A Samaritan’s Purse team that included Edward Graham and Tim Tebow recently delivered several tons worth of relief items to the Afghanistan region in support of refugees and evacuees fleeing the Taliban.
The ministry, which is led by evangelist Franklin Graham, deployed its DC-8 cargo jet to the region, loaded with medical kits, hygiene kits and other items.
Edward Graham, the son of Franklin Graham and the ministry’s assistant to the vice president of programs and government relations, said he was “encouraged” by the “volunteers and military personnel” who were “loving the Afghans fleeing from the evils of the Taliban.”
“After all the discouragement, know that America will rally and work together to help those suffering,” Edward Graham wrote on Instagram. “Proud of our military and their families.”
Tebow, a television analyst and former professional athlete, did not mention the trip on his social media platforms, although pictures by Samaritan’s Purse included photos of Tebow. Franklin Graham thanked Tebow for his assistance in an Instagram post.
“Tim was a great encouragement to everyone on the ground,” Franklin Graham said.
Afghanistan refugees, Graham added, need the world’s support.
“Protocols changed, and evacuees weren’t even allowed to bring a suitcase when they left,” he said.
Ken Isaacs, vice president of programs and government relations at Samaritan’s Purse, said the refugees might be living in camps for “a while.”
“We want to show them the love of Jesus where they are, regardless of what they believe,” Isaacs said on the Samaritan’s Purse podcast, “On the Ground.”
Before the Kabul airport closed, Samaritan’s Purse and its partners also helped airlift people out of the country. Additionally, the ministry supported the evacuation of 80 missionary families via land routes.
Isaac said some may wonder if he has seen God at work amidst the chaos of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“I do,” he said.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Rich Polk/Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.