In early January, South Fork Baptist Church in Hickory, North Carolina, became our base camp as we responded to a large storm that swept through Burke County. Staff writer Michelle de Carion talked with Pastor Scott Thomas about his perspective on partnering with Samaritan’s Purse during a disaster.

Through this response, what have you seen are the spiritual and emotional needs of the community?

We’ve been preaching and teaching what it means to be a disciple of Christ here at the church. The sermon prepared for the Sunday after the storm was entitled “Mimicking Jesus.” When this first happened, a lot of people told me, ‘The Lord is trying to get our attention.’ I began to pray about changing the sermon to fit that. But after seeing the response of our church, the other churches in the area, and Samaritans Purse, I realized that my sermon has already been preached.

That’s the thing that has overwhelmed me the most—to see Christ lived out in the members of the church and the members of your organization.

As you stop and look at the spiritual needs of our community, they needed to see what it really means to be a Christian. I’m proud of our community for volunteering with Samaritan’s Purse, and I’m excited for the future ministry possibilities. We are seeing a lot of churches coming together to show the love of Christ, so there is a lot of potential out there for us.

What kind of challenges have you had as a pastor ministering to the people in this area?

We have institutionalized Christianity so much. We have church and Sunday school … for a lot of folks that is what Christianity is all about. But when you stop and look at the life of Christ and His commands, those things actually have nothing to do with what Christianity is all about.

It’s important to go to church, but it must be more about living like Christ in our everyday lives, not only within the church walls to our Christian families, but outside the walls to those who don’t know Christ.

They need to see that Christ loves them, and when they see that we earn the right to then tell them about having a relationship with Jesus.

What is your perspective of Samaritan’s Purse coming in and partnering with you in this work?

This has been a wonderful three days. From the day they came on site on Thursday morning until now, I have been amazed. I love the way they have ministered not only to the physical needs of the community, but to the spiritual needs as well. More often than not when I speak with the leaders, it’s not about a certain problem, but it’s about a person who got saved or another person who rededicated his life. I have been very impressed with everything Samaritan’s Purse has done.

What would you say to someone who might be questioning where God is in this disaster?

I’ve been through a lot of difficult situations in my life. It’s easy to say God works all things together for good. It’s another thing to really see it or understand it. One thing I have learned is that when I don’t understand, God knows what is happening.

On Saturday, I came into the church and there was mail sitting on my desk. I got a letter from somebody who is not a member of the church. Inside was a check for a large sum of money. We prayed Saturday night and Sunday night into Monday, asking God, ‘What are you doing?’ We thanked the Lord for the financial gift that was given, but we had no idea why we received it.

But God knew what was coming, and He put it in the heart of a person from another church to send us money. God laid it upon that person’s heart to give a week before this disaster came to allow our church to minister in the area. So you see that God was in control.

The hardest question I have ever been asked as a pastor is why. Sometimes God shows us why He is doing what He is doing, but sometimes He chooses not to. And sometimes I have to say to people ‘I don’t know why … but God knows.’ I don’t understand why this storm occurred, but I trust His heart.

Samaritan's Purse , Working Together For Good

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