You can help bring hope today! WebFounded on November 14, 1978 by businessman and televangelist Pat Robertson, Operation Blessing was originally set up to help struggling individuals and families by matching their needs for items such as clothing, appliances, and vehicles with donated items from viewers of The 700 Club, Robertson's daily television program. WebOperation Blessing is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to partnering with YOU to demonstrate Gods love by alleviating human suffering in the U.S. and around the world. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. In another broadcast, Robertson said Operation Blessing was saving thousands of lives. Critics have long accused him of using that charity to further his financial investments, especially in African mining. 14. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. Teen Witch Collapses on Church Doorstep, Finds Freedom from 'Torment' After Deal with the Devil. "Think of fast passes to amusement parks and first-class aeroplane tickets that allow you to skip the queues. Chris Smith, the film-maker behind movies including Netflix's Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, as well as the hit series Tiger King, has now made the docudrama Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal. Pat Robertson and his followers make a big deal about Operation Blessing, his longtime charity wing that makes all kinds of claims about all the good things they do. Read about our approach to external linking. After arriving just before dawn, the workday began. DF_CMI1200_Operation_Blessing_Outreach_To_Turkey_HD1080_0_352. I was just thinking we have almost 10 nations represented here. I cant really put a feeling into it. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. Smith made a series last year on the disappearance of British girl Madeline McCann, as well as producing Tiger King, the story of zookeeper and convicted criminal Joe Exotic. In Antakya, Operation Blessing set up a food distribution center right across from some of the hardest-hit areas. CBN's Operation Blessing scrambled to get some aid to the Golden Arms Apartments until they could be safely evacuated. But the film was of MSF medical staff at work. Robertson claimed that Operation Blessing sent plane-loads of doctors. But as the tentacles of the investigation dubbed Operation Car Wash fanned out, other scandals emerged. "But by going to a particularly great school, you're going to be put with a group of people who are already connected, already wealthy and already privileged. "It's really about just trying to find things that are interesting to me, and these can take a long time to make. UPDATE 12/13: The Guardian has released an apology to Operation Blessing and has retracted some of the allegations in its article "Mission Congo: how Pat Robertson raised millions on the back of a non-existent aid project." I didnt know what the dredging deal was about, he said. Gov. The Bible readers were hired by the American televangelist and former religious right presidential candidate, Pat Robertson, and his aid organisation, Operation Blessing International. Especially in poor communities, people rely on local emergency shelters to help them survive both during and after the storm. There are conflicting accounts. Operation Blessing is planning to deliver a water purification system this week to a hospital to help it get back up and running. Now left without power, water, or transportation, these residents aren't sure what will happen to them. 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Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. The pilot said he joined Operation Blessing to help people. So yes, your education can be the same in a number of colleges, but is it about the education? The earthquake has affected an area the size of Great Britain and affected the lives of more than 14 million people. Teen Witch Collapses on Church Doorstep, Finds Freedom from 'Torment' After Deal with the Devil. I have a love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving Day. The Operation Blessing teams began their journey at midnight because what used to take a three-hour drive, now takes about nine during the day due to heavy traffic. I was talking to some individuals here today who've been living here all their lives. There are still 15 more people under it, and they are searching 15 more days, 20 on that, she told CBN News, gesturing to a massive pile of debris. But the hotels are already full of refugees, and that fact is also hindering responders coming to help with the cleanup, now unable to find anywhere to stay. "I think I am attracted to outsiders, to people who approach things differently," he adds. Pat Robertson and his followers make a big deal about Operation Blessing, his longtime charity wing that makes all kinds of claims about all the good things they do. "I think as far as some of those parents were concerned, this is how it works in the USA," says Smith. The full