1. SA GIDEON
www.gideons.co.za
OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL IN SOUTH AFRICA
August 2016
{Matt. 28:19 }
“GO THEREFORE...”
GOAL PROGRESS REPORT - JULY 2016
AREA RALLIES FEEDBACK
LOGOS HOPE FEEDBACK

2. Editorial
Go therefore • Pierre le Grange
Go therefore • Susan Morkel
Achievement of Goals
Area Rallies Feedback
Why I’m a Friend
The 2016 Venezuela International Scripture Blitz
Logos Hope
Libya - Country still closed
National Convention 2016
Banking Details
First National Bank, Pretoria
Branch code: 25 14 45
Cheque Account: 510 608 41497
P.O. Box 11263, Hatfield, 0028
Tel: (012) 460 7241/2
Fax: (012) 460 8552
email: info@gideonssa.org
INDEX
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www.gideons.co.za
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facebook.com/GideonsinternationalSouthAfrica
@TheGideonsinSA
The Gideons Intl in SA
www.gideons.co.za

3. After nearly two thousand years, the
Great Commission still remains as
urgent as when Jesus gave it: “Therefore
go and make disciples...” (Mat 28 19).
It is also the main reason for each
Gideon and Auxiliary member to be
part of this association. In this edition,
the leadership of Region 1 emphasizes
this assignment and calls on everyone
to reconsider the intensity at which they
execute this command.
We give feedback on this year’s visit of
the Logos Hope ship to South Africa
and the impact of the opportunity to be
present on the ship. Camps near the
harbours visited were able to promote
the Friends of Gideons initiative. The
testimony of the founder of Operation
Mobilization, George Verwer, who was
converted after reading a Gideons
Testament at age eleven, made it even
more special. Hundreds of Friends
of Gideons were recruited on the
ship and beautiful testimonies were
received from people who had the first
opportunity to thank the Gideons for a
Bible that led to their conversion.
Feedback is given regarding the 23 area
rallies that were held in June 2016 and
the recent international Bybelblitz in
Venezuela.
The 2016 National Convention at
Mentors Country Estate in Jeffreys Bay
will take place soon: make sure you do
not miss it!
Finally, how are you doing regarding
your personal achievement
regarding the international goal to
hand out one PWT per week per
member? It is the easiest way to
carry out the Great Commission -
let’s do it!
1SA GIDEON
August 2016
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL

4. “Go therefore…”
Matt 28:19
2 www.gideons.co.za Therefore go • Pierre lG
We often doubt this instruction.
Did God give me this instruction
and how do I accomplish it?
Gal. 1:1 - “… an apostle –sent
not from men nor by man, but
by Jesus Christ…” Just like
Paul, we are appointed (and
called) by Jesus Christ to win
people for His kingdom.
Have you ever wondered how
you and I can accomplish this
instruction? Firstly, our whole life
must bear witness to the fact that
we are followers of Jesus. Do you
share His word with others that are
not yet His followers? Someone
that has not experienced His love
and joy? What is your reaction
when God’s name is used in vain?
We must not become doubtful
and worldly. What is better
than testifying about how Jesus
changes people’s lives when they
accept Him as their Saviour?
Pray every day and ask God to
send people across your path
to whom you can witness. Trust
the Holy Spirit to lead you in the
conversation with such people.
Pierre le Grange

5. 3Therefore go • Pierre lG SA GIDEON
You and I need to get out of our
comfort zones so that we are
always ready to witness. If it is our
choice as to when we will witness,
it may never happen. Trust the
Lord!! Pray and pray unceasingly
that the Holy Spirit will lead you to
testify about the great love of King
Jesus for us. We don’t have to do
it in our own strength. Never start
doubting – but trust Him who gave
us the Great Commission. Allow
your passion for Him to inspire
you to use every opportunity to
win souls for Him!
We as humans do not have a choice
as to where we will witness. God
will use us where He needs us.
Sometimes it is amongst rough,
unpolished diamonds – those who
need Jesus. Remember that God
will never place you in a situation
that you cannot handle – just trust
Him!
Very often one hears the words
spoken: “I still wanted to do so
much for the Lord.” The question
is: “What did you want to do and
what do you plan to do for the rest
of your days?” Time is running out,
the hour glass is nearly empty.
You still have time to accomplish
the commission, to hand out
that PWT lying in your car or in
your handbag. I recently had to
pluck up the courage to have
this conversation with one of my
managers. He needed to hear that
God loves him and that His grace
is available to him. I wondered if
my life had been a testimony to
him. Did he see Jesus in me?
Or will you and I one day sing the
words: “Must I go, and empty-
handed? Must I meet my Saviour
so? Not one soul with which to
greet Him - Must I empty-handed
go?” (Song 418 in Great Songs of
Faith).
Pierre le Grange
Regional Presi-
dent – Region 1

