Samaritans Purse

SAMARITAN'S PURSE IS A NONDENOMINATIONAL EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION PROVIDING SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL AID TO HURTING PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE PURPOSE OF SHARING GOD'S LOVE THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD (OCC): THROUGH THIS PROJECT, SAMARITAN'S PURSE COLLECTS AND DELIVERS GIFT-FILLED SHOEBOXES TO MILLIONS OF HURTING CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD. WE DO THIS TO DEMONSTRATE GOD'S LOVE, GAIN A HEARING FOR THE GOSPEL, AND SHARE THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS-THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND SAVIOR. JESUS TOLD US, "GO THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS" (MATTHEW 28:19). IN 2021, A TOTAL OF 10,510,149 SHOEBOX GIFTS WERE COLLECTED AND SHIPPED TO CHILDREN IN MORE THAN 100 COUNTRIES. U.S. COLLECTIONS SET A RECORD OF 9,127,591 SHOEBOXES. IN THE 30-YEAR HISTORY OF THE PROJECT, OCC HAS DELIVERED OVER 198 MILLION SHOEBOX GIFTS AROUND THE WORLD. NATIONAL COLLECTION WEEK WILL BE NOV. 14- 21, 2022, AT THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS ACROSS THE U.S.

SOUTH SUDAN RELIEF: SAMARITAN'S PURSE CONTINUED TO SUPPORT REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN SOUTH SUDAN THROUGHOUT 2021. TEAMS DISTRIBUTED FOOD RATIONS AND NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTATION TO OVER 360,000 PEOPLE IN NORTHERN BAHR EL GHAZAL, UNITY, AND UPPER NILE. MOBILE MEDICAL UNITS IN MAYOM COUNTY AND MAYENDIT COUNTY TREATED OVER 25,700 PATIENTS. TEAMS REACHED OVER 50,000 PEOPLE THROUGH WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE PROJECTS. LIVELIHOODS PROJECTS WERE RAN FOR MORE THAN 22,700 PEOPLE, TEACHING VOCATIONAL SKILLS AND PROVIDING AGRICULTURAL TRAINING. SAMARITAN'S PURSE ALSO CONTINUED TO WORK WITH THE CHURCH TO ENCOURAGE, TRAIN AND DISCIPLE OVER 12,600 PEOPLE THROUGH ITS MINISTRY AND BIBLICAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: CONFLICT IN EASTERN DRC HAS DISPLACED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. SAMARITAN'S PURSE WAS ABLE TO DISTRIBUTE 5,802 METRIC TONS OF FOOD TO OVER 316,000 PEOPLE. WE ALSO TRAINED MORE THAN 42,600 PEOPLE ON WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE PRACTICES. IN ORDER TO BUILD THE CAPACITY OF THE LOCAL CHURCH, OVER 1,800 CHURCH LEADERS AND VOLUNTEERS WERE TRAINED, AND MORE THAN 38,000 PEOPLE HEARD THE GOSPEL THROUGH PROJECTS TRAINING AND VISITS.

THE MISSION OF SAMARITAN'S PURSE IS TO OBEDIENTLY SERVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. AT THE CORE OF OUR MINISTRY IS THE BELIEF THAT MANKIND HAS BEEN SEPARATED FROM GOD BY SIN, AND OUR ONLY HOPE OF SALVATION COMES FROM THE ATONING SACRIFICE OF GOD'S SON, JESUS CHRIST. "IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THE LORD JESUS AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED" (ROMANS 10:9). MANY CLAIM TO BEHAVE MERCIFULLY TOWARD THEIR NEIGHBORS OUT OF A SENSE OF SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS. AT SAMARITAN'S PURSE, WE TAKE OUR NAME AND MANDATE FROM CHRIST'S INSTRUCTION THAT WE SHOULD FIRST LOVE THE LORD WITH OUR HEARTS, SOULS, MINDS, AND STRENGTH. CARING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS THEN FLOWS FROM OUR DEEP LOVE FOR GOD. THIS COMMAND IS ILLUSTRATED IN THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN AS TOLD BY JESUS AND RECORDED IN LUKE 10:25-37 (NEW KING JAMES VERSION): AND BEHOLD, A CERTAIN LAWYER STOOD UP AND TESTED HIM, SAYING, "TEACHER, WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?" HE SAID TO HIM, "WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW? WHAT IS YOUR READING OF IT?" SO HE ANSWERED AND SAID, "'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND,- AND 'YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'- AND HE SAID TO HIM, "YOU HAVE ANSWERED RIGHTLY; DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE." BUT HE, WANTING TO JUSTIFY HIMSELF, SAID TO JESUS, -AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?" THEN JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID: "A CERTAIN MAN WENT DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO, AND