On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse (On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse)
Explorez tous les épisodes de On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Jul 2022 | Listen Again: Operation Heal Our Patriots (2019) | 00:17:14 | |
This episode originally aired in 2019 after Kristy Graham returned from Operation Heal Our Patriots in Alaska. This week-long marriage retreat brings spiritual refreshment, physical renewal, and marriage enrichment to military veterans and their spouses. As we celebrate our freedom as Americans, we want to introduce you to military veterans and their spouses who have selflessly served our country. Learn more about Operation Heal Our Patriots Meet Sean and Brandy Karpf, a couple whose marriage was saved this summer Follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes content.
SHOW NOTES Operation Heal Our Patriots is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that is especially close to Kristy Graham’s heart. Her husband, Edward, served 16 years in the U.S. Army so she knows military life firsthand. In this episode, Kristy takes listeners back to one of her favorite episodes, which was recorded while she was at Samaritan Lodge Alaska in 2019. At Operation Heal Our Patriots, couples have the opportunity to get away from the normal pressures of life, reconnect, explore the Alaskan wilderness, and participate in Biblically-based marriage enrichment classes. This ministry of Samaritan’s Purse was developed to strengthen marriages. Samaritan’s Purse gives thanks to God that through this program we have welcomed more than 1,400 military couples to Alaska since 2012, and hundreds of participants have accepted Christ as their Savior while in Alaska. In the first four weeks of the 2022 season, 25 individuals made decisions to follow Jesus, 21 were baptized in Lake Clark, and 23 couples chose to rededicate their marriages to God and each other. Kristy Graham shares the life-changing story of Tony and Amy Payne, one of the many couples impacted by Operation Heal Our Patriots. The Paynes met in a tattoo shop. Shortly after they got married, Tony felt led to join the military. Tony was critically injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) during one of his deployments. When he returned home, his marriage hit an all-time low. Out of desperation, Tony turned to God’s Word and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. Tony followed faithfully after Jesus and prayed regularly for Amy to experience God’s love in the same way. It wasn’t until they came to Alaska that Amy understood what it meant to follow Jesus. Tony’s prayers were answered when Amy committed her life to God. At the end of the week at Samaritan Lodge Alaska, she was baptized in the icy waters of Lake Clark. Another couple whose marriage was restored was JP and Crystal Lane. JP joined the army when he was 22 and was deployed to Afghanistan. In 2011, he was wounded by an IED. He sustained 26 injuries and went through 28 surgeries. JP and Crystal knew that it was a miracle from God that he survived. They spent their time and energy sharing JP’s testimony with others, but at the end of the day they had little left for one another. “I enjoy one hundred percent inspiring people with the testimony that God has given us and what I’ve been through,” JP said. “But we would be so drained so much that when we were home we didn’t care about inspiring each other and it was breaking us apart.” It wasn’t until JP and Crystal came to Alaska that they truly refocused their marriage on one another and centered their lives around Christ. Operation Heal Our Patriots gave them space fo | |||
| 22 Jul 2022 | Ministry Update: A Conversation w/ Edward Graham | 00:31:34 | |
Kristy Graham sits down with her husband, Edward Graham, to hear a ministry update about the work of Samaritan’s Purse around the world. Edward shares the latest on four major projects, which have seen growth and change in the first six months of the year— Ukraine, U.S Disaster Relief, Operation Christmas Child, and Children’s Heart Project. | |||
| 05 Aug 2022 | Unsung Heroes: Food Distributions in the Red Zone of Ukraine | 00:25:50 | |
The world is witnessing the aftermath of months-long conflict in Ukraine, but getting aid to those most affected by the violence continues to be complex and unpredictable. Kristy Graham takes you closer to the conflict than ever before as church partners deliver food and life-saving supplies into the red zone. | |||
| 12 Aug 2022 | Finding God in the Floorboards | 00:26:15 | |
As a little girl living in communist Romania, Izabella McMillon received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. Host Kristy Graham sits down with Izabella to hear about the life-changing impact of a simple gift. | |||
| 19 Aug 2022 | Rebuilding After the Storm: Mayfield, Kentucky | 00:25:31 | |
Samaritan’s Purse is rebuilding homes and helping families recover in Mayfield, Kentucky after the deadly tornado outbreak that hit in December 2021. Meet homeowners who lost everything and be encouraged by their hope and resilience. | |||
| 16 Sep 2022 | Called and Commissioned: Sending Missionary Doctors | 00:25:09 | |
In the most remote areas of the world, communities are suffering without access to basic healthcare services. Missionary doctors have a unique global opportunity to bring physical and spiritual aid. Hear from doctors in World Medical Mission’s Post-Residency Program to understand what motivates them to work in underserved areas! | |||
| 23 Sep 2022 | Legacy of Faithfulness: North American Ministries | 00:25:43 | |
Kristy Graham sits with Luther Harrison, vice president of North American Ministries, to talk about how he got started at Samaritan’s Purse, our U.S. Disaster Relief efforts, and ways to pray for the ministry. | |||
| 30 Sep 2022 | Rushing Aid to Puerto Rico | 00:25:17 | |
Hurricane Fiona recently hit Puerto Rico, leaving nearly 3 million people without water or electricity. Host Kristy Graham speaks with Samaritan’s Purse staff members and correspondents on the ground to learn what it looks like to respond to this natural disaster. | |||
| 06 Oct 2022 | Hurricane Ian: Bringing Hope to Florida | 00:24:30 | |
