Franklin Graham is asking for prayer as Ecuador sorts through the rubble from a deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck its Pacific coast on Saturday. The South American country, nestled on the equator between Colombia and Peru, is getting help from Samaritan’s Purse and other relief organizations.
“Samaritan’s Purse is responding to the people of Ecuador who are suffering as a result of the devastating earthquake that shook their country this weekend, killing hundreds and injuring more than 2,500,” BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse President Franklin Graham posted on Facebook. “We have Samaritan’s Purse staff on the ground in the affected area with more on the way, including medical personnel.
“Please remember the people of Ecuador in your prayers as well as our teams working to bring help.”
Franklin Graham has preached to more than 8 million people since conducting his first evangelistic event with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in 1989. In 2006, he held the Festival of Hope in Ecuador’s state capital of Quito where a record crowd joined him and more than 14,000 indicated decisions for Christ.
Galo Vasquez, a native of Ecuador, was the associate director at that Festival, and vividly remembers watching God work. After extensive planning for a three-day event, the Festival had to be condensed to two days due to a scheduling conflict with the venue.
Quito, Galo said, is located in a valley, so people didn’t usually venture out in the evenings because of the weather. But for the two nights of the Festival, a record crowd attended.
Among those in attendance was a delegation of pastors and leaders, who wanted to invite Franklin Graham to their city of Guayaquil. Plans were made, and in 2007, the Franklin Graham Festival of Hope was held in the port city. Another record crowd turned out and thousands more made decisions for Christ.
“The most influential cities of the country were really impacted with the Festivals and a large number of people heard the Gospel, and there were many that responded,” said Galo, who now serves as BGEA’s Director of Latin American Festivals.
Galo was born in Ambato, Ecuador, but moved to Quito with his family when he was 9 years old. The majority of his family, including his 92-year-old mother, still lives there today.
“I was having a hard time connecting with them because the lines were oversaturated, but I was able to talk to them yesterday morning,” Galo said. “They’re in shock. The whole country is in shock with the circumstances because they’re just beginning to see the actual damage. They felt the earthquake that lasted over 30 seconds, but by the grace of God they’re doing fine.”
This isn’t the first major earthquake for Ecuador, which also experienced a devastating one almost 30 years ago. Galo’s hope is God’s people will see the opportunity within the natural disaster.
“This is not the first time we’ve seen this,” Galo said of the earthquake. “The last big one was in 1987 so it does bring people into a process of reflection about the supernatural and consequently, an exercise of thinking more about God. As they seek for God, they become more sensitive to the spiritual things and messaging so now I wouldn’t be surprised if the people would be open to going to church.
“I would say we do need to pray that God’s people would be wise. This is a good opportunity to go and demonstrate the love of God.”