text is available here. When disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, or other humanitarian crises strike, YOU are there to show the hurting the love of God with immediate relief and long-term recovery. Those who were unable to do that for whatever reason now feel like they've been abandoned. Without a local shelter to go to, they were stuck without essential services. WebThis is a video package produced in El Salvador for Operation Blessing International. Sign up to receive important updates right to your inbox. On the face of it, it is a straightforward corruption scandal - albeit one involving millions of dollars in kickbacks and more than 80 politicians and members of the business elite. Its a claim he continues to make, even though an official investigation into Robertsons operation in Virginia accused him of fraudulent and deceptive claims when he was running an almost non-existent aid operation. But Smith thinks the so-called "side" door offered by Singer has closed for good. 2023 The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc., A nonprofit 501 (c)(3) Charitable Organization. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. So, I got connected with Operation Blessing and Diego, and here we areThis is just incredible. The film received critical acclaim on its release and was nominated for four Primetime Emmys. There are conflicting accounts. Antakya known historically and in the Bible as Antioch is where Paul and Barnabus established a church and where followers of Christ were called Christians for the first time. Operation Varsity Blues makes the point that the "back" door to elite education - by way of enormous, but legal, donations by individuals - remains open. "I think that we've seen a dramatic change over the last couple of years," he says. "I think that's always been true of my films, even 20 years ago. I always love this name because that's the thing, this is an Operation Blessing, and it's been a blessing to so many people. We want to be in the center of the action where the people need it, where not only the people that are suffering, also the rescuers. Government Bouncers on Your Church's Front Door? Both Mr Temer and Ms Rousseff deny all allegations of fraud. WebOperation Blessing International reported its three largest programs on its FY 2020 Form 990 as: $44,787,241 Spent in most recent FY 59% Percent of program expenses OBI's Hunger Strike Force $26,519,562 Spent in most recent FY 35% Percent of program expenses International Relief $4,031,075 Spent in most recent FY 5% Percent of program expenses And pray, pray, pray, for sure. Today we're going to set it up a soup kitchen, hopefully, two of them, Diego Traverso, director of Operation Blessings International Disaster Relief, told CBN News. The Operation Blessing teams began their journey at midnight because what used to take a three-hour drive, now takes about nine during the day due to heavy traffic. Operation Blessing International reported $220 million in revenue in 2011, and still enjoys tax-exempt status in the United States. It aired nationally on Pat Robertson's 700 Club. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. "It was so unusual, that world and the way they'd (directors Rebecca Chaiklin and Eric Goode) captured it, I'd never seen it before. From war in Ukraine to refugees filling camps in Iraq, your support makes it possible for Operation Blessing to help victims of humanitarian crisis around the world. But Lula, who denies all charges, says the investigation and trial were politically motivated to prevent him from running for president again in the next election. CBN's Operation Blessing US Disaster Relief team, who arrived in Natchitoches, LA on Thursday, is still working with local churches to serve the needs of residents. Smith adds that the popular success of Fyre and Tiger King "has led to people who thought they were never interested in documentaries suddenly realising they are". "This was almost coming in at a (Category) 5. Now that might not draw in a lot of people, but this topic and marrying it to a dialogue struck me as a great opportunity. Stay informed with the latest from CBN News delivered to your inbox. It's a question of asking yourself, what kind of world do you want to live in? 