February 22, 2025 • 19 mins
Step into the profound journey of faith as we sit down with Dr. Troy Bostick, my father-in-law and trusted dentist, to unravel the incredible story behind the Gideons. Originating from a simple idea to counter the saloon culture of the late 19th century, this evangelistic association has blossomed into a monumental force for spreading the Christian faith across the globe. Discover how two determined businessmen from Wisconsin ignited a mission that now operates in over 200 countries, distributing Bibles in 196 languages, with a staggering 95 million Bibles shared just last year. We'll uncover the unique color-coding system that helps direct Bibles to groups like military personnel and medical staff, and dive into the biblical inspiration for the name "Gideons," drawn from a figure known for his steadfast obedience to God's will.
Our conversation takes a personal turn as we explore the impact of becoming a Gideon, emphasizing its non-denominational nature and the heartfelt commitment involved. Dr. Bostick sheds light on the various roles within the organization, from speaking engagements at churches to the distribution of Bibles in hotels and hospitals. We also highlight the innovative Gideon card program, a meaningful way to honor loved ones by donating Bibles in their name. With personal stories and gospel narratives at the heart of this endeavor, we discuss how these tales of faith can connect and empower. Join us for an episode brimming with inspiring stories, and learn how the Gideons continue to make a difference worldwide.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Well, in today's episode, I have with me here Dr
Troy Bostick.
Hello, it is kind of weird forme to call you Dr Bostick, but
he is also my father-in-law anda dentist my dentist, I mean.
Today we're going to bediscussing an organization he's
been a part of called theGideons, and so we're going to
learn all about the ins and outsabout who they are and what
(00:28):
they do.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Who are the Gideons, well, gideons is an evangelistic
association of Christian menand women.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Okay, and how are they founded and how long has it
been around, and all that goodstuff.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
There were a couple of businessmen up in Wisconsin
who gathered together at a hotel.
And back in 1899, there wasn'ta whole lot to do but go to the
saloon or the gambling hall, andthey were strong Christians and
they just wanted someone tohave an alternative where they
wanted to go alternative, yeah,where they wanted to go and so
(01:08):
they kind of started havingbible study together and then
decided they needed to witnessto people, and so that's kind of
how it started.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, so they changed their business of selling
whatever into, I guess notreally selling bibles, but made
their organization that doesthat yes, yeah turn that skill
around.
Yes, yeah, I think you know Iwas reading about that before.
I was like, yes, yeah, I thinkyou know I was reading about
that before.
I was like it's cool.
It's kind of like you know,what we all can kind of do is
mission, because we can all makeour whatever we do like that
(01:33):
Right, turn it around and makeit missional Our mission field.
Yeah, that's a long time ago.
That's really cool.
That's really cool.
So why exactly they decided todo it and how did they actually
come to doing it?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well they found that there just wasn't very much to
do other than the things that Italked about, and so they wanted
to provide at least theopportunity for people to have
something else to do besides.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Like conversation wise.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah yeah, it wasn't just Matter of fact.
They didn't really distributeBibles until 10 years after they
started.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Okay, so that part was because that's what I kind
of knew about them.
I was like oh, gideon.
Bible you know, yeah, but sothat came.
But for the first 10 years itwas more like for a
socialization yes, exactly, andthen later it became about
distribution.
Right, that's right.
Are they international, or isit just?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
our nation or just a region Over 200 countries.
Wow, gideons are in and wedistribute Bibles in 196
different languages.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
That's really cool.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I didn't even know there were 196 languages.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yeah, I think there's probably a little bit more.
There are, but I think there'slike only I say only, there's
like 200 in what country?
It's 275?
I don't know I'd have to lookthat up, be on the show notes.
But that is like 200 andsomething countries, so I mean
that's the majority of thecountries you guys are in.
That's really impressive,didn't didn't know that my dad
(03:09):
my dad is also a Gideon and heis not informing me about all
this stuff, so he's letting medown.
Yeah, do you know how manyGideon Bibles have been given
out this year so far?
Did you even know that number?
Or I can tell you.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Last year, we kind of have figures, we kind of run in
the 95 million Bibles Wow,that's a full testament, or a
full Bible and New Testament,but still 95 million Bibles have
been given out.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
So y'all do do both like a full Bible and the New
Testament.
Yes, yeah, the whole Tales kit,the big book bibles have been
given out.
So y'all do do both like a fullbible and the new testament.
Yes, yeah, yeah, the hotels getthe big, the book you know, the
big, yeah, yeah, and thehospitals, yeah.
