1 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: What is the connection between apologetics and charity? Is our 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,889 Speaker 1: care for the poor, needy, and suffering one of our 3 00:00:11,910 --> 00:00:15,550 Speaker 1: best apologetics today? Our guest today is Christy Graham, host 4 00:00:15,570 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: of the On the Ground podcast with Samaritan's Purse. Christy, 5 00:00:19,890 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 1: this is a topic I've actually wanted to explore for 6 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,700 Speaker 1: a long time. So I'm hoping my audience will let 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: me know what they think. And if they want more, 8 00:00:27,220 --> 00:00:30,500 Speaker 1: we can come back and do a deeper dive. Now, 9 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,660 Speaker 1: I host a podcast called Think Biblically, have a YouTube channel, 10 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:37,740 Speaker 1: and the Sean McDowell podcast here. This conversation is only 11 00:00:37,979 --> 00:00:42,860 Speaker 1: available here, unique to this audience. I'm eager to dive in, 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:44,860 Speaker 1: but Christy, thanks for being with us. 13 00:00:45,820 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for having me. It's an honor to 14 00:00:47,840 --> 00:00:48,100 Speaker 2: be here. 15 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:51,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, I just love to start with your story. Like, 16 00:00:51,260 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: how did you and your family... get called to serve 17 00:00:54,460 --> 00:00:57,450 Speaker 1: with Samaritan's Purse? 18 00:00:57,750 --> 00:01:01,370 Speaker 2: So thank you for asking. My husband, Edward, is Franklin's son. 19 00:01:01,550 --> 00:01:05,870 Speaker 2: So he has grown up knowing and serving within the ministry, 20 00:01:05,930 --> 00:01:08,690 Speaker 2: but then the Lord called him into the military. He 21 00:01:08,730 --> 00:01:12,910 Speaker 2: went to the United States Military Academy and then was 22 00:01:13,230 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 2: commissioned in the army. And that's where we met. And 23 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,089 Speaker 2: so when we got married... I was an army brat, 24 00:01:19,450 --> 00:01:22,470 Speaker 2: so it was an easy yes for me. I loved 25 00:01:22,530 --> 00:01:25,750 Speaker 2: the military and we loved serving and thought we would 26 00:01:25,780 --> 00:01:29,169 Speaker 2: do that for 30 plus years. And we loved it. 27 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:32,940 Speaker 2: And about 16 years in, we'd actually just adopted our 28 00:01:32,980 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 2: son from China. And I say that because I think 29 00:01:35,620 --> 00:01:39,310 Speaker 2: the Lord used that adoption, that yes, to prepare our hearts. 30 00:01:39,980 --> 00:01:42,369 Speaker 2: I don't know if we would have heard the voice 31 00:01:42,410 --> 00:01:44,530 Speaker 2: of the Lord and heeded to his voice to get 32 00:01:44,590 --> 00:01:47,010 Speaker 2: out of the military, because again, we loved it so much. 33 00:01:47,930 --> 00:01:50,470 Speaker 2: And so six months after we came home with our son, 34 00:01:50,490 --> 00:01:54,310 Speaker 2: the Lord spoke to Edward and I both separately, you know, 35 00:01:54,570 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: you're supposed to come serve with Samaritan's purse. And again, 36 00:01:57,830 --> 00:01:59,730 Speaker 2: it was a hard, it was hard for us to 37 00:01:59,750 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: both lay that down. I was studying Genesis at the 38 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,540 Speaker 2: time when God called Abraham, you know, to leave his land, 39 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 2: his relatives, and to go to a land that God 40 00:02:08,020 --> 00:02:10,460 Speaker 2: told him. And I felt like the Lord was saying, 41 00:02:10,620 --> 00:02:12,940 Speaker 2: you're going to leave. It's for me as an army brat, 42 00:02:13,419 --> 00:02:16,260 Speaker 2: army wife, I don't have a hometown, you know, a place, 43 00:02:16,380 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: but the military was my place. And so we both 44 00:02:19,260 --> 00:02:22,700 Speaker 2: felt very, the Lord made a definite call and it 45 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:24,500 Speaker 2: gave us a peace, but it didn't make it easy. 46 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:27,500 Speaker 2: You know, it made it easier that the Lord called us, 47 00:02:27,620 --> 00:02:30,380 Speaker 2: but we left all that we knew, laid down our 48 00:02:30,430 --> 00:02:32,430 Speaker 2: nets and came to serve at Samaritan's Purse. And so 49 00:02:32,450 --> 00:02:36,530 Speaker 2: my husband, you know, he started working immediately. I wasn't 50 00:02:36,570 --> 00:02:38,950 Speaker 2: working at the time. And that's when I just started saying, God, 51 00:02:39,510 --> 00:02:40,610 Speaker 2: what do you want me to do? How do you 52 00:02:40,630 --> 00:02:43,010 Speaker 2: want me to support him in the military? There were 53 00:02:43,030 --> 00:02:45,510 Speaker 2: a lot of supportive roles as a volunteer and an 54 00:02:45,570 --> 00:02:49,150 Speaker 2: army spouse and but primarily I was raising kids. I 55 00:02:49,190 --> 00:02:52,489 Speaker 2: wasn't working outside the home, but the Lord showed us 56 00:02:52,570 --> 00:02:56,070 Speaker 2: both where He wanted us to serve at Samaritan's Purse. 57 00:02:56,150 --> 00:02:59,830 Speaker 2: And so I get to serve on this communications podcast team, 58 00:02:59,910 --> 00:03:02,550 Speaker 2: sharing what God is doing around the world as I 59 00:03:02,570 --> 00:03:04,890 Speaker 2: support my husband, who he travels a lot more than 60 00:03:04,970 --> 00:03:08,410 Speaker 2: I do. But yeah, that's a long story to why 61 00:03:08,450 --> 00:03:11,390 Speaker 2: we came, but it was just the Lord. 62 00:03:12,889 --> 00:03:16,250 Speaker 1: I love that. Yeah, I love that, that your husband, 63 00:03:16,389 --> 00:03:20,310 Speaker 1: being a gram, didn't feel the pressure or expectation to 64 00:03:20,389 --> 00:03:23,190 Speaker 1: serve there and had other plans. And then God kind 65 00:03:23,230 --> 00:03:25,350 Speaker 1: of interrupted it. In some ways, that's similar to what 66 00:03:25,430 --> 00:03:28,399 Speaker 1: I do. I had little interest in becoming an apologist 67 00:03:28,500 --> 00:03:29,300 Speaker 1: like my father. 68 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 2: I'm sure you understand more than most. 69 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:33,020 Speaker 1: Oh, gosh. 70 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. 71 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: And that's a separate story. But it's important for people 72 00:03:35,980 --> 00:03:39,060 Speaker 1: to understand that this wasn't like branded at the beginning. 73 00:03:39,100 --> 00:03:41,540 Speaker 1: This is your job and you're going into it. I 74 00:03:41,580 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 1: was headed a different direction. I thought I was going 75 00:03:43,220 --> 00:03:46,180 Speaker 1: to coach basketball or do something like that. And God 76 00:03:46,220 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: called me to do this. But let's talk a little 77 00:03:48,220 --> 00:03:51,380 Speaker 1: bit about your podcast because there's overlap with what we 78 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: do here. But in some ways, it's also very different. 79 00:03:53,980 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: And it's called On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse. Now, 80 00:03:57,420 --> 00:04:01,200 Speaker 1: my podcast is primarily to equip and train Christians to 81 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: defend the faith and to share it. But also, I 82 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,530 Speaker 1: have a lot of skeptics and unbelievers who listen and 83 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:10,930 Speaker 1: who are just curious. Is your podcast to encourage Christians 84 00:04:11,420 --> 00:04:14,660 Speaker 1: to equip them, or to spread the word about the 85 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: good of Christianity. So people might say, you know what, 86 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: maybe I should reconsider that Christian faith. Christians are doing good, 87 00:04:21,580 --> 00:04:22,460 Speaker 1: or all of the above. 88 00:04:23,810 --> 00:04:27,190 Speaker 2: All of the above. Like I said, when we came here, 89 00:04:27,310 --> 00:04:29,030 Speaker 2: I said, Lord, how do you want me to serve her, 90 00:04:29,330 --> 00:04:31,470 Speaker 2: support my husband and serve in this role? And the 91 00:04:31,510 --> 00:04:33,750 Speaker 2: podcast came to be pretty quickly. Initially, it was an 92 00:04:33,810 --> 00:04:37,409 Speaker 2: internal podcast to encourage our staff. We serve in so 93 00:04:37,450 --> 00:04:41,469 Speaker 2: many different countries and through different vehicles at Samaritan's Purse. 