunities for connecting with the
across the USA. pastor, as well as meeting some of the congregation
members. You may be able to find out about such
As Men of Action, Gideons engage Protestant, events through the church’s website or Facebook
evangelical churches. Church relationships are vital page, or exterior signage at the church.
to our mission of winning others to Jesus. In this
edition, we are featuring the next three top best Church members at these events will often even be
practices received from camps. willing to introduce you to the pastor, especially if
you ask. Those warm introductions can go a long
Top Best Practices for way toward building a quicker rapport with a pastor.
Church Relations*
*Based on a survey of USA Gideon camps

24 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Best Practices for Church Relations

 June – July 2023

#5 #6
Church Relations Days/Members Host A Meal with Pastor
Assigned to Contact Specific (Breakfast or Lunch)
Churches
Just like in the business world, sharing a meal can be
A Church Relations Day should be conducted at least a great way to build a relationship with a pastor. And
twice annually. Camps often may kick off the day as one camp shared, those improved relationships
by gathering for breakfast at a restaurant, praying lead to opportunities for deeper engagement that can
for the Lord’s blessing on the day, and dividing up help us reach more people with the Gospel:
church assignments. As Gideons visit churches in
teams of two, they may encounter opportunities to
“We arrange a breakfast meeting with a
use each visit for carrying out one or more actions,
pastor each Tuesday morning. This personal
based on the status of the relationship with the
relationship with the pastors has resulted in
church and its pastor.
double the church presentations and tripled
our church receipts this fiscal year.”
If it is a pastor with whom Gideons are just beginning
Who knows, the Lord may use such an occasion for a
a relationship, then simply stopping by to introduce
pastor to watch you share a Scripture and a word of
yourself and asking how you can pray for the pastor
witness with your server.
and the church is a great place to start. Be mindful
of the pastor’s time and keep such a visit to no more You can access a variety of resources to help prepare for
than a few minutes if dropping by unannounced. pastor visits by visiting the Media Resource Portal on
theConnection and clicking on the Church Ministry
One camp told us: “We call for appointments and go tile. Under the Topics section, click the Church
on the first Tuesday of every month, from 9:00 a.m. Relations link. Items there include “Pastor Contact
until noon. Many times we have no appointments Message Guidelines” with talking points and tips for
and we visit asking for five minutes to pray with visiting pastors; and the Church Visitation Brochure
them, which is very seldom refused.” (available as Item 225 in the Store on theConnection).

Only after relationships have evolved should Gideons

seek to secure a presentation at the church or ask
What Best Practices are
for church member names as prospects for joining Working for Your Camp?
The Gideons Has your camp tried any of these best practices to build
What if teams arrive at a church but no one is there? church relations? You can send us your success stories
In this instance, the Church Ministry Resource Bag by clicking the “Submit” button on the Success Stories
(Item 220) can be left on the door of the church tile at the home page on theConnection or emailing
office. You might include a Gideon business card, successstories@gideons.org. We may share them with
Church Visitation Brochure, or other appropriate the rest of our membership.
material such as the Worldwide Ministry Brochure More details regarding the Church Relations survey
(Item 309). Dropping a handwritten note inside the result from which these practices were taken, along
bag with a word of encouragement such as, “We’re with an edited summary of the resulting best practice
sorry we missed you, but know we’re praying for recommendations, are now available on theConnection.
you,” could also be a nice touch. After leaving the
To access the working group’s reports, please log in
bag, be sure to follow up with the pastor by phone or
on theConnection and follow this path: Under the
through an in-person visit at another time.
Programs tab, view Church Ministry > Program
Resources > Topics > Church Relations > Documents.
There you will find three PDF documents detailing
the Church Relations Working Group’s research and
resulting best practice recommendations.
Best Practices for Church Relations THE GIDEON 25
 Insights to
LEADERSHIP
Part 2 of 2 – Adapted from Dr. Richard Blackaby’s
presentation at the 2022 International Convention
Editor’s Note: Dr. Blackaby, a special guest speaker at the 2022 International Convention, spoke
about the importance of going to God’s Word as you make future plans. He shared how Genesis
12 is one place where we find examples from the life of Abraham about how God uses those He
has called to change the world. See the April-May issue of The Gideon for Part 1 of this series.

When I turned 60, I prayed to God, “God, I know

LEADERSH I P I N SIG H TS You better than I’ve ever known You. I know the
Bible better than I’ve ever known it. I’ve read
(CON TI N U E D) more books. I know more truths. I’ve prayed more
prayers. I should be having more fruit today than
• Respond I’ve ever had in my life. Why would I be thinking
Abraham has just been given this amazing about shutting down? Now is when the bumper
invitation, and now God waits for his response. crop is coming.”
There’s that simple little two-letter English word
in Genesis 12:4—so. It’s kind of a throwaway word. Abraham was 75 years old, and God was just getting
What do you do with the word so? All of us have warmed up. “And Abram took Sarai his wife, and
a “so” after every word from God. Every time God Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that
speaks, you’ve got to decide what you’re going to do they had gathered, and the people that they had
about what you just heard. acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the
land of Canaan.” (Genesis 12:5)
Here, Abraham is given the word from God, “I will
make of you a great nation…and in you all the • Spiritual Markers
families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:2- If you’ve ever gone to the Holy Land in the
3) Abraham has to do something that probably will northern part of Israel, there’s an ancient gate they
scare him to death, something even his own father believe Abraham would have walked through. He
was unable to do. Is he willing to do it? We read, “So moved south as far as the Terebinth Tree of Moreh,
Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went and the Canaanites were then in the land. “Then
with him.” (Genesis 12:4) the Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your
offspring I will give this land.’ So he built there an
• God Uses Senior Citizens altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. From
Abram was 75 years old when he departed from there he moved to the hill country on the east
Haran. By the way, can God use a senior citizen? of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the
Some of God’s best work . . . you look at guys like west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar
Moses and Abraham . . . God was just getting to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.
warmed up in their 70s. My dad was 55 years old And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the
when he finally wrote Experiencing God. A lot of Negeb.” (Genesis 12:7–9)
the great works of God He doesn’t accomplish
with teenagers. He lets you season. He lets you Can you imagine Abraham seeing the fields and
walk with Him. the cities thinking, one day my descendants will be

