CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 20, 2023 –The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) is deploying to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a severe storm system swept through the area Saturday night. Winds in excess of 100 mph caused widespread damage and knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people.
“After seeing the amount of devastation that was in Tulsa, Oklahoma, we made the important decision to deploy,” said Richard Brown, senior manager of deployments and operations of the BG-RRT. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Tulsa. We are sending our crisis-trained chaplains to pray with, listen to, and share God’s love with those who have been impacted by the storm.”
The team of crisis-trained chaplains is working 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 support in three locations. Besides Tulsa, Oklahoma, chaplains are bringing hope to those devastated by tornadoes in Perryton, Texas. They are also ministering 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:
- Richard Brown, senior manager, deployments and operations of the BG-RRT
- Chaplain coordinators in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- 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 730 disaster sites across the globe, including shootings, floods, hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes.
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Media Contact:
Christine Batchelder
cbatchelder@bgea.org