BRANTLEY COUNTY, Ga., May 4, 2026 – The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) has deployed to Brantley County, Georgia, where wildfires have destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to evacuate. Igniting last month, the fires have burned more than 55,000 acres and are not yet contained. Officials have described the outbreak as one of the most destructive wildfires in Georgia’s history.
A team of crisis-trained chaplains will be ministering in Brantley County, providing emotional and spiritual care to those affected.
“When someone stands in front of what used to be their home and sees ashes, it’s hard to put that kind of loss into words,” said Josh Holland, vice president of BG-RRT Global. “As people face the reality of their loss and begin the long road to recovery, our chaplains will be present to offer a listening ear, prayer and to point people to the hope of Jesus Christ—a shelter that cannot be taken away or destroyed.”
Chaplains arrived in Brantley County on Friday, May 1, to minister to those in the community who have been affected by the wildfires. The BG-RRT deploys to natural disasters in coordination with Samaritan’s Purse, the Christian disaster relief organization also led by Franklin Graham. Together, the two ministries will address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of impacted homeowners.
In addition to Brantley County, chaplains are ministering in New London, Wisconsin, and Newaygo, Michigan, following severe flooding; and in Saipan and the Northern Mariana Islands in the aftermath of a typhoon. The BG-RRT also continues to offer emotional 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, vice president of the BG-RRT Global
- Chaplain coordinator in Brantley County
- 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 940 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Claisse Opulencia
copulencia@bgea.org
+1 (704) 401-2717