94 00:04:41,550 --> 00:04:44,230 Speaker 2: And so many, even people within our own staff, they 95 00:04:44,270 --> 00:04:46,229 Speaker 2: don't know exactly what we do. So it was to help. 96 00:04:46,290 --> 00:04:50,460 Speaker 2: But then it opened up to a broader podcast where 97 00:04:50,500 --> 00:04:53,660 Speaker 2: we realized people that either pray and support the ministry 98 00:04:53,860 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 2: or people that are skeptical or question what we do 99 00:04:56,540 --> 00:04:58,230 Speaker 2: or You know, there were just a lot of different 100 00:04:58,270 --> 00:05:00,770 Speaker 2: people that needed or wanted to know more about what 101 00:05:00,810 --> 00:05:02,870 Speaker 2: we did at Samaritan's Purse. So it is to encourage. 102 00:05:03,150 --> 00:05:04,940 Speaker 2: It is to equip. But it's also to share the 103 00:05:04,980 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: gospel of Jesus Christ, just like we do as we 104 00:05:07,660 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 2: go into the ditches of life. We want to share 105 00:05:09,620 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 2: it on the podcast as well. So every episode is different. 106 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 2: You know, sometimes we're taking you to hear about a 107 00:05:14,940 --> 00:05:17,580 Speaker 2: children's heart project. Sometimes we're taking you to Venezuela to 108 00:05:17,620 --> 00:05:20,620 Speaker 2: hear about an earthquake. I mean, the story is always different, 109 00:05:20,700 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 2: but the root is always the same. It's to share 110 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:27,530 Speaker 2: the gospel of Jesus Christ in hard, difficult places. So 111 00:05:27,550 --> 00:05:29,370 Speaker 2: it's an exciting podcast to be a part of. 112 00:05:30,210 --> 00:05:32,740 Speaker 1: I'm eager to get into how you share the gospel 113 00:05:32,980 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: and meet people's physical needs. We're going to come back 114 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: to that. But, and especially, I mean, we're going to 115 00:05:39,740 --> 00:05:44,940 Speaker 1: get into what Samaritan's Purse does in Africa to fight Ebola. 116 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: But I know you have personally witnessed a lot of 117 00:05:49,300 --> 00:05:52,180 Speaker 1: suffering and Samaritan's Purse in some ways, I get to 118 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,990 Speaker 1: talk about this academically from a distance. And try to 119 00:05:56,029 --> 00:05:58,850 Speaker 1: help people make sense of evil and suffering in the world. 120 00:05:59,610 --> 00:06:03,789 Speaker 1: But you were recently in Venezuela after two massive earthquakes 121 00:06:03,850 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 1: that were just devastating. And I guess two-part question. I'm 122 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:11,339 Speaker 1: curious what it's like on the ground and how you 123 00:06:11,740 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: answer or address the problem when somebody says, Christy, why 124 00:06:15,779 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: would this loving God you believe in allow so much 125 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:19,660 Speaker 1: suffering and pain? 126 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 2: Hmm. Yeah. And it's so hard. 127 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:23,240 Speaker 1: Yeah. 128 00:06:23,260 --> 00:06:25,419 Speaker 2: Venezuela was very hard. I mean, I have a hard 129 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,420 Speaker 2: time with it. I can't compartmentalize it very well. So 130 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,240 Speaker 2: it kind of overtakes me. And more and more I 131 00:06:29,339 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 2: see of suffering, the more I see the need for 132 00:06:31,940 --> 00:06:35,090 Speaker 2: the gospel, right? Like we live in a fallen, broken world. 133 00:06:35,150 --> 00:06:36,990 Speaker 2: And I know it's hard to explain to people. And 134 00:06:37,010 --> 00:06:40,130 Speaker 2: I've watched people react in two different ways. Some are hardened. 135 00:06:40,770 --> 00:06:43,469 Speaker 2: How can a good and loving God allow this suffering? 136 00:06:43,970 --> 00:06:47,210 Speaker 2: But then you also see the people that because of 137 00:06:47,250 --> 00:06:49,909 Speaker 2: the suffering, it draws them to the love of God, right? 138 00:06:50,010 --> 00:06:53,340 Speaker 2: Because the gospel, for God so loved the world, he 139 00:06:53,380 --> 00:06:55,940 Speaker 2: came and sent his only son. And so that's why 140 00:06:55,980 --> 00:06:59,260 Speaker 2: we go. We go to bring hope in a difficult situation. 141 00:06:59,300 --> 00:07:01,580 Speaker 2: And again, I've seen people, I've seen pastors, I've seen 142 00:07:01,620 --> 00:07:04,770 Speaker 2: people that we've helped respond like Job, you know, that 143 00:07:04,850 --> 00:07:07,870 Speaker 2: says the Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed 144 00:07:07,890 --> 00:07:09,890 Speaker 2: be the name of the Lord. I've seen them praise 145 00:07:09,950 --> 00:07:12,010 Speaker 2: the Lord in the midst of their suffering. I've seen 146 00:07:13,210 --> 00:07:16,570 Speaker 2: Ukrainian pastors that say, Thank you, Lord. People are coming 147 00:07:16,610 --> 00:07:18,910 Speaker 2: into my church that never would have otherwise. You know, 148 00:07:18,930 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 2: they're seeking refuge from the war. I've seen a Middle 149 00:07:23,540 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 2: East pastor that says suffering is the vitamin of the church. 150 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: You know, he's watched churches be bombed. He's watched his 151 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:33,580 Speaker 2: pastors be killed. But it only strengthens the church because 152 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:37,550 Speaker 2: as Christians, we grieve differently. You know, Romans 5, I've 153 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:41,090 Speaker 2: watched it lived out. Suffering produces character and character hope. 154 00:07:41,710 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: But as you know, there's people that struggle with it. 155 00:07:44,270 --> 00:07:46,860 Speaker 2: It hardens their hearts for them to see a God 156 00:07:46,940 --> 00:07:50,420 Speaker 2: that allows such suffering. And again, it's, I think C.S. 157 00:07:50,460 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 2: Lewis says it, we can't praise God for what he's 158 00:07:52,780 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 2: given us, but then curse him for what, you know, 159 00:07:55,500 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 2: the hardships, you know, because of sin and suffering, we 160 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 2: live in a fallen, broken world. So that's why we 161 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,700 Speaker 2: want to go. But it is, it's hard. And I 162 00:08:03,740 --> 00:08:07,060 Speaker 2: think the more I see, the more Romans 8 comes alive, 163 00:08:07,180 --> 00:08:09,300 Speaker 2: you know, that talks about the groanings of this world, 164 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 2: the labor pains that we have here. And then Matthew 165 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 2: talks about the labor pains, the famines, the natural disasters, 166 00:08:15,460 --> 00:08:18,460 Speaker 2: the wars, the earthquakes. You know, they are labor pains 167 00:08:18,580 --> 00:08:22,670 Speaker 2: preparing us for God, for Jesus as he comes back. Which, again, 168 00:08:22,690 --> 00:08:25,050 Speaker 2: I'm glad that you share the academic, but I think 169 00:08:25,090 --> 00:08:28,910 Speaker 2: I've watched it in the heart, you know, where people come. 170 00:08:29,750 --> 00:08:32,190 Speaker 2: And I'll share an example from Venezuela. A woman came 171 00:08:32,570 --> 00:08:35,340 Speaker 2: to the water points. We were cleaning water and we 172 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 2: give water. We have water sanitation hygiene points that give 173 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 2: water through the local church. And she came for water 174 00:08:40,820 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 2: because her husband was killed. She lost her home. She 175 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:46,400 Speaker 2: was desperate. She was broken. And she came for water. 176 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 2: But then she came back the next day. And when 177 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:51,189 Speaker 2: I saw her come back, it looked like they were 178 00:08:51,270 --> 00:08:54,030 Speaker 2: old family, you know, our staff. And she said, I 179 00:08:54,070 --> 00:08:56,270 Speaker 2: came for water, but I come back for this hope 180 00:08:56,309 --> 00:08:58,650 Speaker 2: that you give, this hope of the gospel. You know, 181 00:08:58,690 --> 00:09:01,290 Speaker 2: I come for prayer. I come for encouragement. So it's 182 00:09:01,309 --> 00:09:04,030 Speaker 2: like the women at the well, right? We come for 183 00:09:04,410 --> 00:09:07,500 Speaker 2: physical water. but we realize our need for the living water. 184 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:10,860 Speaker 2: And that is the only thing that satisfies. And so 185 00:09:11,740 --> 00:09:13,719 Speaker 2: long answer. And I know we can pull apart many 186 00:09:13,740 --> 00:09:17,060 Speaker 2: of those different parts, but it's hard from a human standpoint. 187 00:09:17,100 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 2: If this earth is all that we have, it is 188 00:09:19,540 --> 00:09:23,740 Speaker 2: hard to that question of why, why, why is this happening? 