Samaritan's Purse

   Samaritan's Purse in a worldwide Christian service organization dedicated to disaster relief and community development, especially, where children are involved. It was founded in 1970 by Robert "Bob" W Pierce, founder of World Vision, after he clashed with board members of the earlier group. Samaritan's Purse has much the same program as World Vision. Pierce died in 1978 and was succeeded by Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham.

   As of 2002, Samaritan's Purse was at work in more than 100 countries. In the wake of the Iraq war of 2003, Graham entered into controversy concerning postwar rehabilitation plans. Christian organizations such as Samaritan's Purse are able to enter many countries by emphasizing practical assistance to people in need and keeping any evangelization efforts low key. However, as Samaritan's Purse was preparing to enter Iraq, Graham made several sharp widely reported anti-Islam remarks that called into question the group's work in Muslim countries.

   See also faith missions.

   Further reading:

   ■ Franklin Graham, Rebel with a Cause: Finally Comfortable Being Graham (Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, 1995)

   ■ Franklin Graham and Jeanette Lockerbie, Bob Pierce: This One Thing I Do (Waco, Tex.: Word Books, 1983)

   ■ Norman Rohrer, Open Arms (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1987).