On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse

Hear directly from staff serving in hard places around the world, like conflict zones and regions with very few Christians. This calling is not glamorous or easy, and they may not reap worldly rewards, but it's worth it. With God’s help, we can endure—even in hard circumstances. He gives us the strength to press on and to run the race.

Resources:

• Listen to “Going After the One: Cambodia Cataract Mission” to hear how God did “exceedingly abundantly above” what the cataract team imagined (Ephesians 3:20).

Jesus left the 99 to go after the one. Samaritan's Purse cataract mission teams strive to emulate this as they perform hundreds of eye surgeries over the course of a few days. Our teams never lose sight of the one that God has placed in their path. They rejoice over the opportunity to minister and love someone the way Jesus loves them. The program manager, Bethany Densham, shares about witnessing hundreds of patients come to Christ in Cambodia.

Resources:

• Serve with one of our cataract surgical teams.
• Learn more about our cleft lip and palate surgical teams.
• In “God Uses a Surrendered Heart to Heal Another,” hear how God used a family to heal not one heart, but two, through Children’s Heart Project.

Dara's life hung in the balance. The Bolivian 6-year-old desperately needed heart surgery. Hear how her and her grandmother, Judi, visited the United States and God used a family to heal not one heart, but two, through Children’s Heart Project.

Resources:

• Learn more about Children’s Heart Project!
• Hear Part 1 of baby Deo’s miracle story.
• Listen to “Finding True Rest in Christ” to hear what the Bible says about rest and how we can rest in the Lord.

We are a restless society. We seek after things in this world that we think will give us rest, but our true rest is in Jesus. Kristy sits down with Jeremy Zerkle, a staff chaplain at Samaritan’s Purse, to discuss what the Bible says about rest, and how we can rest in the Lord.

Resources:

• Listen to “Not Ashamed of the Gospel” to hear from Enrico Lange, who grew up in communist East Germany.

Growing up in East Germany was never easy for Enrico. Under the communist regime, it was a place with immense spiritual darkness. But the Lord softened Enrico’s heart little by little, revealing his need for a Savior and leading him to Christ. Now a staff member of Samaritan’s Purse Germany, Enrico’s most treasured possession is the Gospel—he can’t help but share it.

Resources:

• Hear from Marina, another Samaritan’s Purse Germany staff member, about how the Lord is at work in a dark place.

We’re taking you on the ground to West Virginia, where patients received brand-new eyeglasses, compassionate medical and dental care, and most importantly, the hope of Jesus at a Samaritan’s Purse Community Medical Outreach clinic. Hear how this blessed patients, as they were given eyes to see Christ.

Resources:

• Serve at a Community Medical Outreach clinic!
• Listen to “The Body of Christ in Action” to hear what Kristy witnessed on the ground at a Community Medical Outreach clinic in Burnsville, NC.

Service has the ability to radically change us. God can use serving others to mold and shape our hearts to look more like His. This is what happened in Angie’s life—a volunteer Kristy met while on the ground in Mississippi. Hear how the Lord is using Angie’s testimony to show others that they are never too far from Him.

Resources:

• Step out and serve with U.S. Disaster Relief!
• Listen to “Stories From the Field: Planting Seeds After Disaster” to hear stories of divine appointments from recent U.S. Disaster Relief responses.

As believers, we do not remember Sept. 11, 2001, without hope. In remembering the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, Kristy and her husband, Edward Graham, talk about how even in hard times—with the Lord's help—we can be fruitful in affliction.

Resources:

• Listen to “Remembering 9/11: A Conversation with Preston Parrish” to hear what it was like being at Ground Zero just days after 9/11, ministering to those hurting.

Sept. 11, 2001, was a turning point for our nation. Kristy Graham sits down with Preston Parrish, who was at Ground Zero just days after 9/11, ministering to those hurting with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. It was through this event that the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was born.

Resources:

• Listen to “God Prepares in Advance” to hear how the Lord is working in and through our teams serving after devastating earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia.

We don't know what is ahead in life, but the Lord does—nothing is a surprise to Him. He has prepared in advance good works for us to do. Kristy met Thomas Ovington, the Colombia country director, while she was on the ground in Venezuela. Shortly after her time there, an earthquake hit neighboring Colombia, too. Thomas shares what it has been like to serve in both disasters and the ways that God has prepared and equipped our teams.

Resources:

• Learn more about our response in Colombia.
• Listen to “A Day of Disaster Response with Kristy: Venezuela Earthquake,” where Kristy takes you on the ground to Venezuela.
• In “Missionary Doctor Healed From Ebola,” you will hear from Dr. Peter Stafford and his wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, about trusting God in times of uncertainty.

Amid the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, former Samaritan’s Purse Post-Resident Dr. Peter Stafford contracted the disease. The whole ministry—and many Christians around the world—interceded on Peter’s behalf, praying fervently that God would be merciful and spare his life. Hear what Peter and his wife, Dr. Rebekah Stafford, learned about trusting in the Lord through this time of uncertainty.

Resources:

• Learn more about our Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Listen to “Bringing Hope In: DRC Ebola Response,” where you will hear what it was like for Kristy to don and doff personal protective equipment alongside staff ready to serve at one of two Samaritan’s Purse Ebola Treatment Centers.

