The Gideons International
Gideons International is an Evangelical Christian association for men founded in 1899 in Janesville, Wisconsin. The Gideons' primary activity, along with their wives in the Auxiliary, is "encouraging each other to do the work of the Lord, focusing on who they are before God, and strengthening the power of their personal testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ". They are most recognized for distributing copies of scripture free of charge, paid for by freewill offerings from local churches and from members themselves. This Bible distribution is a worldwide enterprise taking place in around 200 countries, territories and possessions. The association's members focus on distributing complete Bibles, New Testaments, or portions thereof. These copies are printed in over 108 languages. The association is most widely known for its Bibles placed in lodging rooms. The Gideons also distribute to hospitals and other medical offices, schools and colleges, military bases, as well as jails and prisons. The association was named after the Biblical figure Gideon depicted in the Book of Judges.
The Gideons International
The interior of Room 19, Central House Hotel, Boscobel, Wisconsin, kept in the style it was in 1898 when the founders of the Gideons met there
A Gideon member placing a Bible in a motel room
Gideon's Bible beside a Book of Mormon in a JW Marriott Hotel found in Las Vegas, Nevada
Janesville is the most populous city and the county seat of Rock County, Wisconsin, United States. It is a principal municipality of the Janesville, Wisconsin, Metropolitan Statistical Area and is included in the Madison–Janesville–Beloit, WI Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 65,615, making it the tenth-most populous city in Wisconsin.
Downtown Janesville
A basketball game between cross-town rivals, Joseph A. Craig High School and George S. Parker High School
Janesville Bus Station