Evangelist Franklin Graham and the disaster relief organization Samaritan’s Purse served a hot, free meal to over 1,500 people who were affected by the recent tornadoes in Mayfield, Kentucky, joined by country music legend Ricky Skaggs who sang Christmas songs.
In Mayfield, much of which was destroyed, officials say at least 22 people died, including nine when a candle factory collapsed and trapped dozens. Samaritan’s Purse had sent dozens of staff and three cooking trailers to Mayfield to prepare the free hot meals on Christmas Eve.
Samaritans Purse has mobilized more than 2,000 volunteers who’ve helped over 400 families affected by the tornadoes in Kentucky and northeast Arkansas. Helping alongside are crisis-trained chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s Rapid Response Team to provide emotional support and share the love of Christ.
Graham told those being served on Christmas eve – “No matter what storms you face in life, God loves you, Jesus Christ will never leave you or forsake you.”
The meal was served about two weeks after 76 people died when four tornadoes struck the state on Dec. 10.
Andy Jeter, the charity’s director of food services, said – “We talked to Franklin, and we didn’t know at that time what the number would be, but very soon, he made that evident that he was thinking big.”