Alaska Governor Sean Parnell thanked Samaritan’s Purse volunteers and talked about his faith at the U.S. Disaster Relief Volunteer Retreat held at the Cove over the weekend.

The governor has first-hand knowledge of the hard work and willing spirit of SP volunteers from his time in his current post and from an earlier stint as lieutenant governor while Sarah Palin was chief executive. He has seen us conduct several projects in the state, including the rebuilding of homes in remote communities and construction of a camp for wounded veterans and their families.

“Thank you for all of you who have been to Alaska and worked there,” he told an audience of over 400 people. “We are profoundly grateful for you extending your lives to the people of our land. You have brought life and light and replaced despair.”

More than 750 people have volunteered with Samaritan’s Purse in Alaska over the past five years.

“Our people are better off for your service and sacrifice,” Gov. Parnell said. “My hope is that this relationship between Alaska and Samaritan’s Purse and the good work that you do in our state will continue for many years to come.”

After making some remarks as governor, he said he was switching to speaking as “Sean Parnell” to talk about his faith.




“When it comes to serving the Lord and our neighbor, it’s all about our heart,” he said. “It’s all about our motivation.”

He encouraged volunteers to really live their lives for Jesus.

“Do I really live every day as Christ said in John 15? Do I love other people the way He has loved me? Is my service an expression of His love for me? Let’s not let spiritual activity become a cheap substitute for that rich authentic relationship with Him. Let’s ask God to daily make that relationship our reality.”

After leaving the retreat, the governor and his wife, Sandy, traveled to Joplin, Missouri, with Samaritan’s Purse staff members to see the damage caused by the massive tornado that devastated the city on May 22, and to see our work as we help storm victims.

“Within one block we went from seeing what Alaskans would perceive as some wind damage to looking at a place that seemed to have been leveled by a bomb just a few homes away,” Gov. Parnell said. “It was complete and utter destruction. Amidst the destruction, however, we got the sense that people are not giving up. Where American flags appear atop piles of debris, you know the people’s spirit has not been beaten. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the people of Missouri and Governor Jay Nixon and his team as they work to recover from these vicious storms.”

Samaritan's Purse , Governor Parnell Expresses Appreciation

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