Description: Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, joined hundreds of Israeli citizens last week to dedicate 14 new ambulances to Israel’s emergency services agency, Magen David Adom. Each ambulance was given in memory of fallen medics who lost their lives due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. While on the ground, our podcast correspondent, Stephen, spoke with partners and those we are helping.

Resources: 

• Samaritan’s Purse Provides Ambulances in Honor of Fallen Israeli Medics.
  https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/samaritans-purse-provides-ambulances-in-honor-of-fallen-israeli-medics/
  
  
• Listen to our recent episode where Kristy talked to two Israeli first responders who were serving their communities when Hamas attacked Israel on the morning of October 7.
  https://ontheground.samaritanspurse.org/podcast/first-responders-in-israel-the-morning-of-october-7
  
  
• In God’s Providential Hand: A Conversation with Jim Dailey, hear how the vice president of communications at Samaritan’s Purse has persevered in times of trial.
  https://ontheground.samaritanspurse.org/podcast/gods-providential-hand-a-conversation-with-jim-dailey 

The news moves on quickly to the next headline, but God doesn't—He sees the pain and the hurt caused by natural and manmade disasters. Even in the most remote corners of the world or storms that only affect one person, God sees all of our needs. The disasters we cover today aren’t headline news, but they are responses in which God has given Samaritan’s Purse the opportunity to respond. This week, hear stories from leaders and others on the ground serving and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Resources: 

• Learn how you can serve with North American Ministries.
• Find out more about the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team.
• Read Seeing God’s Hand in the Tornado’s Wake about the response in Catawba county.
• God is at Work in the Lives of Liberia Burn Patients.
• Listen to God’s Providential Hand: A Conversation with Jim Dailey to hear how he has witnessed God’s sovereignty throughout his 25 years of working in the ministry.

Jim Dailey, vice president of communications at Samaritan’s Purse, spoke with Kristy Graham about how he has witnessed God’s sovereign, providential hand throughout his 25 years of working in the ministry. Jim shared about perseverance in times of trial, and what it has been like taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth. 

Resources: 

• Learn how you can Help in Jesus’ Name. 
• Have You Heard the Good News of Salvation?
• Listen to Franklin Graham: God’s Faithfulness in 2023 to hear about what stood out to Franklin Graham last year as well as what is ahead for Samaritan’s Purse in 2024.

Kristy Graham sat down with her father-in-law and Samaritan’s Purse president, Franklin Graham, who shared what he saw the Lord do in 2023. Franklin talked about where the organization responded around the world and how he saw God’s faithfulness in the midst of seemingly hopeless conflicts and disasters. Hear directly from Franklin’s heart about what stood out to him last year while also looking to what’s ahead in 2024.

Resources: 

• Call the Billy Graham Prayer Line at 888-388-2683.
•  Visit the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website. 
• Listen to our recent episode where Kristy talked to two Israeli first responders who were serving their communities when Hamas attacked Israel on the morning of October 7.
•  Listen to Rushing Aid to Turkey: Inside the Command Center.
• Listen to Families Who Lost Everything Find New Hope: Mississippi Home Dedications to hear more about the Mobile Home Replacement Program.

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:

• Learn more about how you can give your time through volunteering with North American Ministries.
• Steps to Peace with God.
• Listen to our latest episode to hear how Appalachian State Mountaineers packed hundreds of Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes for kids around the world. 

• Watch this video about the Appalachian State University football packing party.
• It’s not too late to build an Operation Christmas Child shoebox online.
• Learn more about how you can host your own packing party in 2024.
• Listen to Banding Together as the Body of Christ: Hurricane Otis to hear how Samaritan’s Purse is providing physical and spiritual relief to those hurting in Acapulco.

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, fellowship, suffering, and praise.

Resources:

• Listen to Cissie Graham Lynch’s podcast episode on Fearless to hear what first inspired Kristy to study Mary this year.
• Listen to “Banding Together as the Body of Christ: Hurricane Otis” to hear how Samaritan’s Purse is providing physical and spiritual relief to those hurting in Acapulco.
• Read these passages that Kristy mentioned in the episode.
  • Luke 1:37-55
  • Psalm 16:11
  • Psalm 66:2
  • Genesis 12:1
  • Hebrews 11:8
  • Luke 22:42
  • Galatians 6:2
  • Psalm 43
  • Luke 2
  • Romans 5:1-5
  • John 16:33
  • John 3:16

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 relief to those who are hurting in Acapulco. 

Resources:

• Read about Edward Graham’s recent trip to Acapulco in which he encouraged homeowners and met with local pastors.
• Have you heard the Good News?
• Listen to our latest episode to hear testimonies from both sides of an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift—those who pack and those who receive.

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. After Dania’s story, Kristy Graham takes listeners to the processing center in Boone, North Carolina where she asked volunteers why they pack shoeboxes.

Resources:

• Read Leila Mae Cummings’s story where she shares that Age Is No Obstacle for Shoebox Packing.
• Build an Operation Christmas Child shoebox online.
•  A brief glimpse at both sides of a shoebox gift.
• Listen to last week’s episode to hear from two Israeli first responders who were serving on the ground when Hamas attacked Israel on the morning of October 7.

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 heard the Good News of Salvation?
• Listen to last week’s episode about answered prayers from across the ministry in 2023.