The Sharing Hope in Jesus’ Name Conference in Colorado helped better equip disaster relief volunteers to serve and witness.
Thick, black smoke was moving in rapidly. Pastor Erik Naylor of Maui, Hawaii, could hardly see more than a few feet in front of him, and he felt the heat as homes around him started to catch on fire. But when he and a neighbor looked across the street, they saw that the Lahaina Baptist Church’s buildings weren’t yet ablaze. They quickly crossed they road and stood together on the church property and prayed that God would spare the facilities
“We came back a few days later and trees literally just a few inches from the property were burned,” Pastor Erik said. “But God saved our church structures. His work with our church wasn’t done.”
Pastor Erik Naylor related his experiences during and after the Hawaii wildfires.
Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief volunteers worked to repair water damage to the facility’s interior. Now, the church is serving as the base of operations for our rebuild efforts in Lahaina after wildfires destroyed thousands of homes.
Pastor Erik’s powerful testimony of God’s power and grace kicked off the 2025 Sharing Hope in Jesus’ Name Conference, Feb. 27-March 2, in Aurora, Colorado. More than 1,800 Samaritan’s Purse North American Ministries volunteers and Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains participated in the four-day event that included fellowship, inspiring speakers, hands-on skills training, and classes to better equip participants to care for those in need during crisis and disaster.
Edward Graham spoke to conference participants about the importance of sharing the Gospel.
The Tommy Coomes Band and Dennis Agajanian led in special times of worship throughout the conference.
Luther Harrison, vice president of North American Ministries and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team, thanked the volunteers and chaplains for their faithfulness to be the hands and feet of Christ to hurting people after disasters have upended their lives. “The two groups work together to bring comfort and relief,” he said. “God is alive, and He is using each and every one of you.”
We praise the Lord for using our volunteers to minister to 12,211 families in desperate need during disaster relief responses in 2024. Most importantly, 1,179 people came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ through our deployments.
Luther Harrison thanked volunteers and chaplains for their work during a busy 2024.
Edward Graham, youngest son of Franklin Graham and a former Army Ranger, serves as chief operating officer of Samaritan’s Purse. He spoke during the first general session and set the tone for the focus of the entire event: Volunteers, chaplains, and staff must be devoted to sharing the eternal hope of Christ.
“We go to the people in the ditch and we meet their needs. But the most important thing we do at Samaritan’s Purse is share the Gospel,” he said.
Graham explained that as Christians our marching orders are clear: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Mateo 28:19).
The Tommy Coomes Band led in worship.
“No matter how many homes we build, or how many roofs we repair, or how many homes we muck out, what is it for if we don’t sanctify people with the truth and share that God’s Word is truth?” Graham said.
Jason Kimak, senior director of North American Ministries, also brought a challenging message about standing up for the truth. He spoke on Acts 17 and how the Apostle Paul boldly told people about God—he was not ashamed or afraid.
Jason Kimak spoke from Acts 17 about the boldness of the Apostle Paul.
“Paul took action. He went to the marketplace, which would be our modern-day Walmart and Target and wherever you go,” Kimack said. “He found people who needed to hear about Jesus.”
Responding Close to Home
Samaritan’s Purse teams deploy in Jesus’ Name all over the country and meet people who are desperate for hope. A few months ago, an army of volunteers descended upon western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic strike. Samaritan’s Purse has headquarters in Boone—a town that took a brutal punch during the storm. Thousands of people in the Appalachian Mountains were trapped because of washed out roads and bridges.
Graham told conference attendees that Samaritan’s Purse immediately started using its helicopter to transport relief supplies to stranded residents. We then began coordinating a fleet of helicopters (including Army Chinooks, civilian Blackhawks, NASCAR team choppers, and other private aircraft) in what would become the largest civilian aircraft operation in United States history.
Retired General Richard Cody, former vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army, flew relief missions during our response in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
Retired General Richard Cody, former vice chief of staff of the U.S. Army, spoke during the Friday evening general session about how he had felt compelled to join relief efforts in North Carolina. He piloted his own private aircraft to help Samaritan’s Purse deliver critical emergency items.
“Through your unselfish acts, you bring faith, hope, and love to those in peril. That’s how you change the world,” he said. “You are making a difference out there. Keep the faith.”
There were plenty of hands-on training sessions at the conference.