'God Has Not Left Them': Operation Blessing and Others Offer Aid and Spiritual Hope for Laura Survivors, Click Here Get the App with Special Alerts on Breaking News and Top Stories, Trump Expected to Visit Louisiana, Texas After Hurricane Laura Brings Disaster to Thousands, 'It Looks Like 1,000 Tornadoes': Hurricane Laura Leaves Trail of CAT-4 Destruction, Laura Packed a Deadly Punch in Louisiana, but Operation Blessing Is Helping and You Can Too, Christian Ex-Cop Fights Back After Resigning Over Social Media Post About 'God's Design For Marriage', UK Lawmakers Demand Stricter Pornography Laws to Combat 'Epidemic' of Violence Against Women, Revival Goes Nationwide, Hits Theaters After 'Jesus Revolution' Film as Well as ORU, Portland, Ohio State. The teams began their morning by unloading much-needed supplies and aid off the truck and organizing them. From here, we're going to be distributing hot meals to the most affected areas in this region., CLICK HERE to Help Operation Blessing Provide Relief Effort in Turkey. WebHow did Robertson, operating in a diamond-rich country with the blessing of the dictator, manage to lose it all? Edwards said, "Being a good neighbor means doing all the things you would normally do during a storm, just doing it from 6 feet away and with a mask on, because we still are the state in the country with the most cases per capita, we still have tremendous challenges from COVID.". Childrens Cancer Fund of America Whether its helping to clear debris, clean out a flood-damaged home, serve hot meals, or any of the other important jobs OB volunteers take on, you can be confident that you are truly Gods hands and feet in our world! The volunteer team is multi-lingual, multi-national and multi-generational all united to help the people of Turkey. The programme is partly dramatised, with Stranger Things actor Matthew Modine taking the part of Singer, along with other actors playing parents and college coaches. The full text is available here. Also available on most smart TVs and streaming services. The attorney general has charged current President Michel Temer - the former vice-president who took office in August last year - with receiving money from the boss of giant meatpacking firm JBS, which itself is already implicated in a corruption scandal. Photo Credit: OB. So, what we are doing right here, we are taking the things off the truck and sorting them, Operation Blessing volunteer Gaby Cano said. The documentary describes how dredges, used to suck up diamonds from river beds, were delivered hundreds of miles from the crisis in Goma to a private commercial firm, African Development Company, registered in Bermuda and wholly owned by Robertson. One of the companies it is said to have bribed? Smith describes Singer as an "enigma". Read about our approach to external linking. WebOperation Blessing Robertson has also been accused of using his tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, Operation Blessing International , as a front for his own financial gain, and then using his influence in the Republican Party to cover his tracks. In fact, its former CEO, Marcelo Odebrecht, who is serving a 19-year prison sentence for corruption, was found guilty of paying more than $30m (21m) in bribes to Petrobras officials in exchange for contracts and influence. Which is bad enough - but then the Workers' Party found itself dragged into the corruption scandal amid allegations of having funnelled some of these funds to pay off politicians and buy their votes and help with political campaigns. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. WebFounded on November 14, 1978 by businessman and televangelist Pat Robertson, Operation Blessing was originally set up to help struggling individuals and families by matching their needs for items such as clothing, appliances, and vehicles with donated items from viewers of The 700 Club, Robertson's daily television program. Since 2014 Brazil has been gripped by a scandal that started with a state-owned oil company and grew to encapsulate people at the very top of business - and even presidents. It aired nationally on Pat Robertson's 700 Club. Lauren Boebert And Marjorie Greene's Adult Bakker: People Are Going to Kill Preachers, Howard-Browne Easter Service a Conspiracy Theory Fest. Its just a blessing.. Its pretty amazing. **Operation Blessings international disaster relief team is in Turkey responding to recent catastrophic earthquakes. They began asking me: can we haul a thousand-pound dredge over? Singer has pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and also co-operated with the FBI in wire-tapping his co-conspirators. When disasters strike, OB volunteers are often the first on the ground and the last to leave. Captain Randy Burdeaux with the 20th Engineer Battalion of the Louisiana Army National Guard is the unit's chaplain. WebThis is a video package produced in El Salvador for Operation Blessing International. CBN's Operation Blessing US Disaster Relief team, who arrived in Natchitoches, LA on Thursday, is still working with local churches to serve the needs of residents. Louisiana Gov. And who is it said to involve? Mission after mission was always just getting eight-inch dredgers, six-inch dredgers and food supplies, quads, jeeps, out to the diamond dredging operation outside of Kamonia, Hinkle told the film-makers. WebOperation Blessing is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization dedicated to partnering with YOU to demonstrate Gods love by alleviating human suffering in the U.S. and around the world. Operation Car Wash began in March 2014 as an investigation into allegations that executives at the state oil company Petrobras had accepted bribes from construction firms in return for awarding them contracts at inflated prices. He and 76 other Odebrecht officials are giving investigators information as part of a plea deal. To puzzle it out, The Virginian-Pilot consulted legal and regulatory documents as well as published accounts and reports from watchdog and advocacy groups. "They're familiar with the idea that if you're wealthy and connected, a whole different system of rules apply. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. I mean, you could never foresee where Tiger King was going to end up. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert), Error: There was an internal error submitting your form. Just past midnight Saturday morning, Operation Blessing teams left the city of Adana to make their way to Antakya, the capital of the Hatay province. Were not doing anything for those people, he said. Lula isn't the only one to have held the presidency to face investigation right now: the two people who followed in his footsteps are facing corruption allegations of their own. Bless disaster victims in their time of need. The Golden Arms Apartments is a subsidized living facility that houses about 400 residents over age 65. CBN Partners provide hope to those who are suffering! ADC held a mining concession near the town of Kamonia on the far side of the country. As a result of training its solicitors to discuss how individuals can lessen their chances of a cancer diagnosis, 80% of the charitys annual profits end up in the hands of its solicitors (rather than in the hands of the families its meant to be supporting). Lula has been sentenced to 12 years in prison - and began his sentence on 7 April with the judges ruling he should not be free during the appeals process. To give to Operation Blessing's Disaster Relief fund, call: 1-800-700-7000 orCLICK HERE. They bring hope and help to those facing crisis and disaster. If fraud is found, their campaigns could be annulled, which means that Mr Temer would be removed from office. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. When large-scale medical crises rock the world, like the coronavirus or Ebola, your support provides medical supplies, chlorine generators, and more to help contain and eliminate the threat. YOU are shining a and giving hope to so many in Turkey. As a result of training its solicitors to discuss how individuals can lessen their chances of a cancer diagnosis, 80% of the charitys annual profits end up in the hands of its solicitors (rather than in the hands of the families its meant to be supporting). "We reached out to everyone who was connected to the story, including their lawyers, and we were either declined or got no reply," the director says. The water is off in Lake Charles, they tell me, so we drinkin' rainwater.". And the stress they don't sleep, they don't eat well. Most of them got out before the storm hit, but a lack of transportation resulted in sixty or so riding out the storm. ADANA AND ANTAKYA, TURKEY More than 70 nations and dozens of NGOs have responded to the greatest natural disaster in Turkeys history and perhaps the Middle East because of two major earthquakes and more than a hundred aftershocks. And if you can donate in some way please do it. Yes - there is one more scandal which involves those at the highest level: Odebrecht, which has also been caught in Operation Car Wash. And how those charity trips were used to transport mining equipment rather than doctors: Robert Hinkle, the chief pilot for Operation Blessing in Zaire in 1994, said he received new orders. Operation Blessing had just one tent and a total of seven doctors. WebOperation Blessing responded to help people suffering after the Turkey earthquake of 2023 in which a powerful tremor devastated parts of Turkey and Syria. We have been serving hundreds of hot meals daily and holding relief distributions in hard-hit areas, providing food boxes, clean water, water filters, hygiene items, blankets, and solar lights to people in need. Damage to a business in Lake Charles, La., in the aftermath of Hurricane Laura, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020. For more than 40 years, your love has shown through OB as together weve provided hunger relief, medical care, clean water, and disaster relief to millions around the world. Stay informed with the latest from CBN News delivered to your inbox. Not only the ones here, but you know, for Turks to know that there are people coming from the other side of the world or from many areas of the world to come here and show them love and show them kindness and show them that they matter to usIt's a big thing, she said. Smith agrees that the pressure on some young people to get into an elite establishment is immense - for social as well as academic reasons. Careers Workplace and Religion Columnists, Recreation Outdoors and Religion Columnists, Religious Music and Entertainment Columnists, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. "One of the things that was surprising in our era when