This Veteran's Day, we honor our service men and women who have given so much to our nation for our freedom. General Dick Cody, a retired four-star general who served our country for decades as an army aviator, joins Kristy for a conversation about his military service and his role now in leading and teaching the next generation. General Cody’s service has never stopped, even after retirement, reminding us that no matter what stage of life we are in, God can use us for His glory. 

Resources:

Watch this video about Samaritan’s Purse air missions in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Listen to “The True Bread of Life,” where you will hear stories about Samaritan's Purse work in getting food to those who need it most.

In the last three years alone, the Lord has equipped Samaritan’s Purse to distribute 750 million pounds of food to hungry families around the world. Every single meal we freely give is an opportunity for people to hear about the true bread of life and our eternal hope: Jesus Christ. Dave Phillips, a deputy director for international projects, sat down with Kristy to share stories about Samaritan's Purse work in getting food to those who need it most.

Resources:

• Check out Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog, where you can help feed a hungry baby for only $9.
• Hear more from Dave Philips about how God enables Samaritan’s Purse to provide food to starving people in Sudan.
• Listen to “Evangelism Outside the Walls of the Church” to hear from Pastor Rusty Guenther, who leads a church in North Carolina, about how he sees Operation Christmas Child not only bless children around the world, but also his own congregation and community. 

Operation Christmas Child sends millions of shoebox gifts around the world each year, reaching children in need with the hope of the Gospel. But this ministry is also an incredible evangelism opportunity even before the shoeboxes arrive overseas. Kristy speaks with Pastor Rusty Guenther, who leads First Baptist Church of Blowing Rock in North Carolina, about how he has seen Operation Christmas Child bless his congregation and community as a whole. In getting outside the walls of the church by hosting packing parties, Pastor Rusty has seen lives transformed. 

Resources:

• Learn how to pack an Operation Christmas Child shoebox.
• Get tips for planning your very own packing party!
• Listen to “Our Strength Comes from the Lord” to hear how the Lord has kept Becky Chinchen, the founder and executive director of Amani ya Juu in Kenya, grounded over the years as she leaned on Him for guidance.

While Kristy was on the ground in Kenya, she sat down with Becky Chinchen, the founder and executive director of Amani ya Juu. Becky shares what it was like to flee Liberia during civil war and how she was able to turn that painful experience into purpose in creating Amani. Hear how the Lord kept Becky grounded over the years as she leaned on Him for guidance. 

Resources: 

• Learn more about Amani ya Juu.
• Hear how Amani ya Juu shepherds women through the stages of brokenness, transformation, and celebration.
• Listen to “Every Tribe and Tongue: Translating Testimonies” to hear from Elise, a translator whose work with Operation Christmas Child in Cambodia has helped change lives in her country.

People who become Christians in Cambodia often face persecution and anger from their families, but the country is desperate for hope. As spiritual revival sweeps the region, a translator working with Operation Christmas Child finds herself inspired to do more for the Kingdom.

Resources:

• Read more about Operation Christmas Child in Cambodia and how Samaritan’s Purse is working in the country.
• Learn more about how you can pack a shoebox this year.
• Listen to “Setting Bones and Sharing Hope,” the story of an orthopedic surgical team’s trip to Nigeria with World Medical Mission and of patients who find healing in Christ.

This episode follows orthopedic surgeons with World Medical Mission, a medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse, to a hospital in Nigeria where patients received physical and spiritual healing. As patients walk away from surgery forever changed, their families and communities often ask questions about God and this opens the door for our teams to share about true healing and restoration found in Jesus Christ. 

Resources: 

•  Learn more about World Medical Mission and how you can volunteer!
•  Read about our team’s orthopedic specialty trip to Nigeria.
•  Listen to “Brokenness, Transformation, and Celebration: Amani ya Juu” to hear the story of women in Kenya who have been given a fresh start and had their lives changed through Jesus Christ. 

Amani ya Juu gives women a fresh start, equipping them by teaching skills like stitching to give them an income, and most importantly, point them to Christ. Take a tour with Kristy Graham through Amani ya Juu headquarters in Kenya, where you will get to meet women whose lives were changed through the program. Every single woman at Amani has had to flee something: poverty, war, loneliness, abuse, rejection, and they have all been transformed through Jesus Christ. 

Resources: 

• Learn more about Amani ya Juu.
• Listen to “Giving Back Smiles, Sharing God’s Love” to hear from patients whose lives were changed after receiving oral and spiritual care from our World Medical Mission dental team.

This week, we’re taking you to Honduras, where a team of World Medical Mission dental professionals traveled to share God’s love by serving communities with limited access to affordable dental care. Every patient treated also received spiritual care, as they sat down with a chaplain and heard the Gospel. Hear directly from patients whose lives were changed and volunteers who were deeply blessed by serving the people of Honduras.

Resources:

• Learn more about World Medical Mission and how you can volunteer! 
• Read about Samaritan’s Purse specialty dental trip to El Salvador.
• Listen to “Giving God Your Yes” to hear from Janet Huckabee about the ways she has had to lean on God in this season of life.

For the past two years, Samaritan’s Purse has been actively providing aid to families caught in the midst of war in Gaza and Israel. Four months ago, Janet Huckabee and her husband, Mike, moved to Israel where he is serving as the U.S. Ambassador. This episode shares Janet’s heart for the work they do and how God has asked her to stretch beyond her physical limits and lean on her faith in this season. 

Resources: 

•  Learn more about how Samaritan’s Purse is providing aid in Gaza.
• Hear from our Israel country coordinator on how we are helping in Jesus’ Name.
• Listen to “Choosing God During Suffering” to hear from a missionary surgeon in Kenya on why God allows suffering and pain.

Take a trip with On the Ground to Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, where medical and surgical teams are leading patients to Christ and showing them the love of Jesus. Hear from one surgeon who has served faithfully for more than 20 years and how she overcame immense personal trials that called her faith into question. 

Content warning: Please be advised that this episode of On the Ground addresses the difficult subject of sexual assault. Dr. Carol Spears recounts her experience while serving as a short-term missionary in Africa.