A
nondenominational Evangelical Christian nonprofit humanitarian organization, Samaritan’s Purse works to assist people with their physical needs as well
as to introduce them to the Christian missionary work. Currently headed by
Franklin Graham, the name of the association was derived from the New
Testament’s Parable of the Good Samaritan, where Jesus narrated a parable to
his people to teach them to “love your
neighbor as you love yourself”.
Founded
by Robert Pierce in 1970, the organization aims to meet the urgent and
emergent needs of several crisis areas through national churches and
evangelical mission agencies. It specializes in emergency relief, water and
sanitation, food and nutrition, shelter, public health, medical care and
livelihood projects. The organization has sought to meet not only the physical needs
of individuals suffering from diseases, disasters, famine, poverty and war, but
also aims “to propagate the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Samaritan’s
Purse operates in more than 100 countries all over the world, and has
headquarters in the United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Germany,
Netherlands, United Kingdom and Hong Kong.