GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE
We’re delighted to share a really encouraging update about Good News for Everyone (formerly the Gideons). Last week, something significant took place at St Benedict’s School, the very school we meet in on Sundays and we’re excited for you to hear the story.
Below is a message from David Gunton, who explains what happened, why it matters, and how we as a church can be praying. We believe this is a wonderful opportunity both to bless our local community and to see the good news of Jesus placed directly into young people’s hands.
“Hello Redeemer. I just wanted to let you know about an exciting new partnership that we are able to be involved in with an organization called Good News for everyone. And this is a organization that used to be known as Gideons and they are all about getting the good news of Jesus into as many people's hands as possible. So you may have been staying in a hotel and found a Bible in the bedside drawer that would have been put there by Gideons. Now good news for everyone. And one of the other things they do is go into schools. Um and give Bibles to children and we are partnering with them to support giving out Bibles to some Benedict's students, that's the school we meet at as a church and last Friday the organization went into Saint Benedict's. Um, they were welcomed very warmly. They had good favor there as we have had as a church and they were able to give out 170 Bibles um, which is to a total of 180 years seven students. So, it's a really amazing take up. The children are really receptive to the presentation they gave and they just generally got a really warm welcome. Where we come in as a church any queries that come out of those Bible being given out by the students and but potentially staff as well will be directed to us. So as a result of reading the Bible they want to learn more they'll be sent to redeemer. And as well as partnering in a financial way to support the giving out of these Bible. The most important thing we can do and what we want everyone to help with is praying 170 year seven students were given the good news of Jesus in the form of the Bible on Friday and we want them to read it. We don't just want it to be something they have now. Um, so please pray that these children would read the Bible that the Holy Spirit would work in their lives as they read the Bible and they would be struck by the truth they read and that their life would be changed and they would want to be discipled. That their families will be impacted and we will see people coming to church wanting to name more about Jesus as a result of what happened in St. Benedict's on Friday. So please join us in prayer and let's hope that many lives are changed by the simple act of being given a Bible.”
David Gunton
Take a look at the video below on the subject from one of our Elders at Redeemer, Carl Barker.
We are pleased to share a few encouraging words from one of our covenant members here at Redeemer, Andy Tomkins.
The bible as God's word has the power to provide the answer to every problem or situation of life but moreover by revealing God himself it has the ability to change people's lives giving them peace, contentment, strength to face all the situations of life and giving hope for the future. For many years I have been a member of an organisation now called Good News for Everyone! (though you may have come across them under their former name of "The Gideon’s) that has been giving out copies of God's Word and has heard of countless lives changed and commitments made to follow Jesus as Lord and Saviour. The following testimony shows that God keeps his promise of the power of His Word.
"l had been christened as a child and went to a church school but neither my parents were religious and I grew up not believing in a God who couldn't be seen. Being an only child with both parents working and often coming home to an empty house it strengthened my belief there was no God. In my teenage years with school books saying we came from monkeys I accepted a Godless universe and became a confirmed atheist. I married Pam and for a few years we worried about bank accounts, mortgages and work. Then all changed as Pam fell in love with another man. I was confused jealous and hurt - it was a very difficult period for me as an atheist. You see the person my wife fell in love with was Jesus. Nine months later my wife was given a Gideon bible. She suggested I read it but I was having none of that religious stuff. But Pam and others had been praying for me and out of idle curiosity a few days later I picked it up and began to read. There is not a day since when I have not read the word of God. A month later I was certain that God was real and asked Jesus into my life.”
As to where Scriptures are placed you might have come across a bible in a hotel room, hospital ward or care home or been given one on starting secondary school or university. It is possible you may have even been offered one on the streets of our city. Other places we seek to leave the bible are in doctor's or dentist's waiting rooms or undertakers. Such places can be a stressful and having a copy of God's word available brings comfort and gives hope to many. As you can see the areas that are covered are many and varied and in future posts I hope to expand how we access some of the above. I found that whilst giving out copies of the scriptures was initially outside my comfort zone, once you have stepped out the Holy Spirit gives you a desire to keep on giving! I strongly believe that God's Word is a seed that can change individual lives, families, communities and cities. Maybe in these few words you have been challenged?”
Andy Tomkins
If you’d like to learn more about Good News for Everyone, what they do, their heart to put Bibles in classrooms, hotels, and all kinds of places, or how you could support or get involved — you can visit their website: goodnewsuk.com and explore their “Who We Are,” “Request Bibles” or “Get Involved” pages.
