Gideons

[Mathews XT Man]

Do we have any Gideon members on RT?? Was curious if you are one.

[IllinoisArcher]

nnever heard of it....what is it?

[slugshooter]

The people who place the bible's in your hotel room.

[johnf]

Here's who they are

I was shoked that someone hadn't heard of them.

[Mathews XT Man]

john, thats right..they do a tremendous work, also jail ministry, very hard to join too, they are quite picky who joins..extremely high standards!!

[stevebeilgard]

i, for one, apprecaite them, althought i'm not one

[markyj987]

Oneida man, I do appreciate what they do with the hotels, jail ministry, and I have even seen them handing out copies of the New Testament on campus.

However, the statement that [ QUOTE ]
they are quite picky who joins..extremely high standards!!

[/ QUOTE ] is troubling to me. Could you please elaborate?

[Mathews XT Man]

well the standards for the members are very high, you must beleive Jesus is the only way to Salvation, must beleive the Bible is the infalable word of God, and you must be a member in good standing with an evangelical church. An upstand business man, or professional business in the community.

[preacherman]

I am not one; of course, they won't let me be......because of being a Pastor. From what I understand, their members also have to have a letter of recommendation from their pastor as well.

[markyj987]

I think what they do is a GREAT thing, don't get me wrong, but "membership requirements" to share the Gospel just kind of rub me the wrong way.

[Mathews XT Man]

Well, I understand your veiw Marky...but not everyone is able to join just based on doing the work. They are looking at Integrety of the individual, why a pastor could not be a member rubs me the wrong way, I'll ask and get back to you why that is..

[preacherman]

[ QUOTE ]
Well, I understand your veiw Marky...but not everyone is able to join just based on doing the work. They are looking at Integrety of the individual, why a pastor could not be a member rubs me the wrong way, I'll ask and get back to you why that is..

[/ QUOTE ]

From what I have heard concerning the Pastor requirement is because of the requirements that these men have to go and speak in churches. They travel to all the area churches here, at least once a year and then they also do fill in work when pastors are out of town and such. I think that is why no pastors are taken.

[Mathews XT Man]

Pastors are able to become members, however not under any denomination, this being that the Gideons go as Christians and do not promote any one denomination. Besides..most pastors have much more than they can handle now. Preacherman is right, the members do speak in churches as ambassadores for the organization, but must meet a very skilled speaking presentation first. A Christian can also go with gideon member to jail ministry as a guest and not be a member, to share a testimony.