FELL AMONG THIEVES, WHO STRIPPED HIM OF HIS CLOTHING, WOUNDED HIM, AND DEPARTED, LEAVING HIM HALF DEAD. NOW BY CHANCE A CERTAIN PRIEST CAME DOWN THAT ROAD. AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. LIKEWISE A LEVITE, WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE PLACE, CAME AND LOOKED, AND PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. BUT A CERTAIN SAMARITAN, AS HE JOURNEYED, CAME WHERE HE WAS. AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE HAD COMPASSION. SO HE WENT TO HIM AND BANDAGED HIS WOUNDS, POURING ON OIL AND WINE; AND HE SET HIM ON HIS OWN ANIMAL, BROUGHT HIM TO AN INN, AND TOOK CARE OF HIM. ON THE NEXT DAY, WHEN HE DEPARTED, HE TOOK OUT TWO DENARII, GAVE THEM TO THE INNKEEPER, AND SAID TO HIM, 'TAKE CARE OF HIM; AND WHATEVER MORE YOU SPEND, WHEN I COME AGAIN, I WILL REPAY YOU.' SO WHICH OF THESE THREE DO YOU THINK WAS NEIGHBOR TO HIM WHO FELL AMONG THE THIEVES?- AND HE SAID, "HE WHO SHOWED MERCY ON HIM." THEN JESUS SAID TO HIM, "GO AND DO LIKEWISE." AT SAMARITAN'S PURSE, WE ARE RESPONDING TO CHRIST'S COMMAND TO DO LIKEWISE AS WE MINISTER TO THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE RESULTS OF SIN IN OUR WORLD: WAR, POVERTY, DISASTER, DISEASE, AND FAMINE. THE BIBLE TELLS US, "THE HEART IS DECEITFUL ABOVE ALL THINGS, AND DESPERATELY WICKED; WHO CAN KNOW IT?" (JEREMIAH 17:9). IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, WE READ THAT "THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH" (ROMANS 6:23). BECAUSE OF ADAM AND EVE'S DISOBEDIENCE, EVERY HUMAN BEING IS BORN WITH THE STAIN OF SIN, WHICH, WITHOUT THE CLEANSING BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, ULTIMATELY LEADS TO PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL DEATH. THE LORD, IN HIS MERCY, SENT HIS BELOVED SON, JESUS CHRIST, FROM HEAVEN TO THIS EARTH ON A RESCUE MISSION. JOHN 3:16 SAYS, "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." JESUS TOOK OUR SINS UPON HIMSELF, SUFFERING AND DYING ON A ROMAN CROSS. HE TOOK OUR SINS TO THE GRAVE, AND ON THE THIRD DAY, HE AROSE AGAIN. THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, JESUS BECAME THE WAY FOR US TO BE RECONCILED TO GOD. HE SAID, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME" (JOHN 14:6). IF YOU CHOOSE TO REMAIN IN YOUR SINS, YOU WILL BE SEPARATED FROM GOD FOREVER. BUT, IF YOU PLACE YOUR FAITH AND TRUST IN WHAT JESUS HAS DONE, YOU WILL BE SAVED BY GOD'S GRACE. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS: "HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED; BUT HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD" (JOHN 3:18). IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE GOD'S FREE GIFT OF SALVATION, YOU CAN PRAY A SIMPLE PRAYER LIKE THIS ONE: DEAR GOD, I AM A SINNER. I AM SORRY FOR MY SINS. PLEASE FORGIVE ME. HELP ME TO TURN FROM MY SINFUL LIFE. I BELIEVE BY FAITH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS YOUR SON WHO DIED FOR MY SINS, AND WHOM YOU HAVE RAISED TO LIFE. I WANT TO TRUST JESUS AS MY SAVIOR AND FOLLOW HIM AS MY LORD FROM THIS DAY FORWARD AND FOREVERMORE. AMEN. IF YOU HAVE PRAYED THIS, OR WOULD LIKE SOME SPIRITUAL HELP, PLEASE CALL THE FOLLOWING NUMBER TO SPEAK WITH A COUNSELOR: 1-888-388-2683. YOU CAN TRUST THESE WORDS ARE TRUE: "FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANYONE SHOULD BOAST" (EPHESIANS 2:8-9). AT SAMARITAN'S PURSE, WE TAKE PRAYER SERIOUSLY. THANKS TO WHAT JESUS CHRIST HAS DONE, WE CAN TAKE OUR PRAYER CONCERNS DIRECTLY TO OUR GOD IN HEAVEN. WE CAN ASK HIM TO INTERVENE IMMEDIATELY ON BEHALF OF THOSE WHOSE LIVES ARE IN DANGER, AND WE TRUST HIM TO PROVIDE THE RESOURCES FOR US TO SWIFTLY ACCOMPLISH HIS WORK AND HIS WILL. THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE OF SAMARITAN'S PURSE, PRAYERPOINT, IS DEVOTED ENTIRELY TO PRAYER FOR OUR PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD. WE TRUST THAT AS GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS, HE WILL MEET THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE. IN ADDITION TO THE MINISTRIES LISTED IN PART III, THE FOLLOWING MINISTRIES ARE OUR RESPONSE TO THE EFFECTS OF SIN ON HUMANITY AND THE NATURAL WORLD. OUR MISSION IS TO BRING GOD'S LOVE, HEALING, AND