189 00:09:23,880 --> 00:09:26,950 Speaker 2: It's hard to reconcile, but because we know as believers, 190 00:09:27,450 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: this isn't all that it is. You know, we have 191 00:09:29,780 --> 00:09:33,010 Speaker 2: a hope as an anchor, firm and secure. We're serving 192 00:09:33,030 --> 00:09:36,740 Speaker 2: a King that will make all things new. And that 193 00:09:36,780 --> 00:09:40,250 Speaker 2: is the hope that we want to give people. I 194 00:09:40,290 --> 00:09:40,630 Speaker 2: love that. 195 00:09:40,670 --> 00:09:43,910 Speaker 1: That was not even remotely too long of an answer. 196 00:09:43,929 --> 00:09:45,470 Speaker 1: I want you to keep talking and we're going to 197 00:09:45,970 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: circle back to some of these points. But what I 198 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,900 Speaker 1: don't want people to miss is for years, my father 199 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 1: did work in Russia. So I went in like 19, 200 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,339 Speaker 1: I don't know if it was 89 or 90 in 201 00:09:57,380 --> 00:10:01,210 Speaker 1: junior high when it was still communistic. and went 13 202 00:10:01,210 --> 00:10:04,030 Speaker 1: times back since and one of the things that my 203 00:10:04,050 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: dad would do with his ministry at at the time 204 00:10:06,700 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: was josh mcdowell ministry is they'd bring more than a 205 00:10:09,140 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: carpenter books and they would give them away to make 206 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: a case they'd bring away the gospel john but they 207 00:10:14,460 --> 00:10:19,340 Speaker 1: would also meet physical needs of people they would do 208 00:10:19,420 --> 00:10:23,740 Speaker 1: both And meeting the physical needs gave a certain authority 209 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,839 Speaker 1: to be able to meet the spiritual needs. And if 210 00:10:26,920 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: it's just the gospel, then it's like, wait a minute, 211 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,380 Speaker 1: aren't you helping people who are hurting and suffering? But 212 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,660 Speaker 1: if you're also just meeting physical needs, then it can 213 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:36,960 Speaker 1: become the social gospel and not give the truth that 214 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,540 Speaker 1: sets people free. And I told you this before when 215 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:41,860 Speaker 1: we were chatting, my wife and I support Samaritan's Purse 216 00:10:42,179 --> 00:10:45,480 Speaker 1: regularly with the disaster in Nepal. We send in some 217 00:10:45,520 --> 00:10:49,350 Speaker 1: money to help through Samaritan's Purse. That balance is important. 218 00:10:49,370 --> 00:10:50,850 Speaker 1: I also want to point out to my audience that 219 00:10:50,890 --> 00:10:54,830 Speaker 1: you said two things that in some ways we keep 220 00:10:54,890 --> 00:10:57,390 Speaker 1: in tension. And you said it multiple times that it's 221 00:10:57,670 --> 00:11:02,330 Speaker 1: hard and it's difficult. And there's nothing wrong. I think 222 00:11:02,370 --> 00:11:04,910 Speaker 1: it's good for a Christian to say, I don't have 223 00:11:04,929 --> 00:11:09,179 Speaker 1: a simple answer for you. It's painful. It affects me emotionally. 224 00:11:09,500 --> 00:11:11,839 Speaker 1: In fact, sometimes I want to cry out the Lord, 225 00:11:12,300 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: you know, Lord, come soon. Like Maranatha is a prayer like, Lord, come. 226 00:11:17,750 --> 00:11:21,570 Speaker 1: That's a human cry. But at the same time, Romans 8, 28, 227 00:11:21,570 --> 00:11:25,329 Speaker 1: God is working things together for the good. And I 228 00:11:25,429 --> 00:11:28,859 Speaker 1: think we can keep those things in tension. And I 229 00:11:28,940 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 1: think you're balancing that well. Now, I want to shift 230 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,380 Speaker 1: to kind of a biblical basis for caring for the poor. 231 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,740 Speaker 1: So in some ways, this gets to the question that 232 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,780 Speaker 1: why is it that Christians, when everybody's running from the 233 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:47,490 Speaker 1: black plague, Christians are going in. To care for people 234 00:11:47,540 --> 00:11:51,070 Speaker 1: who are suffering. When other people are tossing their infants 235 00:11:51,610 --> 00:11:55,050 Speaker 1: to be devoured by animals in ancient Rome, Christians are 236 00:11:55,110 --> 00:11:59,030 Speaker 1: taking them and caring for them. What is it about 237 00:11:59,070 --> 00:12:02,290 Speaker 1: the Christian belief system that says what you're doing at 238 00:12:02,330 --> 00:12:05,949 Speaker 1: Samaritan's Purse matters and is important and is a reflection 239 00:12:05,970 --> 00:12:06,610 Speaker 1: of the heart of God? 240 00:12:08,490 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 2: Well, I think, you know, like I said... The gospel 241 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:13,970 Speaker 2: changes the way we react to suffering, you know, for 242 00:12:14,070 --> 00:12:16,290 Speaker 2: God so loved the world that he gave his only son. 243 00:12:16,330 --> 00:12:18,790 Speaker 2: And if we, and here at Samaritan's Purse, if we 244 00:12:18,830 --> 00:12:21,630 Speaker 2: believe that, I think we're called to live it out, right? 245 00:12:21,730 --> 00:12:25,350 Speaker 2: Jesus gave us the model. He didn't come to be served, 246 00:12:25,450 --> 00:12:27,849 Speaker 2: but to serve, to give his life a ransom for many. 247 00:12:27,870 --> 00:12:30,809 Speaker 2: And so I've had many of the doctors and nurses 248 00:12:30,929 --> 00:12:33,600 Speaker 2: and wash team that go to Ebola, that go to somewhere, 249 00:12:33,670 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 2: they're facing death. You know, they said, you know, The 250 00:12:39,340 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 2: Lord gave me the gospel and I have to share it. 251 00:12:42,220 --> 00:12:43,980 Speaker 2: You know, to whom much is given, much is required. 252 00:12:44,020 --> 00:12:46,920 Speaker 2: And I feel this calling from the Lord that to 253 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 2: lay down their life for someone that needs to know 254 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,090 Speaker 2: the gospel of Jesus Christ. And what you said, I 255 00:12:51,330 --> 00:12:55,350 Speaker 2: think it's, you know, faith without works is dead, right? 256 00:12:55,429 --> 00:12:57,310 Speaker 2: And I think James is very clear of that. And 257 00:12:57,330 --> 00:12:59,870 Speaker 2: I just want to read, you know, James 1.27 says, 258 00:12:59,950 --> 00:13:02,890 Speaker 2: Pure and undefiled religion before God, the Father is this, 259 00:13:02,990 --> 00:13:05,790 Speaker 2: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and 260 00:13:05,820 --> 00:13:08,860 Speaker 2: to keep oneself unstained from the world. And that's how 261 00:13:08,900 --> 00:13:11,199 Speaker 2: we stay unstained from the world, right? Looking after the 262 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:13,829 Speaker 2: orphans and the widows. But then it goes on in 263 00:13:14,330 --> 00:13:17,990 Speaker 2: chapter two, it says, love your neighbor as yourself. You 264 00:13:18,030 --> 00:13:21,010 Speaker 2: are doing well and not show favoritism, you know, to 265 00:13:21,130 --> 00:13:24,510 Speaker 2: love people, mercy triumphs over judgment. And that love your 266 00:13:24,550 --> 00:13:26,370 Speaker 2: neighbor as yourself, that is what we're based off here 267 00:13:26,390 --> 00:13:29,550 Speaker 2: at Samaritan's Purse is the good Samaritan. You know, the 268 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:33,260 Speaker 2: Samaritan was walking along and two religious people had walked 269 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 2: past this person in the ditch, right? And the Samaritan's 270 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:39,750 Speaker 2: the one that stops. And he stops because he had compassion. 271 00:13:40,390 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 2: And I think that's where it all starts too, is 272 00:13:42,700 --> 00:13:47,199 Speaker 2: loving our neighbor starts with compassion. That's what Jesus did. 273 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,060 Speaker 2: He loved with compassion. He laid down his life. And 274 00:13:51,100 --> 00:13:54,709 Speaker 2: I think we do do works. Like you said, I 275 00:13:54,750 --> 00:13:57,270 Speaker 2: think sometimes you can't share the gospel if someone's starving. 276 00:13:57,570 --> 00:14:00,429 Speaker 2: They can't hear you. They have a physical need that 277 00:14:00,470 --> 00:14:03,270 Speaker 2: we have to meet that need sometimes first. And then 278 00:14:03,370 --> 00:14:05,430 Speaker 2: we can earn the right to share the gospel. But again, 279 00:14:05,490 --> 00:14:08,700 Speaker 2: it starts with compassion. If we're doing works for our 280 00:14:08,780 --> 00:14:13,100 Speaker 2: own good and our own glory, it's in vain. It 281 00:14:13,140 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 2: starts with compassion. And again, the gospel is why we 282 00:14:15,900 --> 00:14:18,359 Speaker 2: do everything here at Samaritan's Purse. It's not for good works. 