We’re taking you through the first few days of the response to Hurricane Ian. The death toll continues to rise as more needs are uncovered and news outlets report on the storm. What often isn’t shared are the stories of hope amid tragedy. Join us as we hear from homeowners in Florida, Samaritan’s Purse staff members, and U.S. Disaster Relief volunteers. | |||
| 13 Oct 2022 | Operation Christmas Child: Packing a Gift That Lasts | 00:24:49 | |
Each Christmas, thousands of shoeboxes are sent out to children in some of the most remote regions of the world. In this episode, Kristy Graham hears from Operation Christmas Child staff as they share about how shoebox gifts are sparking a discipleship movement in these hard-to-reach places. | |||
| 21 Oct 2022 | Listen Again: Answering the Call | 00:25:47 | |
The Samaritan’s Purse’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) has responded to over 150 disasters around the world since 2008, meeting the physical and spiritual needs of those affected. These specialists have a unique firsthand view of both tragedy and hope. | |||
| 28 Oct 2022 | Hope Restored in Alaska: Operation Heal Our Patriots | 00:25:01 | |
Service members are impacted by the effects of war years after they return home. Whether they’re suffering from mental or physical trauma, the wounds of the past affect not just them, but also their spouses and family members. Kristy talks with Operation Heal Our Patriots staff members and military spouses to hear about their experiences rebuilding their marriages. | |||
| 04 Nov 2022 | From Darkness to Light: Cataract Surgeries in South Sudan | 00:26:32 | |
After years of living in darkness, hundreds of patients received their eyesight when Samaritan’s Purse conducted a week-long cataract mission in South Sudan. Join Kristy Graham as she introduces you to patients whose lives were changed by this routine surgery. | |||
| 11 Nov 2022 | World Orphans Day: Called to Care | 00:25:08 | |
Millions of children around the world grow up in unstable homes due to war, death, and poverty. On World Orphans Day, we’re exploring both the complexities of the orphan crisis and the initiatives empowering parents around the globe. | |||
| 18 Nov 2022 | Franklin Graham and 41 Gifts of Hope | 00:21:53 | |
Kristy Graham talks with Samaritan’s Purse president Franklin Graham about the life-changing impact of the Christmas Catalog. Learn more about some of Franklin Graham’s favorite items in the catalog and hear from country directors living in the field about how these gifts open doors for the Gospel in some of the farthest corners of the world. | |||
| 25 Nov 2022 | Staff Devotions: The God Who Sees | 00:24:15 | |
Irina Creek, a former orphan living in the Soviet Union, shares her story of finding hope in a closed country through an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. Host Kristy Graham then dives deeper into Genesis 16 and how God sees every detail of our lives. | |||
| 09 Dec 2022 | Life After COVID-19: Returning to Italy | 00:26:43 | |
In the spring of 2020, Italy was the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic with death tolls reaching the thousands. We’re taking you back to the scene as our Disaster Assistance Response Team returns to Cremona—this time to celebrate God’s faithfulness. | |||
| 16 Dec 2022 | Operation Christmas Child: The Fun of Preparing Shoeboxes for Little Hands and Hearts | 00:25:39 | |
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes are bringing the Gospel to the farthest corners of the earth. In this episode, we’re giving you a glimpse into what it takes to get these gifts into the hands of children. | |||
| 23 Dec 2022 | “It Changed My Life”: Celebrating 200 Million Gospel Opportunities | 00:26:19 | |
Operation Christmas Child has been sending gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world since 1993. Join us as we celebrate a milestone: collecting our 200 millionth shoebox! Elizabeth Groff shares her testimony of how a simple gift changed her life as an orphan in Ukraine, and why she is now excited to be packing the 200 millionth shoebox gift for a child in need. | |||
| 30 Dec 2022 | Miraculous: Answered Prayers of 2022 | 00:26:07 | |
Prayer is so important to every part of the ministry at Samaritan’s Purse. In this episode, Kristy Graham reflects on the importance of prayer and hears stories from staff members about how the Lord has worked in 2022. You’ll hear from a variety of different voices across the ministry as they share in their own words the miraculous ways God has answered prayers. | |||
| 13 Jan 2023 | Healing Hearts: Children's Heart Project | 00:26:15 | |
In the United States, children born with heart defects have access to the healthcare they need, but so many children around the world don’t have this luxury. Kristy Graham introduces you to Hishga, a young girl from Mongolia, whose life was forever changed through Children’s Heart Project. | |||
| 20 Jan 2023 | Looking to 2023: Reflections With Edward Graham | 00:25:41 | |
| 27 Jan 2023 | Inside Ukraine Pt. 1: Voices of the Survivors | 00:24:59 | |
For months, Samaritan’s Purse worked in an undisclosed location in Ukraine—a liberated city just miles from the frontlines. Now, it’s finally safe to share that story with the world. In this episode we take you to an Emergency Field Hospital hidden in a bunker. Patients share what it was like to live in the aftermath of war and the hope they’re experiencing now. | |||
| 03 Feb 2023 | Inside Ukraine Pt. 2: Voices of the Responders | 00:25:20 | |
In part 1 of this mini-series, we brought you inside our Emergency Field Hospital near the frontlines of war in eastern Ukraine. Today, we’re bringing you behind the scenes to hear what it was like for medical responders and staff serving. | |||
| 10 Feb 2023 | Franklin Graham on Aviation: Reaching the Remote | 00:25:19 | |
Aviation opens doors for the Gospel by allowing us to respond when every second counts and enables us to reach the most remote regions of the world. Join Kristy Graham as she chats with pilot and Samaritan’s Purse president Franklin Graham as well as other crew members about how aviation has shaped the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse. | |||
