Hurricane Helene has wrought massive destruction throughout the southeastern United States. Heartbreaking images continue to remind us of the devastation caused by massive amounts of rain. I’m thankful for the thousands of individuals and ministries that are providing help and hope to those affected. Samaritan’s Purse has been the tip of the spear in arriving early and continuing to walk with folks who have lost not only every earthly belonging, but often family members as well.
Although I heard of Samaritan’s Purse years ago through their shoebox ministry, Operation Christmas Child, it wasn’t until I visited their headquarters in Boone, NC last August that I really began to comprehend and appreciate the full magnitude, excellence, and integrity of this arm of the church. As Lynne Rienstra took Covenant Brethren Church leaders on a tour of their facilities, we were in awe of this comprehensive outreach.
Although Samaritan’s Purse was started and continues to be led and primarily funded by followers of Jesus, the organization serves anyone in need regardless of their religion or lack of it. They fly around the world establishing field hospitals, distributing food, and providing safe water. When their airplanes land in Muslim countries, some leaders shake their heads in disagreement with the cross on the aircraft, but they readily welcome the supplies they distribute entirely free of charge or obligation.
As we toured the facility, I was surprised by the degree of intentionality and professionalism with which they approach this work. After morning devotions in which all employees participate, they scatter into their offices to plan and execute. There is even a “war room” in which their specialists from all departments consult to plan how to best help others. Their warehouse was well stocked with generators, tools, cots, medical supplies and other items needed to rapidly respond to crises.
In addition to their disaster outreach and rebuilding projects in the US, some of their recent work has been in Ukraine where they have served some 13 million people. They used their network established through the shoebox ministry to deliver supplies to war-torn communities in the east while shuttling refugees back to the west on return trips. In 2014, Samaritan’s Purse was on the frontlines of the Liberian Ebola outbreak when one of their physicians, Dr. Kent Brantly, contracted the disease and miraculously recovered.
Samaritan’s Purse has also been active in Israel since last October where they have not only provided food and aid to many Jews but also helped Palestinian refugees from Gaza. In addition, they provided tents, surgeries, hygiene kits, food boxes and more to Muslim residents of Turkey following the devastating earthquake last year. In just the last 18 months, Samaritan’s Purse has provided material help to people in these countries as well as Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Vietnam, Mongolia, Haiti, Iraq, Syria, Colombia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and more.
Although help and hope is distributed to all, all is done in Jesus’ name. Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 inspires the ministry’s name and Jesus’ extensive teachings of loving and serving others provide the framework upon which the ministry operates. The message of the Gospel is shared with those to whom they minister and I am so thankful to partner with them in His work! Praise God for the tens of thousands of lives and souls that have been saved through Samaritan’s Purse!
There are many ways to support this ministry. Donations can be mailed, made online, or through Antioch Covenant Brethren Church. Because of earlier donations, currently 100% of all gifts actually go to ministry. In addition, you can volunteer to serve on a Disaster Relief or Rebuilding Crew. If you have medical experience, you can serve short or long term. You can also fill a shoebox with gifts and hope for some child. If you can’t do any of these, at least pray for God’s continued blessing, provision, and guidance as Samaritan’s Purse serves others in Jesus’ name. Praying, George