Catholic version of the Gideons Ministry?

[Holly3278]

Hello. I am sure many of you have heard of the Gideons. The Gideons are a Protestant group that puts free Bibles in hotel rooms and such. They often put out only the New Testament with Psalms or the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs. So, what I am wondering is, why don’t Catholics start up a similar ministry? I would say that this ministry should distribute the entire Catholic version of the Bible in paperback (so as to be economical) and that we should also include a pamphlet explaining objections to Catholicism, information about the Bible, and other stuff that would be of great use for evangelizing. What do you all think of this? Or perhaps I am just unaware and there is already such an organization out there? I post this thread because I am simply dismayed by the fact that I never find a Catholic Bible in the doctor’s office, in a hospital room, in a hotel room, etc etc.

 

[puzzleannie]

CAF does this by providing low cost pamphlets and tracts, particularly Pillar of Fire Pillar of Truth, and the NAB is available in low cost versions at bulk parish pricing. The Gideons are volunteers. There is nothing stopping any individual Catholic, Catholic group or parish from getting started. Go for it. There are at least a half dozen Catholic evangelization programs that prepare and train lay evangelists for such ministry, Disciples in Mission in this Diocese is one such. Try to get one of them in your parish or diocese.

 

[Peggy_in_Burien]

Wouldn’t it be neat if there were a Catholic ministry that left a rosary in every hotel room?

 

[NickVA]

I post this thread because I am simply dismayed by the fact that I never find a Catholic Bible in the doctor’s office, in a hospital room, in a hotel room, etc etc.

It is still a Bible. There are only a handful of differences from the Catholic translations. The Important thing is that it brings who are in need, to Christ, whether they be Catholic or protestant versions.

 

[Bartolome_Casas]

I post this thread because I am simply dismayed by the fact that I never find a Catholic Bible in the doctor’s office, in a hospital room, in a hotel room, etc etc.

You make a good point.

 

[Holly3278]

CAF does this by providing low cost pamphlets and tracts, particularly Pillar of Fire Pillar of Truth, and the NAB is available in low cost versions at bulk parish pricing. The Gideons are volunteers. There is nothing stopping any individual Catholic, Catholic group or parish from getting started. Go for it. There are at least a half dozen Catholic evangelization programs that prepare and train lay evangelists for such ministry, Disciples in Mission in this Diocese is one such. Try to get one of them in your parish or diocese.

This is true. I would like to start up an organization but I have no idea how to go about doing it. And besides, I don’t believe I have the finances to be able to do so. I have this dream of evangelizing my hometown so that one day it may be a town with a majority of Catholics instead of a town with a minority of Catholics. I want more and more people to come to the Truth of Catholicism but I am not really sure how to about doing it. I discuss religion with my friends on a regular basis and I hope that by doing so, I am planting seeds in their hearts that will grow and eventually result in their conversion to Catholicism. I don’t know if that will happen or not but I hope it will.

Wouldn’t it be neat if there were a Catholic ministry that left a rosary in every hotel room?

That would be very neat! And they wouldn’t have to be expensive Rosaries either. They could be the inexpensive plastic Rosaries that you can buy in bulk. I would also include a pamphlet about the Rosary and another one about how to pray the Rosary.

It is still a Bible. There are only a handful of differences from the Catholic translations. The Important thing is that it brings who are in need, to Christ, whether they be Catholic or protestant versions.

This is true but unfortunately the translation is sometimes incorrect. I also find that the translation that the Gideons use is rather hard to understand. I don’t know if it is the King James Version or what but a modern version would be much easier to understand. I would think that a non-Christian who doesn’t know much about the Bible or Christianity would become bogged down in reading one of these Gideons Bibles and they would become uninterested because of the confusing language which is hundreds of years old.

You make a good point.

Thanks. I would like to start a ministry where I can put a pamphlet or something in doctor’s offices and such so as to introduce people to Catholicism. I am not sure how successful such an endeavor would be but I am sure it would at least bear some fruit.

 

[NickVA]

This is true but unfortunately the translation is sometimes incorrect. I also find that the translation that the Gideons use is rather hard to understand. I don’t know if it is the King James Version or what but a modern version would be much easier to understand. I would think that a non-Christian who doesn’t know much about the Bible or Christianity would become bogged down in reading one of these Gideons Bibles and they would become uninterested because of the confusing language which is hundreds of years old.

I totally agree. The rosary is also an excellent Idea. If i am not incorrect, The Legion of Mary already distributes free rosaries, but not nearly to the same extent that the Gideons distribute Bibles.

With all of this said, I still very much admire the dedication and faith of the Gideons. Catholics need to do a little more domestic missionary work to catch up with our protestant brethren.

 

[DJK100]

Thanks. I would like to start a ministry where I can put a pamphlet or something in doctor’s offices and such so as to introduce people to Catholicism. I am not sure how successful such an endeavor would be but I am sure it would at least bear some fruit.

I kind of do this already. When I travel every hotel room I stay in I put Catholic pamphlets explaining our faith and regarding the Catholic view on the bible in the actual Gideon bible I find in the Hotel room. That way at least some Catholic literature is placed in the room. In addition, at the airport I will leave some Catholic Literature on some of the waiting area seats before I get on the plane. I don’t know how many people read them but I have seen a few. I imagine if you take the bus or what not the same can be done as well. The one piece of advice. Don’t place the literature on seats near a trash can. I find that if you do that some people will just glance at the pamphlet and toss it out. However if not placed near the trash most people with either glance at it and read it or put it back down and someone else will take a look.