26 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Insights to Leadership

 June – July 2023

farming here or living in these cities. I don’t know if with what God told you to do? Pivot? Hold off for
you’ve ever done that as a leader, but sometimes it’s a while? Are you going to live in fear?
fun to dream about what God is going to do.
I’ve got a son who is a church planter in Canada.
Have you looked at a school you don’t have access to He said, “If I had known that COVID-19 was
right now and prayed one day you will? Or maybe going to strike, I would never have tried to start
you don’t have access to all the places you’d like to a church now. I would have just waited a couple
reach right now, but you’re envisioning the day you of years.” I had to say, “Didn’t God know that
will be there. It might not even be you. It might COVID-19 was coming when He called you to
be the person who comes behind you, but you’re start that church? God wasn’t caught by surprise.
already envisioning, praying, hoping, believing that He knew what was coming, and He told His
one day it will be yours, too. people to move forward anyway.”

My dad calls these spiritual markers. He says, Getting back to Abraham, he “went down to Egypt
“Whenever God speaks to you and He tells you what to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the
to do, when He gives you a promise and a direction, land. (Genesis 12:10) God did not call Abraham
write it down; put a landmark there—write it down, to live in Egypt. That was not the plan. God spent
claim it, put the date.” a whole generation getting Abraham into Canaan,
and one famine got him out. Early on, Abraham
Abraham is putting spiritual markers; he’s putting kept building altars and calling out to God, but
altars in places. Every time he looks at the altar, he he doesn’t build an altar in Egypt. He doesn’t go
remembers when God spoke to him and gave him to the altar to pray and ask God if he should go to
direction. Egypt or not. He decides on his own.

• When Famine Comes Egypt was the breadbasket of the ancient world,
In Genesis 12 verse 10 it says, “Now there was a and if everything else was drying up, you knew
famine in the land.” I cannot explain to you fully you could go to Egypt to get some food. Abraham
why God allows famines to strike His people. is not willfully being disobedient. It’s just that he
Famines in Abraham’s day were perilous. You thinks he can handle this problem on his own. He
didn’t have government agencies, food pantries, or doesn’t go back to the altar to ask if God wanted
financial aid. If you were a farmer or a shepherd him to stay in Canaan.
and there was a famine, you couldn’t feed your
flocks. You were going to die. God told Abraham • Live by Faith, Not Fear
to leave his safety net where he could have gone to My dad would always say, “If a plan makes sense
his relatives. He’s got nothing, and a famine strikes. to you, it probably did not come from God.” He is
going to tell you to do stuff that requires faith. It’s
Over the past three years, there’s been a famine. impossible to please God without faith.
A lot of churches planned to build new facilities,
start new missions, start new ministries, and then Abraham chose fear, and it’s going to lead him
they had to shut down in-service meetings. All of to some bad places. Abraham gets to Egypt and
a sudden, they lost 30 percent of their attendance. doesn’t build an altar. I suspect he doesn’t build an
People had visions of starting new companies, and altar because he’s afraid of what God might say.
then the economy went sideways. People had great
visions of where they were going, and then people Abraham said to his wife, “I know that you are
died of COVID-19. a woman beautiful in appearance, and when the
Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’
When you’ve got plans you feel God has given you Then they will kill me, but they will let you live.
and then a worldwide pandemic hits, it’s like a Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me
famine. In that moment, you have to decide what because of you, and that my life may be spared for
you are going to do. Are you going to keep going your sake.” (Genesis 12:11–13). This is probably
Insights to Leadership THE GIDEON 27
 one of the most pitiful points in Abraham’s life. when you fulfill God’s purpose, what happens?
This is going to be the father of the faithful, the guy People get blessed. That’s how you know you’re
who starts the Jewish people? He’s throwing his doing God’s will. What’s happening to the people
wife under the bus to protect his own life. in Abraham’s life right now? His wife has been
taken into Pharaoh’s harem with a bunch of other
• God Works in You Before He kept women. Pharaoh’s nation is being pummeled
Works Through You with plagues. How is Abraham? He’s getting
God calls Abraham when he is 75 years old. When rich. Pharaoh was blessing him because he liked
does God finally give Abraham a son, Isaac? When his wife so much. It’s an ugly, ugly moment in
he is 100. It took 25 years to get Abraham ready Abraham’s life. He’s being blessed, but nobody
to be a patriarch. God could have given him Isaac else is.
in nine months, but here you get a glimpse of the
kind of character Abraham had. • Repairing the Altar
Abraham realizes he needs to get home. He goes
I know people pleading with God. “God, would back the same way he came, and when he arrives
you work mightily through my life? God, would at Bethel, to that neglected altar, he has to repair it.
you work miracles through my life?” God could Sometimes, we have to repair our walk with God.
do that in a heartbeat. So, if He’s not using your
life powerfully, maybe ask yourself the question, Do you know what’s so beautiful about that? God
“Could it be He’s still not finished working in me so graciously receives him back. God says, “I’ve been
that He will work through me?” waiting for you. Abraham, are you ready to be the
blessing I called you to be? You got sidetracked for
I keep praying, “God, make me the kind of man a little while, but listen, we can move on from here.
you would be pleased to work powerfully through. You can still be the father of multitudes if you’re
And I’m going to have to assume if you’re not ready to do it My way.”
working powerfully through me yet, there’s still
more work to be done in me.”
In chapter 12, you see one of the lowest points in
Abraham’s character. In chapter 13, you see one
Abraham is going to see some miracles in his life,
of his highest points when he graciously lets his
but he’s not ready yet. The first work has to be in
nephew Lot disrespectfully take all the best land.
him before the work can go through him.
Abraham says, “I guess it’s the desert then,” and off
he goes to become the man of God that God always
• Out of God’s Will but intended for him to be.
Experiencing Worldly Success
So Abraham essentially tells his wife, “Become a
Famines don’t have to be terminal cases. Famines
liar for me.” She does and what happens? It says
test you. They reveal you, and hopefully they drive
starting in Genesis 12:14, “When Abram entered
you back to God saying, “God, in the days to come,
Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was
let’s do it Your way.” What do You have in store so
very beautiful. And when the princes of Pharaoh
saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the that all the nations of the earth are blessed?
woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. And
for her sake he dealt well with Abram; and he Conclusion
had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male servants, I want to commend you as Gideons and Auxiliary
female servants, female donkeys, and camels. But because you’ve been at your post and you’ve faced
the Lord afflicted Pharaoh and his house with the storm, the famine, just like everybody else.
great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.” You’ve had to adjust like everybody else. I’m telling
you something, God wants to use you to bless all the
It’s an unseemly part of Abraham’s life you don’t families of the earth. God’s seeing you to the other
want to really spend a lot of time on. Remember, side, and the best days still lie ahead, not behind.

