THE PHILIPPINES INTERNATIONAL SCRIPTURE BLITZ 2024
By Norman Zara
The Philippines was favorably chosen to be the venue for the 2024 International Scripture Blitz (ISB). This massive distribution of Scriptures is being held every four (4) years and participated by both foreign and local Gideon members. This year was accomplished with the manifest presence of God.
The event was going to be short of Scriptures because of the high demand in previous months with Metro blitz done in various urban centers in the provinces. Thankful that copies arrived from India in the nick of time. The global supply chain found a way to ship two container loads of ESV testaments.
There was great anticipation among the team members in Manila and Davao City. But then, successive earthquakes struck the Davao peninsula. The earthquakes ranged from intensity 5 to 7 on the Richter scale. Then an IED (improvised explosive device) was detonated in one of the universities in Mindanao by unidentified terrorists.
After much prayer and consultation, the second-week blitz was moved from Davao City to Manila. With less than four working weeks left in December before the ISB, the local team leaders visited potential schools to get permission from principals to distribute Scriptures.
In all of this, God showed He is Sovereign. By His grace, the blitz was conducted, and the results went beyond our expectation. Also, Davao City, where we originally planned the 2nd week of the ISB, was flooded with non-stop rain for three days during the week of the blitz. Classes in schools were called off for that week by the city government. God knew. God is omniscient.
Eight Hundred Ninety Thousand (890,000) copies of the New Testament were handed to recipients, mostly students in elementary and high school. Twenty-two foreign Gideons, 263 Philippine Gideons, and 75 wives of Gideons participated. There was unity of purpose and joyful fellowship was exhibited from start to finish.
Let me share one of the testimonies of one International Gideon brother.
“While at a school in Batangas yesterday. I asked this parent of a student while sharing the Gospel message with her if she knew when it was her time to go into eternity and if she would be welcomed into God’s presence. She looked at me with distraught and said she did not know. Shortly afterward, a sister of ours led her to the Lord, and she now has a smile on her face with a countenance of peace. Praise the name of Jesus.” -Tom Stull, Texas
One of the International Gideons from the United States also sent us this heartfelt letter (condensed):
“I was impressed by the Philippines dedicating the whole month of January as Bible month. I was very fortunate to be able to go to the schools in the Philippines to pass our Gideon testaments and to share the gospel with the students. The administration of the schools was receptive to the Gideons and appreciated our ministry because they know how important the Gospel is to these students and their families. They took us personally to each classroom so we could pass out testaments. The students were very respectful and attentive to what we had to say. Most of the schools had water and some had lunch for us. Many of the students interacted with us as we went to each classroom. You could see the eagerness in their smiles and eyes as they accepted the testaments. I am thankful for the local Gideons and Auxiliary. They were a blessing as they provided transportation and just their service as they helped us with the distribution of God’s word. Their kindness and generosity to take us to restaurants and paying for our meals. That touched my heart. The fellowship was something that I will never forget. Seeing the difficulty of traveling to each destination and then back to our hotel and then to their homes afterward was a tremendous dedication on their part. I also was thrilled to see how many Gideon and Auxiliary members that helped us each day as we went from school to school. Our One Vision, striving side by side was well represented in the Philippines. And impressed with the number of young Gideons and Auxiliary members. You are very fortunate to have these young men and women in your camps. Our prayer time each morning and evening was instrumental in the success of this trip. The evening meeting was to share testimonies about what happened each day. I was truly blessed by my trip to the Philippines and would love to come back again to spend time with you all again. I am so excited about sharing my trip with everyone here in the United States. The memories and fellowship will be everlasting to me.”
-Terry Jordan, Tennessee
In all of these, all glory to God and God alone!
