Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham traveled to Venezuela this week to encourage earthquake survivors, pray with local pastors and visit relief teams serving families devastated by the powerful June 24 earthquakes.
According to Fox News, two earthquakes measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 struck just 37 seconds apart, killing more than 5,000 people, injuring more than 16,000 and leaving thousands displaced. La Guaira was among the hardest-hit areas.
During a visit to Samaritan’s Purse’s Emergency Field Hospital in La Guaira, Graham reminded grieving families they have not been forgotten.
“We want the people of Venezuela to know that God hasn’t forgotten them. He hasn’t turned His back on them,” Graham said. “God loves them. He cares for them.”
Meeting Urgent Needs in Jesus’ Name
Since opening June 30 just a few miles from the earthquake’s epicenter, the Emergency Field Hospital has treated nearly 2,600 patients and performed almost 200 emergency surgeries. Samaritan’s Purse has also supplied five Clinic Restart Modules with medical supplies to help restore healthcare after nearby hospitals were damaged.
“The need is tremendous. There’s no other place they can go,” Graham said. “Other hospitals not that far away were compromised, so they’re not able to take care of them, so they send patients to us.”
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He added that the ministry sees every patient encounter as an opportunity “to be able to share the love of Jesus Christ.”
Working alongside local churches, Samaritan’s Purse has distributed tents, tarps, blankets, hygiene kits, hot meals and other emergency supplies while establishing two clean water points that have produced more than 181,000 liters of safe drinking water.
‘The Work Continues’
Graham also met with pastors who have continued serving despite suffering devastating personal losses.
Pastor Eusebio lost three families from his congregation and his church building in the earthquakes. Today, his church meets in a Samaritan’s Purse tent while helping distribute hot meals throughout the community.
“The work that we have is to win souls for Christ,” Pastor Eusebio told Graham. “That is why the work continues.”
Graham also visited Pastor Manuel, who lost both his home and a nephew in the disaster. Despite his grief, the pastor has helped connect Samaritan’s Purse with churches and communities in greatest need.
“I want to express on behalf of the community thanks to Samaritan’s Purse,” Pastor Manuel said. “Samaritan’s Purse was the first to arrive with tents and tarps. We are all thankful for the help you brought. There is a clear difference before and after.”
As he visited a temporary shelter housing hundreds of displaced families, Graham reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to remain alongside the people of Venezuela.
“We will be working here for a long time,” he said.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
