“Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). Children are precious to God. The Bible tells us that “children are a gift of the LORD” (Psalm 127:3) and that we are responsible to train them up “in the way [they] should…
Media
Fact Sheet: Douglas DC-8
DC-8 Samaritan's Purse Aviation Since 1975, Samaritan's Purse has used aircraft to transport doctors and relief workers along with tons of food, medicine, shelter materials, blankets, and other items to aid victims of natural disasters, war, famine, and other emergencies. To support the work of Samaritan's Purse arounsd the world, the aviation arm of Samaritan's…
Operation Christmas Child
2021 Special Report
Special Report 2021 In 2021, Samaritan’s Purse continued to declare God’s glory in more than 100 countries and territories through Operation Christmas Child—including among many unreached people groups at the very ends of the earth. We praise God that more than 9.1 million shoebox gifts were distributed to children in need at over 81,000 outreach…
50 Years of Ministry
Deadly Earthquake in Nepal Triggers Massive Response
On April 25, 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake rocked the central region of Nepal and affected more than 8 million people—almost one-third of the country’s population—damaging or destroying more than 500,000 homes. A second earthquake hit about two weeks later, triggering landslides and creating a new wave of fear and panic among Nepalis, many of whom…
Media
Fact Sheet: Emergency Field Hospital
Emergency Field Hospital Overview The Emergency Field Hospital is mobile and ready to deploy at a moment's notice to provide emergency medical relief in disaster-stricken areas where medical infrastructure is damaged, overwhelmed, or nonexistent. Since its inaugural deployment to Ecuador in 2016, Samaritan's Purse has cared for tens of thousands of patients at 27 Emergency…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Desperate Venezuelans in Colombia Receive Food
Alexandra, her husband Juan, and their 6-year-old daughter have been in Cucuta, Colombia, for several months. They left Caracas, Venezuela, because the situation there had become unbearable. “It was awful,” she said. They lived quite close to the demonstrations that have been roiling the Venezuelan capital, and tensions between police, protesters, and residents had grown.…
Our Ministry
A Tribute to the DC-8
!["The Mighty DC-8 has been [God's] instrument taking the Gospel message of Jesus Christ throughout the world," writes Joe Proffitt, a flight engineer with Samaritan's Purse, as the legendary plane is decommissioned.](https://spweb-uploads.s3.theark.cloud/2025/11/HS-1-320x273.jpg)
My name is Joe Proffitt and I have had the honor and privilege to be a flight engineer aboard this beautiful aircraft, the Mighty DC-8, for the past five and a half years. McDonnell Douglas produced 554 DC-8s. Samaritan’s Purse was blessed to operate the last one registered in the United States. In 2014, during…
Our Ministry
Flying Into a New Era for Samaritan’s Purse Aviation
On Nov. 14, staff members and friends of the ministry joined our Mission Aviation Services team to bid farewell and to celebrate all that God has done through our DC-8 cargo aircraft. In addition, our 767 plane was dedicated to God’s glory as it joined our fleet during an event that was held at our…
Our Ministry
From the New Mexico Desert to the World’s Darkest Places
“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” –Isaiah 43:19 When you think of a desert graveyard, you probably don’t…
50 Years of Ministry
Discipling Boys and Girls through The Greatest Journey
After 16 years of collecting and delivering Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts, Samaritan’s Purse launched its own follow-up discipleship program for the boys and girls who receive them. In 2009, this 12-lesson course called The Greatest Journey started at Good Shepherd Church in Pifo, Ecuador, located just outside of Quito, and today has grown to…