28 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG Insights to Leadership

 June – July 2023

ABOUT THIS SECTION Dominican Republic

The names listed in this section include those members Bonao, Mrs. Gladys Valerio
who were reported to have passed into the presence of
our Lord during the months of February 2023 and March Ecuador
2023. Riobamba, Mr. Lauro Guerrero

Ethiopia
Angola Bahir Dar, Mrs. Aberu Alamirew
Lobito, Mrs. Aurora Fernando Dodola, Mr. Elias Wangore
Dodola, Mr. Shume Sanbata
Australia
Mr. Bruce Cook Fiji
Mr. Max Whitworth Lautoka, Mr. Gideon Kumar
Mr. Sam Bilardi Lautoka, Mr. Murthi Narayan
Mrs. Joyce Lovell
Finland
Bermuda Mr. Rantala Juha
Hamilton, Mr. Arthur Hodgson Mr. Surakka Reino
Hamilton, Mrs. Manuel Rego
France
Brazil Aix en Provence, Mr. Emmanuel Leroy
Campinas-Oeste, Mr. Alberto Santini Junior Colmar, Mrs. Zunilda Campos
Curitiba-Centro, Mrs. Noemia Kuhl Svoboda
Oeiras, Mr. Carlos Jose Valentim Germany
Recife-Norte, Mr. Jaime Alves Dos Santos Backnang, Mr. Ernst Abel
Rio-Tijuca, Mr. Airton Campos Chemnitz, Mrs. Ursula Stiegler
Frankenberg, Mr. Bernhard Kutting
Bulgaria Hagen, Mrs. Hannelore Meckbach
Russe, Mr. Aleksandar Bonev Hanau, Mr. Bruno Koller
Heppenheim, Mr. Helmut Horn
Chad Mainz, Mrs. Gisela Moschinski
Moundou South, Mr. Ngartoubam Koulangar Minden, Mr. Helmut Bollhorst
Nürtingen, Mr. Karlheinz Wallhäußer
Chile Ostfriesland, Mr. Rudolf Trauernicht
Temuco, Mr. Luis San Martin Remscheid, Mr. Siegfried Lambeck
Schwelm, Mrs. Sigrid Trust
Costa Rica
Cartago, Mr. Juan Barahona Greece
Athens, Mr. Antonis Damaskinos
Côte d’Ivoire Athens, Mr. Odysseas Tsafantakis
Bongouanou, Mrs. Nicole Gnaga Garipa-Heraklion, Mr. John Eliotis

Cuba Guam
Holguin, Mr. Jose Rojas Agana, Mr. Manuel Hechanova
Holguin, Mrs. Martha Suarez
Guatemala
Cyprus La Gomera, Mr. Eliseo Olivares
Limassol, Mr. Harout Chorbadjian
Hungary
Democratic Republic of Congo Pecs, Mr. Tamas Gobl
Kinshasa West, Mr. Jean Pierre Nganga Buda, Mr. Lajos Lorincz
Kisangani Nord, Mr. Kasereka Samson
Kisangani Nord, Mr. Matundu Kiliopa India
Aizawl South, Dr. HL Malsawma
Denmark Akola, Mrs. Vijaya Barnabas Goodae
Herning, Mrs. Ellen Jorgensen Balaghat, Mr. Michel Gladvin Masih

