Franklin Graham on Aviation: Reaching the Remote

In the wake of disaster, speed is critical. Because of aviation, Samaritan’s Purse is able to send life-saving aid and disaster responders at a moment's notice—often within 24 hours of a disaster.

Host Kristy Graham explores why aviation is so vital. First, she sits down with Samaritan’s Purse president Franklin Graham to hear about the history and importance of aviation in sharing the Gospel.

“I believe that our calling is to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth…We don't feed people or take medicine without telling them about who Jesus Christ is and what He did on the cross. He took our sins and died and shed His blood for our sins, and He rose from the dead. And I want people to know that. And aviation helps us to do that.”—Franklin Graham

Franklin shares about his own experiences as a pilot and how aviation has enabled Samaritan’s Purse to reach remote corners of the world and share the hope of Jesus Christ. Franklin has been a licensed pilot since 1971. He describes how Samaritan’s Purse first began acquiring aircraft, and the ways that God has uniquely equipped the ministry through our fleet of more than 20 helicopters and planes.

One of our most recent additions to our fleet is a DC-8 cargo plane. It was recovered from a scrapyard in 2015. After restoring and refurbishing it, this plane has carried millions of pounds of food, shelter material, medical care, and other relief supplies to places devastated by crises and disasters.

Next, Kristy hears from members of our aviation team including pilots, engineers, and cabin crew. Bill Sims, a Samaritan’s Purse pilot with Operation Heal Our Patriots, describes the importance of the passenger planes he flies across the wilderness of Alaska. With unreliable road access, remote communities in Alaska rely on planes.

“Only 20 percent of Alaska is accessible by road. The other 80 percent is what aviation does…You need aircraft to fly people. It allows accessibility to places. It's kind of a lifeline of Alaska.”—Bill Sims

Daniel Ruiz, country director of Liberia, shares about the ways his teams have been able to serve in hard-to-reach areas of the country through aviation.

“Last week we were doing a cataract surgical outreach in a primarily Muslim community in northwest Liberia. And without aviation, it would be almost impossible to do that outreach.”—Daniel Ruiz

Aviation continues to be a critical tool as Samaritan’s Purse shares the Gospel and serves in Jesus’ Name.