On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse

Latest Episodes:

Seen, Known, and Loved Dec 20, 2024

Show notes

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.

How to Combat Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Dec 13, 2024

Show notes

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.

Packing Shoebox Gifts After Hurricane Helene Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

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.

Turkeys for Thanksgiving Nov 28, 2024

Show notes

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?

Reflecting the Heart of Christ This Season Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

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.

Revival After Disaster Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

When a storm hits in our lives, we always have a choice of how we react. Are we going to shut down and let fear paralyze us? Or, do we see the opportunity in it? This week, Kristy Graham shares how disasters often open the door for revival. 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.
Resources:

Read about how leaders found rest and renewed vision for ministry in flooded Brazil.
Hear more stories from Jamaica in the wake of Hurricane Beryl.
Listen to “God Can Use It” to hear from Tim Lee, a Vietnam veteran, who shares his story of resiliency.

God Can Use It Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

Oftentimes, we don’t choose the path that the Lord has for us. We don’t choose hard circumstances, but God can use it. He can use everything in our lives—good and bad—for His glory. In honor of Veteran’s Day, Kristy Graham talks with Tim Lee, a Vietnam veteran, whose story of resiliency and trust is an example of this.
Resources:

Learn more about Operation Heal Our Patriots.
Hear more of Tim Lee’s story when he shared at the Operation Heal Our Patriots reunion earlier this year.
Listen to “An Instrument for God’s Glory” to hear how a simple shoebox gift made Devon feel seen and loved by God and changed the course of his life.

An Instrument for God’s Glory Nov 01, 2024

Show notes

God had a purpose for Devon’s life, a plan he could have never imagined. At 12 years old, Devon received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. This simple gift made Devon feel seen and loved by God and changed the course of his life. Hear how Devon has been an instrument for God’s glory through every season—even through a hurricane.
Resources:

Find an Operation Christmas Child Shoebox drop-off location near you!
Learn more about Operation Christmas Child.
Hear more about the goodness of God through the Hurricane Beryl response.
Listen to “Beauty From Ashes: Hurricane Helene” to hear how Billy Graham Chaplains are coming alongside homeowners after Hurricane Helene, sharing the hope of Jesus Christ.

Beauty From Ashes: Hurricane Helene Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

This week, Kristy Graham highlights an invaluable aspect of ministry in the Hurricane Helene response: the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team Chaplains. Josh Holland, the international director of this team, talks about what it is like ministering to someone in their toughest moment. Hear stories from Josh’s time serving in the Asheville area and Scripture that uplifts him through heartache.
Resources:

Read about Samaritan’s Purse Hurricane Helene response.
God provides comfort in the wake of a storm.
Learn more about the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team.
Listen to “God’s Love Showed Up: Hurricane Helene” to hear the Roten family’s story of trust and faith in God during Hurricane Helene from Samaritan’s Purse staff devotions.

God’s Love Showed Up: Hurricane Helene Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

Flood waters from Hurricane Helene rushed through the Roten family’s property, but they trusted in the Lord. Even after the water receded and losing almost everything, they can clearly see God's faithfulness. Hear this story from Samaritan’s Purse staff devotions and be encouraged amid the storms going on in your life.
Resources:

Watch “Love Showed Up.”
Read about Samaritan’s Purse Hurricane Helene Response.
God provides comfort in the wake of a storm.
Listen to “Hope in Heartache: Hurricane Helene” to hear how, in this seemingly hopeless situation, God provides a peace that cannot be shaken.

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