283 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 2: It's not for grants or for to be well known. 284 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,300 Speaker 2: And again, another thing I love at Samaritan's Purse, we 285 00:14:24,340 --> 00:14:28,060 Speaker 2: always work with the local church. We want to go 286 00:14:28,110 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 2: and help people, but the best way to help them 287 00:14:30,260 --> 00:14:32,470 Speaker 2: is to know the true needs on the ground. And 288 00:14:32,510 --> 00:14:34,690 Speaker 2: that's why we work with our Christian, you know, our 289 00:14:34,910 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 2: local church partners on the ground. that know the needs. 290 00:14:38,470 --> 00:14:41,650 Speaker 2: They have more compassion because those are their people. Those 291 00:14:41,710 --> 00:14:43,990 Speaker 2: are their neighbors. Those are their true neighbors. And so 292 00:14:44,030 --> 00:14:47,670 Speaker 2: we can come in and love our neighbors through our 293 00:14:47,710 --> 00:14:50,810 Speaker 2: church partners. And so I don't know if I answered 294 00:14:50,830 --> 00:14:54,010 Speaker 2: your question, but I think- Yeah, you did. I learn 295 00:14:54,050 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 2: it every day. It's like a new, fresh insight. As 296 00:14:57,100 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 2: you serve the Lord and as you serve others, I 297 00:14:59,780 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 2: think we get to know our Father even better. And 298 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,150 Speaker 2: so It's not that serving saves us, but I think 299 00:15:05,190 --> 00:15:07,370 Speaker 2: it allows us to grow more intimately with our walk 300 00:15:07,410 --> 00:15:10,830 Speaker 2: with the Lord because we understand we don't have a 301 00:15:10,870 --> 00:15:14,370 Speaker 2: high priest that doesn't understand. He walked this earth. He 302 00:15:14,550 --> 00:15:18,460 Speaker 2: understands what we're facing. And so that is why it's 303 00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:20,180 Speaker 2: an overflow, why we serve others. 304 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: Amen. That passage in James is so important because James 305 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:29,230 Speaker 1: is not saying we're saved by works. And I absolutely 306 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:33,229 Speaker 1: love every time I hear your father-in-law speak, I'm like, 307 00:15:33,270 --> 00:15:35,710 Speaker 1: how soon until he gets to the gospel? Even if 308 00:15:35,750 --> 00:15:38,220 Speaker 1: the question's about the economy, he's like, well, Jesus came 309 00:15:38,250 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 1: to save you. Like this will save the economy. Like 310 00:15:40,340 --> 00:15:43,960 Speaker 1: it just, it challenges me to be even more gospel focused. 311 00:15:44,540 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: But the reason that's so important is because we naturally 312 00:15:48,100 --> 00:15:52,680 Speaker 1: have a tendency to want to justify ourselves. It's just 313 00:15:52,940 --> 00:15:56,660 Speaker 1: human nature. And so if we're caring for the poor 314 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,490 Speaker 1: in a way where there are means of justification, if 315 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:03,260 Speaker 1: we don't realize it, We're going to end up using 316 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,490 Speaker 1: the poor in some fashion rather than loving them, which 317 00:16:06,550 --> 00:16:08,570 Speaker 1: goes against the command that you said, which is to 318 00:16:08,650 --> 00:16:12,210 Speaker 1: love our neighbors. So I think the connection you're drawing 319 00:16:12,250 --> 00:16:15,250 Speaker 1: in terms of when we first understand that God has 320 00:16:15,310 --> 00:16:18,580 Speaker 1: saved us and his grace in our own lives, then 321 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:22,310 Speaker 1: we can love out of that grace. And these works, 322 00:16:22,630 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: so to speak, I think what James is pointing out 323 00:16:25,620 --> 00:16:28,940 Speaker 1: is not that faith with works saves us. Paul makes 324 00:16:28,980 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: that clear in Romans 3 and 4 that we're not 325 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:35,310 Speaker 1: saved by works. But other people don't know our hearts. 326 00:16:36,490 --> 00:16:39,609 Speaker 1: People can't say our hearts, only God does. So our faith, 327 00:16:39,810 --> 00:16:44,890 Speaker 1: our works make that faith demonstrated to the world. And 328 00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: before we come to the Ebola issue, question which intrigues 329 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: me on so many levels. I just want to make 330 00:16:49,660 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: sure my audience doesn't miss this. I had on maybe 331 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,750 Speaker 1: two or three months ago Bart Ehrman, who's one of 332 00:16:54,790 --> 00:16:58,510 Speaker 1: the leading atheist skeptics for the past three decades, and 333 00:16:58,550 --> 00:17:01,510 Speaker 1: he's written a book called Love Thy Stranger. And he 334 00:17:01,550 --> 00:17:06,129 Speaker 1: talks about building hospitals, showing compassion to the poor, caring 335 00:17:06,170 --> 00:17:09,730 Speaker 1: for the elderly. Before the time of Christ, you would 336 00:17:09,780 --> 00:17:13,340 Speaker 1: do that within your in-group, but it's only with the 337 00:17:13,380 --> 00:17:17,080 Speaker 1: Christian message that now we do that for our out-group. 338 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:21,640 Speaker 1: So the idea that we should care about compassion for Africa, 339 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:26,940 Speaker 1: for Nepal, for what happened in Venezuela, that's a distinctly 340 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:31,740 Speaker 1: Christian idea from the ethic of Jesus. And we can't 341 00:17:31,980 --> 00:17:36,010 Speaker 1: miss that. Now, I saw some of your recent podcasts, 342 00:17:36,050 --> 00:17:38,070 Speaker 1: and there's so many topics you come into, and people 343 00:17:38,130 --> 00:17:40,709 Speaker 1: can go watch those or listen to those. But the 344 00:17:40,790 --> 00:17:43,050 Speaker 1: one that kind of intrigued me was Ebola, in part 345 00:17:43,090 --> 00:17:46,230 Speaker 1: because I think maybe, I don't know, 20, 25 years ago, 346 00:17:46,270 --> 00:17:48,250 Speaker 1: there was that book, I don't know how much was 347 00:17:48,310 --> 00:17:51,369 Speaker 1: true in fiction, something about like the danger zone of 348 00:17:51,470 --> 00:17:54,229 Speaker 1: Ebola almost breaking out in the US. And I've just 349 00:17:54,280 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: kind of studied and learned about just this really awful, 350 00:17:58,490 --> 00:18:04,300 Speaker 1: horrific disease. People going through so much suffering. I can 351 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,860 Speaker 1: only imagine the prayer and faith it takes to deploy 352 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:11,140 Speaker 1: a team to Ebola and when there's probably a lot 353 00:18:11,160 --> 00:18:14,859 Speaker 1: of people saying, look, there's people suffering here in America. 354 00:18:15,380 --> 00:18:18,459 Speaker 1: It costs less, less dangerous. Why are you spending your 355 00:18:18,500 --> 00:18:21,919 Speaker 1: time over there? So tell me, why would Samaritan's Purse 356 00:18:22,920 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: just enter into such a risky behavior? And what's the 357 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:27,210 Speaker 1: goal of it? 358 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:31,550 Speaker 2: Well, I mean, there's so many. And you can talk 359 00:18:31,570 --> 00:18:33,830 Speaker 2: to our doctors and medical staff that say, if we 360 00:18:33,850 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 2: don't go there and stop it at bay, it will 361 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:37,870 Speaker 2: come here, right? And that's the same with our military. 362 00:18:37,910 --> 00:18:40,090 Speaker 2: They don't you know, they don't go far away and 363 00:18:40,130 --> 00:18:43,169 Speaker 2: leave their family to be unprotected. They go so that 364 00:18:43,210 --> 00:18:46,310 Speaker 2: the harm doesn't come here. Right. So, so someone has 365 00:18:46,369 --> 00:18:48,510 Speaker 2: to go, someone has to stop this. And I think Ebola, 366 00:18:48,530 --> 00:18:50,250 Speaker 2: the more I've seen it up close and I've actually 367 00:18:50,820 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 2: interviewed a doctor who got it. So it's, you know, he, 368 00:18:53,540 --> 00:18:56,399 Speaker 2: oh my goodness, how dehumanizing it is. I mean, it 369 00:18:56,540 --> 00:19:00,720 Speaker 2: truly is a deadly, vicious, awful disease. So yes, I, 370 00:19:00,900 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 2: why someone would want to go serve a patient that 371 00:19:03,619 --> 00:19:07,430 Speaker 2: has that knowing you're so, so I'm going to cover 372 00:19:07,450 --> 00:19:09,830 Speaker 2: a couple of different points, but the one I've realized 373 00:19:09,970 --> 00:19:12,830 Speaker 2: it's like the gospel, right? The gospel is so simple. 