While in China, Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse Respond to Earthquake Destruction

Relief Group Offers Global Response to Wave of Natural Disasters in China (Earthquake), Myanmar (Cyclone) and the U.S. (Tornados)

SHANGHAI, China, May 13, 2008—Within hours of a 7.9 magnitude earthquake that crumbled buildings and killed thousands of people in the Sichuan Province of western China on Monday, international Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse responded to the crisis.

Franklin Graham, president and CEO of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is currently on a 10-day visit to China where he is meeting with government and church leaders in Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai.  When he learned about the devastating earthquake, Graham committed 1 million RMB ($150,000) to assist with the immediate disaster response.  While the relief organization is continuing to look for additional ways it can contribute to the earthquake relief efforts, Graham issued the following statement of condolence:

"On behalf of my father, Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, we want the people of China to know that we are praying for each person impacted by this disaster.  Recovery efforts are underway, but you can never recover the loss of a life.  We want to do anything we can to assist with this crisis so we are committing these funds for initial support of the local church as they assist with the relief efforts.  I've been impressed with the effective and immediate response of the Chinese government and how they've responded to this devastating earthquake.  Each day I'm here in China I am meeting with officials to assess the need and offer our assistance.  Finally, I would ask all Christians in the United States to pray for the people of China and the church here as they reach out to their fellow citizens with God's love and compassion."

Today Graham met with Elder Fu Xian-Wei, chairman of the Three Self Patriotic Movement, and Rev. Gao Feng, president of the China Christian Council at the organizations' national headquarters in Shanghai.  "This donation is very important to the people of China because it shows the love of God for all people," said Rev. Gao.  "This will encourage more Chinese people to do the same and to reach out to their neighbors in need.  Franklin Graham's visit is bringing us much more understanding and encouragement for each other."  Later in the day Graham met with the Shanghai Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee.

Graham will be available to media Wednesday, May 14 at 3 p.m. at the J.W. Marriott in Shanghai.

China's earthquake is just one of several major natural disasters Samaritan's Purse is responding to around the world.  The international relief organization has been helping in Myanmar where the United Nations estimates that more than a million people who survived Cyclone Nargis are now at grave risk because of hunger and disease.  Samaritan's Purse currently has an airlift scheduled to transport some 20 tons of relief supplies from Bangkok, Thailand to Yangon, Myanmar.  This is the first of several planned flights.  The relief supplies include water purification systems, plastic for temporary shelter, blankets, clothing and mosquito netting. 

In the United States, after a series of deadly tornadoes raked across several states over the weekend, Samaritan's Purse has deployed its Disaster Relief Unit to help with recovery efforts.  The relief organization is focusing its initial response on Georgia, where at least half a dozen tornados damaged an estimated 6,000 homes.  The Samaritan's Purse tornado relief convoy includes tractor trailers filled with plastic sheeting, construction equipment and building materials which will be used to help make emergency repairs to homes and remove storm debris.

To donate to relief efforts visit www.samaritanspurse.org or call 1-828-262-1980.

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