With The Lord THE GIDEON 29

 Baroda, Mr. James Master Shimane, Mr. Yasukichi Mochizuki
Bhadravati, Mr. Bowas P. P. Yokohama-Kita, Mrs. Sato Tomiko
Bhilai, Mr. M. Ravi Sekhar
Chengannur, Mr. Jacob George Kenya
Chilakaluripeta, Mr. Bantu John Raju Embu, Mr. Elias Nelson
Chilakaluripeta, Mr. Jehoiachin Srigiri Isibania, Mr. Wilfred Moindi
Churachandpur, M. L. T. Ngaihte Kasarani, Mr. Enan Wangai
Coimbatore North, Mr. P. Justin Harris
Dehradun, Dr. Joseph Thsetan Gergan Kyrgyzstan
Dimapur East, Mr. Y. M. Yollow Konyak Karabalta Ak-Bata, Mr. Berdibek Zhumabaev
Jabalpur, Mr. Franz Phillips Karabalta Ak-Bata, Mr. Macalbek Zhapakov
Jaggaiahpet, Mr. Kota David
Kakinada, Mr. Madda Satyanarayana Latvia
Kanchipuram, Mr. P. Sampath Jelgava, Mr. Zanis Brant
Kodad, Dr. T. Ramesh Babu
Kumbakonam, Mrs. W. Arokia Mary Macau
Madras South, Mrs. D. Devasirvatham Macao, Mr. Peter Chiu
Madurai North, Mr. H. Earnest Rajakumar Winifred
Mawkyrwat, Mr. Shangdiar Madagascar
Mumbai Central, Mrs. Roshni Pareri Ambovombre Centre, Mr. Jean Ramanandriantsoa
Nagpur Kamptee, Adv. Franklin G. Isaac Antananarivo Mijoro Z2, Mrs. Chantal Ihanitra Rasamizafy
Nagpur Wadi, Mr. Edward Gadam Isaac Toamasina, Mr. Victor Randrianarison
Nagpurajani, Mr. Micah M. M. Aiyub
Pondicherry, Mr. A. Victor Arul Prakasam Malawi
Pondicherry, Mr. T. Daniel Santhosh Bharathi Zomba Mulunguzi, Mrs. Evelyn Chilambo
Shillong North, Mr. Coronet Sawkmie
Vishakhapatnam North, Mrs. Chinnam Ananda Raju Malaysia
Vissannapeta, Mrs. Vijaya Kumari Brinchang, Mr. Mahajer BahDoh
Melaka, Mr. Babo Metesh
Indonesia Petaling Jaya, Mr. John Thiam
Alor, Mr. Elia Selly Sri Aman, Mr. Peter Lingoh
Cilacap, Mr. Herry Kristianto Tanah Rata, Mr. Reuben Raju
Denpasar, Mr. Budi Sudibyo S. Telupid, Mr. Charles Sayuman
Denpasar, Mr. Tjie Jehnsen
Ende, Mr. Jansje Kore Mexico
Lembata, Mr. Sonny Nalley Reynosa, Mrs. Magally de la Cruz Palma
Minahasa Utara, Mr. Butje Johanis
Minahasa Utara, Mr. Ferdinand Warokka Moldova
Palangkaraya, Mr. Charles Rupock Belzy, Mr. Vasiliy Russu
Pangkalan Bun, Mr. Welly Muaya Bendery, Mr. Vladimir Sokolov
Samarinda, Mrs. Netty Purba
Sampit, Mr. Harry Udjang Myanmar
Semarang Timur, Mr. Herry Widiyanto Ann, Mr. U. Ba Tin
Solo, Mrs. Yulia Kristiana Ann, Mr. U. Win
Tobelo, Mr. Jimmy Tjakra Banmaw, Mr. Khon Saing
Banmaw, Mr. Maru Doi
Ireland Banmaw, Mr. U. Chaw Paung
Kilkenny, Mr. Alan Gowing Banmaw, Mrs. Daw Khin Lay Ye
Kilkenny, Mr. George Farrar Dawei, Mr. Saw Jimmy
Letterkenny, Mrs. Olive Borland East Maubin, Mr. Saw Amos
East Maubin, Mr. Saw George
Japan East Maubin, Mr. Saw Oliver
Asahikawa, Mr. Endo Kazunori Haka, Mr. Cung Hu
Hakodate, Mr. Yasushi Seki Haka, Mr. Ronnie Lyan
Kanan, Mr. Takahashi Noboru Haka, Mr. U. Sang Luai
Nagoya-Minami, Mr. Yamada Naoki Hinthada, Mr. S. Aung Naing Tun
Saitama Southwest, Mrs. Atsuko Higashi Hpakant, Mr. Ga Nan

