"Spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ through Emergency Relief and Evangelism"
"Who is my neighbor?"Â Luke 10:29b
Jesus' reply to this question was to tell the parable of the Good Samaritan,
making it clear that we are to reach out to all those around us who are in need.Â
It was in this spirit that the ministry of
Samaritan's Purse was
begun in 1970. Bob Pierce's prayer, "Let my heart be broken with the
things that break the heart of God", was the beginning of a ministry to meet
emergency needs in crisis areas through already existing evangelical mission
agencies and churches. He dedicated himself to finding and supporting
Christians who were caring for the poor and suffering in the distant corners of
the world. In 1973, Bob met Franklin Graham, who began to travel with him
to some of the neediest areas of the world. After Bob's death in 1978,
Franklin succeeded him as President and Chairman of the Board of
Samaritan's Purse.Â
For the last 20 years, Franklin has led Samaritan's Purse to respond, following
the example of the Good Samaritan, through earthquakes, wars, famines and
natural disasters of every kind. As they travel and minister to the
physical needs of the people around them, they also offer hope and true healing
through the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether they are
building churches in the
Sudan,
providing medical equipment and aid through the short-term missions work of
World Medical Mission,
helping to rebuild after a hurricane, providing Bible training to pastors and
house church leaders in
China, or delivering a box full of gifts through
Operation Christmas
Child, the missionaries and staff of
Samaritan's Purse is
hard at work bringing help and hope around the world.
Samaritan's Purse and MFI work together to respond to natural
disasters in the Gulf, Caribbean, and surrounding areas.
During the active hurricane season of 2004, Samaritan's Purse and MFI responded to
Hurricane Jeanne in Gonaives, Haiti, where flooding devastated the city (above
left). Large quantities of personal hygiene kits were flown to
Port-au-Prince (above right), and then trucked to the disaster area.
Hurricane Ivan hit the distant island of Grenada. Since Grenada was too far away to reach by aircraft, shipping
containers were used to send roofing materials that were needed (photos above).
When Grand Cayman was also devastated by Ivan (photos above), several loads of roof tarps
were brought there. It was necessary for MFI to get permission to fly over Cuba to get there.
In 2005, Samaritan's Purse and MFI were involved in Hurricane Katrina relief.Â
In the above two photos, a work team from MFI and
Hobe Sound Bible Church cleared trees and covered roofs with tarps provided by Samaritan's Purse.
August 2007 brought Hurricane Dean, which churned close to
Jamaica before slamming into the Yucatan Peninsula. Samaritan's Purse
brought in truckloads of tarps, water purification supplies, and generators to
the hangar at Fort Pierce. An MFI plane, with a team from Samaritan's
Purse, was in the air before the storm had fully cleared, bringing help and hope
to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Over the next several days, two flights also brought
tarps and water purifications kits to Jamaica, and another flight full of tarps
went to Mexico.
A large water purification kit being delivered (left). Loading tarps
to head out (right).
Unloading in Mexico (left). Unloading in Jamaica (right).
Flying in to Jamaica, the destruction could be seen from the air.
Update:Â In September, 2007, Samaritan's Purse and MFI also teamed up to provide relief to victims of Hurricane Felix in Nicaragua (see photos below). Samaritan's Purse
sent in water purification kits, roof tarps and tons of food and other emergency supplies, as well as working to set up temporary housing for the thousands left homeless from the storm.
"Go and do likewise". Luke
10:37b
Samaritan's Purse has spent over 30 years serving the Lord around the world. To learn more about this ministry, friends and supporters are encouraged to contact them at the following address and phone number, or visit the Samaritan's Purse website:
