TULSA, OKLAHOMA — The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) is deploying to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a severe storm system swept through the area Saturday night. Winds in excess of 100 mph caused widespread damage and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people. “After seeing the amount of devastation that was in Tulsa,…
PUERTO RICO — Samaritan’s Purse is helping to bring clean water to families in Puerto Rico following the devastation caused by Hurricane Fiona by setting up water filtration systems in neighborhoods. Jeremiah Roberts – Samaritan’s Purse: In the wake of hurrican Fiona there’s been widespread loss of access to electricity and also to drinking water….
FORT MYERS, FL — Cissie Graham Lynch, daughter of Franklin Graham, lives with her family in Fort Myers, Florida, one of the areas slammed by Hurricane Ian. The state’s deadliest storm in 87 years claimed well over 100 lives, destroyed businesses, washed away homes, and tossed boats against houses, into trees, and along the roads….
FT MYERS, FL — Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham travelled to Lee County, Florida, on Thursday, October 6, where Hurricane Ian took dead aim last week and pummeled the Fort Myers area as a Category 4 storm. More than 100 people were killed, and at least hundreds of homes were either ripped apart or flooded….
BAKERSFIELD, CA — CityServe Florida had teams on the ground before Hurricane Ian struck, and has provided life-saving assistance immediately to distressed residents in Southwest Florida. So far they have provided over 5,000 hot meals to residents, along with 200 pallets of water, produce, non-perishable food, and cleaning supplies. CityServe’s church network is helping Florida…
FT MYERS, FL — Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief Units—tractor trailers stocked with equipment and supplies—headed to Florida on Sept. 29 from North Carolina. They arrived Sept. 30, and their bases of operation are now established at Citygate Ministries in Fort Myers and Calvary Baptist Church in Englewood. A third base will be established at New…
GREENSBORO, NC — Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting emergency supplies, including water filtration systems and plastic roofing tarps, to Puerto Rico in the wake of massive flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Fiona. John Morgan – Samaritan’s Purse: Puerto Rico has been devastated by Hurricane Fiona– massive flooding, homes destroyed, lives uprooted. Samaritan’s Purse is dispatching…
UKRAINE — A team of Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains is seeing a growing openness to the Gospel as they minister to thousands of people throughout Ukraine impacted by the war. Over the past five months they’ve trained 200 Ukrainian chaplains, prayed with over 3,000 people and have led over 350 people to Christ….
UVALDA, TX — At a growing memorial site, the community of Uvalde, Texas, is processing many emotions after a deadly school shooting. Residents and Billy Graham RRT chaplains share how God is providing much-needed hope. Valerie Joseph – San Antonio Texas Resident: It’s been very emotional. I have two kids of my own. A four…
UVALDA, TX — Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Chaplains are on the ground and praying with the community of Uvalde in Texas as they process through grief and trauma from the recent school shooting. As the community is devastated by this tragedy that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, Billy Graham RRT…
HAMMOND, LA — Team Patriot members with Samaritan’s Purse are serving homeowners in Louisiana whose properties were damaged by Hurricane Ida by removing debris, cutting up downed trees, and tarping roofs. They are also ministering to and encouraging their fellow veterans who are working alongside of them. Eric Marcengill – Samaritan’s Purse: My name is…
PORT ALSWORTH, AK — They came to Samaritan Lodge Alaska from across America sharing a common calling—law enforcement—and many similar stories of on-duty trauma: shootings, physical assaults, violent car accidents in pursuit of suspects. All were showered with love and encouragement. Most important, the eternal hope found only in Christ and the trustworthiness of His…
USA — In appreciation of their devotion to protect and serve others, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team supports America’s law enforcement community through annual retreats. These events acknowledge the unique challenges officers and their families face. BGEA President and CEO Franklin Graham brings this update from their most recent Law Enforcement Appreciation Retreat. Franklin…
SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA — Samaritan’s Purse volunteers are in Southeast Louisiana tarping roofs, removing debris, and cutting downed trees for homeowners who were impacted by Hurricane Ida. But more volunteers are urgently needed to come alongside these hurting residents and let them know that God has not forgotten them. Debbie Anderson, Homeowner: This down here is…
WAVERLY / HUMPHREYS COUNTY, TN — Billy Graham chaplains are ministering to flood victims in Middle Tennessee where 20 people lost their lives in recent floodwaters. Resident Shane Gannon shares what it was like in the midst of such a disaster and how the Billy Graham team has impacted his community. Shane Gannon – Homeowner:…
SAMARITAN LODGE, ALASKA – Through Operation Heal Our Patriots, Marine Gunnery Sergeant David Mercado learned that God could heal their marriage and give them real hope. David Mercado, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC, Ret.: I did one deployment in Afghanistan. We used to do a lot of security details. You name it, they stuck us on it….
