Humanitarian
Presidential Recognition
“The work you are doing lifts lives and lends a compassionate hand to the sick. ... I can hardly think of a more worthwhile work. God bless each and every one of you who are supporting Operation Blessing in this mission of mercy.”
Former President of the United States George H.W. Bush (May 21, 1996)
Operation Blessing
In the fall of 1978, Pat Robertson was at home reading his Bible when the Lord led him to the book of Isaiah, chapter 58.
In this passage, the prophet, Isaiah records that the Lord said, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
Pat continued reading and saw this great promise from God: “then your light will break forth like dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry, and He will say, ‘here I am.’”
Pat determined in his heart that this promise of blessing would belong to CBN. He headed for the studio in Portsmouth, Virginia, and announced to the staff that CBN was starting a new outreach called, Operation Blessing — which he was going to announce on the Club in 15 minutes!
From that humble beginning, Operation Blessing has grown into one of the most efficient charities here in America, and one of the most effective in the world.
Through disaster relief, hunger relief, medical aid, and providing sources of clean water, Operation Blessing has made an impact in the lives of millions of people in more than 90 countries and territories, including the United States. Each year Operation Blessing’s Hunger Strike Force provides millions of pounds of food, water and supplies to hungry Americans.
Operation Blessing is dedicated to demonstrating God's love by easing human suffering throughout the world. For more than 40 years, they have been the hands and feet of Jesus to those who are hurting and in need.
For more information about Operation Blessing please visit:ob.org
CBN International
As Pat Robertson was praying during the Christmas week of 1976, the Lord spoke to him and said, “I am sending My Spirit all over the world. Millions of people will respond. I want you to proclaim a simple message of salvation. Do not try to teach complex theological matters. Just preach the simple Gospel.”
Pat returned to work and told the staff what he had learned. During the New Years’s prayer meeting, he formally launched CBN Worldreach. Later the name was changed to CBN International, having a staggering goal: to win 500,000,000 souls to faith in Jesus Christ. Through research firms, Brown & Fraser and Ipsos, yearly surveys reveal that goal has been met and surpassed.
Through international broadcasting, indigenous programming, church planting, humanitarian outreaches, children’s animation, and media blitzes, CBN continues to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and hurting world.
CBN International humanitarian outreaches include providing safe water; food for the hungry; medical missions; life-changing surgeries; disaster relief; orphan care; micro-enterprise development; support for victims of human trafficking; education; and more.
For more information about CBN International please visit: www.CBN.com
The Flying Hospital
As CBN sent out medical teams to minister in faraway countries, it became clear that these teams were unable to carry with them the supplies and equipment often needed in these poor and remote areas of the world.
To combat this problem, in 1994, Pat worked to purchase an L-1011 airliner, and worked with Lockheed to retrofit the plane into a working hospital.
Onboard were three fully equipped surgical suites for major surgery and six additional suites for minor surgeries. At the front of the plane, was a seating area for thirty people, equipped with in-house television. Here in this mini-theater, doctors from target countries could watch surgeries being performed and see instructional videos about advanced medical procedures and techniques.
During its years of operation, the Flying Hospital went to many nations with remarkable results, one of the most extraordinary of these was its use by the charity, Operation Smile. Through this partnership alone, nearly100 countries were visited by the Flying Hospital, helping to establish installations that served local populations, through cleft palate surgery.