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 spiritual strength to carry out my military infantry duties while serving in Germany and Vietnam.

• O’Neal Dozier, Pastor, Worldwide Christian Center
  

 

 

My first personal Bible was given to me by 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 absolute 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 contains 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 Operation Timothy.

• William C. Davell , Director, Tripp Scott

 

 

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 Salvation Army. Which will be a bummer in the event there’s ever a museum erected in my 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, FAU Campus Volunteer

 

 

 

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

 

 

My first personal Bible came from my pastor when I was 10 and it was a King James Version. I struggled to read through it.  At the age of 16 I gave it another try and read it cover to cover during the summer. I was intrigued and hooked. I was so happy when the NIV came out and I quickly changed versions, although I still have several favorite memory verses like the 23 Psalm that I remember from the KJV.

• Patricia Colangelo, EdS, Director of Operations, Trinity International University Florida

 

I grew up in a non-churched poor farming family in Missouri. My first bible was purchased by me when I was 36 years old and I turned my life over to God. It was quite a process and I ended up with the traditional King James Version (wow) that I read from cover to cover. It meant a lot to me and still does! Changed my life!

• Fred Scarbrough, DVM, Founder, Scarbrough Animal Hospital and Hope South Florida

 

 

Larry Thompson from First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale gave me my first Personal Bible. It’s become a major part of my faith journey. I will be forever grateful for this gift.

• Gregg Wallick, President/CEO, Best Roofing

 

 

 

I bought my first bible from the school bookstore at the Christian school I attended. I did not have a personal relationship with Jesus at the time, so it was only a textbook to me. But shortly after I got married 30 years ago, my husband Todd, bought me a Bible in a version that I could understand!  It was pink and it had my name on the front… This made it so personal, as if it was an intimate letter written to me. Even though I primarily use a Study Bible these days, I often go back and read my notes and highlighted Scriptures in this precious gift.

• Julie Mullins, Pastor, Christ Fellowship

 

 

 

I actually bought my own first Bible.

• Miguel J. Rodriguez, CPA, PFS, CKA, Managing Partner, Rodriguez, Kinzbrunner & Company

 

 

 

 

 

I have a rich heritage of godly parents and grandparents, so I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t have my own personal Bible. When I accepted Christ at age 12, my parents gave me a special, leather-bound Bible, and that was my study Bible through my teen years, the first Bible I ever wrote in, and the Bible that helped me develop a lasting love for God’s Word.

• Nancy McDonald, President/CEO, Hope Women’s Centers

 

 

 

My father gave me my first Bible  and I still have it. I have given hundreds of sermons using it, and I often use it still as a way to remember him and his ministry.

• Samuel Lamerson, PhD, President/Professor of New Testament, Knox Theological Seminary

 

 

 

 

I got my first Bible from a leader at the church where I got saved. But, my favorite Bible is the Thomas Nelson Study Bible, which I got 15 years ago. My walk with the Lord has gotten much deeper over that period of time. And the Bible reflects that with all the notes, markings and highlights. It is falling apart, and must be restored. This is the Bible I cherish.

• Tewannah Aman, Executive Director, Broward County Right to Life

 

 

My wife gave me my first bible. When we met, she was a believer, but I wasn’t. I asked her out, she said: “No!” But, she did say I could go to church with her, but it wasn’t a date! My second week at her church, I gave my life to Christ! She then gave me a Bible. About eight months later we were married. Next June will be 40 years. Long answer to say, Linda giving me that Bible means EVERYTHING to me!!!!

• Thomas L. Lukasik, Vice President Community Engagement, 4KIDS of South Florida

 

 

The first bible that I remember receiving was a small KJV leather-bound bible that my parents gave me when I graduated from Middle School. Being a middle school boy who went to a Christian School (and who already had an NIV bible for my bible classes at school), I didn’t even open it. Until I was about 40. I pulled it off of the shelf one day, where it stood next to literally 15 other bibles, and flipped it open to the signature page in the front, where I read in my dad’s handwriting, the most amazing statement about how proud he was of me and how much he loved me. Now, I knew those things, but growing up, my mom was always the writer of cards and the inscriber of notes, so reading that in his handwriting brought me to tears. Suddenly that became my favorite bible.

• Tom Hendrikse, Senior Pastor, Rio Vista Community Church

My first Bible and introduction to the God of the Bible was thankfully given to me in my early years by my wonderful parents through our home church in Butler, Pa. I love the scripture  Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV), “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” I know this to be true & much of my ministry to youth rests on this Word of God which tells us of His faithful promise to children and parents alike.

• Virlee “Vee” Stepelton, Ministry Advocate