User:Delfeye/Gideons

Gideons International is an evangelical Christian organization dedicated to distributing copies of the Bible in over 80 languages and more than 180 countries of the world to those who might not otherwise encounter it, most famously in hotel and motel rooms.

History
The Gideons International was founded July 1, 1899 in Janesville, Wisconsin as an early American parachurch organization dedicated to Christian evangelism. It began distributing free Bibles, the work it is chiefly known for, in 1908, when the first Bibles were placed in the rooms of the Superior Hotel in Superior, Montana. The local railway station at the time was named Iron Mountain, causing confusion as to the name of the town.

Position
The organization describes its link to the story of Gideon thus:


 * "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 Gideons International 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 keeping with this symbolism, the symbol of the Gideons is a two handled pitcher and torch, recalling Gideon's victory over the Midianites as described in Judges, chapter 7. 

Membership
The association has more than 250,000 members, located in more than 180 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

Organization
In the United States, there are six levels of organization: the local camp, the area, the state association, the region, the national association and the International cabinet.

Scriptures and testaments
In addition to their well-known hotel-room Bibles, the Gideons also distribute Bibles to members of the military of various countries, to hospitals, nursing homes, prisons and also to students. A typical Gideon Bible or New Testament will contain:
 * a short preface;
 * an apparatus suggesting Bible verses which may be of assistance in various sorts of trouble;
 * translations of John 3:16 into a variety of different languages and scripts;
 * the Bible text itself (the New King James Version translation is currently favored), without notes, references, or any other reference matter other than chapter and verse headings &mdash; this can either be the full Bible (typical of the copies placed in hotel rooms with the expectation the copy will remain in that room, rather than be taken by any one guest), or just the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs (typical of the copies handed out as gifts to particular individuals);
 * a short description of biblical salvation, with biblical quotations, and generally a place for the reader to sign and date his confession of Jesus (this is especially common in the shorter editions of just the New Testament and Psalms).

Hotels and Motels
The Gideons first placed Bibles in hotels in 1908. Hotel Bibles are placed by The Gideons to try and meet the needs of travelers in times of loneliness and despair.

Jails and Prisons
Gideons are permitted to enter jails and prisons to place Scriptures and minister to prisoners.

Hospitals
Testaments are placed beside the patients' beds, where allowed. These Testaments are also available to residents of nursing and convalescent homes.

Military
Military personnel have been given Testaments since 1941. New Testaments with Psalms and Proverbs are given to men and women of the Armed Forces. Gideons personally distribute Testaments at military entrance processing stations and also make Testaments available to military chaplains in unlimited quantities for Armed Forces personnel.

Youth
New Testaments with Psalms and Proverbs are distributed to students from the fifth grade up, at both public and private schools.

Colleges and Universities
The college program was inaugurated in 1972.

Medical
The Auxiliary present white New Testaments to those in public nursing fields: those who work in hospitals, offices, institutions, clinics, private homes, and are otherwise engaged in bedside nursing care as their livelihood. Nursing students are included.