6. 4 www.gideons.co.za Go and make disciples • Susan Morkel
Susan Morkel
This is the Great
Commission! A
Kingdom command!
What must I do?
God commands us to share His
Gospel, to make all people aware
of His teachings. To be obedient.
Obedience is better than sacrifice (I
Sam 15:22).
The Good News spreads the love of
God, that He came to earth to die for
us and rose again to save us.
All believers are called to go to all the
nations to make disciples for God so
that they can learn about God, accept
Christ as Saviour and commit to
following Him.
We read in James 2:26 “As the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith
without deeds is dead”.
Who must make disciples and who
must become disciples?
The ministry to all nations is of the
utmost importance and one must
witness to anyone we encounter. It
begins with our loved ones but also
includes strangers because we must
love our neighbours as ourselves. So,
too, just like Jesus, we must live out
“Go therefore…”
Matt 28:19

7. 5Go and make disciples • Susan Morkel SA GIDEON
When we are God’s disciples we live
differently, under a new King and in a
new Kingdom. We are in the service of
the Lord and also others as He showed
us in John 13 when He washed the
disciples feet.
In some situations people cannot read
the four Gospels and we are called
to live the only “gospel” that they can
“read”. God summons each one of us
with a unique calling and wants to use
us where He needs us just as He sent
Moses to lead His people out of Egypt.
Let us then be obedient and share
God’s love with everyone He sends our
way so that each one can experience
the love of God, become His disciple
and follow Him.
In this way we are obedient to this
Great Commission, this Kingdom
command to “go forth and make
disciples.”
Susan Morkel
Auxiliary Regional
President – Region 1
our love for others. We must ensure
that all know what God has done for
us and who He is.
No one is exempt from this Command
and there is also no excuse that we
do not know what to say or do or that
we are not able to do it, because the
Holy Spirit equips us. Also, we cannot
choose with whom we will share
the Gospel as the Lord sends people
across our path for example just like
the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37.
It also shows us how important it is
to convince people with our deeds as
well as words because they form a
unit. Just as we as Christ’s community
must work together to make disciples.
Why must we go and make
disciples?
We have freely chosen to win souls
for Christ and with the return of
Christ there will be judgement. When
someone does not know Christ he is
lost forever. In James 4:17 we read
“Anyone, then, who knows the good
he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins”.
God is love. He loves us and we must
share that love with everyone we
come into contact with. That is our
greatest commandment – our love for
God and our neighbours.

8. 6 www.gideons.co.za

9. 7Why I’m a Friend: The Gideons Int. SA GIDEONArea Rallies Feedback SA GIDEON
AREA RALLIES
FEEDBACK
More than 25% of all Gideons and Auxiliary
members have attended this year’s rallies
in the 23 areas countrywide - 927 members
in total!
The theme of Romans 12:11 “…be fervent in
spirit, serve the Lord” spoke to everyone’s
heart. Feedback confirms that the messages
from biblically based speakers inspired
members to take this message back to their
camps. The simultaneous occurrence of
the rallies together with the International
Day of Prayer on the 11th June 2016 also
created glorious prayer events nationwide.
Topics compiled for training by the national
training and program committees also drew
a positive response. Remember to diarise
2017’s date to attend your area rally!
Christo
van der Schyff
Executive
Director
Christo van der Schyff
7