| 24 Feb 2023 | Mission of Hope: Delivering the 200 Millionth Shoebox to Ukraine | 00:25:55 | |
Samaritan’s Purse collected its 200 millionth Operation Christmas Child shoebox this year. This milestone gift was hand-delivered to an orphan in Ukraine by Elizabeth Groff, who also received a shoebox gift as a little girl living in a Ukrainian orphanage. Join them on this journey of bringing joy and the hope of the Gospel to children in conflict-weary Ukraine. | |||
| 10 Mar 2023 | Building Resiliency in Christ | 00:25:42 | |
Bev Kauffeldt has served with Samaritan’s Purse around the world for more than two decades. Her life experience internationally coupled with her own testimony and cancer diagnosis has taught her to rely on God for strength daily. Bev candidly shares about failure and how it has taught her to rely on Christ. | |||
| 31 Mar 2023 | Inside a Refugee Camp | 00:26:08 | |
Listen again to Inside a Refugee Camp, which first aired in 2019 as millions of Syrian refugees fled to Iraq. Hear about life inside the camp, the logistics of helping families resettle, and how their lives have changed. | |||
| 07 Apr 2023 | Celebrating the Servant’s Heart: National Volunteer Month | 00:25:32 | |
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers are the heartbeat of U.S. Disaster Relief. In honor of National Volunteer Month, Kristy Graham introduces listeners to a few of our selfless volunteers—some who have served with Samaritan’s Purse for more than a decade and others who are volunteering for the first time. Luther Harrison, vice president of North American Ministries, shares how volunteers play an integral role, and how he has seen this aspect of the ministry continue to grow. | |||
| 28 Apr 2023 | Operation Christmas Child: Global Connect Conference | 00:26:06 | |
Last month, thousands of Operation Christmas Child volunteers and staff gathered together to celebrate 200 million shoebox gifts. Hear from Michael W. Smith as he prepares to lead worship and from faithful volunteers who serve by packing shoeboxes, covering the ministry in prayer, and inspiring more people to get involved. | |||
| 05 May 2023 | A Conversation w/ Michael W. Smith | 00:26:00 | |
Michael W. Smith, a multi-platinum artist and a household name in Christian music, joins Kristy Graham to share more about how he has partnered with Samaritan’s Purse over nearly two decades of ministry. Before leading worship at the organization’s Global Connect Conference, he shares his anticipation for the celebratory event and how God has worked over the years. | |||
| 12 May 2023 | Three Generations of Women: A Miracle Story for Mother’s Day | 00:25:49 | |
Kristy Graham traveled to the Cayman Islands to meet three generations of women whose lives were changed through Children’s Heart Project. A mother and her daughter were both diagnosed with the exact same heart defect, and they received surgery on the same day. In more than 25 years of this program, there has never been a story quite like this. | |||
| 19 May 2023 | The London Marathon: How God Used 26.2 Miles | 00:26:03 | |
Training for and running a marathon taught one staff member spiritual lessons as she pushed herself to new limits. Kristy Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse, talks to Melissa about how challenging herself physically deepened her faith, engaged her community, and inspired her work. | |||
| 26 May 2023 | Memorial Day: Recognizing the Cost of Freedom | 00:25:26 | |
This Memorial Day, Kristy Graham invites listeners into a conversation with Operation Heal Our Patriots’ chaplain Luis Anda. He served in both the Navy and the Army so this day is very personal to him. He shares about the cost of freedom, and how we can only find true, lasting freedom through a relationship with Jesus Christ. | |||
| 09 Jun 2023 | A Harvest in Cambodia: 20 Years of Ministry | 00:26:02 | |
In Cambodia, fathers and mothers often struggle to provide for their family’s needs. Many see illegal migration as their only option, but this compounds the problems that they face. Samaritan’s Purse is working to change this trajectory through livelihood training, cash grants, and education. Kristy Graham takes listeners to Southeast Asia to learn more about how Samaritan’s Purse is working there. Help families around the world through our Livelihood projects Read more about our work in Cambodia | |||
| 16 Jun 2023 | Serving in Uncertainty: The War in Sudan | 00:26:18 | |
When the war in Sudan left families cut off from the rest of the world and in dire need of food and relief, Samaritan’s Purse responded. Ryan Boyette joined this team in 2003. He shares with Kristy Graham how this changed his life—recounting true life-and-death moments, meeting his wife in Sudan, and ultimately dedicating his life to serve the people there. | |||
| 23 Jun 2023 | Listen Again: Our First 72 Hours in Ukraine | 00:25:19 | |
Samaritan’s Purse is still responding in Ukraine to help meet the needs of victims of the ongoing crisis. Hear the sounds and stories of what it was like during the first 72 hours on the ground in Ukraine and the ways local churches are acting as the body of Christ even over a year after the conflict began.
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| 30 Jun 2023 | Ukrainian Refugee Shares About God’s Provision Amid Trials | 00:26:15 | |
Inna, a Ukrainian refugee, shares her full-circle connection with Samaritan’s Purse. Hear her inspiring story of receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox as a child, fleeing Ukraine, and then resettling in England with the help of Samaritan’s Purse in February 2022. Inna shares a testimony of God’s faithfulness and how her experience culminated in running the London Marathon to raise money to support Samaritan’s Purse.
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| 07 Jul 2023 | Listen Again: Hope Restored in Alaska | 00:24:48 | |
Service members are impacted by the effects of war years after they return home. Whether they’re suffering from mental or physical trauma, the wounds of the past affect not just them but also their spouses and family members. Hear stories from staff members, veterans, and military spouses about their experiences during the 2022 Operation Heal Our Patriots season.
