Along with many Christian ministries across the nation that are providing relief efforts for hurricane victims in Florida, the Samaritan’s Purse has been participating in the relief work for the past three weeks. Two disaster relief units of the Samaritan’s Purse were at first helping the victims in southwestern Florida but now they are taking a different step to reach out to the East Coast.
Luther Harrison, Samaritan’s Purse relief effort coordinator, shared how Christian organization is working closely with local churches to provide not only the material needs of disaster victims but also their spiritual needs. He also mentioned that it is essential for the church volunteers to be there for the victims.
According to Agape Press, he said, “The best thing we tell them as we go out and minister to the family is that it's not as important to cover the house with plastic as it is to sit and share with the homeowners and listen to them."
Harrison added that there would be much outreach work needs to be done by local churches in the coming weeks and months as they are anticipated to face rather difficult processes of recovery which includes dealing with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the insurance companies.
"These folks just come and share Christ's love with the homeowner,” he said. “All these families we've worked with, churches can take these names, check on them in a couple weeks and see how they're doing, reassure them and help them keep a positive attitude through the long process ahead.”
According to Harrison, Samaritan’s Purse staff and volunteers will be spending several more months in Florida sharing the word of Christ and putting faith into action.
