Member’s burden quickly lifted as Special Prayer Need

One of the main missions of Samaritan Ministries International’s health care sharing is to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

Brenda Leonard of Virginia had a burden when she joined Samaritan in 2013. Emergency gallbladder surgery in 2012 had left her and her husband, Jonah, with thousands of dollars owed to medical providers because they had no health insurance. The Leonards had been making payments to hospitals for the surgery and for a subsequent hospital stay due to a resulting infection. One of the major bills was paid off, but some others remained outstanding.

After reading some letters from members who had been blessed by Special Prayer Need gifts, Brenda called Samaritan in spring 2014 to see if she might be able to submit her leftover bills as an SPN. Due to the long winter, Jonah, a landscaper, was out of work and the Leonards were having trouble footing the remaining medical bills. The need was shared as an SPN in early summer, and the result “amazed” Brenda.

“The response came from all 50 states,” Brenda said. “When the letters started pouring in, even my husband couldn’t believe it.”

The Leonards received $2,100. Most of the gifts were $20, with a couple $50 gifts also arriving. Thanks to the gifts the Leonards paid off an emergency room visit and only owed $268 more on one of the hospital bills.

“It has lifted a tremendous burden from me, and I can’t thank you enough,” Brenda wrote in a card to Samaritan. “I really had a longing to have those bills paid off by the end of this year and because of your kindness and all other members, it will be possible.”

Brenda said she had donated to Special Prayer Needs occasionally before, but now she does so no matter what.

“After what happened to me, I make sure it goes out now,” she said.