He was in tornado-battered Mayfield on Dec. 13 and met with homeowners and our host church pastor.
Edward Graham, assistant to the vice president at Samaritan’s Purse and youngest son of Franklin and Jane Graham, traveled to Mayfield, Kentucky, on Dec. 13 to encourage those devastated by deadly tornadoes.
Edward Graham saw first-hand the destruction of the weekend storms that spawned deadly tornadoes in Mayfield, Kentucky.
Edward was able to talk and pray with homeowners, including Tommy Anderson whose home was reduced to rubble.
“I never imagined that my home would be reduced to this,” Tommy said. “It is just so devastating.”
Tommy, a bivocational pastor, said he’s used to serving others and was very encouraged by Edward’s visit.
“Seeing you here is such a blessing from God,” he said. “I praise the Lord for you.”
Tommy reflected on what he can be thankful for, even as this holiday season for him will be unlike any before.
He spoke with Marty Janes, who recounted the story of recent days. He and his wife were trapped in their home after the tornado devastated their community.
“God is still in control. Christmas will be different this year, but we’ll all be there [including his wife and children]. Thank God we are safe. Let’s go on.”
Edward also spoke and prayed with Marty Janes. Marty and his wife have a terrifying story of survival.
Marty said their house shook for an hour, and it sounded “like a nuclear bomb.” He was slammed against a wall, rendered nearly unconscious, and buried under debris, before eventually being rescued.
His wife, who suffered two broken legs, was in another room, and the two could not reach other. They were taken separately by ambulance and did not hear from one another for 24 hours, so Marty was not even sure if his wife had survived for some time.
Marty stands in the living room of his now-roofless house. He and his wife were were rescued from its rubble the night of the deadly tornadoes.
Finally, Edward met with Brad Morris, pastor of First Assembly of God, our host church in Mayfield.
Edward prays with and encourages Brad Morris, pastor of First Assembly of God, our host church. Edward prayed that the church would “show the light of Christ.”
“I’m 60 years old,” Brad said. “I’ve been at this church since I was 6 years old. This is my church. This is my home. I’m so thankful that Samaritan’s Purse is here at our home to help us.”
Edward responded: “Know that we love you, and we’re here to serve alongside you. We want your church to be lifted up in this. Together, we can show this community that Christ is the Rock.”
As they prayed, Edward said, “We pray for this church to show…the light of Christ. We pray that You would comfort this church and this community.”
Volunteers Needed for Work in Kentucky and Arkansas
Samaritan’s Purse is working in both Kentucky and Arkansas after a string of dozens tornadoes killed scores of people and left untold destruction. In Kentucky alone, the official death toll is now in the 70s.
Edward Graham prays with Tommy Anderson, a long-time member of his community.
We have bases in Mayfield and Bowling Green, Kentucky, and in northeastern Arkansas. {UPDATE} Volunteers started Dec. 14 in all locations—they are chainsawing downed trees, patching roofs, removing debris, and more.
We need many people to come alongside homeowners and help them in Jesus’ Name. If God is calling you to serve in this way, please sign up to volunteer at spvolunteer.org.
Please pray for hard-hit communities as they grieve and slowly begin to recover. Ask that God would comfort them in ways only He can.
Samaritan’s Purse is responding in areas of Kentucky and Arkansas to help in Jesus’ Name, assisting homeowners as they pick up the pieces of their lives.
