On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse<p>On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse is a podcast with Kristy Graham that explores the work we’re doing around the world. Experience what it’s like to be in the field with our teams, and hear first-hand from staff, volunteers, and people
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Older episodes
- 217Living Sacrificially: A Conversation with Aileen ColemanKristy sat down with Aileen Coleman, a long-time partner with Samaritan’s Purse and a giant in the faith, in 2019. Aileen was a missionary in Mafraq, Jordan for more than 60 years, and was one of the key people in the life of Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham. Aileen recently went to be with the Lord, and while we will miss her presence and influence, we cling to the example and legacy she leaves. This encouraging conversation will surely spur you on to share the Gospel, invest in your prayer life, and live sacrificially.
- 218Rejoicing with Lahaina Residents: Maui RebuildIn August 2023, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century swept through Lahaina, a beautiful community on the island of Maui. Samaritan’s Purse was in Maui within 48 hours of the disaster, coming alongside people who had lost everything by sifting through ashes in search of treasured belongings. Two years later, we’re taking you back to Hawaii, where you will hear directly from families as receive their brand-new homes built by Samaritan’s Purse.Resources:Learn more about the Maui rebuild.Volunteer with us!Listen to “Living Sacrificially: A Conversation with Aileen Coleman” to hear about Aileen’s life as a missionary in Mafraq, Jordan.
- 219Listen Again: Jesus Pursues YouDr. Ed Carns has served in the far corners of the world with Samaritan’s Purse both with World Medical Mission and the Disaster Assistance Response Team. He shares his testimony of how God used people in his life to point him to Christ and encourage him in his faith. The stories he shares with Kristy Graham demonstrate how God pursues each person individually.
- 220Hidden Heroes: Serving Behind the ScenesNone of the work that Samaritan’s Purse does on the frontlines could happen without the incredible people in our ministry who work in capacities that rarely receive the credit. Everyone has different strengths and skill sets, but we're all given specific gifts that God wants us to use to further His Kingdom. Here at Samaritan’s Purse, we're all called to share the Gospel whether it’s behind the scenes or on the frontlines. Meet the people who organize supplies for airlifts, support our hospitals, and coordinate logistics for transportation around the world.
- 221Restoring Hearts and Homes: Hurricane Helene RebuildTen months ago, in Mountain City, Tennessee, Hurricane Helene turned Kim and Michael Mitchum’s lives upside down. Now, they have a fresh start as they move into their brand-new house. Follow the Mitchums’ journey as they witness volunteers and staff build their home from the ground up and hear directly from Kim and Michael’s hearts.
- 222Choosing God During SufferingTake 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.
- 223Giving God Your YesFor 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.
- 224Giving Back Smiles, Sharing God’s LoveThis 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.
- 225Brokenness, Transformation, and Celebration: Amani ya JuuAmani 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.
- 226Setting Bones and Sharing HopeThis 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.
- 227Every Tribe and Tongue: Translating TestimoniesPeople 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.
- 228Our Strength Comes from the LordWhile 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.
- 229Evangelism Outside the Walls of the ChurchOperation 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.
- 230The True Bread of LifeIn 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.
- 231Live Worthy: A Conversation with General CodyThis 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.
- 232God’s Faithfulness in the WaitingLast year, the Bowens family lost everything in Hurricane Helene. This trial produced faith and endurance in them—though they lost every earthly possession, they lacked nothing because they had the Lord. Over the next several months, the Bowens continually leaned on the promises of God as they waited for their new home to be completed. Join Kristy Graham as she catches up with the Bowens family and attends their home dedication ceremony. You will hear how God has worked in their hearts, bringing them closer together and closer to Him.Resources:Hear the Bowens family’s story.Learn more about Samaritan’s Purse rebuild in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee after Hurricane Helene.Listen to “Live Worthy: A Conversation with General Cody,” where a retired four-star general encourages listeners to never stop serving, no matter what stage of life you are in.
- 233The Gift of the Gospel: A Conversation with Cissie Graham LynchKristy Graham sits down with her sister-in-law, Cissie Graham Lynch, to talk about the gift of the Gospel and how you can play a role in sharing the Gospel around the world this holiday season. For many years, Cissie and Kristy have had the privilege of witnessing the Lord work in and through Samaritan’s Purse, and they share stories about how God has changed hearts and blessed communities, all because of the hope of the Gospel.
