On Saturday, Former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, visited Mayfield, Kentucky, to assist Samaritan's Purse in their relief efforts for people affected by a recent chain of deadly tornadoes.
"We just wanted to come down and say thank you," Pence told volunteers. "Thanks for putting hands and feet to your faith. When we saw this, it broke our hearts. We knew immediately that Samaritan's Purse would be here. It is very moving for us to see you put your faith into action."
He continued, "Thank you for serving. It is even more moving for me to think that you're doing this during Christmas week. Your work here with volunteers from across the country is a testimony to your compassion."
As Christian Headlines previously reported, more than 50 tornadoes tore through a 200-mile path across Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio and Mississippi.
Chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse, both led by Evangelist Franklin Graham, have extended physical and spiritual aid to those affected by the tornadoes.
"I am grateful for the Vice President and his wife Karen as well as every single one of our volunteers who are helping families affected by the deadly tornadoes," Graham wrote on Facebook. "They are reminding us that anyone can make a difference. "
"There is still so much to do, and there is a great need for more volunteers, but the greatest need is prayer. We must continue to pray that God will comfort and provide for these families who have lost so much," he added.
According to CBN News, hundreds of volunteers have helped more than 140 families affected by the storms.
While 78 people in Kentucky were killed, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced on Saturday that there were no reported cases of missing persons from the tornadoes.
"How about a piece of good news today?" Beshear said during a briefing. "Right now, missing persons based on this tornado event are at zero."
Regarding the 78 lives lost, the governor said that it was "a huge number of Kentuckians to lose. We mourn with their families."
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Astrid Stawiarz/Stringer
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
