Last year, in a tragic accident Ben Gautrey, a promising young motorbike racer died during the first lap of a Superbike Championship race in Lincolnshire. He fell off his bike on the first lap and was hit by two other riders. God used this tragedy to bring Ben’s mum back to faith at St. Cuthbert’s Church in Southport.

Ben’s mother, Lorraine found a Gideons New Testament among his belongings by his bedside. It had been given to Ben as a 12 year old when he started at Stanley High School, and it appears that he was using it regularly.

Since last summer Lorraine has been attending chuch and helping out practically at St. Cuthbert’s. She has also asked to be confirmed into the Church. Please pray for Lorraine that she would find comfort and peace in God and thank God for drawing both Ben and Lorraine to Himself through His word.

Last Saturday the Southport Branch of the Gideons International held their annual Friends Luncheon for all those locally who support us in prayer and through giving to the work. The afternoon at the Southport Family Life Centre was well attended, with approximately 90 Gideons and Friends. The food was fantastic and the fellowship was great! It was wonderful to speak with so many who believe in the value of distributing God’s Word to a world that needs it.

We had several reports on the ongoing work that we do in the town, and surrounding area, inlcuding a report by Paul Edkins on the weekly prison ministry. We also had a report on the International Convention, and the Auxilliarys.

We were privileged to have Pauline English come and speak to us. It was encouraging to hear of her own conversion through the use of a Gideon Testament, and the sharing of the Gospel from her co-workers. It is exciting to see that the giving of one Bible has multiplied in Pauline’s subsequent ministy, and it is a timely reminder that the work of the Gideons is that of reaching men and women with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We would like to express our thanks to all who support us in this vital work throughout the year – we do value your prayers and your standing with us in the work of God.

On Sunday 3rd of July representatives of the Central Liverpool and Southport branches of Gideons International arrived bright and early at Altcar Army Training Camp, in Hightown Merseyside. Their mission was to present over 300 camouflage testments to the Lothian & Borders Regiment Army Cadets on the occasion of their passing out.

The testaments were printed with the Army Cadet Force insignia. Our connection to the Cadets came about through the Padre, Cameron Mackenzie who came to Christ, himself through a Gideons testament.

Stephen Waring (Central Liverpool Branch) and Cameron Mackenzie spoke to the cadets. We then presented the platoon leaders with their testaments – they then distributed these to the cadets, who were on parade.

We were greatly encouraged by the response, and the godly passion of the Padre. We were also encouraged when, just as we were packing up we were asked for another testment for a colleague who was shortly returning to duty after a bereavement.

Please do pray for all the cadets, that they will read and benefit from the Scriptures that they received. Pray also for the Padres who work with these young men and women.

Click on the images below to view large.

In recognition of 2011 being the 400th anniversary of the production of the King James Bible, from 30th June until 6th July 201,1 10am to 5pm daily there will be a Bible Exhibition held in Wayfarers Arcade, Lord Street, Southport.

The exhibition is organised by The Museum of the Book and the Methodist Church in Southport, with the Southport Branch of the Gideons International being in attendance.

The history of the English Bible will be brought to life by the ‘Museum of the Book’ with audiovisuals, first edition 1611 KJV and Bibles once owned by famous people from Florence, Nightingale to Spurgeon, from the Queen’s Coronation Bible to Elvis.

The Gideons’ London Scripture Blitz will take place between 21st and 25th September 2011.

Scripture distribution, including personal witness, will take place from Wednesday to Saturday inclusive. We will be visiting hotels, hospitals and the emergency services. We are also planning to contact any schools that have been closed to The Gideons in the last three years and to be at university and college freshers’ events where possible.

We have an amazing opportunity to place God’s Word within an arm’s reach for visitors and citizens of this great city.

Please pray that the Bibles placed will be read and that souls will be saved.
Scripture distribution, including personal witness, will take place from Wednesday to Saturday inclusive. We will be visiting hotels, hospitals and the emergency services. We are also planning to contact any schools that have been closed to The Gideons in the last three years and to be at university and college freshers’ events where possible.

We have an amazing opportunity to place God’s Word within an arm’s reach for visitors and citizens of this great city.

Please pray that the Bibles placed will be read and that souls will be saved.

You see them in all sorts of places: open a hospital locker, and there you’ll see one; pull out the drawer of your bedside cabinet in a hotel, and there you will likely find a Gideons Bible. Every new secondary school starter will be offered a Gideons New Testament. Even in prison the chances are you will have encountered a Gideons Bible.

So, why do the Gideons give away Bibles? Why not something else? Something smaller, cheaper?

The Gideons believe that the Bible is God’s inspired word – that He is the source of every single word. The Gideons also believe what the Bible promises about itself. In the book of Isaiah we are told:

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. – Isaiah 55:10-11

This promise reassures us that God has a plan and a purpose behind giving us His word. He sends it out to accomplish His divine will, to bring His plans to pass, with certainty. Just as the rain and snow brings forth growth, so God’s word, the Bible will produce the results that God sent it for.