374 00:19:13,010 --> 00:19:15,859 Speaker 2: We all need it. We all have sinned and fallen 375 00:19:15,890 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 2: short of the glory of God. And so we all 376 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 2: need the gospel. Ebola is like that. It's like, it's 377 00:19:20,660 --> 00:19:23,820 Speaker 2: a deadly disease where they are going to die. They need, 378 00:19:24,220 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 2: and there is a way to stop it. And it's 379 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:31,720 Speaker 2: so preventable. It spreads like the flu through coughing and breathing. 380 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:36,350 Speaker 2: And again, in cultures where they can learn disease prevention. 381 00:19:36,470 --> 00:19:39,050 Speaker 2: And so it's not easy, but we can go in 382 00:19:39,090 --> 00:19:41,030 Speaker 2: and that's what we did in the beginning. We're trying 383 00:19:41,070 --> 00:19:44,010 Speaker 2: to train and teach people how to prevent the spread 384 00:19:44,030 --> 00:19:47,550 Speaker 2: of this. It is, you can stop the spread of it, 385 00:19:47,900 --> 00:19:51,359 Speaker 2: but it's also treatable, but that's just, the gospel. The 386 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,550 Speaker 2: good news of Jesus Christ can stop this disease of sin. 387 00:19:55,210 --> 00:19:57,389 Speaker 2: So that's why our doctors go because they want to 388 00:19:57,430 --> 00:19:59,510 Speaker 2: share the hope of the gospel with people that are dying. 389 00:19:59,750 --> 00:20:04,160 Speaker 2: They would die if we didn't go. And, um, Again, 390 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:05,740 Speaker 2: there's so many things I want to say to this 391 00:20:05,780 --> 00:20:08,310 Speaker 2: when you ask, but I think our staff, they go 392 00:20:08,369 --> 00:20:11,490 Speaker 2: because they know they have a cure. They have a hope. One, 393 00:20:11,570 --> 00:20:14,330 Speaker 2: the gospel, that people are going to die without knowing, 394 00:20:14,410 --> 00:20:16,489 Speaker 2: but then they also can help treat it physically. So 395 00:20:16,530 --> 00:20:18,710 Speaker 2: that's why they go. But I got to go to 396 00:20:18,770 --> 00:20:20,570 Speaker 2: one of our training. We train all throughout the year, 397 00:20:20,630 --> 00:20:23,760 Speaker 2: but for our disaster assistance response team that goes, we 398 00:20:23,950 --> 00:20:27,480 Speaker 2: do training before they go. And I got to put 399 00:20:27,540 --> 00:20:29,880 Speaker 2: on the PPE, the protection, you know, gear that they 400 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,929 Speaker 2: put on and, oh, Just putting it on made me 401 00:20:32,970 --> 00:20:35,429 Speaker 2: realize the depth of what they're going into, right? And 402 00:20:35,690 --> 00:20:38,050 Speaker 2: even putting it on here in the United States without 403 00:20:38,070 --> 00:20:41,669 Speaker 2: a threat, I walked through a mock situation of what 404 00:20:41,710 --> 00:20:45,190 Speaker 2: they would face for training. It's hot. It is so 405 00:20:45,250 --> 00:20:48,469 Speaker 2: hot with that. You put on so many different layers 406 00:20:48,540 --> 00:20:50,719 Speaker 2: and protection and you're checking yourself. And so they can 407 00:20:50,740 --> 00:20:52,620 Speaker 2: only stay in a certain amount of time. They actually 408 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,100 Speaker 2: put your timestamp on so that you don't overstay because 409 00:20:55,140 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 2: so often they don't want to leave because they're in 410 00:20:57,540 --> 00:21:00,230 Speaker 2: the middle of a patient. And so- The thought of 411 00:21:00,310 --> 00:21:03,030 Speaker 2: putting that on while facing and risking your life is 412 00:21:03,150 --> 00:21:05,790 Speaker 2: just made it more real to me of what our 413 00:21:05,890 --> 00:21:11,550 Speaker 2: doctors and water sanitation hygiene staff do. But I want 414 00:21:11,570 --> 00:21:13,850 Speaker 2: to share a patient story. This just happened the other day. 415 00:21:13,869 --> 00:21:15,890 Speaker 2: It might take a minute, but I'm going to read 416 00:21:15,930 --> 00:21:17,710 Speaker 2: it because I don't want to miss any part of 417 00:21:17,750 --> 00:21:19,330 Speaker 2: this and try to summarize it. Yeah, go for it. 418 00:21:20,260 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 2: So we have two clinics, for people who don't know, 419 00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:24,379 Speaker 2: we have two clinics set up in the DRC in 420 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:26,940 Speaker 2: one of the hardest hit regions. And again, we're trying 421 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:29,700 Speaker 2: to prevent it from spreading, but we're also treating patients. 422 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,940 Speaker 2: And so our doctors and we've now, a lot of 423 00:21:32,980 --> 00:21:35,790 Speaker 2: their local staff have taken this over, which is awesome 424 00:21:35,830 --> 00:21:37,980 Speaker 2: because then there's not a language barrier. They're able to 425 00:21:38,030 --> 00:21:41,250 Speaker 2: share the gospel directly. So those clinics are still running. 426 00:21:41,450 --> 00:21:43,570 Speaker 2: We are saving lives. We are seeing people come to 427 00:21:43,590 --> 00:21:46,010 Speaker 2: know faith. But let me share this one testimony. This 428 00:21:46,070 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 2: is why we go. It's like Jesus going after the one, right? 429 00:21:49,500 --> 00:21:52,500 Speaker 2: We leave the 99 to go after the one. This 430 00:21:52,540 --> 00:21:55,880 Speaker 2: is a patient story and testimony. It says, as soon 431 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,899 Speaker 2: as I was admitted to the Ebola treatment center, I 432 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,180 Speaker 2: realized this wasn't just an Ebola treatment center. It felt 433 00:22:02,220 --> 00:22:04,859 Speaker 2: like a church. Several pastors were praying for me at 434 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 2: the time. People I didn't know were worried about me 435 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,570 Speaker 2: and showing me a love that I had never experienced 436 00:22:10,619 --> 00:22:13,170 Speaker 2: at home. And they told me that it was because 437 00:22:13,310 --> 00:22:16,050 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ loves me and they were taking such good 438 00:22:16,109 --> 00:22:18,679 Speaker 2: care of me in every way. They did this without 439 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 2: really knowing who I am or what I've done in life. Yet, 440 00:22:22,859 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 2: in my eyes, given my past, I didn't deserve such kindness. 441 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 2: One day, there was a service at the clinic. She 442 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,940 Speaker 2: says ETC, but it was at the clinic. A man 443 00:22:32,980 --> 00:22:35,740 Speaker 2: of God was translating into Swahili what the preacher was 444 00:22:35,790 --> 00:22:37,810 Speaker 2: saying in English. And at the end of the sermon, 445 00:22:37,869 --> 00:22:40,649 Speaker 2: he continued speaking to us, asking if there was anyone 446 00:22:40,690 --> 00:22:43,209 Speaker 2: who wanted to give their life to Jesus Christ. So 447 00:22:43,230 --> 00:22:46,340 Speaker 2: that evening at the service held At the clinic, in 448 00:22:46,380 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 2: response to the call issued by a man of God, 449 00:22:49,100 --> 00:22:51,800 Speaker 2: I immediately realized that this was an opportunity God was 450 00:22:51,900 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 2: offering me while I was still here on earth to 451 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 2: be forgiven and saved. And this is how I came 452 00:22:57,119 --> 00:22:59,439 Speaker 2: to believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. 453 00:23:01,350 --> 00:23:03,550 Speaker 2: Patients are coming to Christ. And again, it is the 454 00:23:03,590 --> 00:23:07,530 Speaker 2: most dehumanizing disease. When you have Ebola, you know, you 455 00:23:07,609 --> 00:23:10,550 Speaker 2: can't be around people, you know, because it spreads so 456 00:23:10,650 --> 00:23:13,409 Speaker 2: quickly and so that you're often isolated. But again, in 457 00:23:13,490 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 2: our wards and in our clinics, That is why they 458 00:23:15,980 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 2: put on the PPE. They want to touch their patients. 