Good News - August 2018

We started Good News Wants to Know as a way for our read- ers to get to know community leaders who are making an im- pact in South Florida. Since faith is the foundation that moves so many to action, this month Good News Wants to Know... Who gave you your first personal Bible and what did that mean to you? My first personal Bible was given to me in 1969 by a representative of “The Gideons international,” when I was inducted (drafted) into the United States Army. Reading from this Bible almost every day gave me the spiri- tual strength to carry out my military infantry duties while serving in Ger- many and Vietnam. O’Neal Dozier, Pastor, Worldwide Christian Center My first personal Bible was given to me by my paternal grandmother Ann Connor. At the time it didn't mean much to me, but now I don't have the words to express how grateful I am for the gift of a personal copy of God's Word. I miss her dearly. Arthur Connor, Jr., Lead Pastor, Metropolitan Baptist Church I was given my first Bible (Good News Bible) from my Sunday school teacher from my church. It was a significant gift .However at the time I received it I was religious but not regenerated. It was not until many years later that the Bible enjoyed the ab- solute authority in my life and forwarded me in faith and not feelings pertinent to my relationship with God. Bernard King, Sr., Pastor, Cornerstone Bible Fellowship Two Bibles mean the most to me, my church Bible, given by my mom, which con- tains notations from verse-by-verse teaching by pastors like OS Hawkins and Doug Sauder, and my study Bible given by a bank executive as we walked through Op- eration Timothy. William C. Davell, Director, Tripp Scott Attorneys at Law My first personal Bible was given to me in 1996 by this amazing 89-year-old Kansas farmer named Bud Sorrick. He handed me a leather-bound Tyndale NIV and a 1950's Billy Graham paperback called "Peace with God" that had black duct tape holding its spine together, and told me that those were his most prized possessions. He passed away during one of our Bible studies in his home sitting in his favorite chair. Every time I open that Bible I can see him sitting there so peacefully that night he finally met Jesus. Blake Silverstrom, Executive Director, Heart2Heart Outreach of South Florida My parents gave me my first Bible. It was fake leather. Red. Had my name right on the cover. Cursive. Just donated it. I think to SalvationArmy. Which will be a bummer in the event there's ever amuseumerected inmy honor. It would've been a nice piece. Bob Denison, President, Denison Yacht Sales I remember it like it was yesterday (although it was over 30 years ago) when Larry Smith gave me my first Bible. It was leather with my name engraved on the front. I actually used to carry it around in the box it came in so I could keep it nice. I was so excited and fired up to have my own personalized Bible with my name on the front. Chris Lane, President, First Priority of South Florida My first personal Bible came from a friend and prayer warrior named Martha Tisdale, and it meant that I was officially a part of God’s family. I still have that Bible today. Daryl Nelson , Pastor, Calvary Chapel of the Palm Beaches Right after I became a Christian, the youngest daughter of a large family gave me my first Bible, and two years later she helped support me as a missionary in the Dominican Republic. Then, when I came back to Florida to take care of my parents, I worked for this family as a hotel general manager, and the youngest daughter and I were able to see all of her family come to be Jesus followers. Deborah Cusick, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, FAUCampus Volunteer On Sept. 7, 1993 I was presented with a bible by a young lady who had recently graduated college. She would go on to marry me, give me two daughters, and use that bible with me during our private devotion times. It's been rebound twice, still has the "smile I love you so much!" Post-it on the inside cover, and I have more trouble reading it w/out my “readers” after 25 years. That Bible has been used at every wedding I've officiated, for every person I've buried, every conference I've at- tended, at a few football stadiums and basketball arenas, and many other faith-re- lated milestones. Looking forward to passing it on to my kids with all of its personal notes and coffee stains. Dennis DeMarois, Director, The Gathering Palm Beach County My parents gave me my first personal Bible and I still have it. I had children’s ver- sions of Bible stories, but we read from my mother’s Bible (which I also still have) until I was about ten years old. The little white Bible they gave me, which has yel- lowed now, zips up and has a few pictures a child would like in it, but was my first full version of the Bible, KJV. I treasure it, and the heritage of many generations be- fore me of Jesus-followers and Bible-studiers. Dolores King-St. George , Station Manager, WRMB 89.3 Moody Radio I remember when my parents gave me a “kids Bible” in the early years of grade school. There was a song all kids knew, named “This little light of mine.” My Dad wrote a verse on the inside cover – Psalms 119:105, “God’s word is a lamp for your feet and a light for your path.” He went on to write, “When you read this Bible, God can show you the path for your life”. The connection of letting my light shine and God’s word lighting the path to guide where I should go was very meaningful. Don Campion, President, Banyan Air Service During my first few months as a Christian, a friend from college suggested that I buy an NIV Student Bible. I read through that Bible three or four times in just a few years. All the marks and notes and underlines are kind of like a journal from my early Christian experience. It’s still sits in my office to this day. It is my favorite Bible. Doug Sauder, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Blake Silverstrom Bob Denison Chris Lane Wants to Know… O’Neal Dozier Arthur Connor, Jr. Bernard King William C. Davell