Books and Bibles for Pastor John

A pastor in the Philippines receives Christian literature from Samaritan's Purse to help minister to typhoon survivors

Pastor John Pagliawan and his family survived Typhoon Haiyan by climbing into the rafters of his office in Tanauan. The church building wasn’t as lucky—the winds and storm surge destroyed it.

The Bibles, books, and hymnals in the church were waterlogged. Pastor Pagliawan attempted to dry them without much success.

Help Disaster Victims Around The World“We were praying that God would show His miracle,” he said. “Had it not been for God’s grace, all of us would have perished.”

Franklin Graham met Pagliawan when he visited the Philippines to see the devastation and the work of Samaritan’s Purse. Graham saw the pastor drying a copy of “The Billy Graham Christian Worker’s Handbook” along with several others. Graham saw the shell of the church that was left standing and committed to sending new Billy Graham training Bibles and hymnbooks for the congregation.

Samaritan’s Purse fulfilled the promise to Pastor Johnn by sending several boxes full of Bibles, hymnals, and an assortment of books by Billy Graham and other authors. The church received the gifts on December 12.

Pastor John was very grateful when he received the books.

“Thank you for the books and the materials,” he said. “Thank you Franklin Graham. Thank you for your generosity. This is more than I expected.”

He said he was planning on holding an evangelistic outreach that evening. Right after the storm, 10 pastors had come from Manila and other parts of the country to encourage the church and to distribute basic relief goods to its members. Nearly a month later, all 10 pastors returned to do an evangelistic outreach and to project the Jesus Film.

“We have already brought physical aid to this community,” said Sanchez Ismael, one of the pastors involved in the outreach. “Now have come to bring spiritual aid; we want the whole community to know that there is hope in Jesus Christ.”

Samaritan’s Purse is partnering with the local church to reach out to those in need. Believers are stepping up to show the love of Christ in a variety of ways.