459 00:23:18,380 --> 00:23:19,980 Speaker 2: They want to be with them physically. They want to 460 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 2: look them in the eyes. And it just reminds me 461 00:23:22,820 --> 00:23:25,320 Speaker 2: of El Roy, the God who sees, you know, he 462 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:28,180 Speaker 2: sees them where they are. And that's why we share 463 00:23:28,220 --> 00:23:31,500 Speaker 2: the gospel. They're in these clinics for a long time 464 00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:34,240 Speaker 2: as they're treated. And so it gives us long term, 465 00:23:35,340 --> 00:23:37,760 Speaker 2: you know, times to share the gospel. And I think 466 00:23:37,820 --> 00:23:39,820 Speaker 2: this person had heard the gospel many times, but it 467 00:23:39,859 --> 00:23:43,169 Speaker 2: was this one time that it penetrated their heart. And 468 00:23:43,250 --> 00:23:47,220 Speaker 2: so people are coming to know Jesus. Unfortunately, sometimes people, 469 00:23:47,700 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 2: you know, the patients do succumb to the disease, and 470 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:51,859 Speaker 2: that is so horrible and tragic, and it's hard on 471 00:23:51,900 --> 00:23:55,060 Speaker 2: our staff to watch death, but they're also watching life. 472 00:23:55,340 --> 00:23:57,740 Speaker 2: You know, some of these patients are coming to faith 473 00:23:57,780 --> 00:23:59,899 Speaker 2: in Christ, and so they are not dying. We know 474 00:23:59,940 --> 00:24:03,149 Speaker 2: where they're going. So that is why they go, is 475 00:24:03,630 --> 00:24:08,669 Speaker 2: for testimonies like this. But it is. It's brave. They're 476 00:24:09,230 --> 00:24:11,490 Speaker 2: running into the fire when most people are running out, 477 00:24:12,290 --> 00:24:15,300 Speaker 2: and I see the gospel come alive when I talk 478 00:24:15,340 --> 00:24:17,220 Speaker 2: with our staff and when I see what they're doing 479 00:24:17,380 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 2: on the ground. It is incredible. 480 00:24:19,470 --> 00:24:23,370 Speaker 1: It's such a story of hope and redemption. The part 481 00:24:23,390 --> 00:24:25,929 Speaker 1: that really hit me was that this individual said, I 482 00:24:25,990 --> 00:24:29,890 Speaker 1: had to come to this Ebola clinic to experience this 483 00:24:29,950 --> 00:24:33,710 Speaker 1: kind of love. Oh my goodness, that just hit my 484 00:24:33,770 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 1: heart so hard. It is an example of how God 485 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:42,780 Speaker 1: can use our brokenness and sin for ultimate good. And 486 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:44,860 Speaker 1: of course, if somebody has a theology that says you 487 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:47,179 Speaker 1: believe in Jesus, you'll make this life better here and 488 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,570 Speaker 1: you won't suffer, then they're not going to be able 489 00:24:49,590 --> 00:24:51,469 Speaker 1: to make sense of this. But if eternal life is 490 00:24:51,670 --> 00:24:54,790 Speaker 1: real in the way the Bible describes it, then God 491 00:24:54,850 --> 00:24:58,540 Speaker 1: can use the most horrific things like the Ebola virus 492 00:24:58,580 --> 00:25:02,179 Speaker 1: to introduce somebody to living water and to living life. 493 00:25:02,359 --> 00:25:04,899 Speaker 1: So I love that. I was going to ask you 494 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:07,550 Speaker 1: about why the disease is so dehumanizing, but I think 495 00:25:08,180 --> 00:25:10,109 Speaker 1: I think you answered that. I think the sense is 496 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:12,510 Speaker 1: just that it feels like it's kind of a modern 497 00:25:12,530 --> 00:25:15,629 Speaker 1: day leprosy, so to speak, where people would be at 498 00:25:15,670 --> 00:25:18,369 Speaker 1: a distance. A leper would have to cover themselves and 499 00:25:18,450 --> 00:25:21,550 Speaker 1: shout unclean. And the last thing anybody would do was 500 00:25:21,630 --> 00:25:26,970 Speaker 1: touch him. And of course, Jesus touches the leper. And like, 501 00:25:27,010 --> 00:25:30,050 Speaker 1: that's the last thing he had been starved of. And 502 00:25:30,090 --> 00:25:32,810 Speaker 1: that's what showed him the love and the care of Jesus. 503 00:25:33,490 --> 00:25:36,470 Speaker 1: And it sounds like the doctors are doing that. So 504 00:25:36,510 --> 00:25:38,449 Speaker 1: I love it, Christy. Let me shift and ask you 505 00:25:38,490 --> 00:25:41,550 Speaker 1: this question. It's interesting. I got a note, a friend 506 00:25:41,590 --> 00:25:48,300 Speaker 1: who's a missionary, a former delete class, interestingly enough, from 507 00:25:48,380 --> 00:25:52,399 Speaker 1: Nepal in India, the lowest caste system there. And he 508 00:25:52,460 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: says this caste system still exists there. Sent me a 509 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,260 Speaker 1: note and it was interesting to me, the connection. And 510 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:01,750 Speaker 1: I want to know what you think about this. why 511 00:26:01,930 --> 00:26:04,550 Speaker 1: charitable giving is so important for even being able to 512 00:26:04,609 --> 00:26:07,350 Speaker 1: share the gospel and defend it. He said, Recently, a 513 00:26:07,369 --> 00:26:10,350 Speaker 1: Hindu parliament member raised a question about a Christian cartoon 514 00:26:10,390 --> 00:26:13,899 Speaker 1: broadcast on a national television. She highlighted this as if 515 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: Christians were committing a national crime and trying to encourage 516 00:26:17,380 --> 00:26:20,780 Speaker 1: conversion in Nepal. However, Christians in Nepal and around the 517 00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 1: world are helping Nepali flash flood victims and doing their 518 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,460 Speaker 1: best to support them in whatever way they can. Many 519 00:26:27,500 --> 00:26:31,330 Speaker 1: international Christian organizations say came to support Nepal. And he 520 00:26:31,410 --> 00:26:36,880 Speaker 1: specifically mentioned Samaritan's Purse, bringing a Boeing 767 cargo airplane 521 00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:42,000 Speaker 1: with over 40 tons of emergency relief supplies to Kathmandu, Nepal, 522 00:26:42,560 --> 00:26:45,699 Speaker 1: following the catastrophic flood. He said, I believe they'll remember 523 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:50,129 Speaker 1: what Christian communities did in Nepal during that hard time. 524 00:26:50,890 --> 00:26:53,570 Speaker 1: So for me, for somebody who's supporting a missionary there, 525 00:26:53,930 --> 00:26:56,030 Speaker 1: who wants the freedom to be able to do this, 526 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:59,700 Speaker 1: Samaritan's Purse in some ways is enabling the government to 527 00:26:59,859 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 1: see the good of what we are doing and then 528 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,859 Speaker 1: maybe be open to the gospel. I'm really curious. I 529 00:27:06,880 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: guess my question is kind of, A, what you think 530 00:27:08,880 --> 00:27:11,570 Speaker 1: about that? And B, do you see this in other 531 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:13,989 Speaker 1: places where people have a hard time saying, yeah, we 532 00:27:14,030 --> 00:27:15,710 Speaker 1: can't let you in to share the gospel because you're 533 00:27:15,750 --> 00:27:18,609 Speaker 1: just doing so much good and caring for the people? 534 00:27:20,530 --> 00:27:22,790 Speaker 2: Yeah. And we are in Nepal. We were there in 535 00:27:22,790 --> 00:27:25,090 Speaker 2: 2015 when an earthquake hit and we had a country 536 00:27:25,130 --> 00:27:27,199 Speaker 2: office for a little while and So I think we 537 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,320 Speaker 2: have great Christian church partners there that allowed us and 538 00:27:30,380 --> 00:27:32,760 Speaker 2: helped us to get in so quickly. But yeah, I 539 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:36,139 Speaker 2: think that's what Bob Pierce, who founded Samaritan's Purse, you know, he, 540 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:38,410 Speaker 2: one of his tenants and reasons for founding, he said, 541 00:27:38,470 --> 00:27:40,350 Speaker 2: I want to say yes to things that are so 542 00:27:40,410 --> 00:27:43,410 Speaker 2: big that it's called the God room principle. It leaves 543 00:27:43,490 --> 00:27:46,730 Speaker 2: room for God to move because there are certain countries 544 00:27:46,790 --> 00:27:51,649 Speaker 2: that we can bureaucratically or whatever we couldn't get into, right? 545 00:27:51,730 --> 00:27:54,670 Speaker 2: Because We go in Jesus' name. It's on our airplanes. 546 00:27:54,730 --> 00:27:57,109 Speaker 2: It's on our, it's everything. We don't hide what we do. 547 00:27:57,310 --> 00:28:00,020 Speaker 2: We go to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. But because, 548 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,680 Speaker 2: you know, one of our projects, they say the platform 549 00:28:03,700 --> 00:28:06,540 Speaker 2: of our work is the, or the quality of our 550 00:28:06,580 --> 00:28:08,920 Speaker 2: work is a platform of our witness. You know, because 551 00:28:08,940 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 2: we have people that do such quality work, we are 552 00:28:12,580 --> 00:28:17,460 Speaker 2: able to come in and bring, yeah, shelter and tarps 553 00:28:17,570 --> 00:28:22,770 Speaker 2: and hospitals and water sanitation. We can desalinate water to provide. 554 00:28:22,790 --> 00:28:25,869 Speaker 2: So we, the quality of our work allows us the 555 00:28:25,990 --> 00:28:28,800 Speaker 2: access to come in. But again, we're not quiet about 556 00:28:28,840 --> 00:28:31,520 Speaker 2: what we do. And when the countries that we go into, 557 00:28:31,600 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 2: they see the church loving their neighbor. They say people that, 558 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,300 Speaker 2: you know, and we've even gone in some, some countries 559 00:28:38,340 --> 00:28:42,620 Speaker 2: and say, I thought Christians hated us. You know, they don't, 560 00:28:42,780 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 2: you know, again, it's just, there are time and time again, 561 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:50,350 Speaker 2: where I've watched people Be baffled, kind of like the 562 00:28:50,390 --> 00:28:54,810 Speaker 2: Good Samaritan. I thought Samaritans hated deuce. No, I have compassion. 