30 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG With The Lord

 June – July 2023

Lashio, Mr. Sai Htun Yuanlin, Mrs. Cai-Yue-Xiang Chen

Lashio, Mr. Sein Aung Yuli, Mrs. Gui-Hua Tian
Mandalay Central, Mr. Kyaw Soe
Mandalay Central, Mr. Nan Din Republic of Korea
Mandalay Central, Mr. Tu Mai Pau Su Seo-seoul, Mr. Min-cheol Yoo
Mandalay Central, Mrs. Hpau Din Youngdeungpo, Mr. Daeseong Yeon
Meiktila, Dr. Aye Min
Meiktila, Mr. Saw Shooe Romania
Mogoke, Mr. Yan Poung Ploiesti, Mr. Dorin Zaharia
Momauk, Mr. Maung Myint Suceava, Mr. Daniel Neamtu
Nam Hkam, Mr. Bum Wow Hawng
Nam Hkam, Mr. Mya Than Russia
Namsang, Mr. Sai Win Elizovo, Mr. Nikolai Podprugin
Pin Lon, Mrs. U. Sai Sein Moscow – Northwest, Mr. Dmitri Mustafin
Putao, Mr. N-Phong Khun Moscow – Orehovo – Zuevo, Mr. Timofey Kuljak
Shwe Bo, Mr. U. Kyaw Sein
Thapaung, Mrs. Naw Mwee Paw Serbia
Yangon East, Mr. Khin Twin Kanjiza, Mr. Stevan Vracar
Kanjiza, Mr. Toma Isvan
Namibia Kula, Mr. Dusan Tesic
Keetmanshoop, Mr. Johannes Esterhuyse
Swakopmund, Mr. Alphonsus Kalvelagen Seychelles
Victoria, Mr. Felix Labrosse
Niger
Agadez, Mrs. Pauline Ekpelikpeze South Africa
Mossel Bay, Mr. Van Zyl Oliver
Nigeria Pinetown, Mr. Bill Hobbs
Agbor, Mr. Festus Ogoegbulem South Peninsula, Mr. Johan Boon
Bukuru, Mr. Ayinzat Francis Elisha West Coast, Mrs. Elize Pretorius
Igarra, Mr. Owolabi Augustin Momo
Minna North, Mr. Williams Onwuakpa Switzerland
Otukpo, Mrs. Udenyi Ada Biel, Mr. Ernst Gerber
PH Choba, Mr. Okigho Dinah Thun, Mr. Joerg Fuhrimann
Winterthur, Mr. Heinz Kleiber
Papua New Guinea Winterthur, Mrs. Ruth Kleiber
Kiunga, Mr. Willie Tepu
Tanzania
Peru Kiomboi, Mrs. Vivian Nguli
Rimac, Mrs. Ana Laura Misungwi, Mrs. Julieth Mdachi

Philippines Uganda
Las Piñas City, Mr. Ricardo P. Riototar Lugazi, Mr. Nixon Kiggundu
Lopez, Quezon, Mr. Pedro Antonio E. Carelo
Malolos, Mr. Felipe C. Fong, Sr. Ukraine
San Jose Del Monte, Mr. Bonifacio C. Maglonzo Skadovsk, Mr. Sergei Stolyarchuk

Portugal UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Loures, Mrs. Maria Almendro
Alabama/Northwest Florida
Puerto Rico Anniston, Dr. Arthur Lewis
Caguas, Mr. Franklin Correa Choctaw County, Mrs. Carlene Griffin
Moca/San Sebastian, Mrs. Amalia Rosa Geneva County East, Mrs. Janie Spivey
Mobile South, Mr. David Franklin
Republic of China (Taiwan) Monroe County, Mr. Stephen Hughes
Kaohsiung No. 4, Mr. Wen-Sheng Shao Morgan East, Mr. Bobby Lang
Taipei No. 3, Mr. Jian-Mao Liu Panama City, Mrs. Annette Crittendon
Taipei No. 5, Mr. Yuan-Zhi Li Selma, LTC Joe Berry

