- Reverend Franklin Graham,president of the organization,

joins us now to talkabout what they are doing.

Reverend Graham, it'salways so good to see you,

thank you for joining us.

- Thank you, it's goodto be with you, Jenna.

- Can you tell us about the operation

you now have set up inNew York Central Park,

what are people on theground seeing there?

- Well, Jenna, it's hard to describe it.

First of all, we have to go to the heart,

people's hearts are filled with fear.

And this virus is very serious

and of course, it can bedeadly in some people.

But the system in New Yorkright now is overwhelmed.

We're at Mount SinaiHospital and we're set up

right in front of them and they are full.

And so our hospital isright there on 5th Avenue

in Central Park, across the street

and we'll open it tomorrow.

And one thing, Jenna, thatstruck me was a comment

in the papers yesterday abouta woman who's husband had died

and she said he died alone.

And many of these people are dying alone,

and I thought to myself,just give Samaritan's Purse

those that have no hope andif they come into our hospital

they're not gonna diealone because the doctors

and nurses, we pray.

We've got chaplains,we pray and we'll pray

for everyone that comes inand if someone passes away

at our hospital, theywon't be dying alone.

Our doctors and our nursesare gonna be right there

with them, holding theirhands, praying for them,

loving them until the last breath.

But we hope and prayevery person that comes

into our hospital, that they'll walk out

and that's our goal.

So I'm so proud of our teamand we're gonna be in New York

as long as we need to be there.

- It's incredible work, what you all do.

Reverend, I'd like to hear thoughts

on the federal governmentsresponse so far.

Critics say it was too slow,especially at the beginning.

What do you say to that?

- Well, I mean, how do you plan or predict

what was getting readyto come down the road?

And I think the presidenthas done an outstanding job

and I know he gets criticizedby the people on the left,

but who would have done a better job?

Would George W. Bushhave done a better job?

Would Barack Obama have done a better job?

Would Hillary have done a better job?

I mean, the president is doing, I think,

an outstanding job andI think the president

and like everybody elsein the administration,

our eyes have been openedin the last few weeks

and they understand it much more,

or much more deeply now, thanthey did a few weeks ago.

And I think the president hasjust done an outstanding job

and we need to pray for him.

But yeah, we need to prayfor these doctors and nurses

in our health care systemacross this country.

They're overworked there, they're beat up,

they're tired, they're afraid.

Many of them have been sick,we just need to ask God's help

as we move forward.

- Reverend, have you been ableto speak with the president

during this crisis?

- No, but we've certainlycommunicated with his office,

but I mean, he is so busy.

The last thing he needsto do is speak to me.

He's got his hands full.

- I know you commentedon Speaker Nancy Pelosi,

she was criticizing thepresident for saying

he was fiddling aroundwhile people were dying

and I know you kind ofpushed back on her for that,

can you talk about just allof this criticism he's facing

and if this is becoming a partisan issue?

- It should not be partisanand the whole country

needs to come together.

I know this is an election yearand the president's enemies

are wanting to make this a,try to make hey while they can,

but see, Democrats are dying,Republicans are gonna die,

Independents are gonnadie, and let's just quit

fooling around and let's work together.

Let's get behind the president.

Yesterday the president, he'sworking seven days a week,

almost 24/7, I don'tknow when the guy sleeps.

- Some churches aroundthe country, this Sunday

they were still holdingtheir Sunday services

even with the suggested guidelinesto avoid mass gatherings.

Reverend Graham, what is yourmessage to these churches

and these pastors?

- Well, I mean, this virus is real.

We need to do everything wecan to protect ourselves,

to protect our families,to protect our loved ones,

and I would just encourageeverybody, be careful.

- And to Christians andto non-believers alike,

what do you say to thosewho question or they wonder

what God is doing in all of this?

- Well, first of all weknow God loves us, don't we?

We know that for a factand that he cares for us.

And he never promises totake us out of a storm,

and we find ourselves in storms in life.

Jesus found himself in astorm on the Sea of Galilee

with his disciples andhis boat was sinking.

But if the Lord Jesusis in that boat with us,

we don't have to be worried.

We know that our faith and trust is in him

and he loves us and cares for us

and he will take us through that storm.

Doesn't mean we can get out of it,

but when we go through the storm we know

that he's there with us in that storm.

And if you take this, the 23 Psalm,

yeah thou walk through thevalley of the shadow of death,

I have that there are noevil, for thou art with me.

And we can have that comfort knowing

that the Lord Jesus Christ iswith us every step of the way.

- Yeah, it's a good word.

Reverend finally, can youtell us about this new 24/7

COVID-19 prayer line you've set up?

What's been the response so far?

- Oh it's been huge, we'vehad over 50,000 calls,

these are people from allacross the United States.

We've had guys and gals,most desperate situations

call us and many haveprayed to receive christ,

and it's just people right now are afraid

and they don't know what to do.

And I want to just encouragepeople to share with them

that God loves them andthat Jesus Christ is willing

to come into their heart ifthey will confess their sins

and repent and by faith,believe on the name

of the lord Jesus Christ.

And we've been able tolead many people to Christ

these last few days andwe're gonna continue

doing this for probablythe next couple of months.

- All right, Reverend Franklin Graham,

president of Samaritan's Purse,

thank you for all that you are doing

and we appreciate you takingthe time with us today.

- Thank you, God bless you.