So there's a lot, yeah, and soyou guys are going to a lot of
different places, so thehospitals and the schools and
prisons, oh, no nursing homes.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Nursing homes, police stations, fire stations, all
military have their own.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Bible.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
We distribute to everyone that gets deployed.
They get a New Testament,camouflage New Testament.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Okay, yeah, and aren't they color coded Like a
different?
Is that part of how you knowwhich ones go?
Where Is it the differentcolors they are?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, exactly, the brown ones are for us to just
give out on the street.
The little brown ones, the blueones are spanish new testaments
.
Okay, white ones are for nursesand medical personnel.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
So yeah, everything's color-coded to give us an idea
is there anything special in thewhite ones compared to the
brown ones?
No, there's the same, justdifferent color.
That way, you just knew that.
That went to that location okay.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
So like we went to the fair the state, I mean the
fair locally here and gave outorange ones, okay, so it's more
of a an office thing.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, yeah, okay.
I just went like hey, doesthere?
They got extra words in therethan mine, more red words than
mine, I don't know, maybe that'sgood.
Yeah, okay, all right.
So where does the Gideon namecome from?
Because I think the guys thatcame up with it they're not
named Gideon, who was thefounding guys for it?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Let's see.
Their names were John Nicholsonand Samuel Hill.
No word Gideon.
Nothing Gideon in there.
No middle name Gideon.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, nothing like that.
Yeah, so like what made themthink of to choose that to name
this organization?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Well, in the Bible, gideon was a man who was willing
to do anything God wanted himto do.
That was his trademark, was hewas willing to do whether he
knew the reason or not.
Yeah, that was.
His purpose was to do whateverGod wanted him to do, and that's
kind of what that was fashionedafter Gideon.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, they wanted that character.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
And valor from the same members, I guess for them
too.
Yeah, yeah, okay.
So who can be a Gideon?
Any qualifications to it?
I mean, I guess, being aChristian you want one.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Well, yes, born again believer.
You have to be a professionalbusinessman or own your own
business, and outside of that,that's really the only
qualifications you have to have.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
So like when you say being a professional like, what
exactly does that mean?
Like you can't work at?
Is there certain places you canand cannot work at or be a part
of?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You know, if you graduated from high school and
went to work for U, you're notqualified.
You have to have advancededucation.
I guess is what I want to saynow.
If you own your own business,yeah, you can do that.
If you got out of high schooland started your own pest
control business, you can be amember of it.
But there's certain yeah,there's just certain qualities
they're looking for in anindividual.
Yeah, um, they think that'swhat they require.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Or that's what it was .
Starting from that point it wasyeah, because these were
professional salesmen.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Yeah, they had a profession.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Mm-hmm, yeah, so they wanted to keep that bar there.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Okay, and are girls allowed?
No girls allowed.
Is the ball a boys club?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Any wife or spouse of a Gideon can join as an
auxiliary and the auxiliary hascertain functions that only they
can do, so it's exclusive towomen for going to women's
prisons, nursing homes.
We have graduation, nursingschool graduation, and our
auxiliary gives out bottles toall the nursing school graduates
(07:22):
and all the medical offices.
So they have a specific role intheir own everything.
So yeah, women can be a part.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Yeah, so how long have you been a member?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
It's been about 11 years, I think, yeah, wow, I
didn't think it'd been that longand I looked it up.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Oh, my goodness, oh gosh, yeah, I think that makes
Caleb would have been just 21.
Such a baby, yeah, 21.
Such a baby, yeah, yeah, he'salmost.
I think he turns 32 this year.
Oh my gosh, yeah, he does.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, like man, goodness, youknow, when you heard about the
Gideons and you know cause thishas been around I knew I've
(08:04):
known about them when I wascause I think I saw someone, a
Gideon member when I was astudent in elementary school,
come out and give Bible.
So, like you know, they've beenaround a while.
But what made you say, hey, Iwant to be a part of this, I
guess?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
there were two things that really drew me to be a
Gideon.
One is it's non-denominational.
We have Methodists, we've gotBaptists, we've got
non-denominational people thatare part of the group.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
It's really good because it doesn't exclude
anyone that's a.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Christian.
Second thing is any moneythat's given to the Gideons.
All that money goes to printingBibles and distributing.
There is no overhead.
In other words, noadministrative cost comes out of
it If somebody gives $10, all$10 goes straight to printing
the Bibles, putting them inpeople's hands, and you don't
(08:46):
pay for the president of theGideons to have a rental car or
stay in a hotel room.
All that's covered by theGideons themselves.
So to me that was attractive,because I know there's
organizations out there that 85%of what you give goes to
overhead costs and just doesn'tgo to the actual cost.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Oh man, we could be doing so much more, yeah, so
that was a big draw for me.