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| 14 Jul 2023 | Families Who Lost Everything Find New Hope: Mississippi Home Dedications | 00:24:38 | |
When a tornado tore through Mississippi in March, it devastated entire communities and destroyed homes. Many families lost everything and did not know where to turn. Samaritan’s Purse came alongside these hurting families to bless them with brand-new mobile homes. Hear how this physical picture of the Gospel has changed lives in Mississippi. Resources:
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| 21 Jul 2023 | Listen Again: From Darkness to Light, Cataract Surgeries in South Sudan | 00:26:17 | |
After years of living in darkness, hundreds of patients received their eyesight when Samaritan’s Purse conducted a week-long cataract mission last year in South Sudan. Join Kristy Graham as she introduces you to patients whose lives were changed by this routine surgery.
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| 28 Jul 2023 | Abiding in Christ | 00:26:19 | |
Steve Nickel, vice president of Donor Ministries at Samaritan’s Purse, sits down with Kristy Graham to share his heart for the Lord and how he has been blessed through interacting with faithful supporters of the ministry. Steve talks about how he followed God’s call to come to Samaritan’s Purse and what it looks like to abide in Christ daily.
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| 04 Aug 2023 | Building Schools, Changing Lives | 00:26:18 | |
Across remote villages in Cambodia, Samaritan's Purse has built 43 schools and provided resources so young students can get a quality education. More importantly, this has given Samaritan’s Purse a chance to share the Gospel in some of the most unreached places. Kristy Graham takes listeners to Southeast Asia to show how God is using Samaritan’s Purse to change lives through education and influence generations to come.
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| 18 Aug 2023 | The Call to Serve | 00:26:04 | |
When flooding devastated Highland Falls, New York, in early July, many families did not know where to turn. Samaritan’s Purse Team Patriot volunteers, North American Ministries volunteers, and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Rapid Response Team chaplains all came alongside homeowners to help them recover and to share the love of Christ.
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| 23 Aug 2023 | Hear How God is Working Around the World | 00:03:50 | |
Each week, On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse brings you new stories of how God is working through the ministry— whether its hours after the deadly earthquake rocked Turkey, providing eye sight to the blind, or the life-changing impact of an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift. | |||
| 01 Sep 2023 | Depending on Christ: Part 1 | 00:24:12 | |
In this two-part episode, Kristy Graham sits down with Kendell Kauffeldt, director of field leadership and development at Samaritan’s Purse International Headquarters. Kendell served as our country director for Liberia for 14 years and navigated leading during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. Through all the pressure, he has learned to lean on God for wisdom and guidance.
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| 01 Sep 2023 | Depending on Christ: Part 2 | 00:24:55 | |
In this two-part episode, Kristy Graham sits down with Kendell Kauffeldt, director of field leadership and development at Samaritan’s Purse International Headquarters. Kendell served as our country director for Liberia for 14 years and navigated leading during the Ebola outbreak in 2014. Through all the pressure, he has learned to lean on God for wisdom and guidance.
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| 08 Sep 2023 | Equipping the Next Generation | 00:25:59 | |
Each year, young men and women get to learn firsthand what Samaritan's Purse is about as they serve during an internship. Interns are stretched and introduced to new passions as they take on projects across the ministry. Hear directly from interns who served all around the world this summer, and also from Charity Moree, the assistant director of campus relations, who is involved in selecting and prayerfully placing interns.
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| 15 Sep 2023 | Stories from the Frontlines in Ukraine: Part 1 | 00:26:10 | |
Kristy Graham talks with Vera, a Ukrainian woman who has served on the frontlines with Samaritan’s Purse. Officially, Vera worked as a translator, but she did so much more than this. Her heart was to boldly share the Gospel. Vera tells stories of what it was like risking her own life in conflict areas to distribute relief supplies and share hope with those who desperately needed to hear it.
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| 22 Sep 2023 | Stories from the Frontlines in Ukraine: Part 2 | 00:25:35 | |
In part two of this episode, Kristy Graham continues her conversation with Vera, a Ukrainian woman who has served on the frontlines with Samaritan’s Purse. Officially, Vera worked as a translator, but she did so much more than this. Her heart was to boldly share the Gospel. Vera tells stories of what it was like risking her own life in conflict areas to distribute relief supplies and share hope with those who desperately needed to hear it. · Listen to Stories from the Frontlines in Ukraine: Part 1 · Read excerpts from Vera’s journal entries to hear more about her bold faith and what it was like serving in Ukraine. · Hear what it was like during our first 72 hours on the ground in Ukraine. · Read more about Samaritan’s Purse partners helping in Jesus’ Name in Ukraine. | |||
| 29 Sep 2023 | The Hole Only God Can Fill | 00:25:15 | |
Ray and Rebecca arrived in Alaska seeking a dream vacation, and they left completely transformed. Ray was in the Army for over 20 years, and the anger he carried after decades of deployments took a toll on his marriage. A week at Operation Heal Our Patriots changed everything for this military couple. Hear how Ray and Rebecca learned that only God was able to fill the hole in their hearts.
