On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse

With the Christmas season upon us, we look back with thanksgiving to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. While reading Luke 1, Kristy Graham was convicted by the faithful example Mary set when the angel appeared before her and said she would give birth to the Son of God. In this Christmas devotion, Kristy discusses four character qualities Mary possessed that we can learn from: submission, fell...

When a Category 5 hurricane ravaged the coastal city of Acapulco, Mexico, in October, tens of thousands of people were devastated. They felt hopeless. Four Samaritan’s Purse departments—North American Ministries, International Projects, Hispanic Initiatives, and Operation Christmas Child—as well as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association all joined together to provide physical and spiritual reli...

Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes will soon be sent out to the nations, giving millions of children the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This week, we are covering the impact on both sides of the shoebox—from the generous packers to the children who receive them. Dania, who grew up in the Middle East and received a shoebox gift as a child, shares how this simple gift gave her hope...

Kristy Graham talked to two first responders who were serving on the ground when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. Hadass and Uri, workers for Magen David Adom, an emergency medical service for Israel, shared how they saw God’s hand at work even in the midst of great tragedy. Resources: Read about how Samaritan’s Purse is Providing Ambulances and Other Life-Saving Support in Israel . Have you he...

God is so good, and He hears our prayers—big or small. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we are grateful for and the ways the Lord has answered our prayers. Sometimes He gives us what we want, but oftentimes, He gives us what we need in His timing. In this week’s episode, hear numerous stories of answered prayers from across Samaritan’s Purse in 2023.

Kristy Graham sat down with her father-in-law, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham, to hear his thoughts on ways to give this season through the Christmas catalog. From providing a family with a milk cow to building a well for a community, there are numerous ways to bless people all around the world this Christmas and share the Gospel. Resources: Shop the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalo...

Samaritan’s Purse honors the faithful military service of our veterans. This Veteran’s Day, we are celebrating the work that God is doing through Operation Heal Our Patriots, which not only saves marriages, but lives as well. Military couples hear the Gospel and find hope and healing through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Kristy Graham talked with Matthew and Dawn Sheppard, a couple wh...

Samaritan’s Purse could not do what we do without thousands of national staff who serve faithfully in their home countries. Hear directly from members of our national staff from across the world who consistently go above and beyond in their communities. Kristy Graham spoke with Edward Densham, the senior director of International Projects, to discuss the vital role national staff fulfill for our m...

The deputy director of Mission Aviation Services, Matt Olson, has flown injured children to receive care, transported Bibles to faraway places, and shepherded our staff safely to their destinations, all through the means of aviation. We’ll take you behind the scenes to hear what Matt recently shared during staff devotions about the simplicity of the Gospel. Kristy talks with Matt about his testimo...

Samaritan’s Purse is hard at work in Israel, Armenia, Morocco, and Libya. Hear directly from leadership about how Samaritan’s Purse is serving people in need there. Kristy Graham also talks to the team lead on the ground in Israel to hear his first-hand perspective and share ways to pray. Resources: A message from Franklin Graham on Israel. Read about how our team on the ground in Armenia is showi...

Kristy Graham traveled to the Cayman Islands to meet families who were forever changed through Children’s Heart Project’s life-saving surgeries. Kristy talked with Cindy Bonsall, the director of Children’s Heart Project, about how God has made a way for Samaritan’s Purse to work in the Cayman Islands. You will also hear from two Mongolian mothers about how their children’s hearts were healed physi...

An obstetric fistula, resulting from prolonged labor, is not a condition women often face in the United States or other western countries. Yet, in many parts of the world this serious and debilitating childbirth injury leaves women with pain, shame, and isolation. Samaritan’s Purse specialty teams perform transformative surgeries, restoring these suffering women to health while opening doors to sh...