Yeah, okay, and so once you'rea member, you're in the club,
it's not a club.
Okay, what are the dues?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
It's like $65 a year.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Okay, yeah, no different than other things you
do?
Yeah, certainly not.
But once you're in, you knowwhat is the expectations Like.
What are some things you'reable to do?
You know you said the girlshave one job.
What do other people get to do?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Okay, you know that's another thing that I didn't
know about the Gideons that Ifind attractive now that I've
been in it it is.
There's so many things you cando in the Gideon organization.
If you want to be involved, youcan be just as involved as you
want, or you can be just as notinvolved.
Okay, one of the things we do iswe go into different churches
and we give a report and so ifyou take the training to be a
(09:54):
speaker, you can go and speak inchurches, and so that's
something that if you feelgifted in speaking and want to
do that, you can do that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
If you say that's the last thing I want to do is
stand up in front of a bunch ofpeople and speak.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
There are a lot of other things you can do as a
Gideon.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
You can organize the speaking yeah, which that is a
lot.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
It is a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Scheduling is tough.
It's a big deal.
Yeah, it's tough, I know aboutthat.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Distributing Bibles is another big thing.
In other words, the hotels callus and say, hey, we need some
Bibles.
And so we get a call and theysay, hey, we're going to the
comfort inn next Tuesday.
Can you come and help us putBibles in all the rooms?
Same thing with the hospitals.
So you know, there's lots ofdifferent jobs and things that
you can do.
Just got to figure out what youwant which one, yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
I know you go out and you're a speaker, I'm a speaker
.
How many of those do you dolike a year, do you know?
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I'll probably do about 10 a year.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, because I ever saw you're not in our church
because you know, guys, we go tochurch together and I was like,
oh, you're at a Gideon church,even though it's not a Gideon
church, right, which just meansyou're out speaking that day
about the message and whatnot.
So yeah, I just wondered likehow many is a year, which is not
too terrible?
10.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
You know, we got 52 weeks in a year, so it's only
like a smidge of that.
Yeah, that's not too bad.
And so I think they have likewhat's it called?
Like, a Gideon card is a thingy'all have too.
That's another thing.
So what is that?
The Gideon card program?
Speaker 2 (11:25):
We have every church that we are part of.
We have a rack of cards andthey are in memory cards, in
recognition cards, thinking ofyou cards, and they're free.
You can take this card justlike you buy at Dollar General
or Walgreens or CVS.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
It's cards that you would send someone.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And when you do, you give money to the Gideons and
they put Bibles in thosepeople's names.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
You know, I think I have heard because I think my
dad has started like advocatingfor that, because you know
certain people that pass awayhe's like, hey guys, we can do
this.
So I think I have heard alittle bit about that, yeah,
which is really neat, not?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
that I don't think flowers are great, but it's a
really good way to spend $25 insomebody's memory and you can
put five hotel bottles insomebody's memory and it'll be
inside that bottle It'll saythese bottles were given in
memory of whoever.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, that is really nice.
Yeah, yeah.
So it's $25 for, like, for fivebottles.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Each bottle is $5.
Wow.
Each complete Old and EachBible is $5.
Wow.
Each complete Old and NewTestament is $5.
And the little personalwitnessing testimony is $1.30.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
So what do you mean by that?
The little?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
bitty New Testament is $1.30 to print it, and so if
you gave $13, you're buying 10little New Testaments to give
out.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Oh wow, that's really cool, yeah, so that can go a
long ways it can.
Yeah, that's really neat, verycool.
So how often do you guys meet?
I ask this because my mom makesjokes about my dad, because I
know they have some like uh,dinner meetings and I don't know
the whole story, so I'm tryingto get the facts from you.
(13:10):
So how often do they meet, youknow?
Is this a monthly, weekly,quarterly?
What kind of commitment is justthe meetings are?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
and is that mandatory , or is it just?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
highly encouraged.
It's highly encouraged.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
That's a very good word to say highly encouraged.
We meet once a month as a groupon a Thursday night, and it's
usually two hours.
It is at a restaurant and wehave a meeting.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
That's where the jerks come in.
Oh sure, as a food I love yourfood.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
But every Saturday morning we have a prayer meeting
, 30 minutes, starting at 7o'clock in the morning.
So you can go every Saturdayand you can go every Thursday
night, or you can show up twicein the year, or you can be there
in spirit, that's right.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
So, yeah, I'm going to pray at my house, but I'm
praying for y'all.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
That's right.
It's just a time to focus onpraying for our missionaries,
for our Indian workers andanyway.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, and that is nice.
Just to know that you have acommunity there that's willing
and conscious to pray with youon whatever.
