Samaritan Ministries hits 250,000-member milestone

Cards and notes sent to us by fellow Samaritan Ministries members who shared one of our medical needs in 2015.

Longtime readers may remember that my wife and I are members of Samaritan Ministries, a health care sharing ministry for Christians. We left the standard insurance scene over five years ago, and haven't regretted it for a moment. You can learn more about our experience at this link; I'll be posting an update soon as well.

Samaritan Ministries is the second-largest HCSM in operation (see my post from December 2016 detailed the tremendous growth of healthcare sharing ministries), and announced last night that they broke through the 250,000 membership mark:

Samaritan Ministries hits 250,000-member milestone

By Samaritan staff

As of March 28, Samaritan Ministries International has reached 250,000 individual members who are praying for one another, sending notes and cards of encouragement, and giving monthly financial shares directly to other member families.

In this way, Samaritan’s nearly 80,000 member households share $26 million in medical needs each month through an effective, affordable and God-honoring ministry for Christian families.

“This journey over the past 23 years has been such an amazing demonstration of God’s faithfulness and provision,” said Anthony Hopp, Samaritan Ministries’ vice president of external relations. “And we are so thankful that God has steadily brought together a quarter million of His people to honor Him through their health care, praying and caring directly and personally for their brothers and sisters in Christ. This is how Biblical believers should handle health care needs—bearing one another’s burdens, just as the Bible instructs in Galatians 6:2.”

Month after month, Samaritan members report how this direct-sharing model for health care not only allows them to honor God but also be a part of a larger Biblical community.

“My family and I are full of gratitude and appreciation for Samaritan Ministries,” said Kurt and Claire from Hawaii. “It is such a blessing to know that we can turn to the members in times of need. The process is so simplified now and so very efficient. We are so grateful for the time and effort Samaritan has put in to provide support and help for us and others in time of need. Receiving shares from fellow Samaritan members is so meaningful. The prayers and thoughtful words in the notes from sharing members are so lovely and sometimes bring tears to my eyes. Even better, I look forward to sending off my contribution every month and sharing our support to the members of our community.”

Daniel and Mollie of Virginia said they have put Samaritan Ministries “to the test” twice and the process has worked better than they could have imagined.

“Getting cards and letters with prayers for healing, plus the money to pay bills, is indescribably comforting,” they write. “I actually look forward to sending my share every month.”

Daniel and Jordan from Tennessee called the Samaritan staff “amazing and helpful.”

“We love Samaritan Ministries!” they remarked. “We always have a good experience when we need to talk to a staff member!”

Added Hans and Rachel from Kansas, “It is so encouraging to know our monthly share is going directly to a fellow believer, to help them financially, and through prayer as well! So much more fulfilling to write the check each month instead of sending it to insurance.”

Learn more about my family's 5-year experience with Samaritan Ministries by visiting this link!