COMPASSION TO THOSE WHO ARE HURTING OR LOST. U.S. DISASTER RELIEF: IN 2021, SAMARITAN'S PURSE DEPLOYED OUR DISASTER RELIEF UNITS TO 30 COMMUNITIES IN 13 STATES TO HELP VICTIMS OF TORNADOS, HURRICANES, FLOODS, ICE STORMS, AND WILDFIRES. MORE THAN 10,000 VOLUNTEERS CLEANED UP STORM DAMAGE FOR OVER 5,000 RESIDENCES AND REPAIRED OR REBUILT 88 HOMES. WE PRAISE GOD THAT 577 INDIVIDUALS TRUSTED JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR THROUGH OUR DISASTER RELIEF MINISTRIES. "FOR ALL THE LAW IS FULFILLED IN ONE WORD, EVEN IN THIS: "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF" (GALATIANS 5:14). INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY RELIEF PROJECTS: SAMARITAN'S PURSE SET UP A 36-BED EMERGENCY FIELD HOSPITAL AND TREATED MORE THAN 3,400 PATIENTS IN HAITI AFTER THE ISLAND NATION SUFFERED A DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 11 YEARS. OUR DC-8 CARGO JET CARRIED MORE THAN 285 TONS OF CARGO ON 12 RELIEF MISSIONS, INCLUDING MULTIPLE FLIGHTS TO NORTHERN ETHIOPIA WHERE MONTHS OF INTERNAL CONFLICT HAD LEFT MILLIONS OF FAMILIES WITHOUT ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES. WE HELPED OVER 300,000 SURVIVORS OF TYPHOON RAI IN THE PHILIPPINES WITH EMERGENCY RELIEF SUPPLIES, SUCH AS FOOD, HYGIENE KITS, SHELTER, AND WATER FILTRATION KITS. THE GREATEST JOURNEY: THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY SAMARITAN'S PURSE ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN WHO RECEIVE SHOEBOX GIFTS FROM OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. THE GOALS ARE EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM, DISCIPLESHIP, AND PURPOSEFUL MULTIPLICATION OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. WE PROVIDE LESSON BOOKS IN DOZENS OF LANGUAGES AS WELL AS NEW TESTAMENTS FOR CHILDREN WHO GRADUATE FROM THE 12-LESSON SERIES. IN 2021, OVER 4 MILLION BOYS AND GIRLS TOOK PART IN THE 12-LESSON SERIES, AND MORE THAN 2 MILLION OF THEM MADE LIFE-CHANGING DECISIONS TO ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR. "BUT JESUS SAID, 'LET THE LITTLE CHILDREN COME TO ME, AND DO NOT FORBID THEM; FOR OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN'" (MATTHEW 19:14). CHILDREN'S HEART PROJECT: THIS PROJECT OF SAMARITAN'S PURSE BRINGS CHILDREN TO PARTNER HOSPITALS IN NORTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN FOR CRITICAL HEART OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE WHERE THEY LIVE. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING SURGERY FOR 24 CHILDREN IN 2021. SINCE 1997, WE HAVE PROVIDED SURGERY FOR MORE THAN 1,430 CHILDREN. WHILE SURGEONS CORRECT LIFE- THREATENING HEART DEFECTS, PATIENTS AND THEIR PARENTS EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF CHRIST THROUGH THEIR HOST FAMILIES AND CHURCHES, AND MANY RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL. "BUT I HAVE TRUSTED IN YOUR MERCY; MY HEART SHALL REJOICE IN YOUR SALVATION" (PSALM 13:5). WORLD MEDICAL MISSION: SAMARITAN'S PURSE ARRANGED SHORT-TERM TRIPS FOR 363 MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE AT MISSION HOSPITALS. OUR MEDICAL WAREHOUSE SHIPPED 40 CONTAINERS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO 16 OVERSEAS MISSION HOSPITALS AND SENT BIOMEDICAL STAFF ON 15 TRIPS TO SERVICE AND INSTALL EQUIPMENT. THROUGH OUR POST-RESIDENCY PROGRAM, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ARRANGE INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS IN 32 COUNTRIES FOR MORE THAN 230 CHRISTIAN PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS WHO FEEL CALLED TO SERVE AS MISSIONARIES. COVID-19 RESPONSE: OUR PORTABLE EMERGENCY FIELD HOSPITALS WERE DESIGNED FOR INTERNATIONAL USE BUT TURNED OUT TO BE A LIFE-SAVING RESOURCE FOR U.S. HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WE SET UP THESE FIELD HOSPITALS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY CA, LENOIR NC, AND JACKSON MS; AS WELL AS ANOTHER ONE IN THE BAHAMAS. OUR DOCTORS AND NURSES CARED FOR MORE THAN 300 COVID-19 PATIENTS IN 2021. OPERATION HEAL OUR PATRIOTS: SAMARITAN'S PURSE ESTABLISHED OPERATION HEAL OUR PATRIOTS IN 2012 TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE MARRIAGES OF WOUNDED MILITARY VETERANS. DURING