With The Lord THE GIDEON 31

 Shelby County West, Mrs. Beverly Echols Bleckley Pulaski, Mr. Abie Giddens
St Clair East, Mr. Joe Miller Brantley County, Mr. Ronald Spradley
Walker County, Mr. Jerry Ross Buena Vista, Mr. Ransom Briggs
Coffee Atkinson, Mr. Cleveland Ragsdale
Arkansas Columbus West, Mr. Charles Carter
Booneville, Dr. William Daniel Forsyth County North, Mr. Robert Oslin
Boston Mountain, Mrs. Hilda Stinson Fulton County North, Mrs. Ruby Campbell
Cabot Camp, Mr. Lawrence Burns Glennville, Mrs. Kathy Dasher
Cabot Camp, Mr. Roy Coulter Gwinnett County South, Mr. Rayford Parham
Camden, Mr. John Rhodes Indian Springs, Mrs. Margaret Sherrell
Cleveland County, Mr. L. Franklin Lumpkin County, Mr. Harold Bolton
Heber Springs, Mr. Dan Gladden McIntosh County, Mr. Julius Harper
Hot Springs Village, Mr. Dennis Moore Mitchell Baker, Mr. N. Wingate
Little River County, Mr. Charles Hacker Oglethorpe County, Mrs. Kathy Bishop
Magnolia, Mr. Patrick Downs Rome West, Mr. Charles Chupp
Morrilton Perryville, Mrs. Johnnie Bailey Screven County, Mr. Walter Scott
Texarkana West, Mrs. Connie Meloy Swainsboro, Mrs. Belle Tatum
Van Buren, Mr. Erland Reed Thomson, Mrs. Jean Payton
Van Buren, Mrs. Jeannie Prescott Waycross, Mr. Jimmy Carter
Waldron, Mrs. Kathy Cabe
Wynne, Mrs. Charlene Nicholson Illinois
Boone, Mr. Donald Harrison
California Nevada North Danville, Mr. Harold Bott
Carmichael, Mr. Virgil Nelson Douglas Moultrie, Mrs. Agnes Trummel
Eureka, Mr. Jeff Farley East Will Cook, Mr. Luke Schaap
Lakeport, Mr. Ernest Frye Jo Daviess Carroll, Mr. James Shultis
Merced, Mr. Grady Williams Salem, Mr. Roy Rodgers
Modesto North, Mr. Marvin Wise
Modesto, Mr. Donald Garrels Indiana
Sacramento East, Mr. William Gleason Adams County, Mr. Larry Gaskill
San Francisco North, Mr. Harvey March Adams County, Mr. Leroy Sprunger
Carroll County, Mrs. Beulah Gray
Delmardic Clark County West, Mr. John Ritchey
Central Delaware DE, Mr. Thomas Roberts Elkhart South, Mr. Phillip Self
Dulles-Fairfax Co West VA, Mr. J. Grigsby Fountain/Warren Counties, Mr. Dale Cates
Frederick County MD, Mr. Denton Garst Martinsville, Mr. Charles Hill
Sussex County North DE, Mr. David Craft Muncie East, Mr. John Wray
Richmond, Mr. Charles Yencer
Florida Warsaw-Winona, Mrs. Florence Horn
Big Bend, Mrs. Paula Parker
Broward North, Mrs. Sandra Miles InterMountain
Broward South, Mr. Charles Gorsline Billings East, Mr. Gerald Ragland
Broward South, Mr. Guy Wright Bozeman, Mrs. Vel Koopmans
Citrus County, Mr. Leonard Hartley Golden Triangle, Mr. Sidney Brandon
Citrus County, Mrs. Maryann Hartley Libby, Mr. James Smart
Leesburg, Mr. Charles Haas Malta, Mr. Clarence Zimbelman
Marion County North, Mr. Oscar Santizo
Orlando Northeast, Mr. Harry Ireland Iowa
Sarasota South, Mr. Kenneth Martin Ottumwa, Mr. Larry Jackson
Sarasota South, Mr. William Burchette Marshalltown, Mr. Clair Long
St Augustine, Mr. Richard Dryden Lee County, Mr. Larry Meyers
St Petersburg East, Mr. William Lofgren Hampton, Mr. Curtis Peters
Tampa Northeast, Mrs. Marian Kelley Northwest, Mr. John Pudwill
Davenport, Mr. Willard Smith
Georgia Marion County, Mr. Raymond Terlouw
Atlanta Northwest, Mr. Milow Bowes
Bibb West Crawford, Mr. James Williams

32 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG With The Lord

 June – July 2023

Kansas Columbia, Mr. Jimmie Ray

Beloit, Mr. Barry Doane Columbia, Mr. William Porter
Cowley, Mr. Douglas Miller Kemper County, Mr. John Gully
Fort Scott, Mr. Dale Johnson Monroe County, Dr. Roscoe Ivy
Hays, Dr. Morris Talbert Monroe County, Mr. David Howell
Kansas City West, Mr. Arley Clark Moss Point, Mr. Ralph Davis
Manhattan, Mr. Kenneth Goff Tishomingo County, Mrs. Ida Ann Bean
Manhattan, Mrs. Lois Mugler
Norton, Mrs. Joan Knoll Missouri
Osage, Mr. Kenneth Herin Ava, Mr. Perry Posey
Osage, Mr. Ronald Neilson Kansas City Central, Mr. Doss Cunningham
Wichita Southwest, Mrs. Elizabeth Schoonover Lamar, Mrs. Betty Gideon
Marshfield, Mrs. Jean Young
Kentucky Mineral Area, Mr. Donald Winslett
Garrard, Mr. Horace Sharp Nevada, Mrs. Kathryn Phillips
Hazard, Mr. Harold Kemper Springfield South, Mrs. Rayetta Whiles
Horse Cave, Mr. Elroy Larimore St Charles, Mr. Elvin Sontag
Horse Cave, Mr. Roger Irvin West Plains, Mr. John Burkhead
Lexington North, Mr. John Ward
Somerset North, Mr. Charles Hall Nebraska
Custer Blaine, Mr. Tony Pitkin
Louisiana Custer Blaine, Mrs. Dorthy Pracht
Denham Springs, Mr. Larry Devall Holdrege, Mrs. Charlotte Reeser
LaSalle-Grant, Mr. Donald Hopkins McCook, Mr. Paul Schneider
Minden, Mr. Ernie Banks Omaha North, Mr. David Gibb
Monroe East, Mrs. Lilllian Griffin Omaha Southwest, Mrs. DeEtt Harless
New Orleans South, Mrs. Essie Smith Wauneta, Mr. Calvin German
Ponchatoula, Mr. Jimmie Herring
Winnsboro, Mr. Martin Thornton New York
Chenango County, Mrs. Marian Calhoun
Michigan Manhattan, Mr. Leon Burke
Detroit North Woodward, Mr. James Alex Nassau, Mr. Louis Romano
Detroit North Woodward, Mrs. Nancy Stegeman Orange County, Mr. Lyle Hughes
Holland Lakeshore, Mr. Donald Brink Wayne County, Mr. David Banks
Huron County, Mrs. Joyce Christner
Iosco East Arenac, MAJ William Ellis North Carolina
Kent Central South, Mr. Harold Van Eerden Buncombe West, Mr. Clarence Simpson
Kent Northeast, Mr. Donald Jones Buncombe West, Mr. Jerry Jimison
Midland, Mr. James Jackson Cabarrus South, Mr. Robert Yates
Oakland West, Mrs. Ruth Belleville Caldwell South, Mr. Max Reynolds
St Joseph County, Mr. Frederick Schwartz Cleveland Central, Mr. Everette McSwain
Ypsilanti, Mr. Charles Bushart Elizabeth City, Mr. Cloyd Parker
Elizabeth City, Mrs. Ruby Hill
Minnesota Forsyth Northwest, Mr. John Kinzie
Blue Earth, Mrs. Molly Paschke Gaston Northeast, Mr. Richard Bullis
Crookston, Mrs. Harriet Rolf Greenville South, Mr. Julius Parker
Detroit Lakes, Mr. Karsten Grundyson King, Mr. Melvin Clarke
Fergus Falls, Mr. Clarence Paulson Moore County, Mr. John Ferguson
Fergus Falls, Mr. Richard Ronnevik Raleigh East, Mr. John Nalepa
Redwood Falls, Mr. Gene Larsen Raleigh East, Mrs. Geraldine Wall
Redwood Falls, Mrs. Edith Prodoehl Raleigh North, Mr. Douglas Wielenga
Washington South, Mr. Charles Marsters Randolph County South, Mr. Samuel Byrd
West Central, Mr. Charles Lindquist Rutherfordton, Dr. Herman Norville
Swain County, Mr. Joel King
Mississippi Union West, Mr. Kenneth McDougald
Brandon, Mrs. Billie May Union West, Mr. Paul Tyler
Coahoma-Quitman, Mr. James Sanders Washington Tyrrell, Mr. John Russell