Relief efforts would not have been possible without church partners like Alliance Bible Fellowship, which served as the base of operations for our disaster relief equipment and volunteers in Boone.
“We had more than 16,300 volunteers come through our church,” said Senior Pastor Scott Andrews. “That first day, the line of cars in front of our church stretched back a mile—and it did for weeks.”
Senior Pastor Scott Andrews of Alliance Bible Fellowship in Boone, North Carolina, shared insights on how churches partner with Samaritan’s Purse.
Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief volunteer Denise Purington gave a testimony of how she saw God at work in the life of Barry, a homeowner her team served after Helene damaged his house and destroyed nearly all of his personal belongings. Barry was still grieving after his wife’s death a few months earlier. He had injured his back trying to clear storm debris from his yard. With tears in his eyes, he told Denise that he felt like Job in the Bible.
Denise’s team spent several days at Barry’s home. It was a big job, but the team never complained; they worked hard and encouraged Barry in the Lord.
“We still keep in touch with Barry,” Denise said. “One day he called me and wanted to thank the team for all we had done. He said, ‘You all saved my life. I’ve placed everything in the Lord’s hands. God knew I needed you.’”
Denise Purington shared about her volunteer experience after Hurricane Helene.
Keeping the Gospel First
Don Wilton, who served as Billy Graham’s pastor for more than 20 years, spoke on the conference theme verse, Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”
Wilton explained that the Apostle Paul was unashamed because he knew that only Jesus could forgive sin and provide eternal salvation. Wilton exhorted volunteers and chaplains to follow Paul’s example of living as a bold witness.
“You cannot do this in your own strength,” he said. “Witnessing is difficult. It is confrontive. But God demands it.”
Pastor Don Wilton prayed for the bold and faithful Gospel witness of volunteers and chaplains.
Wilton asked volunteers and chaplains to stand if they were willing to make the Gospel first and foremost in their lives and to faithfully evangelize. He prayed over the hundreds of conference attendees who quickly stood to their feet.
Dennis Agajanian played a blistering guitar.
Melissa Drake, a volunteer from Pennsylvania, stood during Wilton’s invitation—but fear almost kept her seated. “I prayed, ‘Lord, will you help me to stand? Will you enable me to do what you’ve called me to do when I return home?’ It was my act of faith just to take my bended knees and stand up,” she said.
Melissa, a first-time conference attendee, said it was life-changing. “I’ve learned so much. I’ve been in tears here because of the conviction of God. I will never miss a conference now.”
Committing Everything to Christ
Faithfulness to God is a theme that continued into the Saturday evening session. Tim Lee, a double amputee and Vietnam veteran, used Daniel 3 as an example of what it means to truly be willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of Jesus.
When King Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone under his rule to bow and worship a golden image, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to obey. Their punishment was to be thrown into a fiery furnace. Even still, the three men didn’t compromise.
Tim Lee spoke from Daniel 3 and encouraged participants to commit everything to Christ.
“If you become a person of deep commitment in your Christian life, the world will turn their back on you,” Lee said. “This is the time to be strong and courageous.”
Lee urged the audience to resolve now to be faithful to the Lord, so that when faced with life’s toughest trials, they are ready. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not make a commitment in the fire furnace—they had already made the commitment to God before they got there.”
At the end of his message, Lee offered an invitation for anyone who wanted to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We praise God that at least 42 people came to faith in Christ.
Trusting in the Trials
The conference ended with a special time of worship and communion on Sunday morning led by Will Graham, oldest son of Franklin Graham and executive vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Graham used 2 Samuel 5 to illustrate how Christians should respond during trials.
In this chapter, the Philistines are seeking to kill David because he is threatening their power and dominion. Yet, David doesn’t panic. Instead, he prays, and obeys God’s command to fight the Philistines multiple times in multiple ways.
“God delivers each time,” Graham said. “God was doing the fighting for David—God struck down the Philistines.”
Will Graham closed the conference with a call to turn to God in times of trial.
Graham asked believers to follow David’s example of trusting God during the darkest trials, and to share the eternal hope of the Gospel as they stand in His strength.
“Lord, we’re ready to follow wherever You send us,” he prayed. “Take us to the places where no one else wants to go. Help us to help those the world has left behind. Send us to be light where there is darkness.”
We praise God for all of our volunteers who have faithfully served and brought the light of Christ to suffering people. For a list of current disaster relief and rebuild opportunities, visit spvolunteer.org.
