A deafening buzz nearly every summer morning fills the air, echoing through the trees and mountains surrounding Port Alsworth, Alaska. There’s a good chance that one or two Samaritan’s Purse planes and pilots are responsible for breaking the wilderness silence. “As a young kid I grew up next to an Air Force base, and I…
Discipleship, Education & Training
Love Restored, Hearts Made New
Nearly every day for several months of his deployment, Army Sergeant Jake Southern’s unit came under enemy fire or were blasted by a roadside bomb. “It was nonstop, every day. The violence was increasing,” Jake said of the wartime situation in Afghanistan during 2009. Back at home, his wife Susan was raising their baby boy…
Discipleship, Education & Training
Veteran Couples Find Healing, Help in Christ During Alaska Marriage Training
The summer season of Operation Heal Our Patriots is off to a great start! We’ve already welcomed about 30 couples to Samaritan Lodge Alaska, and we expect to host nearly 160 couples before the season ends. We praise God that we’re already seeing life transformation among these wounded veterans and their spouses. Individuals are coming…
Health & Medical Ministries
Restoring Sight in South Sudan
When Yinat went to his garden to gather sorghum he did not expect such an ordinary day would deal him such a dreadful incident. A spitting cobra lurking among the plants attacked and spit not once, but twice in Yinat’s eyes. That was 20 years ago, and Yinat hadn’t seen well ever since. He developed…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Southeast Church Among First to Welcome an Afghan Family
The children run to greet them with a slew of hugs and smiles before they even get the door open all the way. They’re so excited to welcome the team and to see what surprises the day will bring. They might share a meal together, go to the grocery store, visit the park, or shop…
Warmly Welcoming Those Who’ve Fled Afghanistan
“Seeing our children play with toys is the first happy day we’ve had in a long time,” said the Afghan father, his eyes wistful as he watched his little ones. This weary family was just one of countless others who experienced firsthand what most of the world only saw in shocking photos and broadcasts back…
Operation Christmas Child
Shoebox Packers Photos
Shoebox Packers These photographs are available for news media outlet use in coverage of Samaritan's Purse-related stories. If your news outlet uses a photograph, please credit: “Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.” These photographs are not for commercial use. Details ⋮ United StatesIncluding a letter in your shoebox gift will delight the heart of the child who…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Warm Winter Clothing Distributed to Vulnerable Families in Armenia
For decades Armenia and Azerbaijan have battled over a portion of land known as Nagorno-Karabakh. In September, the conflict erupted again, and the two nations broke into a violent war. The pocket of land, which is located within the borders of Azerbaijan, was home to ethnic Armenians. The war prompted people to flee—causing them to…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Franklin Graham Travels to Colombia to Support Work with Venezuelan Migrants
NOTE: This article reflects the situation in Colombia/Venezuela as of Franklin Graham’s trip in Oct. 2018. For more recent information, go to our Colombia relief landing page and see other updated articles listed there. As Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham walked the Simón Bolívar International Bridge in Cúcuta, Colombia on Monday, he was moved by…
Discipleship, Education & Training
Making Disciples in the Philippines
Every medical test indicated that Tess had cancer. Doctors told her that the tumor was large and should be removed as soon as possible. Yet, on the day of her surgery, the tumor was gone. None of the doctors could explain what had happened—but Tess knew. “God took it out,” she said. “God gave me…