 

[thequeen]

Wouldn’t it be neat if there were a Catholic ministry that left a rosary in every hotel room?

It would be.

 

[puzzleannie]

quite frankly I would be offended (and am) rather than evangelized by finding proselytizing publications in a public place and the negative reaction would outweigh any benefit their might be in the content. Bibles in hotel rooms are kind of a given, and as easy to ignore as the restaurant guide or anything else, although I don’t know that I have seen one in years to be frank.

You would do far better to find out what your parish and diocese are already doing for evangelization and become part of those programs, so you have the proper support, direction and resources. For intance I constantly talk to new parishioners who have no idea our diocesan evangelization program is in its 5th year, and want to start something new that overlaps what already is going on.

 

[Holly3278]

quite frankly I would be offended (and am) rather than evangelized by finding proselytizing publications in a public place and the negative reaction would outweigh any benefit their might be in the content. Bibles in hotel rooms are kind of a given, and as easy to ignore as the restaurant guide or anything else, although I don’t know that I have seen one in years to be frank.

You would do far better to find out what your parish and diocese are already doing for evangelization and become part of those programs, so you have the proper support, direction and resources. For intance I constantly talk to new parishioners who have no idea our diocesan evangelization program is in its 5th year, and want to start something new that overlaps what already is going on.

I understand and respect the fact that you are offended by such things but not everybody is. I know I am not offended by such things. Rather, I think its a nice gesture that someone out there cares about the salvation of random people. That said, I am not sure if most people would be offended, would like it, or would have a neutral feeling to it. However, I am sure that there are some people out there who would read the material and possibly even be convinced to look further into the Catholic Church.

 

[DJK100]

quite frankly I would be offended (and am) rather than evangelized by finding proselytizing publications in a public place and the negative reaction would outweigh any benefit their might be in the content. Bibles in hotel rooms are kind of a given, and as easy to ignore as the restaurant guide or anything else, although I don’t know that I have seen one in years to be frank.

You would do far better to find out what your parish and diocese are already doing for evangelization and become part of those programs, so you have the proper support, direction and resources. For intance I constantly talk to new parishioners who have no idea our diocesan evangelization program is in its 5th year, and want to start something new that overlaps what already is going on.

I don’t know depends on the proselytizing materials. If they are putting down anothers religion then yeah it is offensive. However, if it only serves to explain aspects or your faith then to each their own, I guess.

 

[puzzleannie]

I still think it is more respectful of free will and more effective to first engage individuals one on one and simply ask if they would like the pamphlet than to scatter them like confetti. I hate finding fundamentalist and JW publications that have been left in the doctor’s office (the staff remove them as soon as they see them). that is almost as bad as leaflets on my windshield. I am afraid that scattering tracts is a poor substitute for real evangelization which is best done person to person. In engaging in such an effort I feel I might be doing the broadcast method to avoid having the personal conversations and witness of my faith it would demand.

 

[SurlyMermaid]

I still think it is more respectful of free will and more effective to first engage individuals one on one and simply ask if they would like the pamphlet than to scatter them like confetti. I hate finding fundamentalist and JW publications that have been left in the doctor’s office (the staff remove them as soon as they see them). that is almost as bad as leaflets on my windshield. I am afraid that scattering tracts is a poor substitute for real evangelization which is best done person to person. In engaging in such an effort I feel I might be doing the broadcast method to avoid having the personal conversations and witness of my faith it would demand.

Agreed. I think literature could simply cause others to view Catholicism the same as thy do other denominations. I’d rather BE the evangelism.

 

[Iheartcoffee]

The Catholic group I was in during college would pass out water bottles on hot days with a sticker on the side inviting them to the Catholic Center. Around finals time we made “finals survival kits” with a Catholic Center highlighter, water, chips, etc. On Valentine’s day we told everyone “Happy Valentine’s Day!” and passed out those little boxes with candy hearts with a sticker on one side inviting them to the Catholic Center. A lot of people were genuinely surprised that we were just giving away food, water, and candy without selling it, and they weren’t bombarded with literature. It was just a friendly invite to the Catholic Center attached to the side. At the very least, the Catholics were seen by many as “those nice people that hand out water and snacks”. Sometimes when you seek to change perceptions and open up hearts you gotta take baby steps.

 

[Ginkgo100]

Hello. I am sure many of you have heard of the Gideons. The Gideons are a Protestant group that puts free Bibles in hotel rooms and such. They often put out only the New Testament with Psalms or the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs. So, what I am wondering is, why don’t Catholics start up a similar ministry? I would say that this ministry should distribute the entire Catholic version of the Bible in paperback (so as to be economical) and that we should also include a pamphlet explaining objections to Catholicism, information about the Bible, and other stuff that would be of great use for evangelizing. What do you all think of this? Or perhaps I am just unaware and there is already such an organization out there? I post this thread because I am simply dismayed by the fact that I never find a Catholic Bible in the doctor’s office, in a hospital room, in a hotel room, etc etc.

I’m all for it. Are you proposing to start something? 'Cause I’d love to help somehow.