563 00:28:54,890 --> 00:28:57,050 Speaker 2: The Lord has changed me, and so you are my neighbor. 564 00:28:57,590 --> 00:29:00,040 Speaker 2: And we have gotten to go into cultures and barriers 565 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:02,680 Speaker 2: that we shouldn't be allowed to go into, but God 566 00:29:02,720 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 2: gives us the favor. And I think we, I just 567 00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:09,140 Speaker 2: read 1 Kings 18, you know, where Elijah, you know, 568 00:29:09,200 --> 00:29:12,720 Speaker 2: goes before, you know, Baal, and they're going to the altar. 569 00:29:12,780 --> 00:29:15,570 Speaker 2: And I just love the way that Baal wasn't able 570 00:29:15,710 --> 00:29:19,370 Speaker 2: to bring the fire, right? They chanted and prayed and 571 00:29:19,650 --> 00:29:24,170 Speaker 2: cried out. But when Elijah prayed for God to send fire, 572 00:29:24,850 --> 00:29:28,550 Speaker 2: not only did he water it down, what, multiple times? 573 00:29:28,990 --> 00:29:32,470 Speaker 2: I mean, in the middle of a drought, they used water, 574 00:29:32,630 --> 00:29:35,510 Speaker 2: one of the most precious things, to water down this altar. 575 00:29:35,570 --> 00:29:38,410 Speaker 2: It was so wet. It should not have lit on fire. 576 00:29:39,070 --> 00:29:42,420 Speaker 2: But we serve a God. who can light an altar 577 00:29:42,780 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 2: filled with water. And that is what we see time 578 00:29:45,220 --> 00:29:49,050 Speaker 2: and time again, where God steps in. He grants us favor, 579 00:29:49,140 --> 00:29:52,410 Speaker 2: gives us permission. Sometimes we'll even be saying yes to 580 00:29:52,450 --> 00:29:55,410 Speaker 2: something without the permission of a plane to land. Oh, 581 00:29:55,450 --> 00:29:57,709 Speaker 2: my goodness. We're praying the whole time. I mean, this 582 00:29:57,750 --> 00:30:00,250 Speaker 2: has happened before where we are praying and we say, 583 00:30:00,310 --> 00:30:04,250 Speaker 2: we're going in. Or in Venezuela, our staff opened a 584 00:30:04,310 --> 00:30:08,170 Speaker 2: hospital without the staff that was needed to fill in 585 00:30:08,210 --> 00:30:11,950 Speaker 2: the next shift. They started their shift without the staff. 586 00:30:12,310 --> 00:30:14,730 Speaker 2: We didn't have the permission yet to send this plane. 587 00:30:15,190 --> 00:30:18,430 Speaker 2: They started the shift because they knew God will provide. 588 00:30:19,050 --> 00:30:21,040 Speaker 2: These people are dying. We need to serve them. And 589 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:23,959 Speaker 2: so they opened the hospital, saved a diabetic that would 590 00:30:23,980 --> 00:30:26,940 Speaker 2: have died without the medicine and The staff made it in. 591 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:29,670 Speaker 2: We got the permission. So we see time and time 592 00:30:29,710 --> 00:30:33,170 Speaker 2: again what man meant for evil, God will use for 593 00:30:33,210 --> 00:30:36,670 Speaker 2: his purpose. And we can't thwart his plans, right? His 594 00:30:36,730 --> 00:30:39,330 Speaker 2: ways are higher. And so we see it in so 595 00:30:39,370 --> 00:30:42,190 Speaker 2: many different countries. And we give God the glory. And 596 00:30:42,270 --> 00:30:45,490 Speaker 2: we always want to say we're in because of God, 597 00:30:46,090 --> 00:30:48,860 Speaker 2: not because of anything we've done. And so I don't 598 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:50,739 Speaker 2: know if I answered your question, but yes, we are 599 00:30:50,780 --> 00:30:55,840 Speaker 2: in countries that we shouldn't be. But it again... people's 600 00:30:55,890 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 2: view of Christians change after this. And it's an honor 601 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:01,040 Speaker 2: and a joy to see hearts changed. 602 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:04,500 Speaker 1: Obviously, the focus of my ministry is a little bit different, 603 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:07,940 Speaker 1: but I really try to treat people with dignity, love, 604 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:11,540 Speaker 1: and respect in part. So people feel like, wow, Christians 605 00:31:11,720 --> 00:31:14,940 Speaker 1: don't hate me. They actually love me. And of course, 606 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:17,940 Speaker 1: if someone thinks Christians hate them and they have stereotypes 607 00:31:17,980 --> 00:31:20,980 Speaker 1: about us, why would they be open to the saving gospel? 608 00:31:21,040 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 1: Because I don't want to be a part of that club. 609 00:31:23,480 --> 00:31:26,540 Speaker 1: But if you're bringing water to somebody who's thirsty, food 610 00:31:26,580 --> 00:31:30,460 Speaker 1: to somebody who's hungry, medical care to somebody who's suffering 611 00:31:30,900 --> 00:31:34,510 Speaker 1: with a smile and an appropriate touch, and really because 612 00:31:34,550 --> 00:31:38,090 Speaker 1: you love these people, if that doesn't soften hearts, I 613 00:31:38,130 --> 00:31:41,229 Speaker 1: don't know what would. And so I love this. I've 614 00:31:41,250 --> 00:31:43,130 Speaker 1: had so many friends say when there's like, this is 615 00:31:43,150 --> 00:31:45,090 Speaker 1: an example of the flood years ago in New Orleans, 616 00:31:45,710 --> 00:31:47,350 Speaker 1: a pastor that was there. He's like, I talked to 617 00:31:47,390 --> 00:31:49,950 Speaker 1: people and they're like, looking around going, there's so many 618 00:31:50,130 --> 00:31:53,320 Speaker 1: churches coming in here. Like they came right in when 619 00:31:53,340 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 1: there was this flood that testifies to who Christ is. 620 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:01,700 Speaker 1: Tell me this, what, there's certain barriers and challenges for 621 00:32:01,740 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: me doing what I do, but what are the biggest 622 00:32:04,620 --> 00:32:08,900 Speaker 1: barriers that Samaritan's Purse runs up against when just trying 623 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:11,200 Speaker 1: to minister to people around the world? Are there certain 624 00:32:11,320 --> 00:32:14,920 Speaker 1: common challenges that you just consistently have to face? 625 00:32:16,570 --> 00:32:20,390 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, but they're all man-made, right? Like all 626 00:32:20,430 --> 00:32:22,710 Speaker 2: the problems that we come across are man-made. And again, 627 00:32:22,750 --> 00:32:24,970 Speaker 2: I'm thankful that we serve a God that is above 628 00:32:25,020 --> 00:32:27,380 Speaker 2: all that. So he breaks down the barriers. A lot 629 00:32:27,390 --> 00:32:30,400 Speaker 2: of times there are times, especially Operation Christmas Child season 630 00:32:30,460 --> 00:32:32,580 Speaker 2: is coming up, right? And we have to get cartons 631 00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:36,660 Speaker 2: of boxes into over 100 countries. Each country is different. 632 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 2: There are barriers. And so we say all the time, pray. 633 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 2: Pray that we get the permissions we need. Pray that... again, 634 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:45,800 Speaker 2: like I said earlier, we see time and time again 635 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:49,290 Speaker 2: where God moves the mountains. He does exceedingly abundantly more 636 00:32:49,330 --> 00:32:51,489 Speaker 2: than we could ask or imagine. And we give him 637 00:32:51,530 --> 00:32:53,510 Speaker 2: the honor and the glory. But yes, we hit barriers 638 00:32:53,530 --> 00:32:57,030 Speaker 2: all the time. And I think, and I'm sure you 639 00:32:57,070 --> 00:33:00,500 Speaker 2: see it, people get surprised. But I come back to 640 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:02,860 Speaker 2: so much of what Jesus said. In this world, you 641 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:05,700 Speaker 2: will have trouble. You will. But take heart. I have 642 00:33:05,760 --> 00:33:08,160 Speaker 2: overcome the world. I have the victory. And then I 643 00:33:08,220 --> 00:33:12,400 Speaker 2: think of Matthew 9, where it says, he says, they 644 00:33:12,420 --> 00:33:14,660 Speaker 2: will hand you over to be persecuted and kill you. 645 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:17,719 Speaker 2: He's talking to his disciples. You will be hated by 646 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:20,560 Speaker 2: nations because of my name, but the one who endures 647 00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 2: to the end will be saved. And some versions say, 648 00:33:23,580 --> 00:33:26,300 Speaker 2: by your endurance, you will gain your life. And I 649 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:29,380 Speaker 2: see this in our staff, in our church partners. I mean, 650 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:33,580 Speaker 2: by their endurance, their lives are gained. Sometimes not here 651 00:33:33,640 --> 00:33:37,880 Speaker 2: on earth. Sometimes persecutions and things happen and it's devastating, 652 00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:40,410 Speaker 2: but we know where they're going. By their endurance, their 653 00:33:40,450 --> 00:33:42,570 Speaker 2: lives are saved. And so we see it time and 654 00:33:42,610 --> 00:33:45,030 Speaker 2: time again. It says the good news of the kingdom 655 00:33:45,050 --> 00:33:47,330 Speaker 2: will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony 656 00:33:47,370 --> 00:33:49,150 Speaker 2: to all the nation. And then the end will come. 657 00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:52,660 Speaker 2: So in these end times, in these groanings of the world, again, 658 00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:56,840 Speaker 2: we do see setbacks, persecutions. We see man trying to 659 00:33:56,900 --> 00:33:59,900 Speaker 2: shut us down. But I love that we serve a God. 660 00:33:59,940 --> 00:34:01,700 Speaker 2: And as I said, we see it time and time again, 661 00:34:01,780 --> 00:34:04,850 Speaker 2: where a God brings fire to an altar of water. 