Samaritan's Purse COO Edward Graham visited tornado survivors in St. Louis where our volunteer teams are helping homeowners recover in Jesus' Name.
Edward Graham, COO of Samaritan’s Purse, was in St. Louis, Missouri, this week to encourage and pray with homeowners reeling from the EF3 tornado that tore through the area last Friday. Graham shared hope from Scripture with each family, and encouraged them to cling to Jesus during these trying times.
“As I drive around St. Louis, it breaks my heart,” Graham said. “There is so much destruction. There are certain parts of the city where everything is gone—down to the foundation. Most of the city blocks here in the north have roofs ripped off or trees that have fallen, and there is so much work to be done.”
Porscha Brooks was overwhelmed with happiness as volunteers helped clean up her property. The tornado’s fierce winds toppled a tree on the side of her house, piercing through her ceiling.
The historic May 16 twister reached wind speeds over 150 mph and carved a 23-mile path of destruction from Clayton, a suburb of St. Louis, to Edwardsville, Illinois, ripping apart densely populated neighborhoods along its route. The storm killed seven in Missouri, injured more, and has left thousands still without power.
Samaritan’s Purse responded immediately in Jesus’ Name following the disaster. Our dedicated army of volunteers is on the ground in north St. Louis, where many homes were leveled within minutes. Groups of orange shirts fill the streets as our volunteer teams go house to house—clearing debris, cutting fallen trees, tarping crushed roofs, and most importantly, sharing the love and hope of Jesus Christ.
“None of this happens without the volunteers,” Graham said. “I’ve talked to so many homeowners. They’re hurting, but they’re also resilient. And they’re also thankful that Samaritan’s Purse has showed up with volunteers to let them know that they are not forgotten; they are not forsaken.”
The twister in St. Louis was one of many that spawned across the Midwest last weekend. Samaritan’s Purse is also responding in Laurel County, Kentucky, to help homeowners recover from a catastrophic EF4 tornado that tore through the area.
The Gift of Love
Porscha Brooks heard rumors of a tornado making its way toward St. Louis but never thought it would come to her neighborhood just a few miles from downtown. When she arrived home later that Friday evening from work, she couldn’t believe what she saw.
“I saw people outside holding their babies with nothing but porch steps behind them,” Porscha recalled. “I’ve heard of this before, but to see it in your own backyard”—she shook her head—”just devastation. No other way to explain it.”
Volunteers are helping clean up fallen trees and debris in St. Louis communities.
The tornado’s fierce winds toppled a tree on the side of her house, piercing through her ceiling. For hours while she was at work as a teacher, rain water flooded her bedroom.
As Samaritan’s Purse volunteers arrived to remove the fallen tree, clean up scattered debris, and tarp the inside and outside of her home—Graham pulled her to the side to remind her why we come.
“We love you, but more importantly, Jesus loves you,” Graham told Porscha. “It takes a while but healing does come. It starts with surrender, and you have to put it all at the foot of the cross.”
While both her birthday and wedding anniversary celebrations were spoiled because of the tornado, the Samaritan’s Purse volunteers were the gift she never expected.
“In 2025, we live in an era where nobody cares, so to see this many people come from all over the country is amazing,” Porscha said. “These people are the first ones into the community each morning, and the last ones to leave. I just love them all.”
All in Jesus’ Name
Graham visited others in the north St. Louis area, stopping to pray for homeowners on the side of the street and encourage our volunteers as they work throughout the community.
Homeowner Sena Torrence meets with Edward Graham and Jason Kimak, Senior Director of North American Ministries at Samaritan’s Purse.
“I’m overwhelmed with happiness,” said Sena Torrence, another homeowner in north St. Louis, as Samaritan’s Purse volunteers started working on her home. “It was so depressing for me [after the tornado], but I can’t explain the joy I feel today.”
Sena was beckoned to the front porch by her son the Friday the storm hit only to see the tornado spinning directly toward her. She grabbed her kids and rushed into the basement. When they came back up, the neighborhood they once knew was gone. While the damage to her roof was minimal, rainwater spilled into her house constantly.
We tarped her roof, cleaned her house, and removed the debris in her backyard—all in Jesus’ Name.
Edward Graham meets with Samaritan’s Purse volunteer and Billy Graham chaplain Diane Blangna.
“The fact that he has allowed me to get a glimpse of the powerful way He works is amazing,” said Diane Blangna, a Samaritan’s Purse volunteer. “I see God tangibly at work, and I get to talk to people in their hardest moments and remind them that God is good.”
Please pray for our work in both Missouri and Kentucky, and pray that homeowners will be comforted by God’s love in the midst of tragedy. Volunteers are still needed: go to spvolunteer.org to learn more.
Edward Graham also met with June Alford. “Continue to do the work for the Lord. You are on an assignment, a great commission from God,” she said.