Listen to our latest episodes: | |||
| 06 Oct 2023 | Out of Hiding and into Hope | 00:25:35 | |
An obstetric fistula, resulting from prolonged labor, is not a condition women often face in the United States or other western countries. Yet, in many parts of the world this serious and debilitating childbirth injury leaves women with pain, shame, and isolation. Samaritan’s Purse specialty teams perform transformative surgeries, restoring these suffering women to health while opening doors to share the hope of the Gospel. Kristy Graham sat down with Madison Strausbaugh, the specialty team's program manager, who shared what it was like to see these women go from living in isolation to finding hope and community. | |||
| 13 Oct 2023 | Renewing Lives by Healing Hearts | 00:24:09 | |
Kristy Graham traveled to the Cayman Islands to meet families who were forever changed through Children’s Heart Project’s life-saving surgeries. Kristy talked with Cindy Bonsall, the director of Children’s Heart Project, about how God has made a way for Samaritan’s Purse to work in the Cayman Islands. You will also hear from two Mongolian mothers about how their children’s hearts were healed physically and, in the process, they themselves were renewed spiritually.
Resources: Learn more about Children’s Heart Project Have you heard the Good News of Salvation? Listen to another episode about Children’s Heart Project, to hear how this ministry impacted three generations of women. | |||
| 14 Oct 2023 | Bonus Episode: Israel and Armenia | 00:26:18 | |
Samaritan’s Purse is hard at work in Israel, Armenia, Morocco, and Libya. Hear directly from leadership about how Samaritan’s Purse is serving people in need there. Kristy Graham also talks to the team lead on the ground in Israel to hear his first-hand perspective and share ways to pray.
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| 27 Oct 2023 | What Is the Gospel? | 00:25:34 | |
The deputy director of Mission Aviation Services, Matt Olson, has flown injured children to receive care, transported Bibles to faraway places, and shepherded our staff safely to their destinations, all through the means of aviation. We’ll take you behind the scenes to hear what Matt recently shared during staff devotions about the simplicity of the Gospel. Kristy talks with Matt about his testimony and the way he's seen God work while taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
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| 03 Nov 2023 | A Tribute to Our National Staff | 00:25:49 | |
Samaritan’s Purse could not do what we do without thousands of national staff who serve faithfully in their home countries. Hear directly from members of our national staff from across the world who consistently go above and beyond in their communities. Kristy Graham spoke with Edward Densham, the senior director of International Projects, to discuss the vital role national staff fulfill for our ministry. Resources:
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| 10 Nov 2023 | Veteran’s Day: More Than Just a Statistic | 00:26:12 | |
Samaritan’s Purse honors the faithful military service of our veterans. This Veteran’s Day, we are celebrating the work that God is doing through Operation Heal Our Patriots, which not only saves marriages, but lives as well. Military couples hear the Gospel and find hope and healing through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Kristy Graham talked with Matthew and Dawn Sheppard, a couple who was completely changed this summer through their participation in Operation Heal Our Patriots. Hear how God transformed their marriage, and how the veteran's suicide rate became more than just a statistic to them.
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| 17 Nov 2023 | Franklin Graham: A Christmas Catalog of Opportunities | 00:25:40 | |
Kristy Graham sat down with her father-in-law, Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham, to hear his thoughts on ways to give this season through the Christmas catalog. From providing a family with a milk cow to building a well for a community, there are numerous ways to bless people all around the world this Christmas and share the Gospel.
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| 24 Nov 2023 | Answered Prayers 2023 | 00:24:34 | |
God is so good, and He hears our prayers—big or small. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what we are grateful for and the ways the Lord has answered our prayers. Sometimes He gives us what we want, but oftentimes, He gives us what we need in His timing. In this week’s episode, hear numerous stories of answered prayers from across Samaritan’s Purse in 2023. | |||
| 01 Dec 2023 | First Responders in Israel: The Morning of October 7 | 00:24:49 | |
Kristy Graham talked to two first responders who were serving on the ground when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. Hadass and Uri, workers for Magen David Adom, an emergency medical service for Israel, shared how they saw God’s hand at work even in the midst of great tragedy.
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| 08 Dec 2023 | Both Sides of a Shoebox Gift | 00:24:18 | |
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes will soon be sent out to the nations, giving millions of children the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This week, we are covering the impact on both sides of the shoebox—from the generous packers to the children who receive them. Dania, who grew up in the Middle East and received a shoebox gift as a child, shares how this simple gift gave her hope. After Dania’s story, Kristy Graham takes listeners to the processing center in Boone, North Carolina where she asked volunteers why they pack shoeboxes.
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| 15 Dec 2023 | Banding Together as the Body of Christ: Hurricane Otis | 00:24:18 | |
When a Category 5 hurricane ravaged the coastal city of Acapulco, Mexico, in October, tens of thousands of people were devastated. They felt hopeless. Four Samaritan’s Purse departments—North American Ministries, International Projects, Hispanic Initiatives, and Operation Christmas Child—as well as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association all joined together to provide physical and spiritual relief to those who are hurting in Acapulco. Resources:
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| 22 Dec 2023 | A Christmas Devotion from Kristy Graham | 00:25:07 | |
With the Christmas season upon us, we look back with thanksgiving to the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. While reading Luke 1, Kristy Graham was convicted by the faithful example Mary set when the angel appeared before her and said she would give birth to the Son of God. In this Christmas devotion, Kristy discusses four character qualities Mary possessed that we can learn from: submission, fellowship, suffering, and praise.
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| 29 Dec 2023 | Appalachian State Mountaineers Send Christmas Joy Worldwide | 00:13:33 | |
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| 05 Jan 2024 | Listen Again: Abiding in Christ | 00:26:19 | |
Steve Nickel, vice president of Donor Ministries at Samaritan’s Purse, sits down with Kristy Graham to share his heart for the Lord and how he has been blessed through interacting with faithful supporters of the ministry. Steve talks about how he followed God’s call to come to Samaritan’s Purse and what it looks like to abide in Christ daily.