With The Lord THE GIDEON 33

 Washington Tyrrell, Mr. William Roberts Washington East, Mrs. Mary Ann Gee
Washington, Mr. Hobson Langley Westmoreland North, Mr. Boyd Doverspike
Westmoreland North, Mr. Douglas Coward
Ohio York Southeast, Mrs. Mary Jane Godfrey
Columbus Northeast, Mrs. Mary Lou Ewing York Southwest, Mr. Earl Fuhrman
Columbus Northeast, Mrs. Sally Lefler
Hancock County, Mrs. Betty Marvin Rocky Mountain
Henry County, Mrs. Colleen Spiess Co Springs Austin Bluffs, Mrs. Trudy Roberts
Lawrence East, Mr. David Lang Delta County, Mr. Owen Johnson
Licking County, Mr. John Hankinson Denver Cherry Creek, Mrs. Elmira Nelson
Lima, Mr. Karl Blass Denver Columbine, Mr. Glenn Farring
Medina County, Mr. Clarence Lahl Parker, Dr. William James
Scioto West, Mr. William Lutz Royal Gorge, Mr. James Tetirick
Warren County, Mrs. Lois Koch San Luis Valley, Mrs. Loretta Ehardt
Williams County, Mrs. Janice Riehle San Luis Valley, Mrs. Marguerite Cowan
Tri County, Mr. Dennis Cockroft
Oklahoma
Edmond, Mr. George Chapman South Carolina
Elk City, Mr. Vernon Little Anderson West, Mr. Buford Haynie
Muskogee, Mr. Robert Ross Aynor, Mrs. Ada Lou Brown
Woodward, Mr. Don Walker Georgetown, Mr. Laurin Sessions
Woodward, Mr. Johnny Busellato Greenville South, Mr. Dale Lang
Hilton Head, Mr. Robert Lenz
Oregon Southwest Idaho Irmo, Mrs. Dorothy Cain
Central Oregon North, Mrs. Suzanne Trautmann Lancaster County, Mr. Ernest Stroud
Coos County, Mr. Edgar Moon Lexington East, Mr. Wallace Tompkins
East Linn, Mr. Raymond Garboden Liberty, Mr. Chuck Powell
Loris, Mr. James Long
Pacific Northwest Lugoff Elgin, Mr. Bart Meyer
Longview, Mr. W. Barnes Rock Hill, Mrs. Lynda Elliott
Longview, Mr. William Fulton Spartanburg East, Mr. Roy Robb
Longview, Mrs. Beverly Noakes Spartanburg East, Mrs. Debbie Hawkins
Marysville, Mr. Thomas Ary Westminster, Mr. Stanley Long
Snohomish, Mr. Ray Waltner
Vancouver East, Mr. Gaylon Dacus Southern New England
Boston West, Dr. Daniel Price
Pacific Southwest Hartford, Dr. Paul Wittmer
Covina, Mrs. Janice McCabe New Haven, Mr. Robert Erickson
Escondido, Mr. Edwin Webb Springfield, Mr. George LaRoe
Indio, Mrs. Jean Cronk
Ontario, Mr. Robert Harbour Southwest
Mesa, Mr. Robert Winger
Pennsylvania Scottsdale, Mr. Eugene Sauder
Adams, Mrs. Shirley McCauslin Tempe, Mrs. Rosemarie Douthitt
Allegheny East, Mr. Bruce Swanson Tucson North, Dr. Lawrence Fogelberg
Blair South, Dr. Bradley Krehl Tucson West, Mr. Dennis Hall
Blair South, Mr. Robert Guyer
Bucks South, Mr. Jacob Heisey Tennessee
Chester East, Mrs. Doris Stillman Anderson County, Mr. Aude Foust
Cumberland Central, Mrs. Mary Harter Athens East, Mr. T. Moates
Fulton, Mrs. Joyce Winfield Blount County North, Mr. Robert Shaw
Lancaster South, Mrs. Edna Bugge Carter County, Mr. James Campbell
Lebanon East, Mrs. Ruth Bross Carter County, Mr. Larry Honeycutt
Lycoming, Mr. Frederick Mowery Carter County, Mr. Michael Lingerfelt
Perry, Mr. Merril Brofee Clarksville South, Mr. Kendall Spiceland
Schuylkill Central, Mr. Bertram Leiby Gibson County North, Mr. Horace Adams

