Happy Birthday Jesus !

  25 of our camp members attended the Birthday for Jesus tri-camp celebration in Daleville last evening.  It was truly an inspirational event.  The fellowship with our Brothers and Sisters was both heart-warming and spiritually uplifting. The evening  was truly special. All of the wonderful aspects of it made it so. The catered food included a traditional turkey and ham dinner with all the trimmings (including cranberry sauce . . . yum,) the spectacular music was provided by Dr. Jacobs (which resulted in all of us singing along to some "down-home" Christmas carols,) and a special presentation was given by Ronnie Sheldon about a recent scripture distribution and Gideon camp formation trip to the Congo.  During the report on the Congo trip, I was struck by the commitment of that outreach.  The country is about the size of Montana and has about four million inhabitants living mostly in two large cities. The Congo has an average per capita income of just $4,500, and suffers from high cost of living and low wages. However over 1.6 million scriptures have been distributed in that country by the hands of just a few workers.  This is one of those countries that can't afford to purchase their own scriptures and depends almost entirely on Gideons and Auxiliary in more affluent countries to provide scriptures to them.  It reminded me in the strongest manner possible, that we as Gideons and Auxiliary play a varied and important role in the witness mission given to us by our Lord and Savior to spread His word to the ends of the world.  Those Gideons and Auxiliary in the Congo, and the many other countries around the world like the Congo, step up and form camps, distribute Bibles and Scriptures, and witness to the lost even though they will never have the financial base for that mission.  Their work is the extension of the determined efforts of Gideons and Auxiliary world-wide to bring Jesus to a lost world.  It reminded me just how important keeping our dues current is to someone crying out for a copy of God's Word.  What each of us does makes a difference.  Souls are saved to Christ every second because someone prayed, someone gave, someone went, and someone placed a copy of God's word exactly where God wanted it.  Our Camp had a Faith Fund goal of $2500.00 last evening; we exceeded that goal.  If you were unable to attend and contribute last evening, I pray that this letter will once again remind you of how important you are and the eternal difference you make as a Gideon/Auxiliary.  You can always contribute to the Faith Fund mission and outreach by making your contributions directly to our camp treasurer at P. O. Box 291 Ozark AL 36361.  Remember the 100 day countdown to the convention on March 8, started on 28 November.  God bless the work of this ministry, and God bless each of you.  Gene

December President's letter

Merry Christmas from the Dale County Gideon Camp. For December's message from the President CLICK HERE. 

Carolyn Nelson

Dale County Auxiliary,I know you have been praying for Carolyn Nelson.

Please continue to pray for Carolyn as it is my understanding that she came home from the hospital yesterday(Friday).

Serving HIM with you, Margie 

Sad news

Our dear brother Wallis Grissett, member of the Dale Co. Gideons has passed away. 

Preacher's Appreciation Banquet

Thursday evening, October 10th was our annual Preacher's Appreciation Banquet. Around 70 individuals enjoyed an evening of music and testimonies. The food was great and if you missed it, we prayed for  you!! Thank you to all the speakers, Gideons and Auxilliary members. A special thanks go out to Art for planning a great event.

News from Carolyn

Carolyn Nelson is home as of Wednesday. Her kidneys have returned to 60%. She has had a stroke but not having too many continuing problems from that. Prayers are still in order for her continued path to a full recovery! Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes.

Prayers please

Carolyn Nelson is in Flowers Hospital with Stroke symptems. Please pray for her and her family.

August Camp Letter

  Greetings to all of our Dale County Gideon Camp members.  I pray this letter finds each of you secure in the love of our Lord and Savior and looking forward to this month’s camp meeting at the Quality Inn on Thursday, August 8, at 6:30 p.m.   This month the men and women of our camp have one of their two separate meetings scheduled for this year.  Our program, “A Closed Door/An Open Heart” is intended to remind Gideons of the importance of building relationships. We are directed to build relationships with pastors and to provide insight from the point of view of the pastor.  We are encouraged to believe that even if a pastor says “no” to a meeting, it doesn’t always mean he will not be open to a meeting at another time. 
  As we move into the month of August, we move into the third month of this Gideon year.  Activities are well underway for our PAB scheduled for our Camp meeting in October at Ozark First United Methodist Church.  Please be active in getting your pastor to put this event on their calendar and to make plans to attend.  We also need to be working to secure church services for this year.  It’s very important that we get out now and secure the services and not wait too long into the year.  I am looking forward to seeing everyone at our meeting this Thursday.  Being in your presence strengthens my spiritual commitment and keeps me focused on our wonderful Gideon/Auxiliary mission.  Please call me if you need a ride to and from the meeting. Gene

