Mike Pence joins Franklin Graham's relief work for Hurricane Harvey victims

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, traveled to southeast Texas on Thursday to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey and help Samaritan's Purse staff and volunteers carry out relief work.

After arriving in Corpus Christi on Air Force II with several cabinet secretaries, Pence headed straight to Rockport and visited First Baptist Church, which sustained heavy damage due to the storm.

"After difficult days, the President sent us here, to say the American people are with you. We will be here every day until this region rebuilds bigger and better than ever before," Pence told Samaritan's Purse volunteers, according to The Christian Post.

Pence later stopped by a young couple's house and pulled on blue work gloves to drag tree branches out of a front lawn.

Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham opened a brief ceremony at the church and shared a parable of Jesus guiding his disciples through a storm. "You've gone through a storm," the evangelist said, assuring the crowd that Jesus is still with them.

As many as 100,000 Texas homes have been affected by the storm, according to Samaritan's Purse. The 12,000-member Texas National Guard, the U.S. Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard have all called in to assist with the relief efforts. A large number of humanitarian relief groups and Christian ministries, including Operation Blessing International, are also contributing their efforts to help in the crisis.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Graham thanked the vice president for joining in the relief efforts.

"Thank you Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence for spending time today with victims of #HurricaneHarvey and the volunteers trying to make a difference in people's lives," the evangelist wrote.

"The Vice President took time to help volunteers move downed trees at a family's home where Samaritan's Purse is working," he added.

Graham also commended Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for signing a proclamation declaring Sept. 3 to be a Day of Prayer.

"It was also an honor to have Texas Governor Greg Abbott there, and he signed a proclamation declaring Sunday, Sept. 3, a Day of Prayer in Texas. We will certainly be praying with them," Graham stated.

At least 44 people have died so far in storm-related incidents, and 32,000 people have been displaced from their homes.

President Donald Trump had visited Corpus Christi and Austin on Tuesday, and he plans to return to Texas on Saturday. The White House has stated that the president is pledging $1 million of his personal money to help with the relief efforts.