I hold the Gideons organisation in very high esteem as God used it to bring me to know the Lord. When I was 13 years old on the 17-05-72 a gentleman from Gideons visited our school (Kingsheath Technical College for Boys) and spoke at our morning school assembly. Afterwards he gave a small copy of the Bible to every member of the school. I had never had a Bible before and was genuinely overwhelmed that someone would just give me one as a free gift. I treasured it and did my very best to read 10 verses a day, even though I really had no idea what I was reading about. I did it more because I thought it must be an important book and it must be good to read it, therefore I read it out of respect for God, who despite not being a Christian I believed existed, and the man that gave it me. I would even take the Bible on holiday with me, hiding it at the bottom of my box Brownie camera case so that no one would know as that would embarrass me.

At the age 19 I emigrated alone to Australia but continued to read 10 verses a day of this Bible. I led a fairly carefree single life in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Then one Sunday morning after a party the night before at which I had drunk too much, I woke with a hangover and went to read my obligatory 10 verses, when I felt the urge to go along to a church and find out what this Bible was all about. I was tired of reading it without understanding. I walked up to the nearest Anglican church and sat through the church service. I must have looked a prime target for witnessing as I sat there with bloodshot eyes, as a minister came straight over to me afterwards and introduced himself. I told him I had been reading 10 verses a day of the Bible for the last 7 years without any real understanding. He then very patiently explained the Gospel to me, and that morning I gave my life to Christ. It must have been a bit like when Phillip witnessed to the Ethiopian in his chariot as he read without understanding from the book of Isaiah.

That was 30 years ago now and since then I have been involved in all sorts of ministries. I married a wonderful Christian lady in 1984 and now have 3 adult sons who all love the Lord. I have a preaching ministry in 4 Sydney based churches and I am half way through studying for a theology degree so that hopefully in 4 years time I can move into full time Christian ministry.
That dear man that visited our School from Gideons would have no idea that because he gave me that Bible that morning in May, 37 years later I would be preaching to large gatherings regularly about the power of the Gospel and being used by the grace of God to bring people to a knowledge of Him. I am therefore eternally grateful to the Gideons organisation. God bless you in your ministry.