That is a nice thing to knowabout.
So what kind of impact has thishad on your life personally?
You've been a part of it for 11years, I'm sure over that time
it has grown to mean differentthings to you than, probably,
when it first did.
What kind of impact has it beenfor you?
Speaker 2 (14:27):
It all started when I first gave out a New Testament
to someone.
I had been in the Gideons forfour or five months and I didn't
have.
I kept looking for anopportunity, or thought I was
looking for an opportunity, orthought I was looking for an
opportunity, and I passed anopportunity up and the Lord
convicted me and I turned aroundand went back to these people
that I passed up.
(14:48):
I mean, they're just standingon the side of the road with a
sign saying I need supplies andGod said what do they have to
have a sign that says I need aBible, you need to stop.
And so I did.
And so that gave me the courage, having just a little tool, a
little testament in my hand.
Very few people are going torefuse a Bible, yeah.
(15:08):
And so it kind of breaks Likean icebreaker.
It's an icebreaker, it easessomebody to let you at least
talk to them about the Bible.
You may not get to give thewhole testimony, but you can at
least give it to them, and God'sword is supernatural and you
don't know what's going tohappen once that Bible gets in
somebody's hand.
So it's given me the courage tobe a little more bold in
(15:31):
sharing my testimony withstrangers, complete and total
strangers.
I've never given a Gideon Bibleto somebody that I know.
It's always been to a waitress,to a traveler, somebody on the
side of the road, differentsituations.
It's somebody that I don't knowand ordinarily before I became
a Gideon, there's not a chancethat I would have ever spoken to
(15:54):
a person like that withouthaving that Bible and the
knowledge that they're probablygoing to take the Bible and at
least listen to a little bit ofwhat you say.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yeah, yeah, that's how it's impacted my life.
Yeah, made you more intentional, yeah, yeah, which we all
should be, you know, because theGreat Commission the command
for us to share this foreverybody.
You know it's notdiscriminating of age or gender
or anything.
So why should the nextgeneration, or just anybody,
(16:23):
want to join the Gideons and theyounger folks?
Why should they want to be apart of this?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
In our camp, and that's what we call.
The group that I'm a part of.
I'm one of the youngest ones,along with your dad.
Yeah, and you know, we're 61,60.
You know we're not super young,so if we don't get new, blood
new people, then it's going todie out and there's a big field
(16:48):
out there.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
And we need people to step up and join.
And I realize that some peoplestation in life or the time of
their life that they don't havetime to commit to doing stuff
like that, but in all honesty,most of the time Gideons are
older people because they havemore time to go to meetings or
prepare to go to a church andspeak instead of wrangling kids.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Wrangling your toddlers at church?
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Yeah, I mean it's just a difference in life.
I don't know that I could havedone it when I was 35 years old,
yeah, but later in life I hadtime to do it.
So we just it's going to dieout if we don't get new members.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Yeah, that'd be a tragedy.
It would be.
It would be, yeah, if someonewas interested.
Like I want to keep it going.
How could they figure out howto join?
How can they be part of theclub, the Christian club Most of
the time.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
If you want to be part of the Christian club, your
pastor will know how to do it,because we ask preachers to
recommend people.
That's where we get a lot ofour members is from pastors who
say, hey, look, these three guys, they would be good candidates
for Gideons.
And then we speak to them orwe'll contact them and we'll say
, hey, your pastor thinks youwould be a good Gideon.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Yeah, so what do you think about this?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's reallycool.
And is there like another, islike a website or something they
can go to as well?
Do y'all have one?
Speaker 2 (18:14):
We do.
It's called G and find out alot of information.
A lot more fun facts about theIndians, faqs and everything.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Yeah, very cool.
Well, this has been a reallyfun conversation.
I got to tell everyone moreabout you and my dad a little
bit.
Have more ammunition, there yougo.
So I've enjoyed this andlearning more about that and
thank you for coming out hereand sharing Sure.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Been a pleasure, thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
You know, I have to say too, like I think it's
interesting that just talkingabout how, like just having the
Bible in your hand, is a tool tohelp you give the courage to
share.
Because, you know, honestly,for me and my podcast, this is
kind of part of that, what Ihope it is for others as well,
because I found that the moreyou get in practice of just
sharing your story or sharingthe actual gospel story because
those are two separate thingsyeah, what happened to you and
(19:04):
then the actual story of thegospel are two separate stories.
But once you know both of them,and practice saying what they
are.
It's really not that hard to doto a stranger Right.
So just giving you that courage, so I connected with you on
that so yeah.
So thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
My name is Troy and this is my story of the middle.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
And I'm your host, Brandi Bostic, and you've been
listening to the Up for the Muttpodcast.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
If you'd like some merch or just some extra content
, you can check out my Patreonaccount in the show notes below
Psalm 40, verse 2.
He brought me up from adesolate pit out of the muddy
clay and he set my feet on therock, making my steps secure.
Well, in today's episode, I have with me here Dr
Troy Bostick.
Hello, it is kind of weird forme to call you Dr Bostick, but
he is also my father-in-law anda dentist my dentist, I mean.
Today we're going to bediscussing an organization he's
been a part of called theGideons, and so we're going to
learn all about the ins and outsabout who they are and what
(00:28):
they do.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Who are the Gideons, well, gideons is an evangelistic
association of Christian menand women.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Okay, and how are they founded and how long has it
been around, and all that goodstuff.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
There were a couple of businessmen up in Wisconsin
who gathered together at a hotel.
And back in 1899, there wasn'ta whole lot to do but go to the
saloon or the gambling hall, andthey were strong Christians and
they just wanted someone tohave an alternative where they
wanted to go alternative, yeah,where they wanted to go and so
(01:08):
they kind of started havingbible study together and then
decided they needed to witnessto people, and so that's kind of
how it started.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
Yeah, so they changed their business of selling
whatever into, I guess notreally selling bibles, but made
their organization that doesthat yes, yeah turn that skill
around.
Yes, yeah, I think you know Iwas reading about that before.
I was like, yes, yeah, I thinkyou know I was reading about
that before.
I was like it's cool.
It's kind of like you know,what we all can kind of do is
mission, because we can all makeour whatever we do like that
(01:33):
Right, turn it around and makeit missional Our mission field.
Yeah, that's a long time ago.
That's really cool.
That's really cool.
So why exactly they decided todo it and how did they actually
come to doing it?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Well they found that there just wasn't very much to
do other than the things that Italked about, and so they wanted
to provide at least theopportunity for people to have
something else to do besides.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Like conversation wise.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Yeah yeah, it wasn't just Matter of fact.
They didn't really distributeBibles until 10 years after they
started.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Okay, so that part was because that's what I kind
of knew about them.
I was like oh, gideon.
Bible you know, yeah, but sothat came.
But for the first 10 years itwas more like for a
socialization yes, exactly, andthen later it became about
distribution.
Right, that's right.
Are they international, or isit just?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
our nation or just a region Over 200 countries.
Wow, gideons are in and wedistribute Bibles in 196
different languages.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
That's really cool.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I didn't even know there were 196 languages.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Yeah, I think there's probably a little bit more.
There are, but I think there'slike only I say only, there's
like 200 in what country?
It's 275?
I don't know I'd have to lookthat up, be on the show notes.
But that is like 200 andsomething countries, so I mean
that's the majority of thecountries you guys are in.
That's really impressive,didn't didn't know that my dad
(03:09):
my dad is also a Gideon and heis not informing me about all
this stuff, so he's letting medown.
Yeah, do you know how manyGideon Bibles have been given
out this year so far?
Did you even know that number?
Or I can tell you.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Last year, we kind of have figures, we kind of run in
the 95 million Bibles Wow,that's a full testament, or a
full Bible and New Testament,but still 95 million Bibles have
been given out.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
So y'all do do both like a full Bible and the New
Testament.
Yes, yeah, the whole Tales kit,the big book bibles have been
given out.
So y'all do do both like a fullbible and the new testament.
Yes, yeah, yeah, the hotels getthe big, the book you know, the
big, yeah, yeah, and thehospitals, yeah.
So there's a lot, yeah, and soyou guys are going to a lot of
different places, so thehospitals and the schools and
prisons, oh, no nursing homes.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Nursing homes, police stations, fire stations, all
military have their own.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
Bible.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
We distribute to everyone that gets deployed.
They get a New Testament,camouflage New Testament.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Okay, yeah, and aren't they color coded Like a
different?
Is that part of how you knowwhich ones go?
Where Is it the differentcolors they are?
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Yeah, exactly, the brown ones are for us to just
give out on the street.
The little brown ones, the blueones are spanish new testaments
.
Okay, white ones are for nursesand medical personnel.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
So yeah, everything's color-coded to give us an idea
is there anything special in thewhite ones compared to the
brown ones?
No, there's the same, justdifferent color.
That way, you just knew that.
That went to that location okay.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
So like we went to the fair the state, I mean the
fair locally here and gave outorange ones, okay, so it's more
of a an office thing.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Yeah, yeah, okay.
I just went like hey, doesthere?
They got extra words in therethan mine, more red words than
mine, I don't know, maybe that'sgood.
