New tornado deployment is also announced
BG-RRT Press Kit
CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 11, 2023 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed to Louisville, Kentucky, where four people were killed and nine others injured after a gunman opened fire in a downtown Louisville bank. This shooting comes just two weeks after a former student killed three children and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville.
“We are devastated to hear of the horrendous news coming out of Louisville, Kentucky. We are praying for the families of the victims, survivors, law enforcement and the Louisville community,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “We are sending our crisis-trained chaplains to comfort people, pray and share God’s love with those who have been impacted by this horrific tragedy.”
In addition, BG-RRT announced a new deployment to Wynne, Arkansas, after the recent tornadoes. This is the same storm system that swept across the Midwest and South, killing at least 26 people on April 1. Crisis-trained chaplains will arrive to the area on Thursday, and will work in conjunction with disaster relief organization Samaritan’s Purse to help meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those impacted by the severe storms.
BG-RRT chaplains are now providing emotional and spiritual care in seven locations. Besides Louisville, Kentucky, and Wynne, Arkansas, chaplains continue to serve in Sullivan County, Indiana, Little Rock, Arkansas, Rolling Fork and Amory, Mississippi, all of which were devastated by tornadoes. They 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
- Josh Holland, international director for the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, will be available for interviews, as well as chaplain coordinators on the ground in Louisville, Kentucky, and Wynne, Arkansas. For B-Roll, photos and media inquiries, please contact Christine Batchelder at cbatchelder@bgea.org, (704) 724-6851.
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 700 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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Media Contact:
Christine Batchelder
cbatchelder@bgea.org