[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 161 (Friday, October 11, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING SAMARITAN MINISTRIES ON THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. CHERI BUSTOS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 11, 2019

  Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Samaritan 
Ministries on their 25th Anniversary. Samaritan Ministries recognizes 
health care needs as multi-dimensional--requiring emotional and 
spiritual support, as much as physical and financial. They address 
these needs by coordinating and connecting members through prayer, 
encouragement, and financial support.
  Samaritan Ministries was formed by founder Ted Pittenger, who was 
inspired to provide an affordable non-insurance health care option for 
the Christian community after joining a health care sharing ministry in 
the 1980's. Intrigued by the method of sharing health care costs, he 
began considering how to improve the process to reach a wider 
population and share medical needs more efficiently while maintaining 
Biblical foundations. This idea came Samaritan Ministries International 
in 1994. Since then, this organization has helped countless of people 
all through our community. I thank Samaritan Ministries for seeing a 
need in the community and rising exceptionally to meet that need.
  It is because of community pillars such as Samaritan Ministries that 
I am especially proud to serve Illinois' 17th Congressional District. 
Madam Speaker, I would like to again formally congratulate Samaritan 
Ministries on its 25th Anniversary.

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