Christian Charity Declines $300m US Aid Grant

Samaritan's Purse, a Christian relief organization, has turned down a $300m (€257m) grant from the US Department of State that was to be disbursed over two years.

Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse, said the charity has always relied on God rather than governments for its funding and intends to keep doing so.

The declined grant was part of a nearly $2bn package from the Trump administration intended for faith-based and non-profit organizations working in global health and humanitarian aid.

The allocation is the largest of its kind in more than 20 years and follows steep budget cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Other recipients include World Vision and Compassion International.

Graham announced the decision was made after prayer and internal consultations. Sylke Busenbender, head of the organization's German branch, added that the move addresses a fundamental question about the boundaries between state and church responsibility. She noted that government priorities shift with political majorities and geopolitics, whereas the mission of Christian organizations remains a steadfast biblical call to help those in need.

Samaritan's Purse provides medical and humanitarian relief in crisis zones worldwide and is perhaps best known for its international program Operation Christmas Child.

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