From the desk of the President

 Many wonderful things are happening in the service of our Risen Lord and Savior because of you.  Our ministry continues to expand with the addition of country 196 and with continued increases in virtually every aspect of our Gideon ministry.  Last Saturday, the 20th of July, was an uplifting example of the dedication of our members.  As you know, our area Faith Fund Rally was held at the Daleville Convention Center at 8 a.m. and hosted by the Wiregrass Camp.  Our speaker was from Kenya, and his presentation was moving and heart-warming.  He will be in our country for two weeks and is currently attending the International Gideon Convention in Orlando, Florida.  Our Faith Fund Goal for Area S4 was set at $10,000.  Area S4 consists of 8 camps.  Of the camps present at the rally, $11,700 was donated for the purchase of scriptures. Praise the Lord!  This was especially meaningful to our speaker from Kenya, who depends greatly on the contributions for scriptures that allow the camps in his country to distribute literally millions of Bibles and scriptures to the lost.  It’s not too late to contribute to our camp Faith Fund goal of $3000.00.  Just send your contribution to our treasurer, Gary Walker at:  P.O. Box 291 Ozark, AL 36361.  On behalf of all those whose lives will be eternally touched by your dedication as a Gideon/Auxiliary, thank you.

One last thing in this email.  Please continue to be in prayer for the International Convention.  The convention started today.  Currently, over 4000 Gideons/Auxiliary have registered and over 90 countries are represented.  The special thing about this convention for all of us who are unable to attend is that we get to listen in.  There will be 12 live broadcasts from the convention starting this evening, 7:05 Eastern time and the last one on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. EST.  What a great opportunity to be a part of the convention and to hear some of the best speakers around.  The speakers at the conventions that I have attended have always inspired me in my service to our Lord, and I was always better for having heard their message.  A complete listing of the times is on the Connection.  If you have any trouble accessing the times and need some one-on-one assistance to get connected, please contact me. 

Our next Cabinet meeting is August 3, and our next Camp meeting is Thursday August 8, please mark your calendars now.  For our Auxiliary members, please remember that your monthly prayer time will be at 9 a.m. August 3.  God bless each of you, and thank you for being a Gideon/Auxiliary.

Camp Elections

Last evening we had our monthly Camp meeting, and as we do every year, we elected and installed the officers who will oversee the various parts of our Gideon ministry.  The current Camp officers are as follows:
President - Gene Nelson, VP - Art Warren, - Secretary - Don Turner, Treasurer - Gary Walker, Chaplain - Sonny Railey, Church Ministry - Steve Price, Bible Card - Frank Phillips, Faith Fund - Jerry Lucas, Scripture Distribution - Ed Woodham, Membership - Emmett Bolton, Camp Webmaster - James Lisenby. 
The newly elected Auxiliary officers are as follows:
 President - Lynn Price, VP - Martha Phillips, Sec/Tresurer - Gail Barkett, Chaplain - Margie McCall, Scripture Coordinator - Elaine Woodham and Bible Card Liaison - Gail Barkett/Margie McCall.  Our Area Coordinator, Fred Hollon, conducted the elections and installations.  I know I speak for all the members of our camp when I say "thank you" to the members of our camp who were able and willing to take on the responsibilities of their various offices.  In addition to our elections, the 30 Gideons and Auxiliary members present enjoyed a great meal prepared by Fannie's of Ozark, warm Christian fellowship and several prayer opportunities.  If you are interested in assisting in any of these Camp areas, please contact the person elected or appointed to that position and let them know you are wanting to help. We have a Camp of "doers" because of your personal dedication to this ministry.

Up-coming events include our regular Saturday morning prayer time (7 to 7:30 a.m. at the Quality Inn) Auxiliary prayer time at the same location (1 June at 9 a.m.) The International Day of Prayer is scheduled for 8 June in Daleville. Some scripture distributions are being organized by Ed Woodham and assisted by Larry Baker and our next Camp meeting is on 13 June.  Cabinet members, please remember that our next meeting will be on Saturday 1 June due to the International Day of Prayer scheduled for 8 June.  In the meantime, please continue inviting your Pastor to our Pastor Appreciation Banquet on 10 October 2013, 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center.  We will send out our usual invitations in August and make follow-up phone calls, but if you could get your Pastor to put this event on his or her calendar now, it would be most helpful.

As always, I am personally thankful for the work that each of you do as part of our Camp.  Your very membership as a Gideon/Auxiliary member speaks spiritual volumes to those around you.  Thank you for all that you do every day for our Lord. Thank you for being a Gideon