Yeah, okay, all right.
So where does the Gideon namecome from?
Because I think the guys thatcame up with it they're not
named Gideon, who was thefounding guys for it?
Speaker 2 (05:14):
Let's see.
Their names were John Nicholsonand Samuel Hill.
No word Gideon.
Nothing Gideon in there.
No middle name Gideon.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Yeah, nothing like that.
Yeah, so like what made themthink of to choose that to name
this organization?
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Well, in the Bible, gideon was a man who was willing
to do anything God wanted himto do.
That was his trademark, was hewas willing to do whether he
knew the reason or not.
Yeah, that was.
His purpose was to do whateverGod wanted him to do, and that's
kind of what that was fashionedafter Gideon.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Yeah, they wanted that character.
Speaker 2 (05:46):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
And valor from the same members, I guess for them
too.
Yeah, yeah, okay.
So who can be a Gideon?
Any qualifications to it?
I mean, I guess, being aChristian you want one.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Well, yes, born again believer.
You have to be a professionalbusinessman or own your own
business, and outside of that,that's really the only
qualifications you have to have.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
So like when you say being a professional like, what
exactly does that mean?
Like you can't work at?
Is there certain places you canand cannot work at or be a part
of?
Speaker 2 (06:24):
You know, if you graduated from high school and
went to work for U, you're notqualified.
You have to have advancededucation.
I guess is what I want to saynow.
If you own your own business,yeah, you can do that.
If you got out of high schooland started your own pest
control business, you can be amember of it.
But there's certain yeah,there's just certain qualities
they're looking for in anindividual.
Yeah, um, they think that'swhat they require.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Or that's what it was .
Starting from that point it wasyeah, because these were
professional salesmen.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Yeah, they had a profession.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Mm-hmm, yeah, so they wanted to keep that bar there.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Okay, and are girls allowed?
No girls allowed.
Is the ball a boys club?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Any wife or spouse of a Gideon can join as an
auxiliary and the auxiliary hascertain functions that only they
can do, so it's exclusive towomen for going to women's
prisons, nursing homes.
We have graduation, nursingschool graduation, and our
auxiliary gives out bottles toall the nursing school graduates
(07:22):
and all the medical offices.
So they have a specific role intheir own everything.
So yeah, women can be a part.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Yeah, so how long have you been a member?
Speaker 2 (07:32):
It's been about 11 years, I think, yeah, wow, I
didn't think it'd been that longand I looked it up.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Oh, my goodness, oh gosh, yeah, I think that makes
Caleb would have been just 21.
Such a baby, yeah, 21.
Such a baby, yeah, yeah, he'salmost.
I think he turns 32 this year.
Oh my gosh, yeah, he does.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, like man, goodness, youknow, when you heard about the
Gideons and you know cause thishas been around I knew I've
(08:04):
known about them when I wascause I think I saw someone, a
Gideon member when I was astudent in elementary school,
come out and give Bible.
So, like you know, they've beenaround a while.
But what made you say, hey, Iwant to be a part of this, I
guess?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
there were two things that really drew me to be a
Gideon.
One is it's non-denominational.
We have Methodists, we've gotBaptists, we've got
non-denominational people thatare part of the group.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
It's really good because it doesn't exclude
anyone that's a.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
Christian.
Second thing is any moneythat's given to the Gideons.
All that money goes to printingBibles and distributing.
There is no overhead.
In other words, noadministrative cost comes out of
it If somebody gives $10, all$10 goes straight to printing
the Bibles, putting them inpeople's hands, and you don't
(08:46):
pay for the president of theGideons to have a rental car or
stay in a hotel room.
All that's covered by theGideons themselves.
So to me that was attractive,because I know there's
organizations out there that 85%of what you give goes to
overhead costs and just doesn'tgo to the actual cost.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Oh man, we could be doing so much more, yeah, so
that was a big draw for me.
Yeah, okay, and so once you'rea member, you're in the club,
it's not a club.
Okay, what are the dues?
Speaker 2 (09:17):
It's like $65 a year.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
Okay, yeah, no different than other things you
do?
Yeah, certainly not.
But once you're in, you knowwhat is the expectations Like.
What are some things you'reable to do?
You know you said the girlshave one job.
What do other people get to do?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
Okay, you know that's another thing that I didn't
know about the Gideons that Ifind attractive now that I've
been in it it is.
There's so many things you cando in the Gideon organization.
If you want to be involved, youcan be just as involved as you
want, or you can be just as notinvolved.