10. 8 www.gideons.co.za Why I’m a Friend: The Gideons Int.
WHY I’M A
FRIEND
The Gideons International
Friends of Gideons was introduced
in 2014, and since then over 4,000
people have joined us as either
prayer or financial partners.
Becoming a Friend provides a
unique opportunity for those who
desire a closer relationship with
The Gideons, but do not choose
to be members, or simply do not
qualify.
Friends are family members,
neighbors, pastors, and co-workers.
They are people from all walks of
life who share a heart for Jesus and
a common goal of spreading God’s
Word. Sometimes, they are people
who have a Gideon testimony of their
own and want to impact others in
the same way The Gideons impacted
them. For Daniel Silguero, the mission
of our Association resonates in a
profound way.
Daniel lives in Weslaco, Texas, with his
wife, Maricela, and his two children,
Danielle and Andrew. He works as an
IT technician for the county of Hildago.
While earning his degree at South
Texas College, Daniel received a New
Testament from a Gideon participating
in a distribution on campus. Already
a believer, he thanked the Gideon,
slipped the New Testament into a
pocket of his backpack, and promptly
forgot about it.
On July 24, 2015, Daniel was
diagnosed with leukemia. The news
came as a terrible shock to him and
to his family, who were all praying for
a clean bill of health. “You are never
prepared to hear something like that,”
said Daniel, “it was devastating. I did
not know how to comprehend the
news.” He began to consider what the
road ahead would look like, and how
the cancer would affect the remainder
of his life, as well as the lives of his
wife and two young children. Just as
he was beginning to lose hope, he
came across the New Testament that
had been handed to him years earlier.
Daniel read the New Testament cover
to cover, and he was surprised by how
much encouragement it brought him.
“I cannot express how helpful that

11. Daniel plans to take New Testaments
to the cancer center he visits so that
he can provide them to the patients
undergoing treatment. He explained,
“When you get news like the news
that was given to me, it is devastating.
The people undergoing treatment are
in a lot of pain, both physically and
emotionally. I know that receiving a
New Testament will be a real blessing,
just like it was to me.”
Friends of Gideons is making an
incredible impact across the United
States. Friends are instrumental to the
success of The Gideons International,
becausetheyprovidethemuchneeded
prayer support to open doors and the
financial support to keep those doors
open. Most importantly, it allows
others a chance to experience the joy
of associating together and bringing
the lost to Christ. “I feel connected
to The Gideons by being a Friend,”
said Daniel. “I am thankful for
the opportunity to be part of this
association, because I know that
we are making a difference in the
world.”
The more Friends a camp has, the
greater the chance of Christ being
revealed. Share the Friends of Gideons
opportunity with people you know
in your church, your work, or your
neighborhood. Tell them about how
they can make a global impact on a
local basis. Encourage your friends to
become our Friends.
- The Gideons International
9Why I’m a Friend: The Gideons Int. SA GIDEON
New Testament was,” he said. “It was
small enough that I was able to carry
it with me everywhere, and the more
I studied it, the more it continued
to bring me closer to God. It was a
frightening time, but the Word gave
me hope. I knew that no matter what,
I needed to have faith that God would
see me through it.”
Sixteen days after his diagnosis,
Daniel went into remission. It was
a miraculous turn of events that
left his oncologist stunned. For the
Silguero family, it was a humbling
demonstration of the incredible
power of prayer. “God is mighty,” said
Daniel, “Matthew 17:20 tells us that
faith as small as a mustard seed can
make great things happen. I am living
testimony that this is true.”
Daniel’s experience convinced him
that he needed to be more intentional
aboutwitnessingtoothers.Hedecided
one way to do that was to partner
with The Gideons as a Friend. “After
everything I have been through and
all the battles I fought, I have realized
that there is a tremendous amount
of need.” Daniel continued, “So many
people either do not know God or are
too involved in their daily routine that
they forget about how He can deliver
them from their pain and hardships.
The Gideon New Testament was given
to me so that I would have it in my
most desperate time of need, and it
gave me peace when I needed it most.
In return, I would like to continue
spreading His Word by providing
people with New Testaments.”

