Natural disaster response needs Christians and churches on the front lines, urged Samaritan’s Purse CEO Edward Graham on “Washington Watch” Monday. Helping others in their moment of desperate need is a tangible way Christians can show selfless love to others in their community, and that opens the way to gospel conversations. With hurricane season in full swing — Tropical Storm Helene is barreling toward the Gulf Coast as I write — this plea is particularly timely.

Hurricanes, fires, floods, tornadoes — such natural disasters can upend people’s lives, destroying their homes and leaving them with nothing. In such desperate circumstances, people are jolted out of their comfortable routines and prompted to think about what really matters.

The book of Job illustrates this. Only amid his suffering did he reflect and grow in his understanding of God. In his suffering Job recognized his need for an intermediary (Job 9:33), placed unconditional hope in God (Job 13:15), called on God to justify him through faith (Job 16:19), and confessed belief in bodily resurrection (Job 19:25-26).

Samaritan’s Purse strategically responds to natural disasters in a way that doesn’t just address the physical needs of victims, but the emotional and spiritual needs as well. “For us, our volunteers can come and meet the immediate needs of those that are suffering,” Graham explained. “But they’re going to ask you, ‘Why are you here?’ And we get to respond, ‘Well, we love you. But more importantly, Jesus Christ loves you.’ And it’s just a neat way to bless those [who] are hurting and [who] think they’ve lost everything.”

Samaritan’s Purse teams go the extra mile to generate opportunities for gospel conversations. So, their teams not only replace torn-off roofs and refinish flood-damaged floors. They also sift through debris to find irreplaceable articles that may have survived. “When there’s complete destruction, there’s nothing … it’s hard to have a conversation with a homeowner about hope when they’ve lost everything,” Graham added. “But just finding a ring — a wedding ring or engagement ring — will create a story and a conversation.”

These conversations can lead to conversions, and that’s where local churches come in. For all the evangelistic opportunities it generates, Samaritan’s Purse is not competent to shepherd souls. The Lord Jesus gave the church shepherds and teachers who fill that role (Ephesians 4:11). “We’ll live [with] and work [through] the local church because, after we leave, these new believers … we want that church discipling and following up with them,” said Graham.

Since churches will eventually take over the task of discipling new believers, it makes sense for them to get involved as soon as possible. Doing so will make passing the baton go more smoothly. “Nothing responds like the church. Especially the local church and Samaritan’s Purse,” Graham reiterated. “We have the equipment. We have the tools and the resources. We just need able-bodied people. … This is something for youth groups to do, of people 14 years or older, prayer groups, Bible studies, your church, your office.”

“I think people need to realize the church grows stronger as a result of helping those in need,” agreed Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. This is part of the counter-intuitive economy of the kingdom of God. When Christians sacrifice their own preferences and convenience to help and serve others, the Holy Spirit uses that to produce within them “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control,” so that it might be said that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:22-24).

“There is nothing that will strengthen a local body than ministering to the needs of those in their community,” said Perkins, “going hand-in-hand with Samaritan’s Purse.”