SELMER, Tenn., April 7, 2025 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) is deploying alongside Samaritan’s Purse to McNairy County, Tennessee, where an EF3 tornado destroyed or damaged more than 300 structures and at least five people were killed.
“The loss of life and property we are seeing out of Tennessee is devastating. The community is trying to process the damage and pick up the pieces left behind by the storm,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “We want those in McNairy County to know they aren’t alone during this dark and difficult time. The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team crisis-trained chaplains are heading to Tennessee to share the hope found through Jesus Christ with those who are hurting.”
Chaplains will arrive in Tennessee on Tuesday, April 8, to minister to those in the community who suffered damage and loss due to the storms. The BG-RRT deploys to natural disasters in coordination with Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian disaster relief organization also headed by Franklin Graham. Together the two ministries will address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of impacted homeowners.
BG-RRT is now providing ministry in five locations across the United States. In addition to McNairy County, Tennessee, chaplains are serving in:
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri (tornadoes)
- Stillwater, Oklahoma (wildfires)
- Los Angeles, California area (Palisades and Eaton wildfires)
Chaplains are also offering hope and providing emotional comfort and spiritual care to families who have been forced to flee their homes in war-torn Ukraine.
For more information on the ministry, including videos, photos, news articles and an interactive map of former and current deployments, visit the BG-RRT press kit or BillyGraham.org/RRT. Updates can also be found at Facebook.com/RRTChaplains.
Media Opportunities
- Interviews with:
- Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT
- Chaplain coordinators in McNairy County, Tennessee
- B-Roll and photos (please use with credit to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association)
- Interview request form
About the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team was developed by Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It has since grown into an international network of chaplains in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia who are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. They have deployed to more than 870 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Lisa Moseley
lmoseley@bgea.org