12. Venezuela is a country of diverse natural
beauty. Among the most defining
geographical characteristics are the towering
tabletop mountains of the Guyana Highlands
and the lofty Andean peaks in the northwest
territory. Isaiah 52:7 says, “How beautiful
upon the mountains are the feet of him who
brings good news…” For members of The
Gideons International in Venezuela, these
words could not hold more true.
This South American nation has recently
10 www.gideons.co.za The 2016 Venezuela International Scripture Blitz
experienced a series of economic setbacks
and natural disasters, including forests fires
and severe drought. There is currently a
food, water, and medicine shortage of critical
proportions. Countless men and women
now have no choice but to wait in long lines
to gain access to basic products such as
milk, flour, and sugar.
Amidst these challenges, the hope of
Christ is glowing bright through evangelical
churches and The Gideons International.
In April of this year, Gideons in Venezuela
welcomed an international team of Gideons
to conduct a Scripture blitz across the
neighboring cities of Puerto la Cruz and
Barcelona. Approximately 40 local Gideons
and Auxiliary from 20 camps united in
preparation for the event, some traveling
over 18 hours by bus to participate. Blitz
team leaders organized transportation,
translators, housing, and itineraries for the
Gideon and Auxiliary teams.
On the first day, Gideons delivered
presentations in over 20 churches. It quickly
became evident the pastors and church
members had been eagerly anticipating their
arrival. “They told us they had been praying

13. 11The 2016 Venezuela International Scripture Blitz SA GIDEON
about this blitz for a long time,” said Wendell
Terry, a Gideon from Virginia. “They were
extremely passionate about the distribution of
Scriptures in their community, because they
believed it would be instrumental in bringing
about a deep spiritual revival.” Together, they
prayed with Gideons for open doors and open
hearts.
The Lord was faithful to provide Gideons
admittance into schools across the city of
Puerto la Cruz, and they were encouraged
by the receptiveness of the students and
administrators. Team member David Long
of Indiana recalled, “At one middle school, a
group of young people formed around me.
They wanted to hear more about the Bible,
and they asked me to teach them how to lead
Christian lives. They listened intently as the
translator communicated my words to them,
and at the end, they thanked me repeatedly for
spending time with them.”
This testimony was typical for the majority
of schools visited by the blitz teams. “Almost
every time we asked school administrators to
assemble the students, they would, despite
the fact they only had a limited amount of
electricity to use for their school lessons,” said
Wayne Kirkley, a Gideon from Georgia. “We
had the opportunity to encourage the students
to read the New Testament every day, and
explained that when they got to the back,
they could read how to have eternal life in
Heaven with Jesus.” By the end of the blitz,
thousands of students, teachers, and faculty
members had heard the presentation of the
Gospel in this manner.
At the Puerto la Cruz Police Station, the
chief of police also had his detectives and
administrators assemble for the blitz team.
“It was a group of about 45 men and women.
Wetoldthemweappreciatedtheirserviceand
understood the dangers they encountered on
a daily basis. Then, we walked them through
the Plan of Salvation,” said Kirkley. Many
of the officers prayed to receive Christ and
thanked the Gideons for the work they were
doing in their community.
As the teams continued to move throughout
the city, the Lord continued to open doors,
sometimes in unconventional ways. One day,
a gentleman approached a team of Gideons
outside of their hotel. He explained he heard
about the “big work” they were doing from a
close friend and, as a chaplain in the military,
he desired for Gideons to distribute New
Testaments to soldiers stationed in Puerto
Le Cruz. Just like that, God had provided
a way for Gideons to take his Word to the