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| 09 Jan 2024 | Franklin Graham: God’s Faithfulness in 2023 | 00:24:59 | |
Kristy Graham sat down with her father-in-law and Samaritan’s Purse president, Franklin Graham, who shared what he saw the Lord do in 2023. Franklin talked about where the organization responded around the world and how he saw God’s faithfulness in the midst of seemingly hopeless conflicts and disasters. Hear directly from Franklin’s heart about what stood out to him last year while also looking to what’s ahead in 2024.
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| 19 Jan 2024 | God’s Providential Hand: A Conversation with Jim Dailey | 00:26:20 | |
Jim Dailey, vice president of communications at Samaritan’s Purse, spoke with Kristy Graham about how he has witnessed God’s sovereign, providential hand throughout his 25 years of working in the ministry. Jim shared about perseverance in times of trial, and what it has been like taking the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
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| 26 Jan 2024 | Beyond the Headlines: God Sees | 00:25:19 | |
The news moves on quickly to the next headline, but God doesn't—He sees the pain and the hurt caused by natural and manmade disasters. Even in the most remote corners of the world or storms that only affect one person, God sees all of our needs. The disasters we cover today aren’t headline news, but they are responses in which God has given Samaritan’s Purse the opportunity to respond. This week, hear stories from leaders and others on the ground serving and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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| 02 Feb 2024 | Franklin Graham Dedicates Ambulances in Israel | 00:25:06 | |
Description: Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, joined hundreds of Israeli citizens last week to dedicate 14 new ambulances to Israel’s emergency services agency, Magen David Adom. Each ambulance was given in memory of fallen medics who lost their lives due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. While on the ground, our podcast correspondent, Stephen, spoke with partners and those we are helping.
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| 09 Feb 2024 | From Emergency Detour to Miracle Story | 00:26:01 | |
Francis, a young boy born with a heart defect, was in desperate need of surgery. When Children's Heart Project approved Francis to receive this life-saving procedure at a partner hospital in the Cayman Islands, it was a burden lifted. Francis and the team were en route to the hospital until the plans changed abruptly—there was an emergency during the flight. Over the next 102 days, God worked, not only through Francis, but in the lives of his parents and his entire community in Uganda.
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| 16 Feb 2024 | Ministering in the Hard Places | 00:24:59 | |
Pastor Sami Dagher has served the Lord for decades in hard places that are not open to the Gospel. On a recent visit to international headquarters, Kristy Graham asked Sami about his work in ministry, topics like prayer and discipleship, and how the Lord brought about his life verse. Sami is full of wisdom and, though his life has not been easy, he has taken his experiences and used them for good—ultimately, for the glory of God.
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| 01 Mar 2024 | Serving as a Spouse in Ministry | 00:24:48 | |
Joy Dagher is a devoted wife, mother, and ambassador for Christ, who has chosen to cling to the promises of God in all circumstances. Joy and her husband, Sami Dagher, who was featured in our last episode, have spent their lives sharing the Good News in dangerous places while also raising a family. Kristy Graham asked Joy about her life as a spouse in ministry, and how she has trusted in the Lord to sustain her through uncertain times.
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| 08 Mar 2024 | Helping Vulnerable Women Feel Seen and Loved | 00:26:14 | |
Samaritan’s Purse protection programing around the world helps vulnerable women and girls experience God’s love in tangible ways by creating safer communities built on the foundation of Christ. Kristy Graham talked to Monica Napier, the global protection technical advisor, about her passion for this important work and her recent trip to Niger. Kristy also spoke with Hanna Mukora, a protection program manager, who works on the ground in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where we provide women with a safe space to share about their trauma and engage in vocational training.
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| 15 Mar 2024 | The Transforming Power of the Gospel: Operation Heal Our Patriots | 00:26:19 | |
Operation Heal Our Patriots transforms lives and gives veterans and their spouses hope in Jesus Christ. This week-long marriage retreat in Alaska provides military couples with Biblical training and Godly counsel, but the ministry does not stop there—Operation Heal Our Patriots walks with these couples for life. Kristy Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse, witnessed many military couples surrender their lives to Christ at the recent Operation Heal Our Patriots reunion. After, Matt and Kayla Tucker shared how the Lord healed their hearts and restored their marriage last summer in Alaska. We also take listeners to the Operation Heal Our Patriots reunion to hear from Tim Lee, a veteran who served in the Vietnam War, and Kristy’s husband, Edward Graham.
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| 22 Mar 2024 | The Heart of a Country Director | 00:26:13 | |
Country directors play a key role in leading and carrying out the mission of Samaritan’s Purse in our 15 country offices around the world. They work to ensure the passion for the Gospel stays at the forefront of everything their office engages in—from preventing human trafficking to providing clean water. Kristy Graham spoke to Edward Densham, the senior director of international projects, about what it is like to serve alongside country directors. Hear stories directly from some of these men and women about the impact of programming in their countries.
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| 29 Mar 2024 | Hope Is Where the Healing Starts | 00:25:58 | |
God is our hope and our ever-present help in trouble, but there are times when our circumstances seem impossible. For some families in countries with minimal health resources, their children suffer from an untreatable condition: a heart defect. This is where Children’s Heart Project steps in to provide life-changing heart surgery, and God works in their lives to bring hope in a seemingly impossible situation. Kristy Graham talked with Sheena, a program manager for Children's Heart Project in Uganda, who shared her own story of healing. Additionally, our podcast correspondent, Stephen, traveled to Uganda to join Sheena’s team as they met with families and conducted screenings to identify children who are eligible for surgery this year.
