Gideons set one billion Bibles as anniversary goal

(ENI)?Gideon International, best known for depositing Bibles in hotel rooms around the world, is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

The Gideons have set an anniversary goal of giving away a total of one billion Bibles by 2002. They say they have distributed 850 million Bibles to hotels, prisons, military installations, hospitals and airplanes in the past 100 years. They are distributing 45 million Bibles annually in 172 countries.

The Gideons say they have been allowed to perform their work everywhere except Islamic countries.

Gideons International receives financial support from evangelical churches around the world, including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Nazarene denominations.