Ray and Rebecca arrived in Alaska seeking a dream vacation, and they left completely transformed. Ray was in the Army for over 20 years, and the anger he carried after decades of deployments took a toll on his marriage. A week at Operation Heal Our Patriots changed everything for this military couple. Hear how Ray and Rebecca learned that only God was able to fill the hole in their hearts. Resourc...

In part two of this episode, Kristy Graham continues her conversation with Vera, a Ukrainian woman who has served on the frontlines with Samaritan’s Purse. Officially, Vera worked as a translator, but she did so much more than this. Her heart was to boldly share the Gospel. Vera tells stories of what it was like risking her own life in conflict areas to distribute relief supplies and share hope wi...

Kristy Graham talks with Vera, a Ukrainian woman who has served on the frontlines with Samaritan’s Purse. Officially, Vera worked as a translator, but she did so much more than this. Her heart was to boldly share the Gospel. Vera tells stories of what it was like risking her own life in conflict areas to distribute relief supplies and share hope with those who desperately needed to hear it. Resour...

Each year, young men and women get to learn firsthand what Samaritan's Purse is about as they serve during an internship. Interns are stretched and introduced to new passions as they take on projects across the ministry. Hear directly from interns who served all around the world this summer, and also from Charity Moree, the assistant director of campus relations, who is involved in selecting...

In this two-part episode, Kristy Graham sits down with Kendell Kauffeldt, director of field leadership and development at Samaritan’s Purse International Headquarters. Kendell served as our country director for Liberia for 14 years and navigated leading during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. Through all the pressure, he has learned to lean on God for wisdom and guidance. Resources:   Don’t miss part t...

In this two-part episode, Kristy Graham sits down with Kendell Kauffeldt, director of field leadership and development at Samaritan’s Purse International Headquarters. Kendell served as our country director for Liberia for 14 years and navigated leading during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. Through all the pressure, he has learned to lean on God for wisdom and guidance. Resources:   Don’t miss part o...

Each week, On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse brings you new stories of how God is working through the ministry— whether its hours after the deadly earthquake rocked Turkey, providing eye sight to the blind, or the life-changing impact of an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. 

When flooding devastated Highland Falls, New York, in early July, many families did not know where to turn. Samaritan’s Purse Team Patriot volunteers, North American Ministries volunteers, and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team chaplains all came alongside homeowners to help them recover and to share the love of Christ. Resources: Volunteer with North American Ministries. Re...

Across remote villages in Cambodia, Samaritan's Purse has built 43 schools and provided resources so young students can get a quality education. More importantly, this has given Samaritan’s Purse a chance to share the Gospel in some of the most unreached places. Kristy Graham takes listeners to Southeast Asia to show how God is using Samaritan’s Purse to change lives through education and inf...

Steve Nickel, vice president of Donor Ministries at Samaritan’s Purse, sits down with Kristy Graham to share his heart for the Lord and how he has been blessed through interacting with faithful supporters of the ministry. Steve talks about how he followed God’s call to come to Samaritan’s Purse and what it looks like to abide in Christ daily.  Resources:   Steps to Peace with God Learn more about...

After years of living in darkness, hundreds of patients received their eyesight when Samaritan’s Purse conducted a week-long cataract mission last year in South Sudan. Join Kristy Graham as she introduces you to patients whose lives were changed by this routine surgery.  Resources: Learn more about how you can volunteer on a Samaritan’s Purse Cataract team   Listen to our last episode to hear how...

When a tornado tore through Mississippi in March, it devastated entire communities and destroyed homes. Many families lost everything and did not know where to turn. Samaritan’s Purse came alongside these hurting families to bless them with brand-new mobile homes. Hear how this physical picture of the Gospel has changed lives in Mississippi.  Resources: Volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disast...

Service members are impacted by the effects of war years after they return home. Whether they’re suffering from mental or physical trauma, the wounds of the past affect not just them but also their spouses and family members. Hear stories from staff members, veterans, and military spouses about their experiences during the 2022 Operation Heal Our Patriots season.  Resources: Learn more about Opera...