Whether it's a wildfire, tornado, or hurricane, the impact is different—but the mission is always the same. As our teams stand with those who are suffering after disasters, we share the hope of Jesus. Kristy Graham brings you stories from recent U.S. Disaster Relief responses, where we have seen many hurting homeowners come to know the Lord and go on to be discipled. Hear from our staff who have been on the ground witnessing these divine appointments unfold.

Resources:

• Volunteer with us!
• Listen to “Called for Such a Time as This: A Conversation with Stick Williams,” to hear how the Lord has directed Stick’s path.

Richard “Stick” Williams served in the corporate world for decades, where his Christian witness left a lasting impact. He shares how the Lord has given him opportunities to be the first in many different positions and assignments, encouraging listeners to trust that God always places us exactly where we need to be. Where may God be calling you for such a time as this?

Resources:

Listen to “God Directs Our Paths: A Conversation with Franklin Graham,” where you will hear how Graham stays grounded leading Samaritan’s Purse.

As believers, we trust in God—we don’t trust in ourselves or in our own understanding. Franklin Graham joins his daughter-in-law in the studio this week to share updates from across the ministry and how he stays grounded leading Samaritan’s Purse. In a world where it is easy to get bogged down by trials and uncertainty, we are to focus on what is eternal, depending fully on the Lord for strength and direction.

Resources:

• Hear “A Day of Disaster Response with Kristy: Venezuela Earthquake” to learn how God is softening hearts and transforming lives.
• In “Venezuela Earthquake Response: Hope Does Not Disappoint,” you will hear from our staff who were serving on the ground just days after the deadly earthquakes.
• Listen to “Bringing Hope In: DRC Ebola Response,” where you will hear what it was like for Kristy to don and doff personal protective equipment alongside staff ready to serve at one of two Samaritan’s Purse Ebola Treatment Centers.

Samaritan's Purse goes to difficult and dark places to bring hope—a hope beyond this world. Some people in Venezuela don't have any concept of this hope. Host Kristy Graham takes you on the ground to Venezuela after the earthquakes and brings you stories of how God is softening hearts and transforming lives amid this devastating disaster.

Resources:

• Read more about Samaritan’s Purse work in Venezuela.
• In “Venezuela Earthquake Response: Hope Does Not Disappoint,” you will hear from our staff who were serving on the ground just days after the deadly earthquakes.

Once Deepali found Christ, her life didn't get easier—it got significantly harder. Following Jesus cost her, but she chose daily to take up her cross and follow Him. Hear Deepali’s profound testimony of fully turning from darkness to light, and how the Lord is using her gifts at the Samaritan’s Purse Liberia office.

Resources:

• Read more about Samaritan’s Purse work in the prisons of Liberia.
• Listen to “How to Be a Servant Leader,” where you will hear more about the Samaritan’s Purse Leadership Development Pathway that Deepali participates in.
• In “Venezuela Earthquake Response: Hope Does Not Disappoint,” you will hear from our staff who are serving on the ground after the deadly earthquakes.

In a dark place after two horrific and devastating earthquakes, the people of Venezuela's vibrant faith are shining through—and they are praising God. The church is rising up, serving and loving one another under the banner of Christ. A Samaritan's Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team is working there right now, distributing life-saving supplies, setting up clean water points, and providing medical care. Hear incredible stories from our staff on the ground helping with distributions and serving at the Emergency Field Hospital.

Resources:

• Learn more about the Samaritan’s Purse earthquake response in Venezuela.
• Join our Disaster Assistance Response Team.
• Listen to “No Escaping God’s Grace,” to hear how God transformed Jake’s heart through Operation Heal Our Patriots.

We are never too far gone for God's grace to cover us. And through Jesus, we can have forgiveness. Hear from Jake Southern, a former Army sergeant, who shared his testimony and the ways that God used Operation Heal Our Patriots to help transform his heart.

Resources:

• Learn more about Operation Heal Our Patriots.
• Listen to “One Week in Alaska,” where Kristy takes you behind-the-scenes at a week of Operation Heal Our Patriots.

Travel to Bongolo Hospital in Gabon, Africa, where a team of World Medical Mission volunteers spent two weeks performing life-changing orthopedic surgeries and sharing the love of Christ with patients. Hear wisdom about surrendering and obedience from Jeff Lane, an anesthesiologist who first followed the Lord into the jungles of Africa over a decade ago and is now back, serving with Samaritan's Purse on a short-term medical missions trip.

Resources:

• Learn more about World Medical Mission and how you can volunteer!
• Listen to “Bringing Hope In: DRC Ebola Response,” where you will hear what it was like for Kristy to don and doff personal protective equipment alongside staff ready to serve at one of two Samaritan’s Purse Ebola Treatment Centers.

Right now, a Samaritan's Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team is on the ground in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, operating two Ebola Treatment Centers to help fight this dangerous disease and stop its spread. Kristy took part in an infectious disease response training alongside our DART members, where she put on the personal protective equipment our teams wear in the field. It changed her. Hear Kristy’s thoughts as she gets in the suit and from our staff as they share why they are willing to say yes to serving in the DRC.

Resources:

• Learn more about the DRC Ebola Response.
• Serve with our Disaster Assistance Response Team.

Listen to our episodes about the 2014 Ebola Response in Liberia.

• Remembering the Liberia Ebola Response: 10 Years Later
• Bearing Each Other's Burdens: Liberia Ebola Response Part 2