so much is available is that it was very difficult to find out anything about him. WebAbout Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Thank you for your compassion to help the hurting in their darkest hours. And then there are the separate allegations which saw his predecessor Dilma Rousseff - who followed Lula into office after he had served two terms - impeached in August 2016. Read about how your has reached out this week: https://t.co/j4ashfCDCp#OBI #TurkeyEarthquake2023 pic.twitter.com/pZP55ll6OV, Operation Blessing (@operationbless) February 12, 2023. Brazil is gripped by a scandal that started with a state-owned oil company and spread outwards. How will history look back on Rousseff's impeachment? WebThis is a video package produced in El Salvador for Operation Blessing International. Burdeaux told CBN News, "Especially when they get back from being evacuated, they're going to be in devastation, so any way we can give 'em some encouragement, we're all in this together.". When you volunteer with OB, youll enjoy free food and housing, as well as all the tools and supplies that you need to be a blessing to those in need. Please join us in praying for the suffering and check back for earthquake response updates. The Brazilian-based construction giant, which is Latin America's largest construction conglomerate, has admitted bribing officials to secure contracts in Brazil and other countries in South America. It's just always interesting to think about how they ended up in that position.". One dollar goes really far here and that's amazing too.. VIRGINIA BEACH, VA (September 10, 2013) Operation Blessing International (OB) has issued the following statement in response to the malicious allegations in the film Mission Congo: The premise of the so-called "documentary," Mission Congo, is based on alleged events of almost 20 years ago. 14. Petrobras. WebOperation Blessing International reported its three largest programs on its FY 2020 Form 990 as: $44,787,241 Spent in most recent FY 59% Percent of program expenses OBI's Hunger Strike Force $26,519,562 Spent in most recent FY 35% Percent of program expenses International Relief $4,031,075 Spent in most recent FY 5% Percent of program expenses Were available 24/7. I just feel like I'm doing work God would be doing, and I can't believe I get to do that, said Operation Blessing volunteer Nathan Updike. We are committed to delivering quality independent Christian journalism you can trust. Or is it about the opportunities you'll get when you finish college? WebHow did Robertson, operating in a diamond-rich country with the blessing of the dictator, manage to lose it all? Keep praying for us, keep praying for the victims, keep praying for our volunteersOur experts are going to be arriving in the next couple hours water engineer, doctor, a health team because health is so needed. "Some thought they might be interested, but they were worried it might have an adverse effect on their sentencing, and as we were finishing the film, many of them were already in jail.". Teams of Operation Blessing disaster relief staff and volunteers assist with debris clean up and repairs, as well as providing microenterprise and small business support to help recover jobs and get families back on their feet. UPDATE 12/13: The Guardian has released an apology to Operation Blessing and has retracted some of the allegations in its article "Mission Congo: how Pat Robertson raised millions on the back of a non-existent aid project." Please check your information and try again or call us at 1-800-759-0700. Read about our approach to external linking. John Bel Edwards said, "That was the strongest storm to ever strike Louisiana. Operation Varsity Blues makes the point that the "back" door to elite education - by way of enormous, but legal, donations by individuals - remains open. Operation Blessing partners band together to provide emergency food, water, and supplies in the days after a hurricane. But what is this scandal all about? However, he says an interest in crime isn't always the motivation behind his most recent work. A fast-track ticket to a superior college education is something wealthy parents take for granted, according to the director of a new Netflix show examining the US college admissions scandal of 2019. Family members hold vigils next to buildings that used to be their homes of their loved ones. They're here for an intense period of time, nonstop. WebOperation Blessing responded to help people suffering after the Turkey earthquake of 2023 in which a powerful tremor devastated parts of Turkey and Syria. A new documentary provides evidence for those criticisms, like how they use images of charity efforts that dont involve them to make it look like theyre doing all the important work: One of the stranger sights of the refugee crisis that followed the 1994 Rwandan genocide was of stretcher-bearers rushing the dying to medical tents, with men running alongside reciting Bible verses to the withering patients.