Posted on 09/02/2005 9:21:56 AM PDT by Mark Felton
The Gideons International are sending 40,000 Personal Witnessing Testaments (New Testament, Psalms, Proverbs) to be distributed at the Astrodome and other relief centers in Houston.
My camp in Clear Lake is the focal point for organizing Gideon volunteers to help with the distribution. We are doing this in cooperation with the Salvation Army.
If you are a Gideon, or a minister, and would like to help the Salvation Army and Gideons minister to the people and distribute the New Testaments please freep mail me your name and phone number and either myself, the Salvation Army or a Gideon organizer will contact you.
At this time we are working with our own personal cell phones until we get a headquarters established. You may also contact the Gideons International HQ in Nashville, TN and they can forward your information. Telephone: (615)564-5000 or Email us at tgi@gideons.org
The scriptures are on a truck due to arrive Sunday by 10 a.m. and we are planning shifts to provide patoral care 24/7.
God is at work, and we are called by Him to Serve His Will. There was a purpose for Katrina, let us not fail to fulfill our duties.
No better time to meditate on the Word than while fasting...now where's my sarcasm tag?
You can believe or not. I really don't care. The story was told to me by one of the Gideons who delivered the NT's.
I wouldn't panic too much. I bet the Gideons are not impeding relief efforts one bit.
"Why not ship bibles AFTER shipping in rescue gear? 40 inflatable boats would be more useful in "saving" people at this point."
The Gideons are NOT a relief agency and never have been. They don't keep supplies to nourish the body on hand. What is the point in saving their lives only to lose their souls?
I'm certain they're not either.
I'm all for sending Bibles, but how about sending a volunteer with each of those Bibles...or a blanket, or some food.
Wonderful news and God bless Gideon's.
I don't think their souls are an immediate concern.
Not very Christian of you. I'm sooooo disappointed.
Yes, but have you learned to post a sarcasm tag? ;-)
"No better time to meditate on the Word than while fasting...now where's my sarcasm tag?"
I know you were joking. They have plenty of food.
You couldn't be more wrong.
We are giving these out at centers where the refugees are colelcting clothes and food. If you could have seen the tears and hugs my wife just received after giving out some of the New Testaments you would know how wrong you are.
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase>" -- 1 Co 3:6
The people are thirsting for those New Testaments with a a passion. They need to read, they need the comfort they need to restore their spirit and come to understand the new direction that God has given each of them.
But we only provide the words. Mere paper and ink. But the meaning of those words are a gift from God. Those words have given strength to the greatest civilization ever known to man. God has been good to those who truly follow Christ. Within their souls is the passion, power and light of the Holy Spirit that comes only to those who accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour.
" Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -- Philippians 4:11-13
"That's great, but it's only half the story."
The other half is mythology.
We do not have to say a word. They come to us and ask for the New Testaments for themselves. (then we provide some human compassion if they wish to talk)
We are meeting their need, not preaching to a captive audience or making a "sales pitch".
They desperately want these New Testaments. Their Bibles were lost.... or their spirits are lost...
Mark-
After reading your post, I take back what I said.
Your sense of priorities is not a little misplaced. They're very much misplaced.
You have decided that handing out Bibles is more important than food, water and clothing - or even helping storm victims clean up their property.
Your committment to Christ is admirable. Your sense of real life priorities is not.
Forget the AstroDome. As everyone here who is defending your decision to send Bibles and not food can agree, they are well taken care of.
What about everywhere else? Here's a yahoo news article on Mississippi. How about sending them some food? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050903/ap_on_re_us/katrina_mississippi_hk2
What if some mosque sent 40,000 copies of the Quran? What would the comments be here then?
and, why would the ACLU have anything to say about distributing New Testaments unless copies of the Quran or some other such tome were prohibited?
...yet you tell them they don't need it?
The Christian storm victims would have great pity on you.
" For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge. " -- Proverbs 1:7
You do not know what you don't know. Someday I hope you will be placed on the path to true, infallible wisdom. You will truly know it when you get it, without any doubt in your mind, heart or soul.
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