Gideons continues ministry in CNMI

The Gideons International Pacific Rim regional field officer Greg B. Williams, right, and Saipan Camp president Lewie Adams take a break after donating Bibles yesterday at Century Hotel in Garapan. (Jon Perez)

The Gideons International, a non-denominational Christian group, continued with the ministry it became known for by again placing Bibles in hotel rooms. Century Hotel’s 33 rooms in Garapan was the latest establishment where they carried out the ministry that they have been doing for more than 100 years.

Greg B. Williams, Gideons’ regional field officer for the Pacific, helped supervise the donation of pocket-sized Bibles yesterday at Century Hotel. Gideons Saipan camp president Lewie Adams accompanied him.

“Our purpose is to win the world through God’s word and to let the people know of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Our Bibles are distributed in over 200 countries and last year we gave out over 85 million copies to reach the two billion mark,” said Williams.

“There are seven billion people in the world and we handed out two billion, we have a lot more work to do.”

The Gideons Bibles are printed in over 100 languages including in English. “And with the diverse population here on Saipan, we also print Bibles in Korean and Japanese translations. Hopefully at some point we’ll be able to have Bibles in Mandarin especially with the increasing number of Chinese tourists here,” Williams added.

Their presence can also be found in the Oceania sub region of Micronesia bringing their ministry in the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Palau aside from the CNMI.

The Gideons established its ministry in the CNMI in 1989 where they had already gave out 17,930 copies of the Sacred Scriptures. They had already placed 790 Bibles at the Hyatt Regency Saipan, the Kanoa Resort, and Saipan World Resort.

“After Century [Hotel], we will also place the Bibles at Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and Pacific Islands Club Saipan. We’re also planning to either put or replenish Bibles in small hotels since most of them are either already gone or damaged,” said Adams.

“I’ve been to many countries, to different islands, and to a lot of hotels. We always make sure that hotels have a copy of the Bible is at the hotel or remains in good condition. If not then we replenish it,” added Williams.

Williams said that he usually comes to the CNMI twice a year where he helps in training the staff, hold prayer meetings, and share testimonies aside from helping out with the Bible distribution.

The Gideons—which also work closely with other Christian churches—also donate free Bibles in schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, and medical and dental clinics, and pass it out to the military, police force, and firefighters, and to prisoners.