Chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) have deployed to two areas in the south after tornadoes ripped through the region Monday and Tuesday. On the ground in Round Rock, Texas, as well as New Orleans, Louisiana, BG-RRT chaplains are offering hope, comfort and compassion to those in both disaster areas. At least one person was killed by the storm in New Orleans, and there is widespread damage in both locations.
“The tornadoes that swept through Texas and New Orleans are heartbreaking to see. It’s devastating when someone is killed and there is so much destruction,” said Josh Holland, international director of the BG-RRT. “We are praying for everyone involved and have crisis-trained chaplains there to serve the people in both Texas and Louisiana to provide emotional and spiritual support for all of those who are hurting.”
The two teams of crisis-trained chaplains are working in conjunction with disaster relief organization Samaritan’s Purse to help meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of those impacted by the storms.
BG-RRT chaplains are now serving in four locations. In addition to Texas and Louisiana, chaplains are also deployed in Memphis, Tennessee, after a massive ice storm damaged thousands of homes, and in Lviv, Ukraine, offering comfort and compassion to families who have been forced to flee their homes.
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
|
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 550 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
– 30 –
Media Contact:
Christine Batchelder
cbatchelder@bgea.org