34 WWW.GIDEONS.ORG With The Lord

 June – July 2023

Gibson County North, Mr. John Blake Northern Hills, Mr. Marlin Main
Gibson County North, Mr. John Greer Platte, Mr. Marvin Gustafson
Houston Humphreys Co, Mr. Tommy Turner West Fargo, Mr. Lloyd Knight
Kingsport East, Mr. Donald Mutter Yankton, Mr. Marvin Mehlhaff
Memphis Mid City, Mr. Gerald Brewer
Millington, Mr. Wayne Vincent Virginia
Nashville Northeast, Mr. Donald Fisher Chesterfield North, Mr. Curtis Salyer
Sequatchie Valley, Mrs. Donna Williams Greene-Madison, Mr. Irvin Beasley
Shelby County East, Mrs. Jean Watson Henry County West, Mr. George Brown
Shelbyville, Mr. Thomas Enloe Loudoun West, Mrs. Olga Garber
Shelbyville, Mrs. Lavye Fann Mid Tidewater, Mrs. Norma McKone
Shelbyville, Mrs. Martha Perry Patrick County, Mr. Bruce Scott
Sumner West, Mr. Arthur Mayernick Portsmouth, Mr. Merritt Mizelle
West Wilson, Mr. Cliff McClendon Richmond West, Mr. Timothy Smith
Roanoke City East, Mr. Loy King
Texas Roanoke City West, COL Roger Talmadge
Amarillo, Mrs. Martha Keepers Rockingham North, Mr. Charles Moubray
Atlanta, Mr. Lamon Howard Russell County, Mr. M. Burkett
Austin North, Mrs. Joyce Huteson Russell County, Mr. Paul Musick
Austin, Mr. Bobbie Van Ermel Scherer Shenandoah County, Mr. Beverley Fleming
Brenham, Mrs. Toni Martin Shenandoah North, Mrs. Helen Mumaw
Brownsville, Mr. Garrett Withers Winchester, Mr. Brian Krueger
Canyon, Dr. Charles Townsend
Collin County East, Mrs. Jane Lott West Virginia
Dallas Southwest, Dr. Albert Robinson Beckley, Mr. Earl Whitener
Denison - Sherman, Mr. Lewis Nelson Huntington, Mr. Grover Hamrick
Devine Pearsall, Mr. Anthony Anizan Nitro, Mr. John Schuman
Devine Pearsall, Mrs. Anna Strait Parkersburg North, Mrs. Mary Hardman
Frisco, Mr. R. Thoes Taylor County, Mrs. Virginia Knotts
Frisco, Mr. Rockford Gray Wayne County, Mr. Alfred Price
Hill Country Camp, Mr. Glen Patterson Wayne County, Mr. G. Mills
Houston North, Mr. Roger Manuel Wayne County, Mr. William Lawman
Houston Northeast, Mr. John Lister
Jacksonville, Mr. Frank Dublin Wisconsin Upper Michigan
Kingsville, Mrs. Susan Kimball Bay Area, Mr. Harlan Tollefson
Lake Ray Hubbard, Mr. Paul Stevens Madison East, Mrs. Gladys Nelson
Lubbock West, Marilu Burns Sauk Richland, Mr. Charles Geffert
Lubbock, Dr. Terry Nelson Valley West, Mr. Karl Karlson
Lufkin East, Mr. James Kennedy Washington County, Mr. Richard Buss
Lufkin West, Mr. Albert Bencivenga Wolf River, Mr. William Berken
Madison-Walker, Mrs. Genevela Moseley
Mount Pleasant, Mr. Jim Capel Venezuela
New Boston, Mr. John Cross Valencia Sur, Mr. Saturnino Quinones
Odessa, Mrs. Frances Boyles
Round Rock, Mr. John Carlton Zimbabwe
San Antonio North, Mr. Carl Springer Chinhoyi, Mrs. Yvonne Van Den Bergh
Tyler East, Mr. Lowell Dailey
Tyler South, Mr. Calvin Watson
Uvalde, Mr. Kelly Longbotham
Wise County, Mrs. Patsy Lightsey

The Dakotas
Grafton, Mrs. Dody Tallackson
Langdon, Mr. Clifton Anderson
Minot, Mr. Steve Lauer
North Central, Mr. Alfred Martin

With The Lord THE GIDEON 35

My camp experience allows me to partake in a worldwide
ministry that engages me beyond anything I could have
accomplished on my own. I am thankful that God has
allowed me to be a member of The Gideons International.
— Steve Clements
(Jackson County Camp, Alabama NW Florida)

YOU WILL NOT

WANT TO MISS
YOUR UPCOMING
CAMP MEETING!
Be sure to attend your upcoming camp
meetings! You will not want to miss this
time of training together with fellow
members and sharpening each other
professionally and spiritually.

JUNE’S TOPIC
Men of Action – Scripture Distribution

JULY’S TOPIC
Resisting Temptation