- 234Amid the Storm, God Answers Prayers: Hurricane MelissaOn October 28, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on Jamaica as a Category 5 storm, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without shelter, clean water, or medical care. Many areas across the island were completely cutoff and inaccessible. Kristy talks with two of our Disaster Assistance Response Team members, Dave Holzhauer and Bev Kauffeldt, about the numerous ways that Samaritan’s Purse is helping on the island. They share how they are witnessing the Lord answer prayers during this response.
- 235How Honeybees and Baby Chicks Change LivesHow can something as simple as honeybees or baby chicks change lives? Matt Nowery, the country director for Samaritan’s Purse office in Iraq, talks with Kristy Graham about how teams are sharing the love of Jesus Christ in a difficult place for ministry. Honeybee and baby chick programming provides families with an income while restoring purpose and dignity to people who have lost hope. Hear stories of families in Iraq whose lives are forever changed through these projects. Resources:Browse through the Samaritan’s Purse Christmas Catalog.Read more about how honeybees are making an eternal impact.Learn about the ways baby chicks are blessing families around the world. Listen to “Amid the Storm, God Answers Prayers: Hurricane Melissa,” where you will hear how Samaritan’s Purse is responding in Jamaica.
- 236Drawing Near to God: Comfort After the StormAlmost two months after Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica, people continue to get through this hard season by drawing near to God and clinging to their faith. Kristy hears stories of resilience and hope on the island from Samaritan’s Purse teams on the ground and the people they are serving.Resources: Listen to “Amid the Storm, God Answers Prayers: Hurricane Melissa” to hear more about a disaster responder’s first impressions as he arrived in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa. Learn more about Samaritan’s Purse and their work in Jamaica.Join the Disaster Assistance Response Team and help in Jesus’ Name around the world.Listen to “How Honeybees and Baby Chicks Change Lives” to hear how teams are demonstrating God’s love in Iraq through programming that provides families with an income while restoring purpose and dignity to those who have lost hope.
- 237A Legacy of MissionsEarlier this year, Kristy went to Tenwek Hospital and met a father and son neurosurgeon team serving with World Medical Mission. Hear from this family—Dr. Charles Branch and his son, Dr. Byron Branch—with three generations of neurosurgeons about their faith and passion for the Gospel.Resources: Learn more about World Medical Mission and how you can get involved. Listen to “Drawing Near to God: Comfort After the Storm,” to hear how Samaritan’s Purse is responding in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.
- 238Near to the BrokenheartedAt 10 years old, Alyona received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift, and the Lord used it mightily to reveal more of His character and His heart. After years of loss, God filled Alyona with hope, healing her broken heart. Now, Alyona’s story is a testimony of how the Lord’s power is made perfect in our weakness. Resources:Learn more about Operation Christmas Child.It’s not too late to build an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift online!Listen to “A Legacy of Missions” to hear how the Lord instilled a passion for medical missions in a father and son neurosurgeon team.
- 239Beyond the Church Walls: Serving in Your CommunityAs we begin a new year, join Kristy Graham as she hears testimonies of how churches are taking bold steps to serve their communities in unique ways, that are bringing people to salvation in Jesus Christ. This episode challenges listeners to look for ways to increase their acts of service outside the walls of their church. Resources:Learn more about becoming a Lighthouse Church to serve as a home base during a disaster response in your community or even maintaining a Disaster Response Vehicle (DRV) at your church.Find a local Operation Christmas Child event in your community to get involved in!Listen to “Near to the Brokenhearted” to hear a testimony from Operation Christmas Child on how the Lord’s power is made perfect in our weakness.
- 240Trusting God: A Conversation with Ken IsaacsHear how God used a well driller with no international experience or college degrees to accomplish His purposes around the world. Ken Isaacs has served with Samaritan’s Purse for decades and today leads our international relief efforts. Kristy recently sat down with him to hear how God continues to direct his steps, enabling him to run to the fire. It may not be an easy path, but God can use you in mighty ways when you are willing to say yes.Resources:Ken Isacc’s new book, Running to the Fire is available for purchase here. You can also find it on Audible.Learn more about the Disaster Assistance Response Team.Listen to “Beyond the Church Walls: Serving in Your Community” to be challenged in your service for Christ.
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