CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 27, 2021 – Crisis-trained chaplains from the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT) have deployed to San Jose, California, after a gunman killed nine people at a light rail facility Wednesday morning.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting in San Jose Wednesday morning,” said Josh Holland, assistant director of the BG-RRT. “Our hearts are broken for all of the families who lost loved ones and we are sending our team of crisis-trained chaplains to offer emotional and spiritual care to the community during this time of grief. We want them to know that God still loves them and cares about them, even as they are in the midst of such great pain.”
This is the BG-RRT’s third deployment to a mass shooting this year, having sent chaplains to Boulder, Colorado, in March and Indianapolis, Indiana, in April.
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.
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.
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Media Contact:
Blake Freeland
Senior Public Relations and Social Media Specialist
bfreeland@bgea.org