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| 12 Apr 2024 | Opening Our Hearts to God’s Word | 00:26:15 | |
Scripture is alive and active, and no matter the circumstances we face in life, God’s Word can help lift our eyes beyond our current situation and towards our eternal hope in Jesus Christ. This week, we are taking you behind the scenes to Samaritan’s Purse staff devotions where Randy Bishop talks about the history of the English Bible and how important it is that we not only read God’s Word, but crave it daily. Hear Kristy Graham and other members of the podcast team share Scripture that has impacted them in their walk with the Lord.
1. Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ The Swans Are Not Silent, Book Five By John Piper, Crossway, 2009
2. The Legacy of the King James Bible By Leland Ryken, Crossway, 2011
3. The Origin of the Bible
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| 19 Apr 2024 | Building Resiliency in Christ | 00:25:42 | |
Bev Kauffeldt has served with Samaritan’s Purse around the world for more than two decades. Her life experience internationally coupled with her own testimony and cancer diagnosis have taught her to rely on God for strength daily. Bev candidly shares about failure and how it has taught her to rely on Christ. Resources: | |||
| 26 Apr 2024 | Jesus Pursues You | 00:24:26 | |
Dr. Ed Carns has served in the far corners of the world with Samaritan’s Purse both with World Medical Mission and the Disaster Assistance Response Team. He shares his testimony of how God used people in his life to point him to Christ and encourage him in his faith. The stories he shares with Kristy Graham demonstrate how God pursues each person individually.
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| 03 May 2024 | The Greatest Love | 00:26:20 | |
Parenting is a challenge, and when faced with a crumbling economy and healthcare system, expecting mothers in Venezuela felt helpless. A Samaritan’s Purse maternal-child health clinic near the Colombia-Venezuela border provides much-needed medical attention for moms and babies. While at the clinic, these families are cared for by doctors and chaplains, and are told about the greatest love that exists: Jesus Christ. One of our podcast correspondents, Kaitlyn, traveled to Colombia to speak with families about how these monthly appointments have changed their lives.
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| 17 May 2024 | Our Ultimate Healer | 00:26:10 | |
God is our ultimate healer—He can heal physically and, more importantly, spiritually. Samaritan's Purse medical staff and volunteers treat people’s physical conditions, and they also share the love of Christ. Hear from members of our medical staff who have led teams providing cleft lip and cataract surgeries in remote corners of the world, served in mission hospitals, and been a part of Disaster Assistance Response Teams. Learn more about how they have been able to meet physical and spiritual needs around the world.
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| 24 May 2024 | One Week in Alaska | 00:26:14 | |
For 17 weeks every summer, military veterans and their spouses are invited to Operation Heal Our Patriots for a week-long marriage retreat. Kristy Graham takes listeners behind-the-scenes to experience what these military couples do day by day, immersing them in what life is like at Samaritan Lodge Alaska. Hear how the Lord transforms marriages through Biblically based marriage classes, excursions in the beautiful Alaskan wilderness, and intentional conversations with chaplains, staff, and volunteers.
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| 31 May 2024 | Leading in Humble Confidence: Israel | 00:26:18 | |
John Silkman, the country coordinator for Samaritan’s Purse in Israel, spoke with Kristy Graham about how he strives to walk in humble confidence and reliance on the Lord as he leads in a complex, tense region of the world. John shared what he is seeing on the ground in Israel and how Samaritan’s Purse programs build bridges in communities, providing hope to those hurting.
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| 14 Jun 2024 | An Anchor of Hope: Brazil Flood Response | 00:26:19 | |
In response to major flooding across southern Brazil last month, Samaritan's Purse sent a Disaster Assistance Response Team to help in Jesus’ Name. Hear stories from Leslie Klein, a member of our Disaster Assistance Response Team, and testimonies from pastors on the ground, who have witnessed the body of Christ come together in the wake of this tragedy.
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| 21 Jun 2024 | Suffering Well: Pastor Skip Heitzig | 00:25:14 | |
Kristy Graham talks with Pastor Skip Heitzig, who pastors Calvary Church in Albuquerque and serves on the board of directors of Samaritan’s Purse. Pastor Skip shares how he came to know Christ through a Billy Graham sermon and talks about what it has been like to travel the world with Franklin Graham, witnessing Samaritan’s Purse projects in action. You will also hear how we can persevere amid suffering through a Biblical lens.
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| 05 Jul 2024 | The Next Generation of Volunteers: U.S. Disaster Relief | 00:26:20 | |
Volunteers are the lifeblood of Samaritan’s Purse U.S. Disaster Relief, and the next generation is here to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus Christ when homeowners are at their lowest. In this week’s episode, Bruce Poss with North American Ministries shared how he has seen God’s faithfulness through this next generation of servant leaders. Kristy Graham also spoke with two young volunteers about their recent experiences serving in Arkansas and Florida. Learn how God can bring comfort in the wake of a storm. Listen to “Suffering Well: Pastor Skip Heitzig” to hear how Pastor Skip came to know Christ through a Billy Graham sermon and what it has been like to travel the world with Franklin Graham. | |||
| 12 Jul 2024 | Goodness of God: Hurricane Beryl Response | 00:26:18 | |
Hurricane Beryl roared through the Caribbean, leaving total destruction in its wake. On Grenada’s Carriacou Island, nearly all structures were destroyed. Less than 24 hours after the storm hit, Samaritan’s Purse began serving those in desperate need of help and hope. Tune in to this week’s episode to hear from Kaitlyn Josten, who joined the first wave of responders, about what it was like to partner with the local church in Grenada. Also, you will hear from Operation Christmas Child and North American Ministries about their roles in the response.
