International (MNN) – Ukraine continues to fend off invasion. The warzone in Gaza is spilling into neighboring nations. Extremist groups reign terror on Nigeria, gangs and warlords control Nigeria, and terrorists target civilians in Moscow. The headlines gracing global newsfeeds are somber.
It would be easy to turn off the news, but that’s not the call of the Church. Edward Graham of Samaritan’s Purse says these stories should urge Christians to prayer and action.
“God calls us to run to the sound of the guns, go to the fire, and help those in need,” Graham says. This starts with meeting immediate needs – food, water, shelter, transportation, and medical help. “We can have a hospital anywhere in the world in 36 hours as long as we have approvals. We have our own aircraft, hospitals, and doctors.”
But practical needs are only a start. “The most important part of the story of the Good Samaritan is that the innkeeper was paid a debt,” Graham says. “The man said,’ If this doesn’t cover it, I’ll be back and take care of the rest.’ Well, the debt is the blood of Jesus Christ. That’s why we go.”
It’s not an easy or safe task, and Samaritan’s Purse’s work in Gaza in a perfect example of that. “We have to be careful in Gaza with our team or safety in the work that we do, but we’re loving and serving on both sides of conflicts,” Graham says. “We do it all the time. Armenia, Azerbaijan – we were on both sides of the conflict there. You name the war, we’ve been trying to be on both sides if they allow access.”
But they’re also training people to serve in countries where things are safer. The goal is to provide chances for Christians to come alongside the brokenhearted in every part of the world. It doesn’t matter what skills those Christians bring to the table: “We train our staff and our team and how to respond.”
Maybe this is speaking to you. If you’re interested, Samaritan’s Purse can find a place for you in the mission field. “God will take the resources that you have; you just need to be bold enough to get out of the boat,” Graham says. “Too many Christians would be like the other disciples sitting in the boat. I need Peters who at least will take that step of faith and want to be part of a miracle and get out of the boat. He gets a bad rep for sinking, but he’s the only one that got off the boat.”
Reach out to Samaritan’s Purse here if any of this sounds like something in which you’d like to be involved. Even if you don’t go, pray for the Church as it serves the brokenhearted in the darkest and most desperate parts of the world.
Headline courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse.
