Last summer I had the privilege of touring the airplane hanger for Samaritan’s Purse in Greensboro, NC and what incredible stories I heard! While many are familiar with the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes that are collected and shipped all over the world, most have never heard about the extensive disaster relief work conducted by this ministry.
Samaritan’s Purse is currently operating a field hospital in Venezuela that they established shortly after the earthquakes in June. This facility is equipped with operating rooms, surgeons, nurses, and trained trauma response personnel. Previously, they have provided similar facilities to Sudan, Ukraine, and many other locations that suffered from war or natural disasters. Most incredibly, after SP ministers to many physical needs through these hospitals, they leave them behind to continue to benefit those in the area.
In October of 2024, SP conducted the largest US airdrop in history following Hurricane Helene. They flew 357 missions into North Carolina alone providing much needed food, medicine, and supplies. Many of these emergency relief items had been stockpiled in an enormous warehouse in Boone, NC that I visited in 2022. Boone is also the site of their planning headquarters and logistics operations.
Following the Hamas attack in October of 2023, SP took three missions to Israel and donated over 40 ambulances to their emergency medical service, several of which were equipped with bulletproof armor. They also donated food and supplies to the survivors of those attacks.
Samaritan’s Purse medical professionals are also currently at the forefront of the Ebola battle in Africa. In 2014, Dr. Kent Brantly and missionary nurse Nancy Writebol, both of SP, contracted the dread disease in Liberia but thankfully survived providing insight for their current efforts in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their miraculous story is documented in the film, Facing Darkness.
As I write this column, a good friend is working with SP near Asheville, NC to rebuild houses, and others have participated in similar projects following hurricanes in Florida and flooding in Kentucky. This ministry stays for the long haul as volunteers donate time and skill to reconstruct homes and lives.
Up until last year when a new Boeing 767 was put into service, SP relied on a 1968 DC-8 which was the last one still flying anywhere in the world. Before it was retired, SP mechanics discovered a malfunction for which there was no known remedy. As the time approached for an emergency flight to deliver desperately needed relief materials, God revealed a solution to the technician just 2½ hours prior to take off. In another instance, through a dream, God showed the way to repair the only remaining DC-8 simulator so their pilots could continue to certify and fly these vital missions. They are very thankful for the new plane that has 3 times the cargo space of the previous one and can transport an entire helicopter.
The best aspect of Samaritan’s Purse is that this ministry is all about Jesus! Although they help all people regardless of religious belief or affiliation (or none), they also lovingly share Jesus. Their tagline declares they are, “Helping in Jesus’ name” and even though Muslims are sometimes skeptical when their plane lands with this statement on the nose, they are grateful for the free assistance. SP also presents Bibles to those they serve because they minister to people’s eternal souls as well as to their temporary bodies. They rely on God’s blessing and help and form a prayer circle before every single flight departs.
Samaritan’s Purse is best known for its Operation Christmas Child Ministry which has delivered 244 million shoeboxes to children in 175 countries. In 2024 alone, 3.2 million people became Jesus-followers through this effort. But Samaritan’s Purse does so much more. If you have an opportunity to support this ministry with your finances, skills, or prayers, I hope you will do so, for they do incredible work helping others in Jesus’ name! Blessings, George