God’s Providential Hand: A Conversation with Jim Dailey

Kristy Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse, talked with Jim Dailey, the vice president of communications, about what he has learned over the years working in ministry. Twenty-five years ago, on a visit to Boone, North Carolina, Jim decided to tour Samaritan’s Purse headquarters. He didn’t know at the time that this tour would change his life. While he was there, Jim was told they were looking to fill a position in the communications department. More than two decades later, he is still faithfully serving at Samaritan’s Purse.

Jim has witnessed suffering firsthand, from a devastating tornado in Tuscaloosa to Hurricane Katrina, but the Lord has remained sovereign over it all. Jim encouraged believers to persevere through trials and trust where God is leading.

“God is sovereign over not only all the kings and princes and prime ministers of the world, but He's also sovereign over every single detail. And His providence is His purposeful accomplishing, His counsel, and His will in individual lives through particular sets of circumstances and events. And you see His providential hand, oftentimes only in retrospect.” —Jim Dailey

Kristy asked Jim how God has challenged him and grown his faith as the ministry has changed over the years. Jim has seen the work of God's sovereign, providential hand in all areas of his life. God started His work, He's continuing it, and He'll finish it—and Jim leans on Christ daily.

God has given Jim a front row seat to the work of Samaritan’s Purse around the world. He has seen the Gospel change lives as we help in Jesus’ Name when tsunamis, hurricanes, and earthquakes hit. A response that has stuck with Jim is Hurricane Katrina in 2005 that hit the Mississippi Gulf coast in Louisiana. Being quite familiar with the area, Jim could hardly believe his eyes when he got a glimpse of the destruction. Samaritan’s Purse went to work helping the citizens in New Orleans who desperately needed it.

“We stayed [in New Orleans] for about five years, and we rebuilt houses there, and we worked with churches there and, that was most wonderful thing, to see God move.” —Jim Dailey

Jim talks about how important it is to have a view of eternity, as it can help with endurance in life when things are hard. Suffering develops perseverance, and the way we are able to continue on is by God's grace through the Scriptures that provide encouragement. As Jim gets older, he sees this perseverance bringing him closer to the goal: being with Christ.

“I would say that of all the things that I may have learned in my life is lay hold of the promises of God. Trust the promises of God. Hang on to the promises of God. That's what gets you through suffering. That's what builds character. When things aren't working right and when nothing seems to be right, hang on to the promises of God.” —Jim Dailey

Jim shares stories from his own life when God answered prayers. At this stage of his walk with the Lord, he has been praying for patience, kindness, gentleness, and ultimately to be shaped in the image of Christ. Each day is a battle, and the hope is that each day we sin less and less.

Pray for Jim and other members of leadership at Samaritan’s Purse. Pray that they would have wisdom and allow God to lead and guide. If you’d like to keep up to date with more stories on the ground, please visit SamaritansPurse.org.