SEMINOLE COUNTY, OK – Samaritan’s Purse has deployed to Oklahoma, where severe storms on May 4 spawned numerous destructive tornadoes. A twister ripped through Seminole and damaged as many as 100 homes.

Their teams are on the ground working with local officials, emergency management, and church partners to assess needs. They have established a base of operations at their host church, Immanuel Fellowship Church in Seminole, and volunteers have been sent out to serve in the community.

Chris Galbraith – Homeowner:

It lasted somewhere between 30 seconds to a minute that we were noticeably in the tornado.

We did what we could to calm the kids, and everybody kind of huddled in a circle and said a prayer.

Jimmy Fullbright – Homeowner:

We had carports and all that. It destroyed all of it. It took it all.

Clay Steelman – Samaritan’s Purse:

Samaritan’s Purse is here on the ground in Seminole, Oklahoma, following a devastating tornado that ripped through the heart of this community. We are here helping homeowners recover by clearing out debris, cutting up trees, and tarping roofs.

Chris Galbraith:

We didn’t know how we were going to fix it. And then everybody just showed up and started pouring out all the blessings on us. It’s an overwhelming amount of support from people I don’t know, and that’s awesome.

David Allen – Volunteer:

That’s what we’ve been called to do as an organization, also as part of the Christian family. The body of Christ is to get out and show that love and that no matter what’s going on, He’s still there with us, in control.

Bonnie Talik – Volunteer:

Jesus told us to love our neighbors, and this is the way we demonstrate it– through being the hands and feet of Jesus and coming alongside our neighbors.

Pastor Tim Tate – Immanuel Baptist Church:

Samaritan’s Purse is a resource. And when they come in, they organize groups and teams and put them on the ground. And from the time they met with a homeowner till the time we left, we was praying with people. They presented a Bible, which is so impactful. It gives us a response and a feeling like we’re not alone.

Jimmy Fullbright:

I’ve been stressed out, trying to figure out how to fix the roof again and clean all this up. Then when I pulled in the driveway, my whole driveway was just lined with people here to help. It’s just a big stress lifted off me.

Chris Galbraith:

I went from having almost no hope and being crushed by the thing, but not wanting to show it, to hope. You know? We have some hope.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Gabrielle Bouquet, news@samaritan.org

Read more news on Non Profit / Faith Based Organizations, and Disaster Relief.