HAITI – The Bible teaches us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn. Today is a day to mourn with Christian friends at Gospel to Haiti, where their mission is “Reaching the lost in the mountains of Haiti through medicine and building relationships.” Mourning Together Just a few days…
SURFSIDE, FLORIDA — Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplains are ministering at the Family Reunification Center near the collapsed condo tower in Surfside, Florida. Relatives of the residents are arriving from all over the world as they await news about their loved ones. Many are sharing photos and even their own DNA in the hopes…
SAN JOSE, CA — Crisis-trained chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team are offering help and hope to the heartbroken community of San Jose, California, where nine people died in a horrific shooting on May 26. “People are hurting. People are confused. People are angry,” said chaplain coordinator Michael Glassey. Find out how chaplains…
LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA — Samaritan’s Purse has deployed to Lake Charles, Louisiana, after torrential rain caused severe flooding across the southern part of the state. As much as 12.5 inches of rain fell in 24 hours in Lake Charles, where people are still recovering from two hurricanes (Delta and Laura) that hit last year. As…
LA GRANGE, TX — A La Grange, Texas, couple are praising God for their new home built by Samaritan’s Purse after their previous house was destroyed by floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey. Justin Riddle, Samaritan’s Purse: Hurricane Harvey came through, dumped tons of water. It breached its banks, and ruined a lot of homes and lives….
BOULDER, CO — The shooting that killed 10 people in a grocery store in Boulder, Colorado, left locals shaken and asking questions, including a young woman named Daismarie. She met Billy Graham chaplains who told her about the love of Jesus Christ and offered prayer. Find out how that conversation forever changed her life. Will…
MINNESOTA — Crisis-trained chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) are ministering in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, talking with locals and pointing them to a God who gives hope. Many in the Twin Cities are deeply hurting after 20-year-old Daunte Wright was shot and killed at a traffic stop on April 11. It was…
TUSCALOOSA, AL — Billy Graham chaplains are caring for Tuscaloosa and Dallas County locals in Alabama, United States in the aftermath of a series of tornadoes ripped through the area earlier this month. “I feel better knowing that somebody is actually praying for me,” one resident said. This past weekend, the Billy Graham Rapid Response…
HOUSTON — Countless people across Texas are still suffering from the effects of the deep freeze that hit seven weeks ago: damaged roofs; burst water pipes; burned down homes; and more. Already struggling with COVID shut-down recovery, many families cannot repair the damage from the winter storm. State Farm reported burst pipe claims rose from…
BOULDER, CO — The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed to Boulder, Colorado, following a supermarket shooting that killed 10 people, including a law enforcement officer, Monday March 22. Chaplain coordinator Jack Rassmusson, who lives less than an hour from Boulder, is leading a team of crisis-trained chaplains. They’re offering a listening ear…
MIAMI, FL – Just mentioning the word “Cuba” arouses a myriad of images in the minds of Americans. Those images may depend on the listener’s age, heritage, or location. Castro – Guantanamo – Havana – Missile crisis – Cigars – Miami. Any or all of those many come to mind unless you are one of…
BAHAMAS — Samaritan’s Purse is helping to repair the water distribution system in Sweetings Cay on Grand Bahama Island after it was destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Phil Walsh, Samaritan’s Purse: The level of destruction here from Hurricane Dorian is really hard to believe at times. Entire houses wiped out completely. Communities really just…
NEWPORT BEACH, CA — In an effort to bring joy and Christmas to the displaced suffering Armenian children, For The Martyrs, a 501c3 organization will bring Operation Christmas to Armenia. Operation Christmas will provide wrapped Christmas boxes that are full of gifts such as toys, dolls, clothing, and more for children so they can have…
HONDURAS — For more than a month now Samaritan’s Purse disaster relief and medical teams have been working in communities wrecked by devastation in and around San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The back-to-back Category 4 storms Eta and Iota made landfall in early November, triggering landslides and catastrophic flooding that displaced hundreds of thousands of families….
