Missionary Update: Don Gordon

Don Gordon would have said he was a Christian. He had given his life to Jesus at least twenty times during baseball chapel. But in truth, that only lasted for about an hour, and then he kept right on with his life, living like the devil. He told people he believed in God and loved Jesus, but it just simply wasn’t true. Then one day, God decided to get his attention.

Don was playing a game in Greenville, South Carolina against the Braves. He got taken out of the game partway through, because he was playing badly, and that never happened. On the five-hour bus ride to Columbus, Georgia, Don had a long time to think and listen to God. In His sweet and gentle way, God revealed to Don that He had knocked on the door of Don’s heart many times before, and Don had always rejected Him. This was the last time before, like in Romans 1:24-28, God would give Don over to all the things he pursued instead of Christ. Once in the hotel, Don hit his knees and repented of his sins. He opened up a Gideon’s Bible that his coach from the University of South Carolina had given him. He had never read it before. As he flipped through, the word “weary” jumped off the page at him. He looked closer and read Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” That night, Don gave his heart to Christ.

But Don still wasn’t interested in being a Bible-quoting, stand out Christian. He just wanted to be a closet Christian – one in heart, but not in words or actions. However, because of who Don was, his teammates always came to him for advice, and, eventually, he was convicted that he needed to give them God’s advice instead of his own. So, three years after starting his relationship with Jesus, he gave Christ lordship of his life. And that changed the game.

Over the past 30 years, Don has been investing in one-on-one discipleship and Biblical marriage counseling. He has gone on well over 100 mission trips to 24 countries. He was introduced to SCORE through Kevin Malone, John Zeller, and Ron Bishop, and, after talking with him, they convinced him to go on his first trip with SCORE in 2003. Since then, he has been serving with SCORE. He also works with Be1Make1, a ministry that trains people for making disciples and helps people learn what it means to know Christ and act that out. He plans to continue discipleship and Biblical marriage counseling and following where God leads him.

How can you be involved?
Pray – for healing and health for Don and his wife, Deb. They have both had some health issues in the past years. For Don and Deb as they invest in people around them with the love of Jesus, including their grandkids!
Give – donate below to Don and Deb Gordon’s ministry.
Go – be a part of the Be1Make1 ministry (https://www.be1make1.org/) and attend their conferences.

Written by Joelle Person