Okay, one of the things we do iswe go into different churches
and we give a report and so ifyou take the training to be a
(09:54):
speaker, you can go and speak inchurches, and so that's
something that if you feelgifted in speaking and want to
do that, you can do that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
If you say that's the last thing I want to do is
stand up in front of a bunch ofpeople and speak.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
There are a lot of other things you can do as a
Gideon.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
You can organize the speaking yeah, which that is a
lot.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
It is a lot.
Speaker 1 (10:13):
Scheduling is tough.
It's a big deal.
Yeah, it's tough, I know aboutthat.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Distributing Bibles is another big thing.
In other words, the hotels callus and say, hey, we need some
Bibles.
And so we get a call and theysay, hey, we're going to the
comfort inn next Tuesday.
Can you come and help us putBibles in all the rooms?
Same thing with the hospitals.
So you know, there's lots ofdifferent jobs and things that
you can do.
Just got to figure out what youwant which one, yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
I know you go out and you're a speaker, I'm a speaker
.
How many of those do you dolike a year, do you know?
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I'll probably do about 10 a year.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Yeah, because I ever saw you're not in our church
because you know, guys, we go tochurch together and I was like,
oh, you're at a Gideon church,even though it's not a Gideon
church, right, which just meansyou're out speaking that day
about the message and whatnot.
So yeah, I just wondered likehow many is a year, which is not
too terrible?
10.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:08):
You know, we got 52 weeks in a year, so it's only
like a smidge of that.
Yeah, that's not too bad.
And so I think they have likewhat's it called?
Like, a Gideon card is a thingy'all have too.
That's another thing.
So what is that?
The Gideon card program?
Speaker 2 (11:25):
We have every church that we are part of.
We have a rack of cards andthey are in memory cards, in
recognition cards, thinking ofyou cards, and they're free.
You can take this card justlike you buy at Dollar General
or Walgreens or CVS.
Speaker 1 (11:42):
It's cards that you would send someone.
Speaker 2 (11:45):
And when you do, you give money to the Gideons and
they put Bibles in thosepeople's names.
Speaker 1 (11:52):
You know, I think I have heard because I think my
dad has started like advocatingfor that, because you know
certain people that pass awayhe's like, hey guys, we can do
this.
So I think I have heard alittle bit about that, yeah,
which is really neat, not?
Speaker 2 (12:04):
that I don't think flowers are great, but it's a
really good way to spend $25 insomebody's memory and you can
put five hotel bottles insomebody's memory and it'll be
inside that bottle It'll saythese bottles were given in
memory of whoever.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, that is really nice.
Yeah, yeah.
So it's $25 for, like, for fivebottles.
Speaker 2 (12:26):
Each bottle is $5.
Wow.
Each complete Old and EachBible is $5.
Wow.
Each complete Old and NewTestament is $5.
And the little personalwitnessing testimony is $1.30.
Wow.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
So what do you mean by that?
The little?
Speaker 2 (12:39):
bitty New Testament is $1.30 to print it, and so if
you gave $13, you're buying 10little New Testaments to give
out.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Oh wow, that's really cool, yeah, so that can go a
long ways it can.
Yeah, that's really neat, verycool.
So how often do you guys meet?
I ask this because my mom makesjokes about my dad, because I
know they have some like uh,dinner meetings and I don't know
the whole story, so I'm tryingto get the facts from you.
(13:10):
So how often do they meet, youknow?
Is this a monthly, weekly,quarterly?
What kind of commitment is justthe meetings are?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
and is that mandatory , or is it just?
Speaker 1 (13:21):
highly encouraged.
It's highly encouraged.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
That's a very good word to say highly encouraged.
We meet once a month as a groupon a Thursday night, and it's
usually two hours.
It is at a restaurant and wehave a meeting.
Speaker 1 (13:36):
That's where the jerks come in.
Oh sure, as a food I love yourfood.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
But every Saturday morning we have a prayer meeting
, 30 minutes, starting at 7o'clock in the morning.
So you can go every Saturdayand you can go every Thursday
night, or you can show up twicein the year, or you can be there
in spirit, that's right.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
So, yeah, I'm going to pray at my house, but I'm
praying for y'all.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
That's right.
It's just a time to focus onpraying for our missionaries,
for our Indian workers andanyway.
Speaker 1 (14:06):
Yeah, and that is nice.
Just to know that you have acommunity there that's willing
and conscious to pray with youon whatever.
That is a nice thing to knowabout.
So what kind of impact has thishad on your life personally?
You've been a part of it for 11years, I'm sure over that time
it has grown to mean differentthings to you than, probably,
when it first did.
What kind of impact has it beenfor you?
Speaker 2 (14:27):
It all started when I first gave out a New Testament
to someone.
I had been in the Gideons forfour or five months and I didn't
have.
