Testimonies

Testimony: Katrina

The Lord is Near to the Brokenhearted

I was all alone... and I was broken. My children were with relatives. And I had nothing... except a Gideons bible!

From Prisoner to Pastor

I never knew my father, but I knew I was angry with him.

Restored heart – restored lungs

Patrick was lying on the floor in a hotel room after his third suicide attempt when he met Jesus.

“the Lord is near to the brokenhearted…”

For you to understand the magnitude and the impact that a purposely placed Bible can have I need to explain to you where I came from, where I was at, and where I was going to.

3½ years ago I was in prison. I had been through extreme domestic violence and had turned to drugs. I was hospitalised many times. I was caught driving, escaping from my perpetrator. And I was on drugs.  I found myself in Adelaide prison… gaoled for 3 months.
The first night in prison I was bashed and had my arm broken. I was then placed into high security. It consisted of a 4 by 4 cell, a toilet… and nothing else.

I was all alone… and I was broken. My children were with relatives. And I had nothing… except a Gideons bible!

I opened up the bible and read Psalm 34 “The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

It was then that I surrendered. And I got on my knees, and I said to the Lord “Please help me!”  After that night my life has never been the same. God showed me again and again how much He loved me.

By moving me from high security, to low security and then out of prison earlier than I should have. And now 3½ years later I am completely drug-free, and I have a beautiful job in a nursing home.

Where I get to speak with the residents at the end of their life and ask them “Do they know Jesus?” I bring the Bible to them and tell them what Jesus did for me. I have all my children living with me. Praise God!

Next year I will be going back to the prison to teach the other inmates about Jesus and about his healing power.

I have heard tonight how many times you place bibles in prisons around the world. I am here to say, “It does make a difference!”

Gideons. Thank you all so very very much for all that you do. For being Jesus’ hands and feet in this dark world. Thank you for your faithfulness and for all of your efforts.

God bless you all.

Do you have a story about how God has impacted your life through a Gideon-placed Bible or Testament? If so, we would love to hear it! Please share your story with us by using the form below.