Last week, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Second Lady Karen Pence traveled to North Wilkesboro, North Carolina to visit Samaritan’s Purse facilities and learn more about how the ministry responds to disasters both domestically and internationally.
Samaritan’s Purse, an NRB member organization, is “a nondenominational Christian organization that provides spiritual and physical aid to victims of war, natural disasters, disease, famine, poverty, and persecution in more than 100 countries, with the purpose of sharing God’s love through his son, Jesus Christ.”
During Pence’s visit, Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan’s Purse, toured the Pences’ through the over 200,000-square-foot warehouse where the ministry pre-positions emergency relief supplies to quickly respond to crises.
“We are here to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse because we believe in this ministry,” Pence said to Samaritan’s Purse staff and board members. “I hope you all know the difference that Samaritan’s Purse has made in the life of this nation and in God’s kingdom around the world.”
This was not the Pences’ first time interacting with the international Christian relief organization. They have been in the field with Samaritan’s Purse several times in the past, providing aid to those in need. On last week’s visit, they got a closer look at some additional aspects of Samaritan’s Purse’s work including a tour of a Samaritan’s Purse Emergency Field Hospital.
These field hospitals are staffed with medical personnel who have provided life-saving care for several COVID-19 hotspots around the globe and for patients in places like Iraq where people were severely injured by gunfire, land mines, mortar rounds, car bombings, and improvised road bombs.
“In my years as Vice President, I was continually inspired by how Samaritan’s Purse was always among the first on the scene of natural disasters, ready to help neighbors in need in Jesus’s name,” said Pence in a tweet after visiting the facilities.
Graham showed the Pences how Samaritan’s Purse refurbishes medical equipment to support mission hospitals and how the organization is ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice in order to provide critical relief supplies such as clean water, food, emergency shelter, and hygiene kits. Finally, Graham also showed them U.S. Disaster Relief units and equipment that the ministry uses to respond to tornados, hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters across the United States.
“We are so honored that the vice president and his wife came to visit Samaritan’s Purse today,” Graham said. “They love the Lord Jesus Christ, and they have served our country, so it’s a privilege to have them volunteer and be a part of what we’re doing in Jesus’ Name.”
Samaritan’s Purse teams are currently providing relief from recent tornados in Alabama and flooding in Kentucky and Tennessee. Find out how you can serve with Samaritan’s Purse today.
Photograph courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
