"Good News For Everyone"

Bill and Margaret Saunders share something of their work in the organisation Good News for Everyone (GNfE). On Sunday 22nd May they came to Ridgeway community church Redditch and talked about GNfE (Visit the website https://goodnewsuk.com/). GnfE, like the Gideons, majors on using many types of Bibles and other materials to give away in a wide range of contexts, with a prayerful desire that people come to know the good news of Jesus Christ for themselves.  we distribute Bibles in Schools, hospitals, prisons,  in personal witness, to the emergency services, at football and other sporting events etc.  When you share your own experience of that which God does in and through this work, many people are encouraged to become involved themselves in sharing the word of God.  

Recently someone said to us,“Oh, you won’t get much take up in hotels and B&B with all the recent issues of the pandemic! In particular, hotel staff will say they must  first check with the owners before agreeing to take Bibles. Then you will hear nothing!” 

A few weeks ago, however, in preparation for the Commonwealth games, GNfE members came from all over the country to distribute Bibles to as many hotels and B&B's throughout Birmingham and Worcestershire as time would permit. Approximately 2000 full Bibles and thousands of New Testaments were gratefully accepted! We also had some wonderful opportunities to share our faith with people we met, which brought such joy to us.

On one occasion,having been assigned a particular route and types of businesses to visit, we arrived at a large hotel in Malvern, and gave members of staff New Testaments.  We asked if we could refresh their supply of Bibles in the guest rooms. “Oh, we belong to an hotel chain; we will have to check with the management”! Would we hear back? This would have been such an opportunity as the Commonwealth Games and the three counties show would bring many visitors to stay. Imagine our surprise when almost having finished the day's distribution, we did receive a call from the hotel requesting 110 Hotel Bibles! Those we gladly delivered with other items six days later. Praise the Lord who opens the way for His word to go out where and when He wills.

On another occasion we visited a pub/hotel which we discovered had never had Bibles placed in the rooms. Engaging the landlady in conversation I learned that her father and grandfather were in the Army, as was I, and like myself retired to live in Malvern. We had an animated chat about living in army quarters in the same area. We shared memories of army life as she showed me some of the family’s military gifts and paraphernalia. At the end of our chat, I offered her Bibles for the hotel which she gladly received. She also was pleased to learn of our New Testaments emblazened with regiment badges which would possibly be welcomed by those attending the annual army reunion her family attends.

One day I was steaming up a hill in Malvern to go to the last hotel on our route. I noted that further back a chap was earnestly trying to keep up with me, so I stopped and waited for Him, and engaged him in conversation. It transpired that he lived in the nearby village of Cradley in Chapel Street. He also knew some of the folks who regularly attend the Chapel including the present Pastor. I explained that I had recently preached there, and continued the conversation sharing about my faith in Christ, how I became a Christian and why I had now come to Malvern. He warmed to my theme! When we reached the hotel, he gladly took a New Testament and thanked me for talking with him. What a lovely providential encounter! What a blessing! 

Members of GNfe pray and prepare each day taking with them Bibles and Christian literature including Hope Magazine. I do not have space in this article to relate even more of the many encounters and opportunities we are privileged to have. God is pleased to honour our desire to make Him known. Just as Jesus said, “Lift me up before people, and I will draw all men to myself”.

Another favourite quote of ours is by that famous God blessed Victorian preacher CH Spurgeon, “Suppose a number of persons were to take it into their heads that they had to defend a lion, full-grown king of beasts! There he is in the cage, and here come all the soldiers of the army to fight for him. Well, I should suggest to them, if they would not object, and feel that it was humbling to them, that they should kindly stand back, and open the door, and let the lion out! I believe that would be the best way of defending him, for he would take care of himself; and the best 'apology' for the gospel is to let the gospel out.”  

If you are interested in finding out more about the work of GNfE please visit our website

 (https://goodnewsuk.com) or contact me and Margaret  by telephone on 01905 454496 or email - bill222saunders@btinternet.com. 

Perhaps some of you would consider becoming Friends or members of the work with us, and share the abiding JOY of making the Lord Jesus Christ known to many?