GUELPH — It is in the heart of every Canadian Gideon to go to the ends of the earth to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our strength as Gideons has always been the distribution of the Word of God and the sharing of the gospel through personal witnessing opportunities. This is in our DNA.  

As a ministry, we want to partner with other Canadian ministries who also desire to reach the world for Christ through their unique gifts and callings. The Bible League of Canada is one such ministry. Their strength is to reach the world for Christ through church planting, church leadership training and literacy programs. As can be seen from their mission statement, the Word of God is foundational in all of their programs and outreach endeavours: "We are called by God to provide Scriptures and training worldwide so that people prepared by the Holy Spirit will be brought into fellowship with Christ and His Church."

By partnering together, each ministry’s strength is multiplied resulting in more churches planted, more leaders trained, more Scriptures distributed, and more souls finding Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. There is power in unity of purpose and focus. We both believe that the world will be reached through strong, local, indigenous churches that are well equipped with the Word of God and trained to reach their own peoples with the gospel.  

It is the spirit of evangelism, teaching, and pastoring coming together to form an unstoppable team: The Gideons International In Canada, The Bible League of Canada and the developing churches in foreign lands—all working together for the glory of God.

As Canadians, we hold fast to our nation’s foundational Scripture found in Psalms 72:8, “For He shall have dominion from sea to sea, from the great river, to the ends of the earth”. It is time for Canadians to join hands, with arms and hearts upraised, to travel to the ends of the earth, and to proclaim the hope for this world found only in Jesus Christ.

Paul Mercer, Executive Director

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Conclusion of 100-year association opens doors for new ministry partnerships

Canada’s federal government continues to tighten requirements governing charitable organizations. The Gideons International In Canada has formally revised its By-law to reflect these required changes and this has impacted its 100-year relationship with The Gideons International.

The Canadian government demands strict accountability over any funds that are disbursed outside of Canada, in part to reflect the different world we live in post 9/11. In recent years, Canadian Gideons have served in collaboration with international Gideons in providing Scriptures to many foreign countries. The International Gideons will not provide the financial recording, logistics and reporting documentation that Canadian Gideons are required to have in accordance with requirements of the federal government.

As a result of the Canadian Gideons taking the necessary steps to comply with the requirements of the federal government, the cabinet of the International Gideons has reacted by terminating the relationship and organizational ties to Canadian Gideons.

The Gideons International In Canada will be developing new international partnerships to continue and expand their Scripture distribution and outreach programs. Canadian Gideons continue their commitment to reach beyond their borders with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They also see an important need to increase Scripture placement and witnessing to their increasingly multicultural nation.

Canadian Gideons are excited by the Scripture distribution partnerships they are developing to reach international communities and in doing so, provide increased stewardship for their donors’ contributions. The Gideons International In Canada is continuing to pursue its calling: To place God’s Word locally, nationally and internationally in strategic areas so that people may experience a personal relationship with Christ.