Celebrating 50 Years of Samaritan’s Purse

On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse host Kristy Graham joins Paula Woodring, the Vice President for Quality Assurance and Social Media, as she recalls the unwavering mission of Samaritan’s Purse through the years – bringing the Good News to the ends of the earth. From only a handful of employees to now over 700 at the international headquarters alone, Paula explains that the focus has always been on prayer.

Listen in as we dive deeper into the testimony of the founder of Samaritan’s Purse, Bob Pierce. In 1970, God gave Bob the vision for the ministry while traveling through Asia – and five years later, Bob invited Franklin Graham, a young college student, to journey with him.

“When I travelled with Bob, I saw the world through Bob’s eyes. He was looking for people in the ditch along life’s road – people who had been abandoned and needed help. Bob would help them.” – Franklin Graham

Franklin tells Kristy about Bob’s “God room” principle–striving to leave room for God to move in every project and circumstance. For 50 years, the founding Biblical principles of Samaritan’s Purse have not changed. Franklin was elected president of Samaritan’s Purse a year after Bob died of leukemia in 1978.

Kristy then asks Ken Isaacs, the Vice President for Programs and Government Relations, to share where Samaritan’s Purse gets its name from. He directly correlates the sectors of emergency response with the parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10. Ken also explains how our work is a doorway to share the Gospel.

“The quality of our work is the platform of our witness.” – Ken Isaacs

Next, tune in as Kristy introduces Bryan Willis, the Vice President for Special Events. Bryan has been with the ministry for 36 years, and he remembers specific ways the Lord has blessed the ministry through the years—thanking God for his hand of favor and blessing on the organization.

We close as Kristy speaks with her husband Edward Graham, the youngest son of Franklin Graham. Edward explains that as the ministry grows, God entrusts Samaritan’s Purse with resources so the ministry will share the Gospel to those across the world.

“We didn’t grow for the sake of growing. I think Samaritan’s Purse has grown because God has allowed it—because the staff has been faithful to go out and use those resources in His Name.” – Edward Graham