14. Venezuelan National Guard.
Over 400 New Testaments were distributed
to military personnel that afternoon. The
soldier assigned to lead the Gideons around
the facility heard the Gospel message many
times, and before they left, a team member
asked him if he believed God’s Word to be
real or fiction. After a moment of silence, the
soldier replied, “I believe it is real. In fact, my
wife is a Christian.” He then prayed to accept
the Lord as his Savior and signed his name in
the back of the New Testament. Imagine the
joy as he returned home and reunited with his
wife as a new believer in Christ.
Gideons also gained admission to a juvenile
detention center. International team leader
Trevor Johns (Tennessee) remembered, “We
were unsure how we would be received, but
when we walked through the door, we were
greeted with smiling faces.” Inside, there was
a group of inmates gathered in a small circle.
As they moved closer, the team realized the
teenagers were taking advantage of their brief
time outside of their darkened cells to have
a Bible study. They were using two tattered
Gideon New Testaments. “Many of them had
visible scars on their faces and cigarette burns
on their skin, giving us a small glimpse of what
12 www.gideons.co.za The 2016 Venezuela International Scripture Blitz
they had endured in life,” Trevor continued. “I
was privileged to spend time with that young
group of believers, praying with them and
encouraging them.”
At the end of the distribution, the team had
handed out 119 Scriptures, and two men
had prayed to receive Christ. Moreover, local
Gideons explained that they now had access to
all prisons in Venezuela, which, in turn, gives
them the ability to take the Gospel to over
53,000 inmates.
The hard work and organizational planning of
Gideons and Auxiliary members in Venezuela,
as well as the prayer support of faithful men
and women around the world, resulted in
the distribution of over 189,000 Scriptures in
Puerto la Cruz and Barcelona over the course
of this one-week blitz. The teams witnessed
God move in mighty ways, leaving each
participant confident their efforts would ignite
a spiritual revival. “There was a tremendous
bond that developed between the local and
international team members,” said Wendell
Terry, a Gideon from Virginia. “Overall, it was
an incredible blessing and a truly humbling
experience for God to use us in Venezuela.”

15. 13Logos Hope SA GIDEON
Rickert Marais
George Verwer, born in 1939, was raised
in a protected family background and went
to a school in Wyckoff, New Jersey, until
he was 11 years old. One day he received a
Gideon Bible in the school auditorium. He
read it and signed the last page. That was
his first step towards his faith in Jesus
Christ.
Often, we hear about such pleasant stories
but the special thing about this story is:
the boy who read that Bible became the
founder of one of the biggest ministries
worldwide – OM (Operation Mobilisation).
One of their outreach ministries known
as the Logos Hope is the largest gospel
bookshop on water! The Logos Hope’s
mission is to spread the Word of God
around the world. This year The Gideons
International in South Africa had the
opportunity to be on board the Logos
Hope ship in East London, Port Elizabeth
and Cape Town harbours to do Personal
Work as well as signing up Friends of
Gideons with visitors on board.
Here are three testimonies from our
experience on the Logos Hope.
TESTIMONY 1
A grade 8 learner, who recently received
a youth Testament from The Gideons
International, visited the Logos Hope.
That day her mother joined as a Friend
of Gideons, in order to help us to keep on
placing Bibles in schools.
THE GIDEONS
INTERNATIONAL ON
BOARD THE LOGOS
HOPE!

16. 14 www.gideons.co.za Logos Hope
Harbours Visited
Cape Town
East London
Port Elizabeth
Total Friends Signed up
224
17
76
Total Personal Workers
Testaments Handed Out
304
325
620
TESTIMONY 2
A teacher from the Rhenish High School
came to meet us on the ship in order to
receive a Bible for one of her learners.
The learner mentioned to her that she
hadn’t received a Bible when we visited
her school. She will receive it at their next
Bible study!
TESTIMONY 3
Heinrich Weidmann, a pastor at the
German Stadtmission Church, signed up
to be a Friend of Gideons. We have been
invited to do church presentations at their
three congregations.
Rickert Marais
Communications Officer

17. COUNTRY STILL
TO THE MINISTRY
CLOSED
LIBYA
PRAY
No form of evangelism or
missions work is allowed
in Libya. The Internet has
provided an opportunity
for witnessing to Libyans
in recent years.
79/100
PERSECUTION LEVEL VERY HIGH
Leader: Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani
Population: 6.68 million (35,000
Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Transitional
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism
Libya is still trying to recover from
the popular revolution and fierce
civil war, which lasted from February
to October 2011, against Colonel
Muammar Gadhafi who had ruled for
over 40 years.
Now the influence of Islamic State is
growing in the country. In addition to
Libya’s ongoing security challenges
related to the demobilization,
disarmament and reintegration of
local militias throughout the country,
it also faces increasingly complex
difficulties related to the smuggling of
people and weapons into and out of its
territory.
+ Pray that God would disrupt the plans of the
Islamic State to show them His sovereignty
over all.
+ Pray for the growing MBB church in Libya,
especially those who are isolated from other
believers.
+ Pray that many would hear the gospel
through Arabic satellite and web broadcasts
in the country.
15Country still closed to the ministry• Libya SA GIDEON