This Week in Christian History: Billy Graham, Immaculate Conception Theologian, Gideon Bibles
Gideon Bibles First Appear in Hotel Rooms - November 9, 1908
This week marks the anniversary of when the first hotel placed an order for Gideon Bibles to be put in their guest rooms, beginning a trend found throughout the world.
The Gideon Bibles first appeared at the Superior Hotel in Superior, Montana, being ordered at the request of a frequent guest and Gideon member named Archie Bailey.
"Mr. Bailey placed an order for 25 copies of God's Word with the Gideon headquarters. He covered the cost of the Scriptures with a personal contribution," explained Gideons International in a 2011 blog entry.
"A single copy of God's Word in a hotel or motel room has the potential to touch up to 2,300 lives during its six-year average life span. Hotel industry surveys indicate that 25% of their travelers read the Bibles in their hotel rooms."
