Ken Sprouse and the Gideon Ministry
Gideons
International is a non-denominational evangelical Christian professional
and businessmen's association which for over 100 years has been placing
Bibles and Scriptures in those vineyards where the traditional church
does not go.
Today, Gideons International distributes God's Word in 176 countries
and over 80 languages. We are now placing over 1 million copies each week
into the hands of the lost (the majority of these Scriptures are being
sent to countries in the former Soviet Union and those 3rd world countries
in South America, Africa, and Indonesia). These Scriptures are delivered
to those in
motels/hotels, prisons, military installations, public/private schools,
colleges and universities, hospitals, convalescent homes, medical clinics,
doctor offices, and lawyer offices.
Funds to purchase these Scriptures are raise from evangelical Christian churches like Valley Presbyterian. All society overhead, church bulletin inserts, and Scripture shipping costs are paid for by the Gideon members themselves so that 100 percent of all money donated through church offerings pays for Bible/Testament printing. This means the more money donated by churches requires Gideons to increase their matching funds and personal time to cover all placement and distribution activities.
Gideon
members are also required to be involved in personal witnessing either
one-on-one with the people we meet in our daily lives or through organizational
activities. These organizational activities include: Bible study prison
ministries, public speaking at church services (including sermons), Sunday
school class instruction, etc.
In addition to being either a professional person (e.g., doctor, lawyer, engineer) or business owner; all prospective Gideons must be an active member of a recognized evangelical Christian church and capable of securing a letter of recommendation from their senior pastor. Gideons must also accept the Bible to be the inspired and inerrant Word of God.
Gideons International is headquartered in Nashville, TN and all members
are assigned to one of thousands of local camps throughout the world.
Valley Presbyterian falls within the territorial boundaries of the Van
Nuys, CA Gideon camp. I have been a member of this 30-person camp for
about 15 years. I have served from time-to-time as its president, vice-president,
secretary and treasurer. I'm currently chairman of its "Memorial
Bible" committee while serving as Deacon at Valley Presbyterian.
Each year the Van Nuys, CA Gideon camp raises approximately $30,000 and
places over 20,000 Bible/Testaments within our area schools, universities,
junior colleges, prisons, and hospitals. Within the San Fernando valley,
there are four additional Gideon camps serving the west valley (Canoga
Park, CA), the east valley (Burbank, CA), the northeast valley (Sunland-Tujunga,
CA), and the southeast valley (Glendale, CA). There are also camps nearby
in Simi Valley, CA; Thousand Oaks, CA; and Santa Clarita, CA. All camps
meet individually each Saturday morning at 7:00 am in an area motel/hotel
for 30 minutes of Scripture reading and prayer. Prayer includes the offering
of petitions on behalf of the 140 churches, their pastors and members
in the
Van Nuys, CA area. Camp business (such as school distribution assignments,
church speaking assignments, money collection receipts, etc.) is conducted
during the subsequent breakfast hour.
