With pilgrimages on hold, Holy Land Easter programming fills a gap
United States RNS Holy Week is typically a time when church groups flock to Israel to walk in the way of Jesus before his crucifixion in Jerusalem. But not this year. With the Hamas attack on Israel on 7th October, and the fierce ground assault on Gaza that has followed, most US church groups are […]
Steadfast support: Amid rising criticism, US evangelicals remain key allies of Israel
BOB SMIETANA and YONAT SHIMRON, of Religion News Service, report that as criticism against Israel mounts and pressure for a ceasefire rises, Israeli leaders are working to shore up evangelical support…
Franklin Graham’s border tour draws 20,000 signers demanding its cancellation
United States RNS A liberal Christian organisation has launched a petition against Rev Franklin Graham’s southern border tour, calling on venue organisers to withdraw their invitations. The petition, drafted by Faithful America, has so far garnered nearly 21,000 signatures. Franklin Graham speaks in Israel on 23rd January, 2024. PICTURE: Courtesy of Samaritan’s Purse. The social justice […]
Franklin Graham tours devastation in Israel, commits to helping rebuild
RNS Franklin Graham, who leads the Christian humanitarian relief organisation Samaritan’s Purse, has seen war zones from Iraq to Ukraine. On his way to Israel last week to assess the damage from the 7th October Hamas terrorist attack, he was prepared to offer the country 14 ambulances to replace ambulances compromised or destroyed in the […]
Samaritan’s Purse sends 52-bed field hospital to Antakya, Turkey
United StatesRNS In the wake of what may be Turkey’s deadliest earthquake, Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian humanitarian relief organization, announced it would send a 52-bed emergency field hospital to the city of Antakya, historically known as Antioch. The organisation, run by founder and president Rev Franklin Graham, said it will also send more than 100 […]
From shoeboxes to war zones: How Samaritan’s Purse became a $US1 billion humanitarian aid powerhouse
YONAT SHIMRON and BOB SMIETANA, of Religion News Service, report on how Samaritan’s Purse, one of the largest US non-profits, has grown largely through frontline work in public health crises and natural disasters around the world…
In the US, Southern Baptists may cheer DeSantis’ war on Disney but don’t expect a boycott
RNS Pastor DJ Jenkins’ daughter, Piper, turns 13 in less than two weeks, and she is going to Disneyland. It won’t be the first time: The Jenkins family has an annual pass to the theme park about 40 miles south of their Studio City, California, home. “I haven’t seen anyone from a pastoral position or […]
Franklin Graham writes to Putin, Zelenskiy to ask for a ceasefire during Holy Week
RNS Fresh from a two-day visit to Ukraine, the Rev. Franklin Graham said he wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to ask for a ceasefire in the war in observance of Holy Week in the Western and Eastern Christian churches, which together span from 10th to 24th April. Graham visited […]
Samaritan’s Purse, Israelis will treat Ukrainians in Lviv field hospitals
RNS Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian humanitarian relief organisation, is setting up an emergency field hospital in an underground parking garage in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv to provide medical aid to those besieged in escalating Russian attacks. Rev Franklin Graham, who leads the organisation based in Boone, North Carolina, in the US, said he […]
Franklin Graham sends disaster response teams to Europe; says he opposes war
RNS Rev Franklin Graham said his Christian humanitarian relief organisation was sending disaster response teams to Poland, Romania and Moldova to assess how it can meet the needs of Ukrainians fleeing their country. Graham said at least 24 Samaritan’s Purse personnel will be on the ground in those countries bordering Ukraine this weekend. “First of […]