Every year, Samaritan’s Purse builds a church in remote Alaska as part of our efforts to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Hear from Corey and Kristin, who work on this project year-round, about the challenges and joys that they encounter while serving as well as how you can pray for these church builds and the people in these isolated areas. 

Resources:

• Read more about Samaritan’s Purse church build in Mekoryuk, Alaska.
• Volunteer with U.S. Disaster Relief and Alaska Church Builds.
• Listen to “Passing the Torch in Ecuador: Operation Christmas Child” to hear what it was like for Wheaton College students and staff to take part in Operation Christmas Child outreach events and a graduation ceremony for The Greatest Journey.

Travel to Quito, Ecuador, where you will hear what it was like for Wheaton College students and staff to take part in Operation Christmas Child outreach events and a graduation ceremony for The Greatest Journey. You will hear directly from the hearts of these students who grew up packing shoeboxes, and recently, got to witness firsthand what God is doing through this Samaritan’s Purse project around the world. 

Resources:

• Watch Wheaton College students partner with Operation Christmas Child in Ecuador.
• Learn more about Operation Christmas Child.
• Listen to “Faithfully Ministering to the Next Generation in Peru” to hear from pastors and Operation Christmas Child partners who are working diligently to equip youth by sharing the hope of Christ.
• Tune in to “Surrendering in Obedience” to hear Kristy Graham and Sam Hawes talk about yielding to the Lord, and striving to glorify Him in everything we do.

Sam Hawes has served with Samaritan's Purse for more than 10 years both in the field and at international headquarters. During that time, God has been faithful to teach Sam about obedience during many changing seasons. Sam shares about surrendering to the Lord, and striving to glorify Him in everything we do. Sam also speaks about unique programming happening in Liberia that he got the privilege to witness firsthand.

Resources:

• [Learn more about the Disaster Assistance Response Team](https://samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/dart/).
• [Check out “Rushing Aid to Turkey: Inside the Command Center”](https://ontheground.samaritanspurse.org/podcast/rushing-aid-to-turkey-inside-the-command-center) to hear about our earthquake response in 2023.
• [Read more about Samaritan’s Purse prison ministry programming in Liberia](https://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/though-in-prison-he-is-free/).
• [Listen to “How God Answered Prayers in 2024”](https://ontheground.samaritanspurse.org/podcast/how-god-answered-prayers-in-2024) to hear Kristy Graham talk with staff from across the ministry about how they have seen the faithfulness of God and witnessed prayers answered.

God answers prayers, and the Bible tells us that we can pray about anything and everything, bringing our requests to Him. He hears us and He knows us. Kristy Graham talks with staff from across the ministry about how they have seen the faithfulness of God and witnessed prayers answered. We rejoice about what God has done in and through Samaritan’s Purse in 2024. 

Resources:

• Listen to Hope in “Heartache: Hurricane Helene” to hear Kristy Graham speak with Samaritan’s Purse staff about the uniqueness of the response and how in a seemingly hopeless situation, God gave a peace that cannot be shaken.
• Learn more about Operation Christmas Child.
• Listen to “Opening Doors in Israel and Gaza” to hear more about Samaritan’s Purse response in the region.
• Read more about the Clef Lip and Palate Surgical Teams.
• Hear how God answered prayers in 2023!

In her Christmas devotion, Kristy Graham encourages listeners to take time this season to treasure and ponder God’s Word. Kristy shares what the Lord taught her recently and how God can use the same Scriptures to reveal something new in each season. She talks about how both Mary and Simeon’s faithfulness in Luke 2 is an encouragement to her, demonstrating unwavering trust in God’s plan. 

Resources:

• Check out the Christmas Catalog!
• Have you heard the Good News of salvation?
• Listen to “Hope in Heartache: Hurricane Helene” to hear how Samaritan’s Purse was a beacon in a difficult time, pointing the hurting to the hope of the Gospel.
• Hear more about the Christmas story in Kristy Graham’s devotion from last year.

How have you felt loved and seen by God? When Veronica received a gift-filled Operation Christmas Child shoebox, the bitterness and anger she had built up inside faded away, and instead, God’s love filled her with joy. Later, Veronica shared about this sacrificial love that changed her heart by teaching The Greatest Journey and packing shoebox gifts for other children. Veronica’s life continues to send out ripples of Gospel influence that help many people learn that they are seen, known, and loved by God. 

Resources:
Learn more about Operation Christmas Child.
Build a Shoebox Online!
Watch “Every Box Matters” to learn more about Veronica’s story.
Listen to “How to Combat Compassion Fatigue and Burnout” to hear Jessica Zerkle, a licensed counselor, talk about how she addresses these topics in her own profession and as a follower of Christ.

God's power is made perfect in our weakness. We often try to do everything in our own strength, and we quickly get to the end of ourselves. Kristy Graham sat down with Jessica Zerkle, a licensed counselor, to talk about compassion fatigue, burnout, and how she addresses suffering in the world in her own profession and as a follower of Christ. 

Resources:

• Learn more about God’s love and how you can accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. 
•  Listen to “Packing Shoebox Gifts After Hurricane Helene” to hear how—despite the devastation and heartache of the storm—North Carolina’s Spruce Pine First Baptist Church packed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.

Kristy Graham recently visited Spruce Pine First Baptist Church, a North Carolina church hit hard by Hurricane Helene. Ever since the day after the storm, Pastor Rocky Branch and his congregation have been providing warm meals, housing, and relief supplies to people in their community. Despite the devastation and heartache, people within the church body are stepping up and packing Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, looking beyond themselves and fixing their eyes on Jesus.

Resources:

• Learn more about Operation Christmas Child.
• Build a Shoebox Online!
• Check out the 2024 Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog.
• Listen to “Turkeys for Thanksgiving” to hear how Samaritan’s Purse had the privilege of delivering Thanksgiving meals to families in a rural North Carolina town who were devasted by Hurricane Helene.

This Thanksgiving season, Samaritan’s Purse had the privilege of delivering Thanksgiving meals to families in a rural North Carolina town who were devasted by Hurricane Helene. Kristy Graham helped package these meals and sat down with Bev Kauffeldt, who managed the delivery, to hear more about how this project got started.  

Resources:

• Read more about the Turkey Distribution in Big Creek, North Carolina.
• Check out the 2024 Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog.
• Listen to “Reflecting the Heart of Christ This Season” to hear how the Christmas Catalog can serve as a Gospel tool to help teach children about generosity. 
• Have you heard the Good News of Salvation?

During the holiday season, things get really busy. It's easy to focus on all the things that we need to get done, and it is easy to lose sight of what is truly important. Chris Johnston, who serves on our donor ministries team, encourages listeners to fix their eyes on Jesus. Chris talks with Kristy about how we can use the Samaritan's Purse Christmas Catalog to share the Gospel around the world.

Resources:

• Check out the 2024 Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog.
• Have you heard the Good News of Salvation?
• Listen to “Revival After Disaster” to hear how the Church is stepping up in places like Brazil and Jamaica to share the Gospel with their neighbors in the wake of disasters.