If this is so, then the most effective tool that we have for the furtherance of God’s plans for His universe is the Bible! It comes with a cast iron guarantee from an honest and omnipotent God!

So, we give out Bibles because we cannot find anything better to give – it is the ultimate gift that man can give. If you have not already received your own personal copy of God’s word, the Bible, please use the contact form to request a Bible from the Southport Gideon Branch, or, if you live further afield, please visit the Gideons UK Web Site to request a Bible.

Greetings in our dear Lord’s name to all our Friends,

No sooner do we seem to have finished celebrating our Lord’s birth and Epiphany, than we begin our preparations for Lent and Easter! The Christian calendar is a wonderful way for us to mark out our year and to concentrate our thoughts on the important things in life.

I thought it might be an idea to let you know what the Gideons International are doing at the moment when God’s Word is in the news in this 400th anniversary year of the Authorised Version.

As I hope you already know, the Gideons give away 1 million copies of God’s Word – either full Bibles or books containing just the New Testament and the Psalms – approximately every 6 days, somewhere in the world! That’s a massive 7000 just during an hour of worship!

Differently coloured and different styles of Bibles and Testaments are produced for the many different areas of distribution covered by our Ministry. These include those for Hotels and Guest Houses; Hospitals; Medical staff; Schools; Colleges and Students; and Prisons, as well as both Bibles and Testaments for personal witnessing by the Gideons themselves. The latest edition to our Scripture production is a New Testament and Psalms with a desert camouflage cover for our armed forces. This can even be printed with the regimental badge on the front!

Also, since many people have poor eyesight and find reading small print difficult, we produce both large print and ultra giant print versions of the New Testament and Psalms. These are largely used in placements in Nursing and Rest Homes, but anyone with poor eyesight, including some pupils in the schools, can be given one of these.
The Gideon Ministry is worldwide and there are now Gideons in 192 different countries (at the last count)! This means that our Scriptures have to be produced in over 90 different languages or dialects.

Here, in the Southport Branch, we are privileged to be able to present God’s Word in every school and hospital in our area, and it is also accepted in almost every hotel and guest house, too. We also place Bibles in Wymott Prison and conduct Bible Study sessions every week in the prison! If you find a Gideon Bible or Testament missing from anywhere you think one should be placed, anywhere in the UK, then please let us know. We can then pass on the information to our National Office to be followed up.

Our National Office is based in Lutterworth, which also has a special connection with Bible translation. In the 14th century religious reformer Canon John Wyclif was Rector in Lutterworth’s Parish Church of St Mary between 1374 and 1384, and it was here that he is traditionally believed to have produced the first translation of the Bible from Latin into English.

In this 400th Anniversary year of the production of the Authorised Version (1611), we are all being encouraged to read God’s Holy Word. Never has it been more relevant to daily living than in this constantly changing world of ours. Its message is for everyone, everywhere, and is a safe and secure place to turn to for help and guidance in life.

Why not take your Bible down from its shelf or out of the bookcase, and read just a small passage each day. Some people start at Genesis Chapter 1 and read a chapter a day right through to Revelation Chapter 22! There are 1129 chapters, so it will only take you 3 years 34 days if you don’t miss any! If you need help and guidance in reading God’s Holy Word, why not try one of the many Daily Bible Reading aids available from a Christian Bookshop, or ask us for a copy of the Gideons Bible Helps.
Many times in the past, and even in today’s world, reading a Gideon Bible has brought people to a saving knowledge of the Lord, Jesus Christ and has changed their lives for ever!

Thank you all for your prayerful support,

George Phillips
Chairman

We will shortly be sending out the Spring 2011 edition of the Gideon News to our friends and supporters. If you would like to receive a copy and are not already on our mailing list please use the contact form at the top of this page to request one.

We would love to be able to keep you updated with what the Gideons are doing in and around Southport, so please sign up to be kept informed. We send out the newsletter quarterly and will be using this site to keep you up to date on what’s going, so please do get in touch.

I don’t know where or when you read your Bible. For some, it’s first thing in the morning, for others, who perhaps struggle to wake up, it’s the evening. For others, it’s some minutes of solitude in the middle of a busy day. For me, a good cup of coffee and a Gideons New Testament is a great combination – the Testament is so easy to carry with you when you go out.

Whenever, wherever you read your Bible, please take the time to remember the work of the Gideons in prayer and to acknowledge God’s promise regarding His Word that it will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish His purposes.

The work of the Gideons is one of evangelism, we take God at His Word as we give out the Scriptures. If you would like to know more about the work that we do, or support the Gideons in Southport more formally through prayer, or financially, then please use the contact link at the top of this page to let us know.