The Gideons International is an evangelical Christian association with the vision of sharing free bibles to as many people as they are privileged to. They have their presence in about 200 countries where they share free copies of the New Testament bibles. The New Testament bible they distribute is made up of the 27 books of the New Testament with psalms and proverbs included.

In the autumn of 1898, John H. Nicholson of Janesville, Wisconsin, arrived at the Central Hotel at Boscobel, Wisconsin, for the night. The hotel was crowded, but he was offered a bed in a double room with Samuel E. Hill of Beloit, Wisconsin.

The two men soon discovered they shared a common belief in Christ, and they decided to have their evening devotions together. During their prayer time, both felt the call to begin developing an Association.
The Gideons
SOURCE: Gideons.org

On May 31, 1899, the two men met again at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, where they decided the purpose of their Association would be to band Christian commercial travelers together for mutual recognition, personal evangelism, and united service for the Lord. They decided to call a meeting in Janesville, Wisconsin, on July 1, 1899, in the Y.M.C.A.

Only three men were present at the meeting in Janesville: John H. Nicholson, Samuel E. Hill, and Will J. Knights. They organized with Hill as president, Knights as vice president, and Nicholson as secretary and treasurer.

When it was time to decide the name of the Association, the men held a special prayer time to ask that God might lead them to select the proper name. After, Mr. Knights arose from his knees and said simply, “We shall be called Gideons.” He then proceeded to read the story of Gideon from the sixth and seventh chapters of Judges.

The Gideons International was established in 1899. The founders realized that Christian men needed to be continually strengthened in their walk with the Lord, and that by standing together in faith, they could accomplish great things for God’s Kingdom. Those formative years focused on who a man was before God and the strength and power of his personal testimony.

Through associating together for service, Gideons challenge each other to strengthen their testimonies for Christ and fulfill their God-given responsibilities as spiritual leaders in their homes and churches.

A typical Bible or New Testament from The Gideons International contains:
1) A short preface
2) A pamphlet suggesting Bible verses that may be of assistance in various sorts of trouble.
3) Translations of John 3:16 into a variety of languages and scripts
4) The Bible text itself, without notes, references, or any other reference matter other than chapter and verse headings; this can either be the full Bible (typical of the copies placed in hotel rooms), or just the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs (typical of the copies handed out as gifts to individuals)

5) A short description of the evangelical understanding of salvation, with biblical quotations, and a place for the reader to sign and date their confession of Jesus as their savior (this is especially common in the shorter editions featuring the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs)

The covers of the New Testaments distributed by Gideons are color-coded based on which groups they are meant for:

I) Orange: Given in sidewalk distribution
II) Green: For college/university students
III) Red: For in-school distribution to Middle/High school students
IV) Digital Camouflage/Desert Camouflage: For the military
V) Dark blue: Printed in a language other than English
VI) White: For medical professionals

VII) Light blue: For distribution by the Auxiliary only
VIII) Brown: For facilities distributions, (for witnessing in prisons and jails by Gideons)
IX) Burgundy: Personal worker’s testaments (for individual witnessing by Gideons)
X) Periwinkle: Personal worker’s testaments (for individual witnessing by the Auxiliary)

Conclusion

The Gideons International has distributed more Bibles than any other group or organization in history. The ministry is funded by supports from churches and ministries and donations from individuals. Members are from the age 21 and above and must be born again. The wives of the Gideons are also allowed to be part of the Gideons. The gideons has thrived for about 120 years and are still fully committed to the course of their ministry.
http://www.christianityupdate.com/blog/the-gideons/

God bless the Gideons

Nice one. May God continue to provide for them