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| 19 Jul 2024 | Remembering the Liberia Ebola Response: 10 Years Later | 00:25:39 | |
Ten years ago, Samaritan’s Purse responded to the Ebola outbreak in Liberia. Kristy Graham spoke with our staff who were on the ground from the beginning about their experiences fighting the deadly disease and the suffering they witnessed daily. Hear from the hearts of our team members about how they witnessed God’s faithfulness even as they walked through the deepest valley and how they learned to fully rely on the Lord through it all.
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| 26 Jul 2024 | Bearing Each Other's Burdens: Liberia Ebola Response Part 2 | 00:26:14 | |
When they didn’t feel like they could take another step, the Samaritan’s Purse team fighting Ebola in Liberia encouraged each other with Scripture. The verses they shared suddenly became a lifeline even though they had heard them countless times over the years. Kristy Graham talked with John Freyler and Dr. Lance Plyler about how they were able to lift each other up and bear one another’s burdens through the trials that took place a decade ago.
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| 02 Aug 2024 | Spreading Hope on the Island of Carriacou | 00:26:05 | |
This week, hear directly from residents of Carriacou, who are picking up the pieces after the devastation of Hurricane Beryl. Kaitlyn Josten was on the ground from the beginning of the response. She spoke with beneficiaries, pastors, and Samaritan’s Purse partners about how they are finding hope in the heartache.
Resources:
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| 09 Aug 2024 | Step Out in Faith | 00:26:04 | |
Holly Silkman talks with Kristy Graham about a new project in Israel that will impact people physically, mentally, and spiritually: an equine therapy center. Hear how the Lord opened the doors for this incredible leap of faith and what her prayer is for this program.
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| 16 Aug 2024 | Faithfully Ministering to the Next Generation in Peru | 00:24:10 | |
Travel with Kristy Graham to Lima, Peru, where you will hear what it was like to witness Operation Christmas Child outreach events and a graduation ceremony for The Greatest Journey. Many kids received shoebox gifts, but most importantly, they heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You will also hear directly from the hearts of pastors and Operation Christmas Child partners who are working diligently to equip the next generation by sharing the hope of Christ.
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| 23 Aug 2024 | Before They’re Broken: Human Trafficking Prevention | 00:25:49 | |
Barry Jessen, the country director for Samaritan’s Purse in Cambodia, talked with Kristy Graham about how the Lord led him and his family to Cambodia over a decade ago. Barry shared what it has been like to see people break free from physical and spiritual bondage through anti human trafficking and safe migration programming.
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| 30 Aug 2024 | A Hope and a Future | 00:26:18 | |
College students from Ukraine now have the opportunity to receive a Christ-centered education at North Carolina’s Montreat College through Samaritan’s Purse. Hear from Dr. Paul Maurer, the president of Montreat College, about how the Lord has directed this partnership as well as some of these Ukrainian students about what this opportunity has meant to them and how God is working in their lives.
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| 13 Sep 2024 | Finding Treasure in the Field | 00:25:03 | |
Disasters are not a distraction from ministry, they are opportunities for ministry. Kristy Graham sat down with Jeremy Zerkle from North American Ministries, who shared Scripture and stories from the field, where he has seen the Church step up amid devastating disasters across the U.S. Resources:
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| 20 Sep 2024 | Fighting Spiritual Battles: Human Trafficking in Berlin | 00:25:14 | |
In the red light district of Berlin, thousands of women are trapped in prostitution. Oftentimes, these women feel dirty and unworthy of love. Alabaster Jar volunteers and staff come alongside these women to show them they are daughters deeply cherished by God. Marina and Mariana, who lead Alabaster Jar for Samaritan’s Purse Germany, talked with Kristy about the power of prayer and what it’s like to witness God transforming hearts amid such deep spiritual darkness.
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| 27 Sep 2024 | Surrendering Control to God | 00:26:00 | |
Relinquishing control is hard, but God is sovereign. Dave Philips, a deputy director for international projects at Samaritan’s Purse, shares how we can witness suffering firsthand, and choose to surrender it to the Lord—trusting Him with everything. Hear powerful Scripture that Dave clung to during his recent trip to Sudan.
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| 04 Oct 2024 | Opening Doors in Israel and Gaza | 00:25:59 | |
God is miraculously opening doors for Samaritan’s Purse to respond in both Israel and Gaza. Bev Kauffeldt and John Silkman, who are helping lead this response, share about what the Lord is teaching them personally and about our partners on the ground. One year after Hamas attacked Israel and the war began, God is equipping Samaritan’s Purse to give hope to the hopeless.
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| 11 Oct 2024 | Hope in Heartache: Hurricane Helene | 00:25:59 | |
When Hurricane Helene devastated communities throughout the Southeast, thousands of volunteers stepped up to serve in Jesus’ Name. Kristy Graham talked with Samaritan’s Purse staff from North American Ministries and International Projects about the uniqueness of the response and how in this seemingly hopeless situation, God gives a peace that cannot be shaken. Samaritan’s Purse is a beacon in a difficult time, pointing those hurting to the hope of the Gospel.
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| 18 Oct 2024 | God’s Love Showed Up: Hurricane Helene | 00:26:00 | |
Flood waters from Hurricane Helene rushed through the Roten family’s property, but they trusted in the Lord. Even after the water receded and losing almost everything, they can clearly see God's faithfulness. Hear this story from Samaritan’s Purse staff devotions and be encouraged amid the storms going on in your life.
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