This Thanksgiving, Samaritan Members Express Personal Gratitude for a God-Honoring Approach to Health Care
Says Samaritan Member Deena from Ohio: ‘Our Family Is Blessed Beyond Measure to be a Part of Samaritan Ministries and Grateful to God for Providing This Option of Health Care’
November 18, 2019
(Editor’s Note: First in a two-part series highlighting the thankfulness of Samaritan Ministries members.)
PEORIA, Ill.—More than 270,000 individual members make up the Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org) family, so hearing from individuals may seem unlikely, but some members of the 82,000 households recently expressed their appreciation for Samaritan Ministries.
In October, Samaritan Ministries, one of the leading health care sharing ministries in America, asked members to share via social media what they love about health care sharing through Samaritan.
“We love to hear from our members any time of year, but it is especially gratifying to hear stories at Thanksgiving, which helps us connect with members on a personal level,” said Anthony Hopp, vice president of external relations for Samaritan Ministries. “These positive comments are especially timely and welcome during the current open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, which runs through Dec. 15, as many families may be in the position or stage of life to make a switch to Samaritan Ministries’ affordable, biblical, transparent approach to health care.”
Tiffany in Nebraska said it has been a “sheer pleasure” to send financial shares to other Samaritan members each month.
“It blesses me to connect with a member of the body of Christ who I would otherwise not meet,” Tiffany said. “Taking the time to pray for them is a blessing, as it takes my eyes off myself and encourages someone else. We have been in Samaritan 20 years and have had ALL our medical needs met and support from the staff during difficult times. I wouldn’t trade this opportunity for anything!”
Deena from Ohio said that “the blessing of being a member of Samaritan Ministries goes far beyond members helping each other pay their medical bills.”
“Recently,” Deena continued, “a gentleman I spoke with at Samaritan was incredibly sensitive to the many challenges our family has experienced over the past two years—i.e., serious health challenges for more than one member of our family, two children getting married within five months of each other in two different states and the loss of my one daughter’s new mother-in-law just six weeks after her wedding. This gentleman was not only kind in helping me with my need but also took the time to pray over the phone for our family. Knowing that we as members have the privilege and opportunity to pray for each other, help each other practically and spiritually, is a priceless gift. What insurance company loves Christ, is committed to kingdom purposes and takes time to PRAY for and with its members? Our family is blessed beyond measure to be a part of Samaritan Ministries and grateful to God for providing this option of health care.”
Gloria in Minnesota said she was admittedly “a little anxious” about being uninsured, especially wondering about large medical bills in the future.
“Shortly after becoming members, (my husband) suffered a torn retina and, a few months later, he had to have an emergency appendectomy,” Gloria said. “I was blown away when I, the world’s worst negotiator, was able to get the bills reduced by 66 percent just by asking! And that this body of believers shared the expenses 100 percent! Thank You, Lord!”
Debra, a Samaritan member from Missouri, has been a member for two and a half years.
“When I had a medical emergency last February, at first, I was very anxious about the enormity of the bills I was getting, but through Samaritan, my need was more than supplied!” Debra said. “The cards and notes of encouragement and prayers also were a blessing! I am glad to be able to touch someone else’s life each month when I send my share along with a note.”
Lindsay of West Virginia shared the “most terrifying experience of our lives”—when their son was airlifted to the hospital, where he remained for five days, intubated and sedated.
“Samaritan called us and prayed for our son,” Lindsay said. “They told us to not worry about anything but to be with our son during his stay. Afterwards, we were blessed with the 70-plus letters and notes that came for our need. We have all those letters, prayers and notes saved for our son so that when he is older, he can see what God did for him through Samaritan and their members while he was very sick. We will be forever grateful for Samaritan Ministries and their members. It was a life-changing experience on many levels.”
Each month, Samaritan members share $30 million in medical needs—person to person and family to family—as they also pray and send notes and cards of encouragement. In fact, over the past 25 years, Samaritan members have shared $1.8 billion in medical needs.
Learn more about Samaritan Ministries International here, visit the Samaritan website at www.samaritanministries.org, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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To interview a representative from Samaritan Ministries International, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Patrick Benner, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
