Franklin Graham Update | September
HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS COAST TO COAST
Dear Friend,
The wildfire on Maui was the deadliest inferno our nation has seen in more than a century. On the other side of the nation, Hurricane Idalia left a swath of damaged houses from Florida into Georgia. In both cases, survivors and communities need help to recover and rebuild. Samaritan's Purse has responded in Jesus' Name.
My son Edward led our team on the ground in Maui, where the devastation and despair were overwhelming. "No one really knows where to turn," he told me. As we work to comfort survivors in Maui, we want them to know they can turn to our Lord and Savior, "who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
Before Lahaina opened up to relief workers, our teams worked in surrounding communities that had also burned. One resident named Faith was touched by the tireless work of our soot-covered volunteers. "Thank you for digging deep, and for the grace you all have in serving us."
We were blessed to find strong church partners on Maui, and believers there have been quick to answer the call of the Good Samaritan to help their neighbors. As one of our local volunteers shared the Gospel, Faith rededicated her life to the Lord and her husband, Derrick, prayed to receive Jesus Christ as his Savior.
In the wake of Hurricane Idalia, Samaritan's Purse deployed two of our Disaster Relief Units to Florida's Big Bend region and another to hard-hit Valdosta, Georgia. Our crews went straight to work chain-sawing downed trees, tarping damaged roofs, cleaning out houses flooded by a record storm surge, and sharing the hope of the Gospel wherever the Lord led them.
This has been a busy year for our U.S. disaster relief ministry, as we've responded to tornadoes in nine states, floods in four states, and another wildfire in the state of Washington.
Our disaster relief teams respond ASAP—which to us means not only As Soon As Possible, but also "Always Stop And Pray." Near Spokane, Washington, one of our teams was sifting through the ashes of a burned home. One of our workers called a halt and said we needed an ASAP moment. After they stopped and prayed, the Lord immediately led them to find jewelry, ceramic tea cups, and even wedding rings. Not only did these keepsakes help bring comfort and closure to the people who lived there, but they also demonstrated the power of prayer.
Finding the Hope of Christ in Ukraine
In one town near the frontlines, our church partners found an elderly woman hiding in her basement. We'll call her Valentyna. She said she had not had bread in months and felt so forsaken that she was ready to take her own life.
After she received food and other assistance from Samaritan's Purse, Valentyna sat down to eat what might have been her last meal. But as she read the message on the bag, she started asking herself if it was really true that God loved her. The next day, she asked workers who came to check on her, and they shared the Gospel and explained just how much God loves us. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). As Valentyna realized the depth of His love, she prayed to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.
Five days later, her town was invaded, and Valentyna tragically lost her life. We know that she is forever in the presence of the One whose love was expressed on that bag and then written eternally on her heart.
We heard this testimony from Vera, a courageous Ukrainian believer who was working in the "red zone" when she had the opportunity to share the Gospel with Valentyna. You can hear Vera being interviewed by my daughter-in-law Kristy Graham on our "On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse" podcast.
ON THE GROUND: Kristy Graham talks with Vera, a Ukrainian woman who has served on the frontlines with Samaritan’s Purse. Officially, Vera worked as a translator, but she did so much more than this. Her heart was to boldly share the Gospel. Vera tell stories of what it was like risking her own life in conflict areas to distribute relief supplies and share hope with those who desperately needed to hear it.
As Ukrainians face another winter under siege, Samaritan's Purse is doing all we can to comfort those living near the frontlines while helping reassure them that God indeed loves them. Our relief projects have reached 14 million people with medical care, 200 million pounds of food, water, wood stoves, roofs, and over a quarter of a million Ukrainian Bibles.
Please continue to pray for the people of Ukraine who are living under the constant threat of attack. We are working with our church partners to meet local needs and help people find hope in Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your prayers and support for the work of Samaritan's Purse. May God bless you.
Sincerely,
Franklin Graham
WARMING: A Ukrainian Christian delivers firewood for a family using one of the 7,000 wood stoves provided by Samaritan’s Purse.
Ways You Can Help
Pray
Pray for the families and individuals who have lost their homes and businesses in disasters. Ask the Lord to open doors for the work of Samaritan's Purse to help save lives, relieve suffering, and share the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- U.S. DISASTER RELIEF
- Volunteers are the backbone of our U.S. disaster relief ministry. If the Lord is calling you or your church group to get involved, go to spvolunteer.org to sign up to serve at our current locations. No construction experience is needed.
- UKRAINE RESPONSE
- As the war in Ukraine drags on, your gift will enable Samaritan's Purse to continue supplying tons of food, drinking water, relief supplies, Ukrainian Bibles, and other assistance.
- Operation Christmas Child
- National Collection Week will be Nov. 13-20, and now is the time to start packing shoebox gifts. The brochure enclosed in this newsletter will help you get started. If you need other assistance, go to samaritanspurse.org/occ.
- Where Most Needed
- Your gift to "Where Most Needed" equips Samaritan's Purse with the resources—including personnel, materials, supporting services, and equipment—to fulfill our mission of relief and evangelism worldwide.
