Marine Master Sergeant Al Aranda entered a Marine recruiting office as a young man trying to make a better life for himself and to become a good example to the family he might have one day. Now more than 21 years later, after two combat deployments and three years as a Marine Corps drill instructor,…
God Used a Fishing Trip in Alaska to Reel in a Veteran Who No Longer Believed
Standing waist-deep in chilly water just downstream from Tanalian Falls, Army Specialist Eric Stacy had hooked a large Arctic grayling, one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in Alaska—”the sailfish of the north” with its sweeping, colorful dorsal fin. He was reeling in this prize catch one moment, and the next was watching that signature…
Discipleship, Education & Training
Military Couple Finds a New Beginning in Christ
The first time Wayne Wilson learned how to drive, it was behind the wheel of a Humvee in Iraq. The 17-year-old had joined the Army to escape from an abusive home, going straight from high school into basic training. He graduated from Airborne School and was immediately deployed on his first combat tour in 2002.…
Samaritan’s Purse Volunteers Bring Relief in Jesus’ Name to Georgia and the Florida Panhandle
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR OUR HURRICANE MICHAEL RESPONSE LATEST Oct. 18, 8:30 a.m. Our volunteers are hard at work in Albany, Georgia, and in the Florida Panhandle where our teams have received more than 1,500 work orders between the two locations. More than 300 volunteers so far have helped respond to the need. Many…
Our Ministry
Disaster Assistance Response Team
Learn More About Serving on a Samaritan's Purse DISASTER ASSISTANCE RESPONSE TEAM A Disaster Assistance Response Team provides relief to victims of disaster while ↓ water food shelter medical care war poverty famine disease natural disaster sharing the hope of Jesus Christ A DART provides water, food, shelter, and medical care to victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster while sharing…
Health & Medical Ministries
Cleft Lip Surgeries Change Lives in Myanmar
“My mom told the midwife to kill the baby,” Thin said. Thin’s mom feared her grandson would not grow up as a normal child because of his cleft lip. She didn’t know how he would eat since he couldn’t breastfeed and worried he would be teased when he got older. Neither Thin nor her mom…
Hope Restored for a Hurting Marriage
Even from his youngest years, Lorenzo Richardson had dreamt of becoming a musician—or at least of joining his high school band in Albany, Georgia. Then two great floods hit his hometown—both times forcing his family to evacuate. “After the 1994 flood, it took us four years to get our home back. When the 1998 flood…
More Than They Bargained For
Retired Army Staff Sergeant Ray Davis and his wife Rebecca applied to attend Operation Heal Our Patriots because they wanted to see Alaska: the Last Frontier. It wasn’t until the end of their week at Samaritan Lodge though that they realized just how desperately they had needed the time together. Yes, they expected to reconnect,…
A Fresh Start
Army Specialist Jason Tyson was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when he met Jodina, a school teacher. The first time Jodina came to visit him on base she brought homemade cookies and “it was love at first bite,” Jason said. “I knew we were meant for each other.” Jodina also knew after that first…
Discipleship, Education & Training
Veteran Couples Find Spiritual Renewal in Alaska
The last thing Natalie heard was a mortar round exploding and her husband shouting, “We’re taking incoming.” Then, the phone line went dead. Natalie wondered if that was the last time she’d hear his voice. Natalie endured many restless days and nights while her husband, Army Sergeant Eddie Shanks, was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010.…
