Gordon's Gideon Testimony

Dear Gideons

I am going to start my story in 1997 when I was a supervisor in a printing company in Belfast. It was a well paid job with steady work and things looked rosy. 

Then out of the blue things changed.  A meeting was called on a Monday morning and we were given the news that the factory was closing in one month's time. 

That was the start of my nightmare. I got another job but was again made redundant. This happened another three times and got into debt. 

I started smoking cigarettes, drinking and smoking drugs to blot out my feelings of disappointment and worries. 

I descended into a dark place where I was distant to everyone else and felt I would be doing a favour if I ended my life.  I tried to commit suicide twice but fortunately I was prevented through circumstances.

Then one night when I was unemployed I decided to decorate our front room.  When I moved the settee I found a little red Gideon Testament & Psalms that I had received at school when I was twelve. 

I sat down and opened it and flicked through the pages at the front.  I noticed one of the headings 'Where to find help'. 

I was amazed and proceeded to read the passages that were referred to.  Every one of the passages I read spoke to me on a personal level.  I thought – 'this is unbelievable!' 

I didn't want to go to bed because I was so excited.  'Did God really care?' 

I asked myself  'Were the answers to my salvation really to be found in the words of this Book?'

I left the house and started walking. I walked to the outskirts of the town. I kept on walking and walked across a freshly ploughed field. When I reached the top of the field I stopped and picked up a small lump of soil and spoke to God and said - 'God, I have nothing to offer – just like this lump of soil.' 

Straight away an inner voice said – 'But out of the nothing in your hand something can grow.'

That was it for me. I knew God existed and my life would never be the same again.  Hallelujah! 

Sometimes I still get down, but, the difference now is – I am not alone anymore, because God is with me.

I wanted to tell my story to encourage your organisation, for it played an important part in my story this began over five years ago.

Gordon
Submitted by Sam McEwen (North Down Branch)