Franklin Graham Meets with Pastors and Hurting Families in Venezuela

Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham was in Venezuela on Tuesday, July 21, to encourage families in the coastal city of La Guaira in the wake of June 24 back-to-back earthquakes that left thousands of people dead, injured, and displaced.

“We want the people of Venezuela to know that God hasn’t forgotten them. He hasn’t turned His back on them,” Graham said during his visit to our Emergency Field Hospital. “God loves them. He cares for them.”

Since our Emergency Field Hospital opened June 30, only a few miles from the epicentre, our medical staff have treated nearly 2,600 patients, which includes nearly 200 emergency surgeries. To assist local clinics and pharmacies, we have provided medical supplies at five Clinic Restart Modules throughout the area.

“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. It’s a great opportunity for us to be able to share the love of Jesus Christ.”

Graham also met with local church partners who have been integral to our efforts and have helped distribute to families in need many of our relief supplies, including durable tarps, solar lights, blankets, hygiene kits, and hot meals. Our teams have also provided hundreds of heavy duty family tents for use as temporary shelter for weeks and months to come. In addition, we have established two clean water points and provided more then 181,000 litres of clean drinking water.

Pastor César Mermejo, president of the Venezuelan Evangelistic Society and longtime partner with Samaritan’s Purse helping us serve his fellow Venezuelans, greeted Graham with joy, expressing gratitude for our past work in the region and for our ongoing relief efforts since the earthquake.

“In the name of the country and people of Venezuela, thank you very much for the work that Samaritan’s Purse is doing in our country,” he said.

Graham met with local church leader, Pastor Eusebio, a long-time partner with Samaritan’s Purse whose congregation lost three families and the church building to the earthquakes. His church has been meeting in a tent provided by Samaritan’s Purse. Pastor Eusebio’s church has also been helping us distribute hot meals to his community. Before the earthquake, his church had done similar ministry providing meals across six counties.

“The work that we have is to win souls for Christ,” Pastor Eusebio told Graham. “That is why the work continues.”

Graham had a special time of prayer for the pastor’s church and also prayed over his wife, son, daughter-in-law, and three of his grandchildren.

“It is a privilege to have you here in such a difficult time,” Pastor Eusebio told Graham. “In the name of the church and all the people of this community, thank you.”

Graham also met Pastor Manuel who was in a prayer meeting near his church when the earthquake hit. He said he took children and elderly members by the hands and ran to safety.

Pastor Manuel was another key church leader who provided connections to other churches and identified the areas of greatest need as our response began. Sadly, even as he serves, he is grieving the death of a nephew and the total loss of his home in the quakes.

“This is a time God has called me to serve,” he said. “I want to express on behalf of the community thanks to Samaritan’s Purse. 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.”

Pastor Manuel joined Graham as he visited a local baseball stadium where hundreds of families were living. This is one of the makeshift camps where we are providing tents and other aid to displaced families.

Graham encouraged Manuel as he looked out over the many hurting families.

“We will be working here for a long time,” Graham told him.

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