HONDURAS — Samaritan’s Purse mobile medical teams are using helicopters to reach villages that have been cut off from help due to flooding from back-to-back hurricanes. Seth Harris, Samaritan’s Purse: So with all the flooding, the roads are out. The bridges are out. There’s water everywhere. So people are just stuck, and there’s no other…
HONDURAS — Samaritan’s Purse medical teams are providing critical care in Jesus’ Name through their emergency field hospital in hurricane-struck San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The charity continues to assess the needs of hurting communities across Honduras, ramping up the response to distribute additional hygiene kits and emergency shelter materials to families in need. Along with…
NORTH CAROLINA — For the past 50 years Mission Aviation Services has allowed Samaritan’s Purse to rapidly provide relief supplies and deploy emergency personnel in Jesus’ Name anywhere in the world. Seth Harris For the last 50 years, Samaritan’s Purse has been delivering aid and help around the world in Jesus’ Name, and Mission Aviation…
CHAMPAIGN, IL — When support from mainland U.S. dropped due to the COVID 19 pandemic, orphanages in Haiti faced a food shortage. A church in Puerto Rico applied to empty tomb®, inc.’s Mission Match® to fill the gap. Even though Puerto Rico is still recovering from Hurricane Maria (2017), Pastor Rolando Cruz of the Iglesia…
LONG BEACH, CA — The number of Christians persecuted for their faith has risen 20% in just two years. Currently, there are over 260 million people across the globe who face high levels of persecution because of their faith in Christ. Shockingly, the growing crisis of Christian Persecution is widely ignored by the media and…
BAHAMAS — Samaritan’s Purse continues to serve hurting homeowners in the Bahamas by removing debris from their homes and repairing roofs following the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in September 2019.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) is offering the love of Christ after days of protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Demonstrations erupted nationwide, including Charlotte, North Carolina, where the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association is headquartered. Rapid Response Team Assistant Director Josh Holland explains how we are all called to be ministers of hope and reconciliation.
WILLS POINT, TX — One of America’s biggest mission agencies, Gospel for Asia (GFA World and affiliates like Gospel for Asia Canada) founded by Dr. K.P. Yohannan, was gearing up today to respond to a ‘super cyclone’ in South Asia — a region also battling a coronavirus surge that’s created a health and hunger crisis….
JÉRÉMIE, HAITI – Haiti could be a poster-child for disaster. It seems like it is bound by disasters linked together like an endless chain. The impoverished nation had not fully recovered from the massive 2010 earthquake when it was ravaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Even without these natural disasters, three-quarters of the households have…
WILLS POINT, TX – Gospel for Asia (GFA World) and affiliates Gospel for Asia Canada, founded by KP Yohannan issued a Special Report update authored by Karen Mains on the chilling reality of missing and murdered indigenous women in North America. In my previous special report for Gospel for Asia titled “100 Million Missing Women,”…
MARION, NC – The specialty of Equip International is unique among faith-based missions organizations. Barrie and Tillie Flitcroft founded Equip in 1996 after serving on several mission fields. Despite distinct differences in the countries where they served, they, nonetheless, observed some common needs they felt led to address. The Equip International website explains that: “After…
SAN JUAN, PR – Pray for the people of Puerto Rico. The U.S. island territory is still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in July 2019. It is now suffering from a series of damaging earthquakes over the past month. Only one death has been reported as of mid-afternoon on January 8, but…
Vernon Brewer, CEO and founder of World Help, a Christian humanitarian organization, discusses the good news stories that took place in 2019. There’s a trite yet true saying about the world’s fascination with negative news stories and headlines: “Good news doesn’t sell.” This saying proved painfully true in 2019 — from conflicts abroad to natural…
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Two young men, life-long friends from Cape Coral Christian School in southwest Florida, took a trip to Haiti with Mission of Hope in 2013. The squalor they witnessed in sprawling tent cities far exceeded their worst expectations. Brett Hagler described it as “crazy.” He and Mike Arietta knew something had to…
PORTSMOUTH, VA – Natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes can leave families as deprived of food and shelter as people displaced from war zones or subject to abject poverty. Having a pantry and a refrigerator full of food before a disaster strikes are useless after it has passed.Gary LeBlanc had already spent 35 years…
VIRGINIA BEACH – Operation Blessing began in 1978 under the leadership of businessman, Bible teacher, philanthropist, and founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network, Pat Robertson. Over the years, Operation Blessing has “touched the lives of millions of people in more than 90 countries” and every one of the United States. Operation Blessing exists to provide…
Vernon Brewe, founder of World Help, discusses the destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, and the immediate desperate help needed immediately. “Bodies are floating all through the water in Marsh Harbour.” These are the words in an urgent text message I received recently. Most news reports say the death toll…
Welsh councillors in the UK have defended their freedom to conduct prayers before meetings in the face of opposition from those labelling it ‘discriminatory’. Councillor Paul Penlington called on Denbighshire Council in North Wales in the UK, to conduct prayers away from the council chamber, and has received the support of the National Secular Society….
BAHAMAS — Samaritan’s Purse made its first airlift of the Emergency Field Hospital to the Bahamas on September 5, at the request of the World Health Organization and the government of the Bahamas. Multiple flights will follow. A team of 16 staff members, including doctors and nurses, was on the flight to help set up…
BAHAMAS — Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting the Emergency Field Hospital to the Bahamas today, September 5, 2019, at the request of the World Health Organization and the government of the Bahamas. A team of 16 staff members, including doctors and nurses, will be on the flight to help set up the mobile hospital. The 40-bed…