I kept looking for anopportunity, or thought I was
looking for an opportunity, orthought I was looking for an
opportunity, and I passed anopportunity up and the Lord
convicted me and I turned aroundand went back to these people
that I passed up.
(14:48):
I mean, they're just standingon the side of the road with a
sign saying I need supplies andGod said what do they have to
have a sign that says I need aBible, you need to stop.
And so I did.
And so that gave me the courage, having just a little tool, a
little testament in my hand.
Very few people are going torefuse a Bible, yeah.
(15:08):
And so it kind of breaks Likean icebreaker.
It's an icebreaker, it easessomebody to let you at least
talk to them about the Bible.
You may not get to give thewhole testimony, but you can at
least give it to them, and God'sword is supernatural and you
don't know what's going tohappen once that Bible gets in
somebody's hand.
So it's given me the courage tobe a little more bold in
(15:31):
sharing my testimony withstrangers, complete and total
strangers.
I've never given a Gideon Bibleto somebody that I know.
It's always been to a waitress,to a traveler, somebody on the
side of the road, differentsituations.
It's somebody that I don't knowand ordinarily before I became
a Gideon, there's not a chancethat I would have ever spoken to
(15:54):
a person like that withouthaving that Bible and the
knowledge that they're probablygoing to take the Bible and at
least listen to a little bit ofwhat you say.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
Yeah, yeah, that's how it's impacted my life.
Yeah, made you more intentional, yeah, yeah, which we all
should be, you know, because theGreat Commission the command
for us to share this foreverybody.
You know it's notdiscriminating of age or gender
or anything.
So why should the nextgeneration, or just anybody,
(16:23):
want to join the Gideons and theyounger folks?
Why should they want to be apart of this?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
In our camp, and that's what we call.
The group that I'm a part of.
I'm one of the youngest ones,along with your dad.
Yeah, and you know, we're 61,60.
You know we're not super young,so if we don't get new, blood
new people, then it's going todie out and there's a big field
(16:48):
out there.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
And we need people to step up and join.
And I realize that some peoplestation in life or the time of
their life that they don't havetime to commit to doing stuff
like that, but in all honesty,most of the time Gideons are
older people because they havemore time to go to meetings or
prepare to go to a church andspeak instead of wrangling kids.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Wrangling your toddlers at church?
Speaker 2 (17:15):
Yeah, I mean it's just a difference in life.
I don't know that I could havedone it when I was 35 years old,
yeah, but later in life I hadtime to do it.
So we just it's going to dieout if we don't get new members.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Yeah, that'd be a tragedy.
It would be.
It would be, yeah, if someonewas interested.
Like I want to keep it going.
How could they figure out howto join?
How can they be part of theclub, the Christian club Most of
the time.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
If you want to be part of the Christian club, your
pastor will know how to do it,because we ask preachers to
recommend people.
That's where we get a lot ofour members is from pastors who
say, hey, look, these three guys, they would be good candidates
for Gideons.
And then we speak to them orwe'll contact them and we'll say
, hey, your pastor thinks youwould be a good Gideon.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
Yeah, so what do you think about this?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's reallycool.
And is there like another, islike a website or something they
can go to as well?
Do y'all have one?
Speaker 2 (18:14):
We do.
It's called G and find out alot of information.
A lot more fun facts about theIndians, faqs and everything.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
Yeah, very cool.
Well, this has been a reallyfun conversation.
I got to tell everyone moreabout you and my dad a little
bit.
Have more ammunition, there yougo.
So I've enjoyed this andlearning more about that and
thank you for coming out hereand sharing Sure.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Been a pleasure, thank you.
Speaker 1 (18:42):
You know, I have to say too, like I think it's
interesting that just talkingabout how, like just having the
Bible in your hand, is a tool tohelp you give the courage to
share.
Because, you know, honestly,for me and my podcast, this is
kind of part of that, what Ihope it is for others as well,
because I found that the moreyou get in practice of just
sharing your story or sharingthe actual gospel story because
those are two separate thingsyeah, what happened to you and
(19:04):
then the actual story of thegospel are two separate stories.
But once you know both of them,and practice saying what they
are.
It's really not that hard to doto a stranger Right.
So just giving you that courage, so I connected with you on
that so yeah.
So thank you for sharing that.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
My name is Troy and this is my story of the middle.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
And I'm your host, Brandi Bostic, and you've been
listening to the Up for the Muttpodcast.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
If you'd like some merch or just some extra content
, you can check out my Patreonaccount in the show notes below
Psalm 40, verse 2.
He brought me up from adesolate pit out of the muddy
clay and he set my feet on therock, making my steps secure.
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