662 00:34:05,050 --> 00:34:08,739 Speaker 2: You know, you cannot thwart his plans. And it's exciting 663 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:10,580 Speaker 2: to be a part of a ministry and an organization. 664 00:34:10,620 --> 00:34:12,759 Speaker 2: And that's why here at Samaritan's Purse, we start every 665 00:34:12,800 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 2: day in staff devotions. We start in prayer, we read 666 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:19,020 Speaker 2: from God's word, and then we pray. We have prayer 667 00:34:19,060 --> 00:34:22,089 Speaker 2: cards on the table. And so everybody takes one. There 668 00:34:22,130 --> 00:34:24,509 Speaker 2: are staff members all over the world, and we pray 669 00:34:24,530 --> 00:34:27,170 Speaker 2: for them by name because we know they can't do 670 00:34:27,210 --> 00:34:29,670 Speaker 2: the work that they have ahead of them without Jesus, 671 00:34:30,170 --> 00:34:34,319 Speaker 2: without God, interceding, fighting their battles. The battle is not ours. 672 00:34:34,980 --> 00:34:38,110 Speaker 2: The battle, you know... Ephesians says that. There is an enemy, 673 00:34:39,510 --> 00:34:42,839 Speaker 2: but we have one that is victorious, right? That's why 674 00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,300 Speaker 2: we have to put on the armor of God. And 675 00:34:45,340 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 2: so we start each day humbly knowing we can't do 676 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:51,620 Speaker 2: what we're asked to do today without the Lord. So 677 00:34:51,960 --> 00:34:53,419 Speaker 2: I don't know that I answered you, but I think 678 00:34:53,890 --> 00:34:56,230 Speaker 2: we do come into opposition. So I want to encourage people, 679 00:34:56,270 --> 00:34:59,870 Speaker 2: if you're seeing opposition, that doesn't mean you're doing something wrong. 680 00:35:00,170 --> 00:35:03,010 Speaker 2: It means that we do live in a fallen, broken 681 00:35:03,030 --> 00:35:06,189 Speaker 2: world with an enemy on the prowl. And again, the people, 682 00:35:06,230 --> 00:35:09,030 Speaker 2: I'm so thankful that you bring truth and truth. Sometimes 683 00:35:09,090 --> 00:35:11,310 Speaker 2: it's hard to hear. We want to do it with 684 00:35:11,370 --> 00:35:13,730 Speaker 2: grace and, you know, truth and grace at the same time, 685 00:35:13,790 --> 00:35:16,270 Speaker 2: because God is a God of grace, but he spoke 686 00:35:16,310 --> 00:35:18,930 Speaker 2: the truth. He brought the truth to the earth and 687 00:35:18,969 --> 00:35:21,469 Speaker 2: he was hated for it. So if you're hated and 688 00:35:21,489 --> 00:35:25,520 Speaker 2: you're rejected, you know, you're standing for truth. Sometimes that 689 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:29,259 Speaker 2: comes with it. So we're not discouraged when there are 690 00:35:29,340 --> 00:35:31,900 Speaker 2: opposition or there are barriers. We just know that if 691 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:34,819 Speaker 2: God wants us somewhere, he's going to move mountains. And 692 00:35:34,860 --> 00:35:37,239 Speaker 2: that's why a lot of what we do at Samaritan's Purse, 693 00:35:37,300 --> 00:35:40,759 Speaker 2: we run off the widow's mite. We want to run 694 00:35:40,820 --> 00:35:45,040 Speaker 2: off donations from people that we can do whatever we want. 695 00:35:45,080 --> 00:35:46,660 Speaker 2: We don't want grant money. We don't want to be 696 00:35:47,060 --> 00:35:49,200 Speaker 2: dictated by what we can do. We want to share 697 00:35:49,219 --> 00:35:51,299 Speaker 2: the gospel. And so we don't want to ever take 698 00:35:51,360 --> 00:35:53,759 Speaker 2: anything that's going to stop us from what we want 699 00:35:53,800 --> 00:35:55,840 Speaker 2: to do, which is sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. 700 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 2: And so I love it. I love that our staff, 701 00:35:58,600 --> 00:36:00,840 Speaker 2: they are so devoted to the Lord and humble and 702 00:36:03,410 --> 00:36:06,220 Speaker 2: And as we see hardship and opposition, we know that, again, 703 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,280 Speaker 2: it's not our battle. It's the Lord's. 704 00:36:09,260 --> 00:36:12,219 Speaker 1: Amen to that. I'm sure there's a range of challenges, 705 00:36:12,280 --> 00:36:17,560 Speaker 1: sometimes legal challenges getting into a country, certainly spiritual challenges 706 00:36:17,820 --> 00:36:20,160 Speaker 1: above all. I mean, some of these countries do not 707 00:36:20,260 --> 00:36:25,410 Speaker 1: have strong, bold support for the proclamation of the gospel 708 00:36:25,450 --> 00:36:29,330 Speaker 1: and churches on the ground. And so there's spiritual warfare 709 00:36:29,370 --> 00:36:33,260 Speaker 1: that's taking place when the gospel comes in there. financial needs. 710 00:36:33,300 --> 00:36:35,739 Speaker 1: So my wife and I, like I said, this is 711 00:36:35,780 --> 00:36:39,090 Speaker 1: something personally that we support consistently. And that's one of 712 00:36:39,110 --> 00:36:42,890 Speaker 1: the big reasons I wanted to have you on. Friends 713 00:36:42,969 --> 00:36:45,170 Speaker 1: listening to this episode of the Sean McDowell podcast, I 714 00:36:45,170 --> 00:36:46,750 Speaker 1: would love to know what you think. This is different 715 00:36:46,790 --> 00:36:49,270 Speaker 1: than the typical interview that I do. I'd love to 716 00:36:49,290 --> 00:36:51,270 Speaker 1: know if you think, you know what, do some more 717 00:36:51,430 --> 00:36:54,400 Speaker 1: interviews on like, what's the connection between apologetics and prayer? 718 00:36:54,800 --> 00:36:57,580 Speaker 1: Is there a connection between apologetics and the spiritual disciplines? 719 00:36:57,640 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 1: I'd love to know what you think about this episode. 720 00:37:00,070 --> 00:37:01,989 Speaker 1: And if there's other kind of connections that you want 721 00:37:02,030 --> 00:37:05,180 Speaker 1: me to make, since you're probably listening to this because 722 00:37:05,219 --> 00:37:08,140 Speaker 1: you care about apologetics, you can send me a note 723 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:11,960 Speaker 1: at probably the best place would be questions at SeanMcDowell.org, 724 00:37:12,520 --> 00:37:17,810 Speaker 1: questions at SeanMcDowell.org. And my team will make sure that 725 00:37:17,850 --> 00:37:20,190 Speaker 1: it gets to me. Can't promise I will respond to 726 00:37:20,330 --> 00:37:22,989 Speaker 1: all of them because of my own human limitations, but 727 00:37:23,030 --> 00:37:25,739 Speaker 1: my team will look at all of them and really 728 00:37:25,820 --> 00:37:28,960 Speaker 1: eager for your feedback. Make sure you hit subscribe to 729 00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:32,880 Speaker 1: the Sean McDowell podcast and subscribe to On the Ground 730 00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:37,239 Speaker 1: from Samaritan's Purse while you're at it. Christy, thanks for 731 00:37:37,260 --> 00:37:38,430 Speaker 1: coming on. Thoroughly enjoyed this. 732 00:37:39,230 --> 00:37:41,390 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for having me. It was a joy. 733 00:37:41,410 --> 00:37:44,410 Speaker 2: Appreciate what you do. Thank you. 734 00:37:44,850 --> 00:37:47,509 Speaker 1: Hey, friends, if you enjoyed this show, please hit that 735 00:37:47,590 --> 00:37:50,520 Speaker 1: follow button on your podcast app. Most of you tuning 736 00:37:50,580 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: in haven't done this yet, and it makes a huge 737 00:37:52,960 --> 00:37:55,739 Speaker 1: difference in helping us reach and equip more people and 738 00:37:55,760 --> 00:38:00,120 Speaker 1: build community. And please consider leaving a podcast review. Every 739 00:38:00,340 --> 00:38:03,430 Speaker 1: review helps. Thanks for listening to The Sean McDowell Show, 740 00:38:03,590 --> 00:38:07,410 Speaker 1: brought to you by Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, 741 00:38:07,489 --> 00:38:11,770 Speaker 1: where we have on-campus and online programs in apologetics, spiritual formation, 742 00:38:11,850 --> 00:38:14,390 Speaker 1: marriage and family, Bible, and so much more. We would 743 00:38:14,430 --> 00:38:17,400 Speaker 1: love to train you to more effectively live, teach, and 744 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:20,230 Speaker 1: defend the Christian faith today. And we will see you 745 00:38:20,370 --> 00:38:21,860 Speaker 1: when the next episode drops.